Registration is open now through Eventbrite. The cost is just $99 for members and $135 for non-members. Everyone is welcome to attend. To register visit:  http://tcpra2011springconference.eventbrite.com/

The hotel for the conference is the Courtyard by Marriott & Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown Chattanooga. This is a link to the hotel reservation page for the conference: http://cwp.marriott.com/chacy/tcpraconference

Please feel free to share this with any other institutions, especially those that you think may not have attended a TCPRA event in a while.

Thanks to Chattanooga State for hosting this conference. We hope to see you there!

Here is the tentative agenda:

Spring TCPRA Conference 2011- Chattanooga

(Conference schedule—Eastern Time)

Wednesday, May 18
Arrive in Chattanooga. Dinner on your own with a couple of recommendations.

Thursday, May 19

7:30 – 8:45 a.m.       Registration/Light breakfast                 

8:45 a.m.                  Welcome to Chattanooga State                                                                     

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.                  Group session:

We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Press Release! Turning Your College into a Self-Made Media Mogul

Kivi Leroux Miller

Author of "The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause"

Everyone is a publisher. Everyone is a broadcaster. Everyone, including your college, can be a media mogul, thanks to Web 2.0. Traditional media still plays an important role, but it’s not what it used to be. Colleges are no longer dependent on the mainstream media to get their messages out beyond their inner circles. During this presentation, Kivi shares how your organization can spread your message further than you ever imagined by creating and distributing your own content and by encouraging others to talk about it using a variety of free and affordable online tools. (60-minute presentation, plus 15 minute Q&A)

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.                  Break                                   

10:30 a.m. – Noon                  Group Session:

Modern Communication Tools: Best Practices

Moderator-Amy Blakely

Assistant Director of Media Relations, University of Tennessee

With Kivi Leroux Miller

Participate in this moderated discussion to share what works, or doesn’t work, on your campus. Topics may include: how you use Web 2.0 to speak directly with your stakeholders; how to let the administration know about these channels and how times have changed; working with other departments to manage channels, such as facebook and twitter; how colleges and universities are best using these channels-techniques and applications; use a example event to further discuss best practices in using social media channels; responding to students and interactivity ups and downs; and dealing with complaints. Kivi Leroux Miller will be participating in this discussion.

Noon – 1:30 p.m.                  Lunch (box lunch provided)                                                                                          

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.                  Concurrent sessions:

Designing Young

Speaker TBA

Even though many of us are looking to attract non-traditional students, the fact is that our largest target audiences are still teenagers. This session looks at current trends in youthful design and ways to stay current with what this audience is looking for in visual design.

Co-Marketing with Large Corporations

Patty Brown

Director of Marketing and Communications, Chattanooga State Community College

Liana Wallace

Community Relations representative, Hemlock Semiconductor, L.L.C.

Bill Persinger

Executive Director for Public Relations and Marketing, Austin Peay State University

College/corporate partnerships are growing in number and complexity statewide, as a number of large corporations, such as Volkswagen and Hemlock, seek higher education help in training new workers. The partnerships provide for new challenges. This session will take a look at PR and marketing issues and strategies.

2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.                  Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.                  Group session:

Crisis Communications: When You Are the Headline!

Larry Smith, President,

Institute for Crisis Management- Louisville, KY

Crisis situations can crop up suddenly or they can sit smoldering for days and weeks.  Larry Smith says that you can establish procedures to prevent up to two-thirds of them. His company, the Institute for Crisis Management, tracks negative news coverage for businesses, not-for-profits, colleges and universities. He will talk about the sources and types of crises most likely to happen on a college campus. He will also have insight on what can be done to minimize the damage if a potential crisis cannot be averted.

4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.                  Break

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.                  Group session:

Q and A with Larry Smith

Questions for Larry and an open forum on Crisis Communication issues.
 

Evening:

Riverboat Cruise and Dinner (included in your conference registration).

Friday, May 20

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.                  Breakfast- continental breakfast on site                                                                       

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.              Roundtable sessions   

Roundtable Sessions with Facilitators

Two 45 minute sessions with facilitators leading a group discussion on the given topic. Participants can switch tables after 45 minutes or continue with one table

Web issues (Derek Pennycuff, Vol State)

Writers/Media Relations (Karen Eldridge and Chloe Kennedy, Maryville)

Graphic Designers (Dewayne Wright, Tennessee Tech)

Marketing and Advertising (Julia Wood, Pellissippi State)

Working with the College Administration (Monica Greppin, Tennessee Board of Regents)

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.                  Break                                                                                         

10:45 a.m. – Noon                  Concurrent sessions: 

Legal Issues for Higher Ed Professionals - You Can't Say That!

Kae Carpenter

Associate General Counsel, Tennessee Board of Regents

What can you say publicly when sensitive topics come up on campus? This session examines communication from a legal standpoint.

The New Videography: Where Professionals and Amateurs Meet

Heidi Cawood and Bruce Alston  

Chattanooga State Community College

 Chattanooga State has a professional videographer and a public relations web based videographer who will discuss how professional videographers and PR folks can work together on the college video communication strategy.

Noon                  Closing lunch and Business meeting
                           AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS