| Dept. of Mississippi 2011-2012 PR Committee Mary Jo Abraham, Chairman Diane Lawrence Diane Fountain Angela Kilcrease, Webmistress |
American Legion Auxiliary
| Department of Mississippi |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
CALLING ALL UNIT PR CHAIRMEN!
The NALPA Wants You!
There is a wealth of ideas for exchanging, developing newsletters for your own Unit and/or
other public relations activities, and ways of communicating your Legion family goals from the
National American Legion Press Association.
The NALPA Wants You!
There is a wealth of ideas for exchanging, developing newsletters for your own Unit and/or
other public relations activities, and ways of communicating your Legion family goals from the
National American Legion Press Association.
A NALPA membership is $10 yearly, with the membership year covering September 1 through
August 31 each year. Please take a moment to visit the NALPA Web site to get a taste of
information that is available at your fingertips:National American Legion Press Association.
Also, don’t forget about subscribing to The American Legion Dispatch. NALPA members get a
discount of $9—another incentive to join!
August 31 each year. Please take a moment to visit the NALPA Web site to get a taste of
information that is available at your fingertips:National American Legion Press Association.
Also, don’t forget about subscribing to The American Legion Dispatch. NALPA members get a
discount of $9—another incentive to join!
| Check out the Department's News page for the latest news! |
BOILERPLATES FOR YOUR NEWS RELEASES
Consistency in our news helps unite our efforts to promote the programs and
activities of the American Legion Auxiliary.
A boilerplate at the end of each news release submitted to a newspaper should
include the below information. Across Mississippi, if we all use this PR tool, we
can educate the public about our organization and present a unified voice
about who we are!
Simply add the below information to end of your story. It may or may not be
included in your news story. But, at least the information is there for the editor
or reporter handling the story. You never know, you may intrigue someone to
find out more about us!
SUGGESTED NEWS STORY BOILERPLATE, APPROVED BY THE DEPT. PR
COMMITTEE:
About the American Legion Auxiliary
The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest patriotic women’s service
organization in the world, with nearly 1 million members. Affiliated with The
American Legion, the Auxiliary is a veterans’ service organization with members
in nearly 10,000 American communities. The organization sponsors volunteer
programs on the national and local levels, focusing on three major areas:
veterans, young people and the community.
For more information, contact ______________________ at ---.---.---- or visit
www.missala.com.
(Insert your Unit’s PR chairman’s name and telephone number, including area
code.)
Consistency in our news helps unite our efforts to promote the programs and
activities of the American Legion Auxiliary.
A boilerplate at the end of each news release submitted to a newspaper should
include the below information. Across Mississippi, if we all use this PR tool, we
can educate the public about our organization and present a unified voice
about who we are!
Simply add the below information to end of your story. It may or may not be
included in your news story. But, at least the information is there for the editor
or reporter handling the story. You never know, you may intrigue someone to
find out more about us!
SUGGESTED NEWS STORY BOILERPLATE, APPROVED BY THE DEPT. PR
COMMITTEE:
About the American Legion Auxiliary
The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest patriotic women’s service
organization in the world, with nearly 1 million members. Affiliated with The
American Legion, the Auxiliary is a veterans’ service organization with members
in nearly 10,000 American communities. The organization sponsors volunteer
programs on the national and local levels, focusing on three major areas:
veterans, young people and the community.
For more information, contact ______________________ at ---.---.---- or visit
www.missala.com.
(Insert your Unit’s PR chairman’s name and telephone number, including area
code.)
E-Mail Tags
For those of your who are computer savvy and want to add a little pride about your ALA
membership to your e-mail signature, what about an e-mail tag? Simply go into your
e-mail preferences, where you set up your signature block, and add these suggested
tags. Every time you send an e-mail, your recipient will see how much you value your
membership in ALA:
Proud to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the world's largest women's
patriotic service organization, dedicated in service to veterans, young people, and
community.
Proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary since ____. Dedicated in service to
veterans, youth, and community.
With the philosophy of "Service, not Self," the American Legion Auxiliary develops a
strong spirit of volunteerism in its members, who have joined together in the fellowship
of giving to others. Remember others in need; remember to thank a veteran every day.
For those of your who are computer savvy and want to add a little pride about your ALA
membership to your e-mail signature, what about an e-mail tag? Simply go into your
e-mail preferences, where you set up your signature block, and add these suggested
tags. Every time you send an e-mail, your recipient will see how much you value your
membership in ALA:
Proud to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the world's largest women's
patriotic service organization, dedicated in service to veterans, young people, and
community.
Proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary since ____. Dedicated in service to
veterans, youth, and community.
With the philosophy of "Service, not Self," the American Legion Auxiliary develops a
strong spirit of volunteerism in its members, who have joined together in the fellowship
of giving to others. Remember others in need; remember to thank a veteran every day.
| Considering a newsletter for your Unit? Click here for some information to consider. |
Public Relations
For the past two months we have
celebrated Veterans Day, Thanksgiving
and Christmas. Time seemed to fly by as
we planned and participated in one event
to the other and gave thanks for our
Veterans, family, friends and most of all for
God’s abundance and His son, Jesus. Now
it is time to put 2011 behind us and
welcome in 2012, extending good wishes
that the New Year will bring prosperity,
love, joy and peace to all we know.
As we begin to record a new page in
Mississippi’s ALA history, we need to keep
the public informed of our planned
upcoming events, fundraisers, or
community programs. In an online search
for ways to get your articles and
announcements noticed by the public, I
came across the website www.
101PublicRelations.com, which offers
suggestions for effective news releases and
“bonehead mistakes” to avoid, as we find
ourselves in this later category, not
intentionally but by omission. It begins by
saying that the news release is your only
chance to make a good first impression.
Sloppy, inaccurate, pointless releases are
the first to hit the newsroom wastebasket or
recycle bin. Even if the article is short,
making sure the details are all there is
more important than having meaningless
words count for length.
To make sure your's isn’t one of them,
avoid these seven deadly sins:
▪ Verify your information, making sure it is
not insufficient or wrong, particularly
telephone numbers.
▪ Releases must be complete, accurate
and specific.
▪ Keep your writing short, as they should
be no longer than two pages. In most
cases you will have limited space so just
get to the point in as few words as possible
or someone will condense your writing for
you and leave out key ideas that you want
included.
▪ Honor the deadline and do not send your
information in too late. Mail or fax it in at
least two weeks before an event, preferably
three or four. Sending them four to six
months ahead for major magazines is
essential.
▪ Do not send in a release with no news
value. News is what happens that is
different. If it isn't different, it isn't news.
Use suggested templates for help and
ideas. Tell only about the newsworthy
items and keep the “fluff” out
▪ Blatant commercialism is not effective.
Avoid hackneyed words and phrases such
as spectacular, incredible, the only one of
its kind, breakthrough, cutting-edge,
unique and state-of-the-art.
▪ Always include a contact name and
phone number, at the top of the first page
in the left corner, to let editors know who
they can call if they have questions.
▪ Since most newspapers prefer an email
of the requested information, this one hit
home with the uncertainty in email
receipts to the intended recipients,
“Calling after you send a release should be
avoided.” Questions like "Did you get my
news release?" or "Do you know when it
will be printed?" will brand you as a pest.
Don't follow up with a phone call to see if
the media got your release, unless you are
absolutely sure that someone will check
for you. Most reporters and editors don't
have time. Make friends and cooperate
with press associates, especially if it is free
advertisement or an ad for your Unit. Do
not forget those thank you notes as a
follow-up to an event and Certificates of
Appreciation at the end of the year. They
mean a lot, especially as they are
unexpected expressions of gratitude.
Hope that these suggestions will give you
all the help you need to get the media’s
attention for your announcement or
event—and keep your news release out of
the wastebasket.
Many thanks to all of the Units that
submitted a report by December 31st.
Your data is very valuable for the reports
that are due for the Mid Winter
Conference coming up January 13 – 15.
The PR Committee has not received any
archived information from any of the Units,
so please bring your collection of articles
to Conference. Regardless of the size of
your Unit, I know that by now, everyone
should have had at least one
announcement or story in the newspaper,
church bulletin or newsletter, etc. If you
have not, consider adding this to your list
of Unit goals for 2012. We all have a story
to tell, make sure you and your Unit are
included.
For God and Country,
Mary Jo Abraham, Chairman
celebrated Veterans Day, Thanksgiving
and Christmas. Time seemed to fly by as
we planned and participated in one event
to the other and gave thanks for our
Veterans, family, friends and most of all for
God’s abundance and His son, Jesus. Now
it is time to put 2011 behind us and
welcome in 2012, extending good wishes
that the New Year will bring prosperity,
love, joy and peace to all we know.
As we begin to record a new page in
Mississippi’s ALA history, we need to keep
the public informed of our planned
upcoming events, fundraisers, or
community programs. In an online search
for ways to get your articles and
announcements noticed by the public, I
came across the website www.
101PublicRelations.com, which offers
suggestions for effective news releases and
“bonehead mistakes” to avoid, as we find
ourselves in this later category, not
intentionally but by omission. It begins by
saying that the news release is your only
chance to make a good first impression.
Sloppy, inaccurate, pointless releases are
the first to hit the newsroom wastebasket or
recycle bin. Even if the article is short,
making sure the details are all there is
more important than having meaningless
words count for length.
To make sure your's isn’t one of them,
avoid these seven deadly sins:
▪ Verify your information, making sure it is
not insufficient or wrong, particularly
telephone numbers.
▪ Releases must be complete, accurate
and specific.
▪ Keep your writing short, as they should
be no longer than two pages. In most
cases you will have limited space so just
get to the point in as few words as possible
or someone will condense your writing for
you and leave out key ideas that you want
included.
▪ Honor the deadline and do not send your
information in too late. Mail or fax it in at
least two weeks before an event, preferably
three or four. Sending them four to six
months ahead for major magazines is
essential.
▪ Do not send in a release with no news
value. News is what happens that is
different. If it isn't different, it isn't news.
Use suggested templates for help and
ideas. Tell only about the newsworthy
items and keep the “fluff” out
▪ Blatant commercialism is not effective.
Avoid hackneyed words and phrases such
as spectacular, incredible, the only one of
its kind, breakthrough, cutting-edge,
unique and state-of-the-art.
▪ Always include a contact name and
phone number, at the top of the first page
in the left corner, to let editors know who
they can call if they have questions.
▪ Since most newspapers prefer an email
of the requested information, this one hit
home with the uncertainty in email
receipts to the intended recipients,
“Calling after you send a release should be
avoided.” Questions like "Did you get my
news release?" or "Do you know when it
will be printed?" will brand you as a pest.
Don't follow up with a phone call to see if
the media got your release, unless you are
absolutely sure that someone will check
for you. Most reporters and editors don't
have time. Make friends and cooperate
with press associates, especially if it is free
advertisement or an ad for your Unit. Do
not forget those thank you notes as a
follow-up to an event and Certificates of
Appreciation at the end of the year. They
mean a lot, especially as they are
unexpected expressions of gratitude.
Hope that these suggestions will give you
all the help you need to get the media’s
attention for your announcement or
event—and keep your news release out of
the wastebasket.
Many thanks to all of the Units that
submitted a report by December 31st.
Your data is very valuable for the reports
that are due for the Mid Winter
Conference coming up January 13 – 15.
The PR Committee has not received any
archived information from any of the Units,
so please bring your collection of articles
to Conference. Regardless of the size of
your Unit, I know that by now, everyone
should have had at least one
announcement or story in the newspaper,
church bulletin or newsletter, etc. If you
have not, consider adding this to your list
of Unit goals for 2012. We all have a story
to tell, make sure you and your Unit are
included.
For God and Country,
Mary Jo Abraham, Chairman