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Survey: Legal Concerns About Social Media Not a Major Issue for Tennessee Communicators

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

Knoxville, Tenn. — A new survey reveals that Tennessee’s communications professionals do not perceive legal concerns are a major barrier for them to engage social media for their organizations – but among those that do voice concerns, several specific industry sectors were identified.

Interactive Springboard – a joint venture between Tennessee-based interactive firm Blue Media Boutique, LLC (a division of software firm Efficience) and public relations firm Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC – collaborated for a second year with Bryant Research, LLC, to field a survey of Tennessee communications professionals to quantify social media’s perceived benefits to companies and organizations statewide.

With a 40 percent response rate, the survey targeted members of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), which has chapters of communications professionals in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Tri-Cities.

When prompted, a significant minority of Tennessee’s communications professionals – only 25 percent – indicated that legal concerns create a barrier preventing them from using social media to its fullest potential on behalf of their organizations.

However, among communicators reporting legal concerns about social media, several types of organizations were identified through respondent demographic data as having a greater propensity to have issues:  healthcare, non-profit, education, financial and government.

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About Interactive Springboard

Interactive Springboard is a joint venture between woman-owned firms Blue Media Boutique and Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC, providing an integrated, research-based approach to social media that supports client marketing communications and business objectives.  www.interactivespringboard.com

About Blue Media Boutique, LLC

Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Blue Media Boutique – a division of software firm Efficience – provides creative, technology and marketing services, including design, development, animation, video, illustration, branding, print, e-commerce, database, CMS, search optimization, copywriting, promotions, events and campaigns. www.bluemediaboutique.com; CONTACT:  Tori Rose, tori@efficience.us, 865-824-9379

About Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC

Based in Maryville, Tenn., Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC advances clients’ communications, relationships and reputations to meet business and organizational objectives.  The firm’s services include research strategy, integrated marketing communications campaigns; media, community and employee relations programs; interactive media strategy and program management; crisis preparedness; and special events.  www.marybethwest.com; CONTACT: Mary Beth West; mb@marybethwest.com; 865-982-6626; Twitter: @marybethwest

About Bryant Research

Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Bryant Research provides custom, proprietary research to clients across a number of industries. Bryant Research has produced award-winning market research counsel, employing a custom blend of quantitative and qualitative methods to inform clients’ marketing communications programs and to facilitate the best business decisions.  www.bryant-research.com

About PRSA

Chartered in 1947, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals, with a community of more than 21,000 public relations and communications professionals across the United States, from recent college graduates to the leaders of the world’s largest multinational firms. PRSA members represent nearly every practice area and professional and academic setting within the public relations field.  www.prsa.org

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Survey: Tennessee Communicators More Certain Now About Social Media’s Importance and ROI Than in 2010

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Negative Gap Exists Between Social Media’s Importance and How Well It’s Actually Utilized

Knoxville, Tenn. — A new survey reveals that Tennessee’s communications professionals are much more certain about the return on investment using social media in 2012 than in 2010 as well as more confident about measuring social media results.

Interactive Springboard – a joint venture between Tennessee-based Blue Media Boutique, LLC (a division of software firm Efficience) and Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC – collaborated for a second year with Bryant Research, LLC, to field a statewide survey of Tennessee communications professionals to quantify social media’s perceived benefits to companies and organizations statewide.

The team last fielded the survey in summer 2010.  Both the 2010 and 2012 surveys targeted members of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), which has chapters of communications professionals in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Tri-Cities.

With a 40 percent survey response rate, the 2012 results show that 76 percent of Tennessee communicators think “the return on investment in social media is well worth it,” compared with 62 percent who thought so in 2010.

On this point, the number of professionals who agreed that this statement was “very true” more than doubled, from 15 percent of respondents in 2010 to 35 percent in 2012.

Also, a near-total majority of Tennessee communicators (97 percent) agree that “social media is an important component in any communications plan,” compared to 90 percent who agreed in 2010.

There was an overall decline in the concentration of those who believe that the cost of managing social media is too great for most organizations, from 58 percent in 2010, to 43 percent in 2012.

“Uncertainty is diminishing quickly about the value and necessity of social media in strategic communications,” said Mary Beth West, principal of public relations firm Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC.  “Communications professionals in Tennessee are getting a stronger foothold in the discipline of using social media effectively and making the case for social media ROI to their management teams.”

“The sophistication level about social media is rising,” said Tori Rose, creative director of Blue Media Boutique. “However, we still see a gap between communicators recognizing the importance of social media and being able to actually implement it in certain areas – like crisis communications, new product development and offering branded mobile apps to build stronger relationships with the public.”

The team’s survey data produced a “gap analysis” measuring the difference between what respondents said social media’s importance is toward accomplishing specific results and, in comparison, how well respondents’ own organizations are using social media to achieve those results themselves.

Just as the 2010 survey reflected, the 2012 gap analysis produced a negative gap score for every item queried – meaning that Tennessee communications professionals reported that their own organizations are underutilizing or underperforming with social media compared to the importance of using social media for particular needs.

Those needs with the biggest gaps between importance and actual performance: No. 1 – “using social media for crisis communications”; No. 2 – “including social media in new product development”; No. 3 – “offering a branded mobile application to build stronger relationships with stakeholders”; No. 4 – “monitoring social media for comments about the organization”; and No. 5 – “using social media as a tool for building a strong internal culture.”

When asked, Tennessee’s communications professionals most frequently cited a shortage of staff time and the lack of organizational support as the areas where improvements would increase their organization’s success with social media.

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About the Survey Methodology

This census survey of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) members from across the state of Tennessee was conducted online from February to March 2012.  Members from the following chapters participated in the study:  Nashville, Knoxville/Volunteer, Chattanooga/Lookout, Memphis and the Tri-Cities.   The survey achieved an overall response rate of 40 percent and provides unique insight into the opinions of those whose day-to-day responsibilities include managing all manner of media for strategic communications, including social media.

About Interactive Springboard

Interactive Springboard is a joint venture between woman-owned firms Blue Media Boutique and Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC, providing an integrated, research-based approach to social media that supports client marketing communications and business objectives.  www.interactivespringboard.com

About Blue Media Boutique, LLC

Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Blue Media Boutique – a division of software firm Efficience – provides creative, technology and marketing services, including design, development, animation, video, illustration, branding, print, e-commerce, database, CMS, search optimization, copywriting, promotions, events and campaigns. www.bluemediaboutique.com

About Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC

Based in Maryville, Tenn., Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC advances clients’ communications, relationships and reputations to meet business and organizational objectives.  The firm’s services include research strategy, integrated marketing communications campaigns; media, community and employee relations programs; interactive media strategy and program management; crisis preparedness; and special events.  www.marybethwest.com

About Bryant Research

Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Bryant Research provides custom, proprietary research to clients across a number of industries. Bryant Research has produced award-winning market research counsel, employing a custom blend of quantitative and qualitative methods to inform clients’ marketing communications programs and to facilitate the best business decisions.  www.bryant-research.com

About PRSA

Chartered in 1947, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals, with a community of more than 21,000 public relations and communications professionals across the United States, from recent college graduates to the leaders of the world’s largest multinational firms. PRSA members represent nearly every practice area and professional and academic setting within the public relations field.  www.prsa.org


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Keeping East Tennessee Construction Projects in the Green

Friday, April 20th, 2012

Alcoa, Tenn. — With Earth Day on April 22 and the East Tennessee economy gradually improving, many home and business owners are seeking to make their new building projects in 2012 and beyond greener but still affordable.

“Many people automatically but mistakenly think that all things green and sustainable are more expensive and out-of-reach for them, particularly when it comes to building construction,” said John McMillan, vice president of Marketing for Alcoa, Tennessee-based Hickory Construction, Inc.

According to McMillan, energy-efficient building materials and processes should always be considered as part of any new building project, especially those that ease the demand for electric energy produced by fossil fuels and reduce utility bills for the building owner.

“There are many eco-friendly building products and construction methods that are very competitive in cost to traditional ones, and some actually save significant money, particularly over time in expenses like heating, cooling and water use,” McMillan said.

Green construction includes energy-efficient basics such as proper insulation, house wraps and site preparation. Hickory also considers the value of durable products that offer low maintenance for the client and less impact on the planet.

“Hickory Construction has practiced many elements of ‘green construction’ for more than 30 years, especially when it comes to the building envelope, the area where energy efficiency is impacted most,” McMillan said.

Some other green products and areas of construction planning include:
• Geothermal heating and cooling systems (using ground source heat pumps to centrally heat and cool a building)
• Automated lighting controls and use of natural light
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures
• Fuel-efficient vehicle parking on business properties
• Bicycle racks on site
• Recycling of construction debris
• Regional and recycled building materials
• Indoor air quality enhancements (utilizing low VOC carpets, paints and other materials)

“For some materials that do require a higher initial investment, customers should consider longer-term returns,” McMillan said. “For example, slate roofing is more expensive, but it easily outlives other roofing materials and will reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing process and the impact on landfills.”

ABOUT HICKORY CONSTRUCTION:
Hickory Construction, Inc., is a licensed general contractor headquartered in Alcoa, Tenn., offering services for commercial, industrial and residential projects. For more information, visit: http://www.hickoryconstruction.com.

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PlanET Gears Up for Regional Forum Series 2 Events: Shared Values and Aspirations for 2050

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Knoxville, Tenn. – Plan East Tennessee, or PlanET, urges community members throughout the region of Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties to participate in its upcoming Regional Forum Series 2 events in all five counties, to take place the week of April 23, 2012, focusing on five areas of long-term livability: jobs, housing, transportation, a clean environment and community health.

PlanET is a regional partnership of communities building a shared direction for the future of Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties.

The initiative is about to conclude Phase One of the process, which began in late summer 2011 and will continue through late 2013.

During Phase One, which officially concludes this spring, PlanET hosted regionwide Series 1 events in all five counties to gather citizen input and to identify common themes about regional assets and challenges.

A written summary of these themes is located on PlanET’s website.

“While PlanET’s Phase One process asked citizens ‘where are we now?’ as a region, Phase Two will ask, ’what kind of East Tennessee do we want future generations to inherit?’” said Mayor Tom Beehan, City of Oak Ridge.

The Regional Forum Series 2 dialogue events will take two hours each, beginning with a 30-minute open house to welcome citizens, who will be able to visit five stations relating to the PlanET focus areas and view presentation boards and hand-outs about the Phase One findings for each focus area.

Participants can also talk individually with members of the PlanET team as well as local leadership who are involved.

Next, a 10-minute presentation will recap the top strengths and challenges identified in Forum 1 and highlight the PlanET Livability Report’s “scorecard.”

From there, 50-minute small-group discussions will enable participants to answer three questions related to a regional vision. Following a short break, group responses will be consolidated, and members of each small group will be able to vote on priorities they think are most important.

As a final point, the forum meeting will conclude with an overview of what will happen with that meeting’s results. Participants will also be urged to continue providing their ideas on PlanET’s free online “town hall” tool, MindMixer, which provides continuous access for citizens to contribute their ideas – whether or not they attend an actual forum meeting.

“We’re now getting to the really fun part and some of the most substantive elements of PlanET, and that’s the conceptual thought about what the people of this five-county East Tennessee area want their region to be,” said Mayor Beehan. “We hope to see a big turn-out at each of the regional forum dialogue events in all five counties – plus participation online through MindMixer.”

About PlanET
Plan East Tennessee (PlanET) is a regional partnership of communities building a shared direction for the future of Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties.

PlanET seeks ideas about preserving valuable resources and addressing challenges regarding jobs, housing, transportation, a clean environment, and community health. The goal: to create long-term solutions for investments in the region and to define the next chapter in the region’s rich history, leaving a legacy of optimism and opportunity for future generations.

PlanET is overseen by the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) and managed through the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), through a grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program to the City of Knoxville.

UPCOMING KEY DATES:

PlanET Regional Leadership Dialogue and Board of Mayors Meeting:
Thursday, April 19, 2012, 1:30-3:30 p.m. / Flatwater Grill, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Forum Series 2 Community Events:
Doors open 15 minutes prior to forum; public invited to come early.

April 23 | Blount County | 6 p.m.
Alcoa Service Center
725 Universal Street | Alcoa

April 24 | Anderson County | 5:30 p.m.
Anderson County High School
130 Maverick Circle | Clinton

April 25 | Knox County South | 6:30 p.m.
South Doyle Middle School
3900 Decatur Drive | Knoxville

April 26 | Loudon County | 6 p.m.
Loudon County Technology Center
4380 Harrison Rd | Lenoir City

April 27 | Knox County East | 10 a.m.
O’Connor Senior Center
611 Winona Street | Knoxville

April 28 | Union County | 10 a.m.
Union County High School
150 Main Street | Maynardville

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PlanET Releases Key Findings on Existing Conditions in East Tennessee

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Knoxville, Tenn. – Plan East Tennessee, or PlanET, recently conducted its first series of consortium “working groups,” including scores of people across the region with specific technical knowledge or interest in each of the five focus areas that PlanET’s regional plan will address: jobs, housing, transportation, a clean environment and community health.

PlanET is a regional partnership of communities building a shared direction for the future of Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties.

The working groups, meeting for the first time in late February, will help inform PlanET’s “Existing Conditions Memo” – a snapshot of how the five-county region exists today in all five focus areas, providing a basis of needs assessment for the future.

A full working draft of the Existing Conditions Memo is available online (www.planeasttn.org).

While the Existing Conditions Memo addresses key findings about the region as a whole, it also identifies similarities and differences between the five counties and, in some cases, individual communities within those counties as well.

“We want to take situational factors currently in play throughout the region and synthesize them into a broader ‘Livability Report’ for the region, which we are working on this spring,” said Mark Donaldson, director of the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission.

According to Donaldson, the Livability Report will serve as the foundation for a regional strategic action plan to be developed in 2012-2013.

At a regional level, several key highlights of the Existing Conditions Memo include the following:

ECONOMY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
• The PlanET region has a larger proportion of higher-skill jobs than Tennessee as a whole, but it lags behind the national average.
• Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) training and continuing education are increasingly important for the region’s high-skill jobs.

HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS
• While housing costs generally are affordable within the region, combined transportation and housing costs are very unaffordable for many families in the PlanET region.
• The region’s rental market remains strong amid a regional residential construction / sales market that has declined sharply during the economic recession.
• However, regional housing demand is projected to increase, with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Business and Economic Research estimating a regional population increase of more than 27 percent in the next two decades.

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
• The PlanET region has a high rate of single-occupancy vehicle use, and a large percentage of the region’s workforce commutes to another county in the region for employment.
• Rising transportation costs have outpaced regional household income growth, largely due to increased gas prices.
• Opportunities exist for new residential and mixed-use development in Knoxville and other parts of the region, such as the UT campus and Market Street areas in Knoxville and areas like Maryville as well as Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

ENVIRONMENT
• Among some of the PlanET region’s environmental challenges are air quality, water supply (particularly during severe droughts), non-native plant/animal species, and some impaired lands (brownfields).
• The region has an extensive green infrastructure system that contains forests and woodlands, waterways, and public and private open space – all important resources for environmental benefits, recreational opportunities and contributors to the region’s identity.
• Preservation of agriculture and farmland is challenged, given that farms in the PlanET region generally are growing smaller, and the amount of land devoted to farming has decreased by 15 percent during the past 20 years.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
• With Knox County as the medical center of the region, the full PlanET area has several medically-underserved areas, such as Union County not having a hospital facility and low-income residents in Anderson and Knox counties not having good access to dental care.
• Residents living in the region’s middle-income households are more likely not to have health insurance than those in lower-income households.
• Health problems in the region include asthma (the region has been named the nation’s top “asthma capital” for several years over the past decade), obesity (the Centers for Disease Control cited growth of the region’s obese adults population from 26 percent in 2004 to 30 percent in 2008), diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
• While the PlanET region contains a world-class system of destination-oriented state and federal parks and recreational opportunities, local parks are not evenly distributed throughout the region, with local parks constituting only nine percent of the region’s parkland, located mainly in Anderson and Knox counties (Union County has no local parkland at all).

The working groups will meet again in the May-June 2012 timeframe, followed by three other meetings from fall 2012 to fall 2013. They will continue helping to prioritize issues, identify opportunities and challenges, and look for ways to implement ideas as part of the regional planning process.

About PlanET
Plan East Tennessee (PlanET) is a regional partnership of communities building a shared direction for the future of Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties.

PlanET seeks ideas about preserving valuable resources and addressing challenges regarding jobs, housing, transportation, a clean environment, and community health. The goal: to create long-term solutions for investments in the region and to define the next chapter in the region’s rich history, leaving a legacy of optimism and opportunity for future generations.

PlanET is overseen by the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) and managed through the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), through a grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program.

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“Capitalist Pigs” Aim to Smoke Cancer With Relay Roast Event April 14 to Benefit Blount County Relay for Life

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Maryville, Tenn. – Just in time to celebrate finishing your tax return, Blount County’s Capitalist Pigs barbecuing team will be at it again for the Second Annual Relay Roast, presented by Eddie Check and Nisus.

The event takes place on Saturday, April 14, 6 p.m. at Smithview Pavillion in Maryville, to raise money for Blount County Relay for Life benefitting the American Cancer Society.

Live entertainment will be performed by the Chillbillies.

Led by Kevin Painter of LeConte Wealth Management, last year’s Relay Roast raised more than $12,000.

“Relay Roast was an unbelievable success last year because of support from people throughout the local community, many of whom have been touched by cancer in some way,” Painter said.

Like last year, this year’s event will also include a Spirits Wall to help raise additional money beyond ticket sales.

“We’re taking donations for the Spirits Wall and invite anyone to drop off their contributions anywhere that Relay Roast tickets are sold,” Painter said.

The public can purchase tickets in advance, $30 each (or $40 at the door), at the Blount Partnership, Chip Webb Family Dentistry, Dandy Lions Gifts or LeConte Wealth Management.

Sponsors include Eddie Check, Nisus, C2RL, LeConte Wealth Management, Big Orange Boots, Chip Webb Family Dentistry, Chroma Graphics and Personal Care Choices. The public can learn more about Relay Roast by following “Capitalist Pigs BBQ” on Facebook.

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Andy Oakes at LeConte Wealth Management Earns CFP® Designation

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Maryville, Tenn. – Andy Oakes, CFP®, director of Financial Planning at LeConte Wealth Management in Maryville, Tenn., has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) to use the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirements.

Andy Oakes joined LeConte Wealth Management in January 2009 to direct the firm’s financial planning operations. He complements the firm’s asset management efforts by helping clients efficiently bridge the connections between their investments and their overall financial goals.

With more than 10 years of industry experience, Andy’s work is focused on crafting complex financial planning solutions for clients. After developing and implementing a financial planning platform for another independent firm, Stanfill Wealth Management, he fulfilled an interest in public service as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer on a community economic development project in Ukraine from 2006 to 2007. He was most recently was affiliated with Merrill Lynch in Knoxville.

A native Tennessean, Andy graduated from Furman University in 1998, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He holds Series 7, 63, and 66 registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network, and life and health insurance licenses through the State of Tennessee.

Oakes’ most recent community service activities include being named a Loaned Executive for the United Way in 2010 and 2011 along with involvement in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Big Brothers Big Sisters non-profit organizations.

For more information about LeConte Wealth Management and access to a variety of free online financial tools and calculators, visit http://www.lecontewealth.com

ABOUT THE CFP®
These marks identify those individuals who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements of the CFP Board, have successfully completed financial planning coursework and have passed the CFP® Certification Examination covering the following areas: the financial planning process, risk management, investments, tax planning and management, retirement and employee benefits, and estate planning. CFP® certificants also agree to meet ongoing continuing education requirements and to uphold CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards.

CFP Board is a nonprofit certification organization with a mission to benefit the public by granting the CFP® certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for personal financial planning. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. CFP Board currently authorizes more than 61,000 individuals to use these marks in the United States. For more about CFP Board, visit www.CFP.net.

ABOUT LECONTE WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
Established in 2007 and located at 703 William Blount Drive, Maryville, TN 37801, LeConte Wealth Management, LLC (www.lecontewealth.com or 865-379-8200) helps clients develop a plan to accumulate and preserve their wealth in pursuit of their unique financial goals. With more than 30 years of cumulative experience, the firm’s team provides asset management, retirement planning, estate planning, risk management and business planning. Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed Insurance products and services offered by LeConte Wealth Management, LLC are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth.

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PRSA “Public Relations” Definition Could Go One Step Further; #prdefined

Monday, March 12th, 2012

By Mary Beth West, APR

As a profession, public relations has historically beaten out most others in living up to the old saying, “the cobbler has no shoes.”

So goes the reality that the profession has struggled for decades with achieving accurate perceptions of what public relations is and what we in the profession actually do for a living.

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) took on the challenge anew with an effort formally entitled “Public Relations Defined” to create a universal definition of public relations. 

PRSA National Chair / CEO Gerard Corbett, APR, Fellow PRSA, did a terrific job framing the need for this effort in his kick-off to the initiative earlier this year.

PRSA’s members worldwide were invited to submit their ideas and recommendations for the best-crafted definition and to vote on a final draft.

The chosen winner:

“Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”

While I like this definition especially for its simplicity, I would like it even more if within the definition it answered the question, “To what end?”

If PRSA could tack on a simple phrase at the conclusion, “to achieve business objectives,” it would strike more solid resonance with CEOs and other leaders / management functions that public relations’ value is all about making the entities we serve holistically successful.

Apart from this criticism – which I only intend in a constructive way – I have to hand it to them:  Hats off to PRSA and the many leaders involved in this effort for taking on this project.  The time had certainly come to revise PRSA’s previously adopted definition from 1982:

“Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.”

If that phrase didn’t automatically trigger a bout of narcolepsy for you, I will hasten to point out that it’s great in 2012 to operate in a profession that self-describes itself as more than just a helper, and more so, that we’re not entrenched in some curious sociological exercise of “adapt(ing) mutually,” a concept which one would more likely read about in National Geographic than Harvard Business Review.  Who on earth would pay a decent monthly retainer for that little deliverable? 

Final thought: as someone who has been involved in the past in PRSA’s national advocacy efforts for the profession, it’s my hope that all of PRSA’s members will do their own part to represent and to communicate to others what we do – in all its expansive diversity of scope and impact – in a way that is worthy of the strongest ideals. 

It’s not PRSA’s job alone.  It should play a role in the life’s work of each of us.

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East Tennessee E-Z Stop Food Marts Launch “Return and Earn” Loyalty Cards

Monday, March 5th, 2012

Maryville, Tenn. – E-Z Stop Food Marts announced today its launch of a new “return and earn” loyalty card program for 19 of its convenience store locations in East Tennessee in partnership with ExxonMobil.

E-Z Stop Food Marts in Blount, Cocke, Knox, Loudon, Monroe and Sevier counties will issue return and earn cards to customers, who can swipe the cards for instant Exxon gas price roll-backs at the pump as well as special in-store offers.

For every $5 spent on select merchandise inside E-Z Stop stores, customers will earn a $.01 discount per gallon toward the next fuel purchase (limit of 20 gallons).  Each month, E-Z Stop Food Marts will feature bonus return and earn items that will help customers earn more savings toward their next fuel purchase.

According to E-Z Stop Food Marts CEO Tommy Hunt, savings from the card program accumulate over time, with each earned savings good for 60 days. Customers can track points accumulated on their individual card at www.ezstop.net, or by calling 865-977-7070.

“Our team is excited to offer customers a real cost-savings tool that puts money back in their wallet at both the in-store checkout counter and at the fuel pump,” Hunt said. “In addition to our local store offers, Exxon will feature national-level offers periodically that will benefit E-Z Stop customers as well.”

Customers should swipe their cards with each purchase. Purchased items excluded from the return and earn program are Lottery, Lotto, cigarettes and beer.

Founded in 1984 and working in partnership with Maryville-based Calloway Oil Company, E-Z Stop Food Marts manages 22 stores throughout East Tennessee.

The following stores are participating in this “return and earn” loyalty program:

E-Z Stop 1
708 Montvale Rd.
Maryville, TN 37803
(865) 983-7867

E-Z Stop 3
2028 E. Hunt Rd.
Maryville, TN 37804
(865) 977-6862

E-Z Stop 6
7551 Oak Ridge Hwy.
Knoxville, TN 37931
(865) 693-8913

E-Z Stop 7
1103 Hwy. 321
Lenoir City, TN 37771
(865) 986-8170

E-Z Stop 8
2130 E. Broadway
Maryville, TN 37804
(865) 982-6672

E-Z Stop 9
501 W. Broadway
Lenoir City, TN 37771
(865) 986-6859

E-Z Stop 10
11311 Chapman Hwy.
Seymour, TN 37865
(865) 577-7015

E-Z Stop 12
2758 Airport Hwy.
Alcoa, TN 37701
(865) 983-7248

E-Z Stop 15
9200 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922
(865) 531-2015

E-Z Stop 16
8605 Walbrook Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37923
(865) 691-1792

E-Z Stop 17
2102 W. Lamar Alex. Pkwy.
Maryville, TN 37801
(865) 977-8367

E-Z Stop 18
851 Dolly Parton Pkwy.
Sevierville, TN 37862
(865) 428-2907

E-Z Stop 19
1103 US 25 & 70
Newport, TN 37821
(423) 625-3677

E-Z Stop 20
1764 W. Broadway
Maryville, TN 37803
(865) 379-6525

E-Z Stop 21
7503 Tazewell Pike
Corryton, TN 37721
(865) 689-2688

E-Z Stop 22
2428 E. Lamar Alex. Pkwy.
Maryville, TN 37804
(865) 380-1551

E-Z Stop 23
1111 Hwy. 321
Lenoir City, TN 37771
(865) 986-5911

E-Z Stop 24
1401 Winfield Dunn Pkwy.
Sevierville, TN 37876
(865) 428- 2835

E-Z Stop 26
1930 Hwy. 411
Vonore, TN 37885
(423) 884-6672

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PlanET Kicks off 2012 with Focus on Expanding Opportunities for Community Input–“MindMixer” Online Tool Provides Easy Forum for Idea Exchange

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Knoxville, Tenn. – As Plan East Tennessee, or PlanET, broadens its 2012 regional planning efforts for Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties with continued community face-to-face dialogues, the initiative also has launched a free online town hall tool to spur citizen participation, “MindMixer.”

A regional partnership of communities building a shared direction for the future, PlanET is seeking ideas about protecting valuable resources and addressing local challenges in five key areas: jobs, housing, transportation, a clean environment and community health.

“We have been pleased with the turnouts throughout the five counties to gather citizen input from all walks of life about the long-term direction of our regional community,” said Mayor Tom Taylor, City of Maryville, PlanET Board of Mayors Vice-Chair.

“While our face-to-face input sessions are an ideal way to gather peoples’ ideas, we also offer a supplement to these in-person forums through our online town hall, MindMixer,” Mayor Taylor said.

MindMixer is a virtual town hall forum that facilitates community planning dialogues online. Accessible through the PlanET website (http://engage.planeasttn.org/), anyone can join the dialogue and contribute ideas.

“The PlanET virtual town hall is a great way for folks to weigh in with their own ideas, in their own words, about specific regional issues,” Mayor Taylor said. “For people with busy schedules who can’t attend a meeting, it provides terrific interactive access to the PlanET process of generating community input.”

The online forum allows participants to help prioritize ideas by voting with “Love it!,” “Like It!,” “It’s OK,” or “Neutral” feedback buttons – with a certain number of points assigned to each level of feedback. This forum enables community-supported ideas to rise to the top of the discussion.

Participants online also can earn their own points for a variety of prizes such as gift certificates and free passes by registering with MindMixer, contributing ideas, responding to others’ ideas, and referring friends to participate – making the system fun and motivational.

Citizens also can view a schedule of all upcoming community events on PlanET’s online calendar: http://www.planeasttn.org/Participate/EventCalendar.aspx//

Community Participation is Essential
“A big part of our goal with PlanET is to hear from a diverse and active base of citizens and organizations throughout the region and maintain their participation in this long-term planning effort,” Mayor Tom Beehan, City of Oak Ridge, PlanET Board of Mayor’s Chairperson said. “We want them to get fully engaged in this process and become active partners for the most ‘livable’ East Tennessee possible, from now through many decades in the future.”

While a key result of PlanET centers on developing an actual plan for the region, one of the most important outcomes is to establish a committed coalition of leaders, organizations and individuals who will follow through the plan to implementation and continue regional involvement that extends beyond the 36-month PlanET project, Mayor Beehan said.

Differentiating PlanET From “Nine Counties, One Vision”
According to Mayor Beehan, one of the most common misperceptions is that PlanET is simply a repeat of “Nine Counties, One Vision,” which isn’t accurate.

“Many people remember ‘Nine Counties, One Vision’ from over a decade ago, which was a large-scale visioning effort that had a variety of positive outcomes for the region,” Mayor Beehan said. “However, PlanET is much different.”

Unlike “Nine Counties,” PlanET focuses on a more cohesive economic region – the Knoxville region, defined in part by worker commuting patterns showing a strong degree of economic interdependence across county lines.

While “Nine Counties” was based on an immediate regional visioning process, PlanET is focused on long-term community involvement and actual implementation of a plan that will continue long after the three-year PlanET grant ends in 2013.

Over the three-year PlanET process, which began in late summer 2011, three phases will lead to a targeted, meaningful outcome.

Phase One (August 2011 – July 2012) will bring East Tennesseans together to establish a shared identity and vision. Phase Two (April 2012 – March 2013) will take that vision and will develop a shared direction with continued citizen input. Phase Three (January 2013 – December 2013) will produce and report the final product, again with continued citizen input, and focus on implementation activities.

About PlanET
Plan East Tennessee (PlanET) is a regional partnership of communities building a shared direction for the future of Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties.

PlanET seeks ideas about protecting valuable resources and addressing challenges regarding jobs, housing, transportation, a clean environment, and community health. The goal: to create long-term solutions for investments in the region and to define the next chapter in the region’s rich history, leaving a legacy of optimism and opportunity for future generations.

PlanET is overseen by the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) and managed through the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), through a grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program.

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