HAPPY FRIDAY!

Take a few minutes out of your busy day today to honor the many people that
we know and respect in our profession and our community by nominating them
for a PRSA individual award.  We have had some incredible nominations and
winners in years past and we need your help to continue this tradition.

All of the folks mentioned below do what they do because they love making a
difference in their workplace and their community, but don't you think
everyone deserves a big pat on the back every now and then?

Besides, it's free!  Hurry though, nominations MUST be received by March 1.
Each nomination should be no more than two typed pages. Supporting materials
like photos, clips and speeches may be included.  All materials must be in a
1" binder on pages no larger than 8 ½ by 11.  There is no limit on the
number of how many people you can nominate, the more the better.

Take a few minutes and read about the kind of people who have won, and
submit your own entry.  Forward this to others who may also participate by
sending in their own nominations.

Did I mention that the entries are FREE?

Community Service Award

 The Community Service Award was established in 1977 to recognize
individuals or organizations that are not in the field of public relations,
but that use public relations practices in their efforts to improve the
quality of life in East Tennessee.

Lynne Fugate, executive director of Nine Counties. One Vision, received this
award in 2001.  At great expense to her family and personal life, Lynne has
spent countless dedicated hours developing this unique visioning process for
our region.  She approaches her job with as much enthusiasm each day as she
did when the Nine Counties.One Vision first began and will ensure that many
of the best ideas are made realities.

Who else do you know that has made this much of an impact and real change in
our community?

Executive of the Year

The Executive of the Year Award was established in 1982 to honor an area
chief executive officer or employer who has shown exceptional support of
PRSA and of the public relations profession in general.  Nominees for
Executive of the Year should not include public relations practitioners.
These individuals should be nominated under criteria established for the
Harvey I. Cobert Award.

Gloria Ray received this award in year 2001.  She is the president and CEO
of the Greater Knoxville Sports Corporation and is known for her ability to
sell ice to the Eskimos along with her commitment to bringing a new level of
sporting events to Knoxville. Her vision and persistence is why the Women's
Basketball Hall of Fame, an international venue, exists today. As the first
woman's Athletic Director for UT, she continues to promote women in sports
and is always thinking about how to tie sports and economic development
together in a way that benefits us all.

The corporate, small business and non-profit entities in this area have some
terrific leaders who are natural public relations agents.  Let them know you
recognize their contributions.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award provides an opportunity for the Volunteer
Chapter to recognize major contributors to the field of public relations.
The individuals honored by this award have generated an outstanding body of
work through their careers in public relations and have contributed to the
success of public relations in East Tennessee as well as to the Volunteer
Chapter.

Sandra Plant, a 30-year veteran of our field, and founder of our volunteer
chapter received this award in 2001 and deservedly so. Sandra was one of the
first accredited members in our area and has made an incredible impact in
public information programs for Department of Energy installations and its
contractors.  She has long been an advocate for our profession through
participating in career days, teaching creative writing, mentoring interns
and serving on the Board of Visitors for the UT College of Communications.

Big shoes to fill, but help the PRSA honor the esteemed professionals that
bring honor to our profession and make us all want to be even better at what
we do.


Harvey I. Cobert Award of Excellence

Established in 1997, the Harvey I. Cobert Award of Excellence recognizes
individual merit by honoring outstanding achievements by a public relations
professional in the East Tennessee region.  The award provides the Volunteer
Chapter with an opportunity to showcase the individual contributions made by
dynamic members of the public relations industry and who are contributing to
the success and growth of the profession as well as the Volunteer Chapter.

Susan Barnes is known for being one of the first professionals in our area
to bridge the academic and professional communities by teaching classes at
UT while working full time.  She is well versed in the accreditation
process, the code of ethics and leads us all by her example.  She has been a
sole practitioner, a specialist for ORAU and SAIC, and a vice president for
Student Relations. She has done much to bring our chapter in closer contact
with Atlanta and Nashville and continues to nurture all of us from afar.

For more information, please call Holly Egan, awards chair, at 588-7646 or
e-mail at [log in to unmask] Submit your nominations no later than March
1 to Holly Egan, American Heart Association, 4708 Papermill Drive,
Knoxville, TN 37919.

*Many thanks to Karen Collins, KACP and awards committee member, for putting
this information together for us! Thanks, Karen!