Issue #14: Fall 2011

In this issue:

• From the Chair

• Faculty News and Events

• Alumni News
  
  
• Update on Mentorship
  
  
• PR Alumni Chapter News
  
  
• Alumni Snapshot – Where are they now?
  
  
• Job Seekers Network
  
  
• Notice board
  
  
• Contact us

From the Chair

As I write this, we are just days away from the end of our fall 2011 classes – and the first semester of year four of our Bachelor of Communication – Public Relations degree. 

We have now successfully launched all four years of our degree with approximately 280 students studying on campus and another ten or so each year taking a ‘semester abroad’ at one of our international partner universities in Australia, Europe or New Zealand.  This year we’ve added a twelve-week field school experience in India for a unique educational option during the spring/summer semester. 

Read more here

Faculty News and Events

CPRS Conference in Saint John, N.B.

by Jeremy Berry, APR Assistant Professor and CPRS Calgary Board Secretary

This past June Elizabeth Lennox and I attended the Canadian Public Relations Society's national conference in Saint John, New Brunswick. If you have never been to a CPRS conference I highly recommend going - you will greatly expand your public relations knowledge base and have fun in the process, as evidenced by the attached photo of me eating fresh lobster.

Read more here

My experience working for Truffle PR in London

by Jacqueline Civitarese

This past year has not only helped me expand my current skill sets, but has provided me the opportunity to see the world, experience history and create international contacts. In February of this year, I started my amazing journey by heading to Vienna, Austria. I lived there for six months and during my time there I took nine classes which ranged from international politics to intercultural communications--  I even challenged myself by taking a German language course which ended up being one of my favourite classes.

Read more here

Mount Royal University PR students available for Winter 2012 work placements!

Do you have too much work and not enough resources? Are you working on a big project this winter and need assistance? The Mount Royal University public relations program can help. January to April 2012, we have over 40 eager and capable 4th year PR students seeking a four-month work term. 

More information here

An Interview with Janice Robertson, the new CPRS Calgary President

by Elizabeth Lennox

Janice Robertson, APR, LM took on the role of President of CPRS Calgary for the second time in 15 years.  On November 10th, we met for lunch at one of Janice’s favorite restaurants, Lemon Grass, to chat and catch up.

Q: Your last full time position was Chair of the Public Relations Program at Mount Royal.  Describe your life since you left.

A: The first three months were exactly as they had been for the decade before. However, I found that first September to be really unsettling. I knew things would feel different when I did not get up every morning to go in to Mount Royal, but something was definitely missing. So I agreed to teach in the PR certificate at U of C to fill that gap - evenings, but still, I had deadlines to achieve and students to work with. After four semesters, I realized it was not as satisfying as I had hoped.I was really just repeating things I had done before. I needed new challenges and substantial change. 

Now I stay busy with "work" about 15 hours in an average week. This includes my work with CPRS and clients of our company, Benchmark Projects Ltd. As well, I am enjoying  some business and communication coaching with a couple of small start-up companies. I am pushing myself to learn more about coaching in general. I plan wonderful trips. I write something every day. I play with my grandson whenever I can. I hope to do even more new things, but will let the fates decide for now....

My life is starting to feel like I own it. This is a good feeling and one I wish I understood better years ago! 

Read more here

Jim Wood recalls his volunteer experience with the Red Cross

Jim Wood was a full-time public relations instructor (1999-2008), and public relations program chair (2005-2006). He now lives part time in Mexico, part time in Lethbridge and part time wandering the deserts of the American southwest. He continues to teach periodically at MRU and volunteers with several organizations in Lethbridge and Mexico. This article focuses on an aspect of his volunteer service with the Canadian Red Cross in Lethbridge.

Riding to the rescue with the Red Cross

May 5, 2011, was a Sunday. I was on call as the lead member of a Canadian Red Cross disaster management team that week. If there was a house fire or natural disaster that displaced people from their homes and they needed support, I'd be called to provide temporary shelter, food, clothing – and teddy bears if there were children.

Read more here

Alumni News

New Network breaks the boundaries of international education

by Leanna Rizzi, Volunteer, Educator Volunteer Network

The Educator Volunteer Network is a new online community connecting educators in areas of poverty, war or illness with online volunteer mentors. Whether an educator wants help improving their math classes, writing a grant request letter or planning for future years, the goal is to have a skilled mentor ready to provide one-on-one advice and assistance, all over the Internet.

Read more here

Update on Mentorship

by Elizabeth Lennox

In the last issue, I reported that a record 130 people were participating in mentorship for the 2010-11 cycle.  While numbers don’t really count for much, it’s the commitment of our alumni that really speaks to what mentorship is all about. 

Read more here

PR Alumni Chapter News

You have made a significant investment in your Mount Royal education and we want to help make sure that your time, well spent, pays in dividends. Alumni benefits and services are the perks that come with your membership in the Mount Royal University Alumni Association (MRUAA). Visit the www.mtroyal.ca/alumni

Alumni Snapshot – Where are they now?

Name: Gord Mounce
Grad Year: 2003
Organization: Imperial Oil Resources
Of Interest:  I've worked in the energy industry since graduation, and I really enjoy it. My current role is communications lead for Imperial Oil's Kearl oil sands project. Outside of work, my wife Stephanie and I now have two kids; a two-and-a-half year old (Ryder) and 15 month old (Maryn). They keep us pretty busy. In my limited free time, I'm racing bicycles again - albeit at a much slower pace than when I was in my twenties. I'm also putting a plan together to race the Baja 1000 in a couple of years. Of course, I'd love to hear from any MRU alumni
Contact Info: gord.s.mounce@esso.ca

Name: Susan Pederson
Grad Year: 1984
Organization: Zip Communications - self-employed
Of Interest: Decided to pull up sticks and leave the rat race of Deerfoot Trail in favour of the salt air, year-round greenery and saner pace of Vancouver Island in 2010. But my professional life still remains off-island, as I focus my efforts in Calgary and Vancouver, because working contra deals in exchange for organic chickens can only get you so far!
Contact Info: zipcomunications.net

Name: Kelsie Fraser
Grad Year: 2011
Organization/Title: Cohn & Wolfe  Public Relations, Junior Consultant
Of Interest: Over the last little bit, I've started volunteering for a number of organizations - Canadian Red Cross, IABC, Mac's Midget International Hockey Tournament and Awesome Foundation Calgary - in hopes to gain more experience and networking opportunities. I'm shy of having a year of agency experience under my belt so I'm still learning where my interests lie.
Contact Info:
Work: (403) 228-6688 ext. 4322
Cell: (403) 615-7213
E-mail: kelsie.fraser@cohnwolfe.ca

Name: Robyn Crawford
Grad Year: 2002
Organization: Educator Volunteer Network, educatorvolunteer.net
Of Interest: After years of alternating between working in Calgary and traveling and living abroad, including a random stint as a Divemaster in Indonesia earlier this year, I recently began working at educatorvolunteer.net. The role that allows me to telecommute from anywhere in the world while supporting a unique project with the potential to change the face of international development and volunteerism. Check it out!   
Contact Info: crawfordrobyn@gmail.com

We’d love to hear from all grads, especially from anyone in the years prior to 2000. Send your updated info to elennox@mtroyal.ca.

Job Seekers Network

The Job Seekers Network is a weekly electronic bulletin listing job openings in the field of public relations.  It has become an important avenue for businesses to find practitioners with the best training available in the field of public relations.  The bulletin, which goes out every Friday afternoon, is sent directly to the inbox of approximately 350 alumni of the public relations program at Mount Royal University.

If you have a job to post or if you are aware of an opportunity in public relations, please send your posting to elennox@mtroyal.ca.  Interested applicants will contact you directly.

Notice board

Public Relations Defined

The Public Relations Society of America has launched an initiative to redefine public relations.  If you are interested in submitting your definition, take a look at the attached and follow the directions to submit your definition. http://prdefinition.prsa.org/

Calgary Flames Golf Tournament seeking communications person

The Calgary Flames Alumni hosts a golf tournament each year to raise funds for charity. It's a fun group, who work year round organizing the reception and tournament which is held at the end of May. The group is seeking a communications person to work on this committee.

The time commitment is about one and a half hours per month.  The meetings are hosted by Willow Park Wines, the presenting sponsor. The group is looking for fresh ideas and creativity to add to the event each year.  If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Colleen Bradley at cbradley@mtroyal.ca

CPRS Christmas party - volunteers needed

Interested in volunteering and networking at the same time? CPRS Calgary is looking for volunteers to help sell 50/50 tickets at the IABC/CPRS Christmas party on December 7 from 5 to 7. All proceeds will go towards the Calgary Legacy Scholarship for Public Relations and Communications Students in their second year of study.

Interested volunteers please contact: Tammy Schwass at tjschwas@gmail.com

Contact us

Remember to let us know when you move or change jobs so we can keep in touch and let you know about all the great things that are happening in our program.

Elizabeth Lennox
Coordinator, Public Relations Outreach
Faculty of Communication Studies
Mount Royal University
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary, Alberta T3E 6K6
(403) 440-5698
elennox@mtroyal.ca

The Public Relations Alumni E-Newsletter is produced once each semester and sent electronically to graduates of the Public Relations program at Mount Royal University. If you have a story to tell, send it to elennox@mtroyal.ca.  Photos are encouraged.

The next issue will be released in winter 2012.