Launch Of Local Nonprofit Is An Inspired Success

by: Christa Fulenwider

(DISCLOSURE: Women On Board is an MMI client; it was a great event )

Women on Board, a program of the North Carolina Center for Women in Public Service, held their first event on Oct. 15 at the Meredith College Massey House.  In attendance were some of the Triangle area’s most esteemed women and business owners.  N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and president of AT&T North Carolina, Cynthia Marshall gave motivating speeches about the importance of women serving on elected and appointed boards.

Chair of the event, Virginia Parker of Paragon Commercial Bank, organized a successful launch event for the nonprofit.  The Massey House was the perfect venue for the event; the elegant and refined space provided an ideal forum, where attendees could connect with other leading women around the area while sharing a feeling of camaraderie.

The weather cooperated beautifully.  The front terrace was used as the greeting space and also provided a sanctuary to cool off, as the down stairs filled up with the warmth of excitement from business women, members and event sponsors.  A delightful, appetizing arrangement of food was laid out in the dining area, along with drinks in the study and formal living room for attendees to enjoy; also a video provided by Time Warner was shown on computers placed in each room.

As attendees continued to arrive, I watched as women from all backgrounds and generations connected with one another over mini-quiches and pinot grigio.  Old friends caught up, while new friends shared brief life stories with one another.   The roar of laughter quieted, and everyone’s attention switched to the grand staircase in the front hall, as Parker introduced the night’s speakers.

Cynthia Marshall gave an impassioned speech, acknowledging the importance of putting women in public service, while also thanking Elaine Marshall, N.C. Secretary of State, for her guidance and counsel.  A recent study showed that N.C. ranks 37 in a nationwide poll of women in appointed positions; that means women, who make up more than half of the United State’s population, hold only 29 percent of appointed positions in N.C.  According to Elaine Marshall that statistic is unacceptable – after all it is 2009.  

Parker closed the evening by thanking those who contributed their time and support to the cause and giving thanks to those who could attend, reminding them not to leave empty handed –donation envelopes and brochures leading them to the Women on Board Web site were waiting outside, along with a complementary tote.

Women on Board is a program of the North Carolina Center for Women in Public Service, established in April 2009 as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare women to seek and serve in elected and appointed offices, advocate for systems and infrastructure to facilitate women’s  involvement, and promote the value of women in governance.

The women continued to enjoy the rest of the night and exited eager to receive more information.  Needless to say Women on Board is ready to take off and if it’s anything like last night’s event it should be a lot of fun.

Addition Of Joseph Hice Signals A First Step In University’s Crisis Recovery

By Kathleen Mongero

When it comes to North Carolina State University these days, there is one obvious fact that is hard to argue – they could use some good PR right about now.  Between dealing with budget cuts, free speech issues and corrupt officials, the university has spent the last several months being publicly stoned, taking one momentous blow after another.  It seemed this past summer that every time one turned around there was a chancellor, or provost, or chairman with an FBI agent on their doorstep.

In an attempt to start anew the school recently announced the addition of Joseph Hice, who will serve as the chief of public relations at the university.  Hailing from his most recent gig as the associate vice president of public relations at the University of Florida, Hice’s resume is decorated with past experience, including stints as chief marketing director for Segway and director of corporate communications for Harley Davidson Motor Company.

As reported by local media outlets, Hice will bring in an annual salary of $190,000, which amidst budget chaos could very well make him the Fonz of university PR. Among speculation over the subject of Hice’s salary is the fact NC State offers a Bachelor of Arts in public relations.  Is hiring a pricey PR “expert” during the university’s financial woe the most practical solution, especially when you give degrees to students that aim to make them credible practitioners in the field?  In defense to this and similar criticisms, university officials have argued that the search to fill the position in question has been going on for several years, however, all of us in PR cannot help but point out that when it comes to public relations, timing is everything.

Courtland Smith’s Death Continues To Impact Groups

By Audrey Beckett

Courtland Smith’s death after a confrontation with an Archdale, NC police officer on Aug. 23 has created media frenzy and spurred much public discussion. Smith, 21, was a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and president of its chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Police pulled Smith’s car over after he placed a 911 call asking for assistance. His shocking death is a tragedy that has left his family, university and fraternity devastated and struggling to know how to react.

The incident has remained a primary topic in North Carolina news as a Superior Court Judge ruled that videos taken from the mounted camera of the police officers’ car will not be released to the media. The judge explained that video recordings are not specifically covered under NC Public Records laws. The judge went on to say that releasing the videos would hinder the current investigation into the officers’ actions and if a decision is made to prosecute, could interfere with his right to a fair trial.

The reaction of North Carolinians has been far from unified. Some are glad to hear that the video will remain sealed, feeling that the last moments of Smith’s life should remain private. Many others feel that the public has a right to see the footage and that its release could bring clarity to the situation and play an important role in keeping law enforcement accountable.

In the midst of mourning over Smith’s death, many individuals and institutions must also deal with public relations issues that it has raised.

The Archdale Police Department is the group facing the harshest criticism. They now face larger PR challenges than the media, UNC, DKE or any other related groups. The department has the following mission statement, “…to protect life and property by providing exceptional municipal police services to our community in a partnership with the citizens of Archdale.” After Aug. 23, Archdale police are fighting to assure people that they truly are committed to protecting life.

The department has released recordings in which the police officers were informed that Smith was intoxicated, threatening suicide and possibly armed. In an interview, Archdale Police Chief Darrell Gibbs stressed that officers are trained to only use their guns when they feel their life is in danger. He said, “That’s what it’s there for, to protect your life or to protect a third party. There’s got to be something to make them do it.” Archdale police are emphasizing the message that these officers were well-trained and the shooting could only have been in response to a perceived threat. The officers have been placed on administrative leave and are under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation.

Smith’s death was a shocking, devasting event that left all involved wrestling to make sense of it. Public relations efforts are especially difficult for these groups as they work to communicate important messages while mourning for Smith.

Concertgoers Stuck In Gridlock For Hours

by Christa Fulenwider

The U2 concert went on as scheduled on Saturday, Oct. 3; however, not all were in attendance.  Traffic was backed up for almost six miles on I-40 heading towards Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.  The estimated wait time for concertgoers was a staggering three hours.

The Irish rock band performed at Carter-Finley Stadium, the home of the N.C. State Wolfpack, on a stage that took workers four days to assemble and two days to load back onto trucks.  However, Wolfpack fans need not worry about their home turf; Live Nation, the concert’s organizer, paid for the field’s resodding directly following the event.

Along with the “cool points” Raleigh earns for being chosen as a host for one of the legendary band’s stops along the East Coast, the Triangle might have seen up to a $4 million boost in the economy, according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau — a welcome upturn for local businesses.

The show was scheduled to go off without a hitch, but it was the lack of scheduling that resulted in the event now being labeled as the cause for one of the worst traffic jams in Raleigh history.  Fans were abandoning their cars along I-40 and walking to the concert, while others simply threw up their hands, turned around and headed home.  One woman, Carrie White, spent $250 on the tickets for her husband’s birthday and when they finally arrived to the stadium, White says they were told by a state trooper, “Too late. All lots are full. Go home and see you next year.”

So who is to blame for the parking lot on 40 East? Concertgoers are pointing to state Highway Patrol as the reason for the traffic standstill, while Highway Patrol officials have suggested that it was a lack of planning on the ticket holder’s part that caused them to miss the event.

As a season ticket holder for N.C. State football, I can attest to the headache event traffic can be.  However, I cannot imagine waiting on the interstate for three hours!  I have been attending Wolfpack games since I was a little girl and even given the task of navigating through traffic once I had my driver’s license, but never have I been stuck for that long.

Carter-Finley Stadium can hold over 57,000 fans, and it is not uncommon to have two events (one at Carter-Finley and one at the RBC Center) held on the same day, so what was the problem here?  Don’t forget the fact that Carter-Finley borders the State Fairgrounds, where there is ample space to park.  So where is the missing link?

The state Department of Transportation warned travelers of expected heavy traffic along I-40 due to the event early on Saturday, the Highway Patrol beefed up their numbers and McLaurin Parking (which handles many big events in Raleigh) opened their gates four hours prior to the show’s start.  But with all of this preparation, fans still were unable to find a place to park.

From a PR standpoint, I have to side with the fans.  After reading reports of concertgoers and hearing the alleged remarks made to fans like Carrie White by state troopers, I can’t help but think that the state wasn’t up to par on Oct. 3.  When asked for their opinion on what was to blame for Saturday’s debacle, the Highway Patrol responded saying that it was not poor planning that caused the congestion, but too many people trying to come to the concert all at once.  To be honest, this statement has to make you laugh.  The logic here is just plain ridiculous.  State officials want to blame fans for showing up to an event at the appointed time?

Now granted, State fans are known for their tailgating, which puts the majority of fans in the parking lots hours prior to kick off.  Nevertheless, I do not believe that the state utilized its resources to handle such a large event like U2.  One major component that was missing on Saturday was the Wolfline Buses, which play a vital role in the traffic flow at State games.  While normally governed by the student government association, I have to wonder why state officials did not think to rent those buses or something similar for the blowout concert.

It can be agreed that someone dropped the ball on this one; however, no one is stepping up to the plate to take on the responsibility.  Instead everyone from the Highway Patrol to the N.C. Department of Transportation is passing the blame around to one another.

Unfortunately for locals around the area, it is mishaps like this that make Raleigh a big question mark in the entertainment venue industry.  Is Raleigh just another small-time Southern town masquerading itself as an up-and-coming metropolis?

Photo via “baldiri,” Flickr Creative Commons