Remember the feeling of being a kid on Christmas (or Chanukah) eve? Hardly able to sleep, brimming with excitement and curiosity about the presents that awaited you in the morning. That's how I feel now, as I begin my term as your chapter president.

This year, for me, is one of realizing our full potential. As individuals who strive for passion in what we do. As marketers trying to rebuild our careers in a turbulent economy. The BMA is playing a critical role in helping me realize my full potential, and this year I'm hoping that it can help each of you realize yours. I believe the chapter can do this, and in many ways, already does for some of its members. But not all.

Your new board can, and will, do more to serve current members and the entire Bay Area business-to-business marketing community. Tell me how we can better serve you. By addressing your needs we will also be helping the chapter itself realize its full potential as the place for B2B marketing education, networking, and fun.

Regards,

Raechelle Drivon
President, NorCal BMA

PS: In the spirit of realizing its full potential, COPY has been redesigned. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let us know what you think.

In 2003 and beyond, we can think of at least two areas in PR that demand your attention.

One, corporate scandals. If only we could say they were "so last year." But what's happened at Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, and the rest could very well happen to YOUR company, with you, the savvy communicator, expected to save the day. So we recommend you listen to what NorCal BMA member and longtime PR professional Rob Gelphman has to say in this month's feature article, Loyalty to the Company or Loyalty to the Truth.

Two, blogs. PR is all about influencing the influencers, and, in case you haven't heard, there's now a powerful and rapidly growing class of influencers called "bloggers." In our second article, "Pitching Blogs," find out what blogs are all about and, most importantly, how to successfully approach them.

Featured article: Loyalty to the Company or Loyalty to the Truth
By Rob Gelphman, Principal, Gelphman Associates

"It seems that almost every week, another American corporate icon is restating earnings by another billion dollars, has its CEO under fire for receiving a fat compensation package when his company remains unprofitable, and/or is forced to reveal that the SEC has commenced an investigation into its accounting practices.

And when the CEO, CFO, or another member of the executive team is under siege, the corporation expects the trusty PR operation to perform amazing feats of damage control.

Well folks, I am here to tell you that your acquiescence to this demand is harmful to your career. To be sure, I understand that they are not ASKING you what to do, they are TELLING you what to do. Even so, this is treacherous ground for the PR professional to travel and can have profound career consequences. For starters..."
>> MORE

Another article about Public Relations:

Pitching Blogs: Latest Type of Online Media Vehicle May Provide Valuable PR Opportunities
By Lloyd Trufelman and Laura Goldberg — Appears on Public Relations Society of America website

Every month, "Focus On..." addresses a different marketing topic, including advertising (on- and off-line), channel marketing, design, direct response, e-marketing, event marketing, lead generation, marketing planning, print production, product marketing, public relations, vendor evaluation, and websites.

Get your name in ink: If you'd like to contribute an article about any of the above topics, contact Mike O'Sullivan.

Every month, Member News highlights member accomplishments and introduces new members.

NORCAL BMA WINS EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR COPY
COPY, the monthly newsletter of the NorCal BMA, won a Chapter Excellence Award from International BMA in the 2002-2003 Newsletter category. Each year, awards are issued in a dozen categories to the chapters whose objectives, action plan, documentation, and results stand out in their category.

Want Us to Showcase YOU? This is your opportunity to promote yourself. Maybe your company or agency secured a new customer or client or reached some milestone. Maybe you just got promoted. Whatever the case, we want to hear about it.

If you've got any achievements to share for the next issue of COPY, contact Lisa Bush.

A hearty welcome to our new member!