Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I've Got a Thing for Spring - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: April 5, 2010

CONTACT: Chet Gardner 435-225-2438
Amber Neil 801-628-7785

USU Public Relations Students put their Skills to the Test with Real-World Experience
Students team up with local businesses, non-profits to put together spring kick-off event, April 17

LOGAN – Utah State students are learning the ropes of real-world public relations, from media relations to event planning. Seven PR seniors are working with local businesses Campsaver and Rock Haus, and non-profit organizations Boys and Girls Club and Common Ground Outdoor Adventure to kick off the spring season with an event, “Campsaver’s I’ve Got a Thing For Spring”. The event, which will feature outdoor equipment demos and climbing competitions and free giveaways worth more than $2,500, will be Saturday, April 17 from 3 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Rock Haus, 1780 North 200 East, North Logan.

There will be discounted passes to climb at the Rock Haus as well as prizes given away by Campsaver and Rock Haus. The local Boys and Girls Club, who have suffered recent budget cuts, will be selling food and raffle tickets for high-dollar prizes at the event. There will be live music, games and some climbing competitions. Common Ground Outdoor Adventure will be exhibiting equipment and talking about their upcoming events for the summer.

Campsaver is a local outfitters shop that is working to increase their awareness to students and the community. Campsaver’s goal for the event is to encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy the weather and natural recreational attractions that Cache Valley has to offer.

Utah State PR Student Amber Neil thinks this is a great idea to help people get involved in the community and excited about going outdoors. “This event will be fun and beneficial to the community. There will be something for people of almost all ages to do and enjoy. This will be a cheap and cool event for students,”Neil said.

Campsaver’s climbing and footwear manager Andy Watanabe is ready to show USU students and the Cache Valley residents what they have to offer. “Cache Valley is a great place for outdoor recreation. This is a great opportunity for everyone, especially students, to get excited for summer and see what Campsaver has to offer,” Watanabe said.

Families and students alike are encouraged to attend. Bring a friend or two and come see what Campsaver and Rock Haus have to offer, and have some fun while supporting your school and local community.

“Campsaver’s I’ve Got a Thing for Spring” is being publicized by USU students and put together with the help of Campsaver and Rock Haus. Local groups, Boys & Girls Club and Common Grounds are also offering their support.

For more information contact Chet at chet.gardner@aggiemail.usu.edu or Kevin at Kevin.Mour@aggiemail.usu.edu or the phone numbers listed above. Also check out Campsaver.com and rockhausgym.com for general information.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Industry and Stakeholder Analysis

As a member of the Industry and Stakeholder Analysis team we were put to the task of discovering what industry the USU Greek System is in, make a SWOT analysis and define stakeholders.

Industry: Campus Involvement

We examined the purposes outlined in the Greek Council’s Constitution, and we found one of their main goals is to enhance the practical abilities of all the Greek members through getting involved “in all aspects of the college experience.” Since the Greek Council believes campus involvement is the driving force behind the sustainability of their chapters, they encourage each individual house to support participation in campus activities (the Greek Council’s Constitution).

In addition, Greek houses have defined their “industry standard” through the process of recruitment. According to the PR Audit Report, “Being part of a fraternity or sorority requires individuals to be involved somewhere else on campus.” Specifically, one of the factors that play a role in qualifying applicants for membership in a chapter is the level of interests in getting involved on campus. In a talk with student groups on campus, PR Audit Team found nearly all Greek members have established connections to these clubs and organizations.

Even though the past news coverage related to Greek events is limited, some articles show cooperation between the Greek Community and on-campus student groups. For example, at least 2 issues of the Utah Statesman reported Greek letter houses’ participation in ASUS sober parties and elections (the Utah Statesman).


We have taken into consideration what the Greeks are about currently at Utah State University and found campus involvement is the industry that the client best fits into. They could use this information to recognize the competitive rules and develop strategies.

Problem & Suggestion
In the campus involvement industry which the Greeks as a whole belong to, there is a common misconception. Many people make the easy assumption that “campus involvement” equals participating in an activity/organization on campus just for fun. In a study conducted by USU students, one of the most important reasons for undergraduate students’ decision to not go Greek is lack of time (MHR 3110, Dare to be great). In other words, non-Greek students believe that participation in Greek life may have eaten up the time that would otherwise have gone to other sectors, such as study and work.

The problem is that people are not aware of many other benefits that Greeks offer. In addition to boosting “campus fun,” the Greek Community provides academic support, leadership opportunities, and service to the community and to the University (Think Greek web site).

When Greeks try to increase the publicity for their advocacy of campus involvement, the Greek Council should consider going farther in their efforts to inform people their involvement in providing academic assistance and service opportunities. Doing so will make the Greek Community become more relevant to student’s campus life, and it raises the acknowledgment of Greek Council’s role in furthering the university’s objectives, instead of simply putting themselves in campus activities.

Stakeholders:
The analysis of stakeholders will inform the Greek Community of the interest and the influence of those who are involved or not involved in the Greek life at Utah State University, which will enable the Greek Council to develop strategies to gain the most effective support possible. We identified key figures, groups of people, and institutions that will affect or be affected by the Greek Council, knowingly or unknowingly. We sorted them out in order from most affected to least:

1. Greek Council officials
2. Greek students; USU alumni; Greek houses
3. USU students; Campus and Student involvement
4. Greek Alumni
5. Family of Greeks
6. USU faculty and administration
7. National Greek organizations
8. Philanthropic organizations
9. Cache Valley citizens

Groups:
Latents
Cache Valley
USU faculty
Greek Alumni

Promoters
National Greek organizations
Greek council
Student and campus involvement

Apethetics
USU students
USU alumni

Defenders
Family of Greeks
Greek houses
Philanthropic organizations


Grouping the previously identified stakeholders gives us a visual representation of where each stakeholder stands in interest and influence over our client. The stakeholders are divided into four groups depending on their ability to create change and their interest to do so. No stakeholder should be ignored; however, some need more attention than others. Grouping the stakeholders identifies those areas where we should focus most of our time and effort.
Promoters:
Defined as those stakeholders who have a high interest in the Greek community and also have the ability and influence to create change. The Greek Council is very high, if not highest, in both of these. They are elected officials from each house at USU who gather and discuss problems facing the Greek community and solutions to those problems. Votes are then taken to enact and enforce the proposed changes. They are most directly affected by what goes on the Greek community and it is their responsibility to ensure that the Greek system is operating in a way that reflects their goals and mission statements. National Greek organizations are also included in this group as they have the authority to withdraw their own chapters from university locations. They also have a keen interest in making sure that their specific chapters are meeting the set criteria for enrollment, academic excellence and other things for their continued sponsorship of the houses. Also, those in charge of promoting campus involvement will be motivated to promote the Greek community on campus because of the Greek’s emphasis in being involved with university clubs, programs, and activities.
Latents:
Latents are those stakeholders who have the influence and power to effect change within the Greek community but lack the motivation or need to interfere at this time. This group must be kept abreast of things happening within the Greek community and satisfied with what they are accomplishing. Cache Valley is included in the group because if at any time they decided to actively promote the Greek system and what they do for the university things would change dramatically for the Greeks. If they opposed the Greeks however, there is little the Greeks could do to remain a part of the community if public opinion turned against them to that degree. USU Faculty and Greek alumni are much the same. As long as Greeks are helping out with university sponsored events there is no reason for faculty to oppose having them be part of campus life.
Defenders:
Defenders are stakeholders who have a high interest in seeing the Greek community perform at its best and helping them do so, but they have very little power to do anything other than voice their support. Families of Greek members, philanthropic organizations, and even each individual Greek house fall into this category. Only when the houses come together in Greek council do they have influence over the Greek community. Standing alone they can do very little without the support of the council. Stakeholders in the category need to be merely informed of things going on the Greek community.
Apathetics:
Stakeholders from the final group, apathetics, are those with neither a high interest nor legitimate authority to make any changes to the Greek community. These stakeholders need to be monitored in the event that their level of interest or influence should change. These include USU students and alumni who are not involved with the Greek community. What goes on in the Greek community has hardly any affect on them and their involvement with the university.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths
Loyal supporters
Service projects
Parental support
Higher graduation rate

Weaknesses
Alumni Relations:
Outer image
Reputation
Publicity
Making goals but not achieving them.
Parental support

Opportunities
Build relationships with the statesman and PR department.
Utilizing their alumni
Educate parents.
More on-campus or campus-involved service projects

Threats
Low numbers
Cache Valley’s conservative culture
Other Competitors

Strengths:
Loyal supporters: Included in this category are the Greek students and Greek Alumni which could also involve some parents of Greeks if their parents were involved in a fraternity or sorority.
Service projects: When asking students what good the Greek community does one common answer is service. Each fraternity and sorority has a different philanthropy specific to their national organizations of which they hold fundraising events and to charity work in behalf of.
Parental support: Most students that have parents that were Greek are supported by them, especially if they are a “Legacy”, which means that the student’s parent(s) was part of the same fraternity or sorority at Utah State University.
Higher graduation rate: Most students who are Greek tend to graduate if they are well-involved in their fraternity and take on executive positions of their house through their college career.

Weaknesses:
Alumni Relations: Communication is lacking between Alumni and the collegiate chapters at Utah State. Alumni aren't informed on upcoming events. Many Alumni take offense to this and don’t want to donate or help out if they feel like they’re getting nothing in return.
Outer image: Fraternities and sororities are looked at as a partying and trouble-making group. It’s not uncommon at Utah State for the majority of students to think that that’s what Greek Life is all about. Greeks need to make their achievements, especially when it comes to things such as academics, leadership and campus-involvement, more known.
Reputation and Publicity: All bad incidents are published and not enough good. But also the bad is always going to get more attention than the good, i.e. the Michael Stark’s Case. Making goals but not achieving them. This is something that has become common in the Greek community, too often goals are set but there isn’t really anyone put in-charge to make sure they are getting followed through with. Parental support: Most parents that haven't been Greek and live in Utah are very unsupportive of their student joining, usually because they don't take the time to find out what it's about.

Opportunities:
Build relationships with the statesman and PR department. The Council PR chair should know and be working with the Statesman, putting in any kind of news about events or specific achievements going on in the Greek community as often as possible.
Delegating: The Council might want to look more into delegating specific assignments to members to get things done, this could maybe result in meeting those goals that otherwise might not get much attention otherwise.
Utilize alumni, keep them informed and up-to-date on events then they may be more willing to help out down the road.
Keep parents more informed and involved by sending out newsletters or holding events specific for educating parents.
Hold more on-campus or campus-involved service projects instead of just at the individual Greek houses; advertise them more in advance as well if it is possible.

Threats:
Low numbers: If houses don't reach total, or quota, their charter can be pulled from Utah State.
Cache Valley’s conservative culture: Most people from Cache Valley have very conservative views and just the idea of joining a fraternity or sorority can shine bad light. Greeks just need to make themselves more known and show that they aren’t a threat to the community as well.
Competitors: Other clubs on campus, sports teams, work, studying and time spent with family are all things that can take up a student’s time and play big roles into why they may or may not join a fraternity or sorority.

We encourage you to include questions in your survey related to the SWOT analysis and try to include participants from as many of the stakeholders as possible. We believe this will give you the best results. You will probably want to conduct several surveys, are involve questions specific to individual groups since the stakeholders include such a wide variety of subjects.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Research for new designs


While working in the advancement department I have the opportunity to help re - design the websites, posters and flyer's. To do this I am researching new designs, I discovered this picture. Made me laugh, hope it makes you laugh too.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Politics

Everyday while reading the paper, then the comments, I have to laugh at people that complain about our political system. Sure none of us completely agree with everything our political leaders make, however if you think for a minute from their view point and if you actually understand our political system you should be rejoicing that our nation is still working. Do research of your own, don't just watch Fox and expect them to give you all the right information. Vote, that is the point of our whole system and if you don't vote don't talk. Write your congressman, we hear this all the time but how many people actually do it, they do pay attention. Lastly sitting and complaining on the internet isn't going to help anyone.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

CAPSA

It is estimated that 2 million to 4 million U.S. women are assaulted by a domestic partner every year, twelve million women (25% of the female population) will be abused in their lifetime and with 6,117 domestic violence calls in one year from Logan alone, it is a blessing that we have one Community Abuse Prevention Service Agency (CAPSA) here locally. CAPSA is a non profit organization dedicated to preventing abuse in Logan. They have a 24-hr crisis help line, education courses, a safe house, and a facility with therapists and social workers.

April is sexual assault awareness month, CAPSA partners with locals to promote their efforts in educating the community on stopping abuse. To start off the month CAPSA and Utah State University team to host “Walk a Mile In Her Shoes.” Gentlemen from the community come grab a pair of high heels and walk a one mile course around the university to kick off awareness month. Next a 5K “Run from Violence” & 1 Mile Walk is hosted by CAPSA. This gives everyone to get out and stretch their legs in the spring weather for a great cause. Finally on June 1st a golf tournament is held for sponsors. Sponsors, depending on the size of their donation, will receive a golf game, lunch, name/logo on a sign and an ad in the Herald Journal. You can also come for lunch or just golf, all proceeds go to CAPSA.

CAPSA is one of the fastest growing non-profit organizations in Cache Valley. Starting out with a hotline to help victims of abuse in 1976 by Marsha Rawlins from her home went to 1996 when major expansion was needed after progressing steadily including the founding of Somebody’s Attic, safe houses and hiring the first staff members. In 2004 a new shelter was built after the community helped build funds for the expansion, the shelter includes eight separate rooms/beds for 32 adults, cribs, two large living rooms and two kitchens. Now they run a 24 hour hotline, an emergency shelter, 4 educational support groups, and an active volunteer program. From July 2006 to June 2007 CAPSA sheltered 371 individuals, 5500 crisis calls, 400 rape related calls and 12,000 volunteer hours.

Thankfully the founders of CAPSA persisted through tough times; the community caught on and helped all they could. Today CAPSA takes donations to provide people that are struggling to create a better life. With your donations and support we could make Cache Valley domestic violence free.

For more information visit us at www.capsa.org

-End-
Written by Amber Winward

Legislature

As a lobbying intern this semester, I found that government officials get a bad rap, in reality we should be thanking them for what they do. Did you know that representatives are normal people with day jobs, and they are representatives on the side? They get paid under $10,000 a session, even though they work year round to get everything in place.

These people create the laws we abide by, that ultimately keep us safe, happy and secure. Sure we all disagree with some legislation passed, but if we didn't have any laws we would be no where. The representatives care, during the session they get hundreds of emails a day and majority of them read them and write back. They care about the people they are representing, obviously else they wouldn't have been elected in. Support your elected representative and remember through them you can make a change.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Week in Pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words, as we know. MSNBC posts a Week in Pictures every week. These pictures are the best pictures from around the world, giving us all a glimpse into the world from a different angel. Pictures are normally shot of current events, this week included pictures from Italy and the devastation from the earth quakes. In addition there are amazing photo's of newly bloomed flowers.

Pictures help us to see the things we are learning or are hearing about they show us exactly how it is. While diving into international political studies I have found the things that I am learning really connect once I've seen a picture of the people or their country. MSNBC is a wonderful media outlet, they offer many different resources that are credible. The Week in Pictures isn't always marketed, but it should be something that you check out every week to increase your knowledge of what is happening in our world.