On the Road....Meeting With Others in PRSSA

On Saturday, October 18th Deena from PRestige joined fellow PRSSA Executive-Board members to participate in a regional PRSSA meeting in conjunction with the New York State Communication Association annual convention. Deena and her fellow E-board members drove up to the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, NY to meet with PRSSA members from California University of Pennsylvania. It was an exhausting weekend, especially after working so many hours that week with all the debate-related activities at Hofstra, but Deena pushed through.
The meeting was exceptional. Everyone truly "hit it off" and the conversation went on for over two hours. Both PRSSA chapters enjoyed learning and discussing the trials and tribulations of being involved in a PRSSA chapter and having a newly established agency. Both chapters met for some post-meeting coffee in the town of New Paltz, to "wake-up" for the long drive back home.

It was great to learn, share ideas, and meet like-minded students that share the same passion for PR. It was a fantastic experience and the fall foliage was spectacular!

Debate '08

This room has been my home for three days : the prison-like, somewhat barren concession stand of the PFC. The piles of the New York Times and CNN on TV adds to the homeyness. The actual Media Filing Center is something to be impressed with; hundreds of rows of flat screen TVs and seats that will be filled by all important media for tonight's debate.



In the Media Filing Center I answer phone calls from journalists all over the world and people asking if they can buy tickets for tonight's debate. Occasionally there is the frantic phone call from a relations person screaming that they need to speak to so and so right away, CNN needs to do an interview. Occasionally we have had to take messages down for Obama and McCain that will never get to them. Yesterday I typed up the same fact sheet three times in order to print out fifty copies and then throw out to fix an error. I see Professor Geyer and Professor Frisina in action making phone calls and hurriedly typing out press releases. This morning I met Art Harris and tried to help him make it to the Student Center to take pictures of the "action" = Hofstra students. Technically, I got a business card from him, though it was just in order to call about where the van would pick him up.

There are two separate and confusing worlds on campus today. The lots near the PFC and the Arena is filled with people waiting around aimlessly, excited but anxious. Fellow students carry themselves differently due to the badge around their neck and the business attire they have donned. A new security measure was created today - only a certain amount of Media Center overlay passes were created for those to actually be in the Media Filing Center during the debate. Samuel Rubenfeld of The Chronicle was not happy.

I left from my shift on two and walked onto campus, leaving the high security area. I found mayhem, with the air of a political Woodstock. Demonstrations were in the parking lots, in the Student Center, outside, everywhere and from every walks of life.

mtvU and Santa Claus come to Hofstra

Friday morning I was walking from class to the Honors College Office when I saw a crowd in front of Axinn Library. A film crew was filming an intro for mtvU's "Dean's List" with a varied demographic of Hofstra students in the shot. University Relations was involved, represented by Lindsey Calabrese. Took some pictures on the cell phone, ran to a computer, uploaded onto the blog, and Twittered it. Sam Rubenfeld, Senior News Editor of the Hofstra Chronicle, asked within five minutes for the pictures. It's just an example of how often a PR rep has to play journalist.



Sadly enough, the crew did not capture Mike LaFemina dressed as Santa for PSU's "Energy Theater". Headed by Progressive Student's Union (PSU), the group "works collectively on generating awareness of energy issues before the third and final debate arrives at the University." (Thank you Chronicle). Friday's act was called "Clean Coal is as Real as Santa Claus". (there was concern about the day care groups of young children wandering the campus).



Pay attention for more updates about the final Presidential Debate this week. Various PRestige staff members are volunteering either with University Relations or in the Media Filing Center. This is a very exciting time in our history and the PRestige staff and everyone involved is grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

PRestige on HMWC

We approached WRHU, Hofstra University's award winning radio station about making an appearance on Hofstra Morning Wake-Up Call. It was agreed that utilizing the media outlets we have at our disposal with the School of Communication would be beneficial in creating awareness about PRestige.

I (Rebecca Carlson, On-Campus Account Executive) went on the show this morning around 8am and had a brief Q & A with Associate Producers Kris Ortiz and Justin Goldstein. I have been a member of WRHU since my freshmen year. As a member of the station you are put through rigorous training to perfect your announcing and news writing skills.

It was a brief interview. The producers of HMWC plan their broadcasts well in advanced and it was generous of them to fulfill our request on such short notice. In the future I hope PRestige, and also PRSSA, work with the School of Comm. organizations (WRHU, H.E.A.T., The Chronicle) for more media relations work.

Other than that, myself and Lindsey Gilchrist (Off-Campus Account Executive) have begun to organize for our upcoming committee meetings. Remember, the deadline for RFP's is Tuesday, September 30th!

Request for Proposals!

Hello everyone! We are now working toward bringing awareness to the PRestige Agency. We're looking for both on campus and off campus clients to take on this semester (September '08-December '08). We offer a range of services from fund-raising, gaining media coverage, and increasing membership, to drafting press materials and planning events, all at no cost to you. Our work is pro-bono, as we are a student-run organization looking to gain experience while enjoying what we all love, Public Relations! Please e-mail us if you are interested in working with us this semester. You can reach us at: PRestigeAgency.HU@gmail.com

Meet The Staff....

After a semester of assembling the framework to officially launch PRestige Agency in the Fall of 2008, we are happy we can announce the staff that will be PRestige Agency. You will see that we are a diverse group of students, with diverse interests and backgrounds, but we all have one thing in common and that is a passion for public relations. Take a minute and read about us and you will learn a little background about who we are.

Brie Henry, Director

Brie is currently a junior and a public relations major, with a minor in speech communication. She calls home, Prince George's County, Maryland. Brie's goal is work in entertainment industry. Brie also serves as the PR Director on the executive board of PRSSA. When she is not busy with PR related duties, she enjoys dancing, reading, and proudly states sleeping as a hobby.

Amy Robinson- Vice President

Amy is a senior and public relations major. She has taken
most of the classes required for Public Relations majors, so she has the
most classroom experience, to include writing press releases, backgrounders,brochures, social responsibility reports, and other copywriting tools essential in creating press kits. This summer, Amy is interning at The RDW Group in Providence, RI, which is the largest independent communications agency in New England. When graduating in December of 2008, Amy plans on pursuing a career in public relations in either entertainment, lifestyle, travel, or corporate PR.

Account Executive- Lindsey Gilchrist

Lindsey is from Madison, NJ, although she hails all the way from Scotland, where she lived for a number of years as a child. She is junior, who transferred to Hofstra in January 2008 after doing three semesters at Bryant University in Rhode Island. Lindsay is majoring in public relations and is currently an intern at Hill and Knowlton in New York City, working in their Healthcare Department. In the summer of 2007, Lindsay did an internship with Sharon Naylor,
a wedding specialist who writes books and magazine articles about wedding
planning. With all this practical experience, Lindsey truly enjoys the knowledge she is gaining at Hill and Knowlton this summer. After completing her degree at Hofstra, she would love to work in the PR world in any corporate area, but particularly in the fashion or beauty sectors. She is also very interested in event planning. Lindsey adds, "I am very excited to be a part of PRestige Agency's launch this semester, and hope it brings even more opportunities to our PRSSA chapter."

Account Executive- Rebecca Carlson
Rebecca is a public relations major and painting minor set to graduate in May 2010. She has been a member of PRSSA since the fall of 2007. Originally from Newark, Delaware, Rebecca came to Hofstra University in hopes to have a fulfilling career in public relations in New York City. She enjoys the creative aspect of PR and has written and taken photographs
for articles in the Hofstra's School of Communication Newsletter and
PRestige Agency blog as well as assisted in the planning of many events
created by Hofstra's chapter of PRSSA. Rebecca has interest in gaining more experience in media communications. She also wants to learn more about the use of graphic design in PR.

Staff Members:

Stephanie Grabbe

Stephanie is a junior public relations major at Hofstra and serves as secretary on Hofstra's PRSSA chapter's executive board. Stephanie has completed a marketing internship with Heritage Station Winery, where she worked with other undergraduates on completing a long term marketing strategy for the vineyard in order to increase both business sales and awareness within the surrounding South Jersey area. Stephanie also has experience with promotional sales and community awareness while working as a Media Coordinator for Stir It Up Coffee House, another local eatery in Mullica Hill, NJ. To add to her already impressive resume, Stephanie will be interning this fall in New York City at a medium sized agency that specializes in both travel & tourism and food & wine public relations. Both of these markets are a personal passion of Stephanie's and she hopes one day to eventually be working for a luxury travel company doing in-house public relations.

Deena Kimball

Deena comes to Hofstra, by way of Portland, Maine. She is just beginning her public relations career, but is already actively involved in the Hofstra chapter of PRSSA. Deena also holds the position of Vice President of Recruitment and Retention for Hofstra's PRSSA chapter's executive board. Deena just completed the Introductory course of Public Relations, "Fundamentals of Public Relations" this past spring. What makes Deena different from the rest of the staff, is that she is a political science major, who has taken classes such as; Middle Eastern Politics and American Government. Being that Deena is just starting her career in PR, she is still discovering what which niche of PR she plans on working in upon graduation. This will be a difficult decision for Deena, as she has a wide range of interests, including politics, fashion, event planning, and travel!

Tanya Wayne

Tanya brings a unique perspective to the Agency, she is our only broadcast journalism major and she will be a junior in the Fall. She's been involved with radio since she was 15, by volunteering at the radio station at Northampton Community College in her hometown of Bethlehem Township, PA. Tanya also completed an 8 week Journalism for Radio course
at WDIY. Currently, Tanya is involved with Hofstra's radio station, WRHU and has been since her first year of college. Tanya loves to perform, as well. She started dance at the age of 3, and has taken acting classes. During her high school career at Bethlehem Catholic High School, she was involved with the drama club, was co-choreographer of a children's play, and dance co-captain her junior year for the musical "Annie Warbucks." Tanya was even a volunteer student dance teacher at Pennsylvania Youth Theatre. She speaks, reads, and writes Spanish fluently. Tanya is a very outgoing person who loves meeting new people. She is very excited to be a part of PRestige Agency.

Chanel Christiansen

Chanel was born and raised in New York City. She is a senior that adds great experience and maturity to the Agency. Chanel has already completed two internships and may be adding a third to her resume this Fall. Her interests include; Travel, Leisure, and Lifestyle PR. Chanel loves to have fun and when she is not busy interning, she spends quality time with her family (especially the little ones- her cousins), her friends, and of course her boyfriend of many years. Chanel is a vegetarian, but does not let the limitations of her diet, get in the way of her love for food. Chanel loves trying out new restaurants, but nothing is better than her mom's homecooked meals. Chanel loves to travel, so much so, that she feels entitled to a vacation-- every six months! Chanel is environmentally concious and encourages everyone to be aware of protecting the environment. Growing up in the cold New York winters, Chanel would love to live in a warmer climate like California or Miami. Chanel adds personality, vibrancy and fun to the Agency and we are happy to have this Super Senior a part of our team.

Lindsay Hull

Lindsay is a Senior public relations major and is minoring in sociology. She was born and raised in Worcester Mass, proudly pronounced "Woosta".
Lindsay has been active with two internships under her belt. She loves the beach and has the fortune of spending her summer in Cape Cod, Mass. Lindsay enjoys sports, working out, and just like Chanel (fellow PRestige staff member) Lindsay loves food too! Not surprisingly Lindsay loves all Boston sports teams, so even though she attends Hofstra in Yankee territory, you will hear Lindsay proudly chanting, "Go Red Sox!"

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And our other Staff member, Melissa Gibeson is a little shy and prefers to stay behind the scenes.

Fashion Through the Years: The Evolution Will Be Stylized

For the Spring 08 semester, the on-campus client for PRSSA was Hofstra University's chapter of NAACP.
With HINT, the NAACP put together a benefit fashion show with up and coming designers to raise money for Invisible Children, Inc., a non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for the children in Northern Uganda. The show was hosted by Fonzworth Bentley, hip hop artist, entertainter, and fashion designer but most famously known for being personal assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Friday, May 2nd, was a gray and drizzly night as fashion show attendees filed into the tent located on Hofstra University's intramural fields. PRSSA committee members were there to welcome arriving media. The swag tent was planned to be opened at 6 pm with vendors such as Apple. The show was intended to start at 8pm.

Though the show started an hour later than previously scheduled (rumors about a late arrival by Mr. Bentley circulated), the dj Mr. Gyaliss did an excellent job maintaining a lively mood inside the tent. Hofstra University's own celebrity Micah Jesse made an appearance. Mr. Bentley introduced the show and was sure to mention the cause of Invisible Children, Inc., and asked for the audience to remember we are "not in this world by ourselves."

The purpose of creating an agency with Hofstra's chapter of PRSSA is to gain experience in public and media relations as well as learning through the process. In hindsight, some committee members acknowledged that more communication was needed between the client and the committee as well as a more efficient job in strong media communication the day of the event.

However, the fashion show displaying designs inspired by the past century was entertaining and a success. A personal favorite of mine was during the 1950's segment when they simulated a resurrected Ray Charles. The inside of the tent was completely full; despite additional seating added at the last minute, some late audience members had to stand but didn't seem to mind.