Hello everyone.  Judging by the weather here, summer is here to stay.  Hope
you're having a good one.

The next edition of the PRSA/Volunteer Chapter newsletter should arrive
within the next few weeks, but I wanted to give you a few updates now.

The best news first.  Please join me in welcoming, congratulating (and
perhaps offering life-support to) Dan Hurst, our chapter's new
president-elect.  Kidding aside, Dan has indeed taken on a big job, but it's
certainly one that he will handle with his characteristically personable
style and roll-up-your-sleeves leadership.  Dan will serve as chapter
president in 2001.  An account executive at Ackermann Public Relations, Dan
offers a wealth of talent and energy to lead our chapter into the next
decade, and I for one look forward to working closely with him.

Other news -- please mark your calendar:

*       Thursday, June 29 (11:30 a.m., Club LeConte) -- Our June meeting
will feature Rod Irvin, APR, director of corporate communications and
strategy at Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport.  Many of you know Rod,
who was this year's recipient of the Harvey I. Cobert Award of Excellence
and is a former national chair of PRSA's Corporate Section.  Rod will share
his insights with the program, "Crisis Communications -- When The Crisis Is
Not Operational."   Rod will discuss crisis scenarios all organizations
should prepare for, beyond the textbook-case plant explosions or natural
disasters, such as labor disputes, white collar crime, management-caused
business disruptions, product defects and recalls, whistle-blowing, etc.
Rod plans to make this lunch program an interative discussion -- so bring
your questions and experiences to share with the group.

*       Thursday, July 20 -- This will be the date of the next quarterly
roundtable.  More information will follow from Sharon Pound, APR and Nancy
Mayes.  Be sure to take advantage of this great networking and discussion
opportunity.  No RSVPs necessary.

*       Thursday, July 27 (11:30 a.m., Club LeConte) -- In July (and just in
time before the fall college semester begins), we will cover internship
programs with a panel discussion of how to set up successful public
relations internships in your organization.  As anyone familiar with the
current labor market is well aware, finding talented people cost-effectively
to handle day-to-day PR tasks is very difficult right now.  All too often,
lack of planning and communication result in internships where the
organization doesn't realize the full potential of an extra person on staff,
and the student doesn't get the kind of experience and exposure to the
profession he/she expected.  This session will discuss the do's and don'ts
of getting an internship started and promoting it so you get the "best of
the best" in PR talent from local programs.  Faculty from UT and East Tenn.
State University will be on the panel, as well as a PRSA professional and
PRSSA student.

As always, you can RSVP for monthly meetings through the Monday prior to the
meeting date.  Please contact Barbara Martoccci or Nancy Cann at TVA.
Meeting reminders will also be mailed soon.

On another note, planning for Public Relations Day (Friday, November 10,
2000, University of Tennessee -- University Center) is well-underway.  We
have a slate of national-level speakers and PRSA leaders on board, and the
programming promises to be excellent.  Some of you will be receiving in the
mail this week a sponsorship solicitation for the event (if you don't
receive one and you're interested in being a sponsor, please contact me).
Our members' support is very important to the success of Public Relations
Day, so please be sure to attend.  More program details will be shared in
the next month.

Finally, please stay tuned for a chapter-wide mailing within the next few
months that will include 2001 officer and committee information and a
"Willingness To Serve" form.  By returning your form, you will let the
nominating committee know of your interest in serving the chapter next year,
making the whole nominating process much easier.  Whether you can serve in a
year-long leadership role or only have a small amount of time to spare, your
contributions are valued and much-needed.  We look forward to hearing from
you later.

As always, thank you for your membership in and support of the Volunteer
Chapter.  Please contact me if ever I can be of assistance.

Mary Beth West, APR
(President, Volunteer Chapter, PRSA)
VP/Marketing
Union Planters Bank
P.O. Box 15993
Knoxville, TN  37901
T:  865/549-2243
F:  865/549-2236