State Public Relations Chair
Brad Smith
Marion #32
Special Public Relations Meeting at Spring Convention!
We will have two exceptional speakers at a casual/informal breakout meeting at the April State Meeting! They will share tips and insights on how to improve receptiveness to your news by your local media.
Jay Allred, CEO, Source Media Properties, a local online news organization operating in three Ohio counties. This type of digital local media is replacing local newspapers as the primary source of local news.
Mike Stanley, PSP. Nobody gets more PR exposure for his Lodge than Mike, and he’s willing to share how he gets this done.
Anyone involved in publicizing the accomplishments of your lodge is invited.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
1:00 p.m. in room Dublin VIII
Marriott Columbus Northwest
Public Relations is your Lodge’s year-round effort to show non-members in your locality that the Elks is a community service organization made up of people who like to have fun. It’s your opportunity to proudly showcase your Lodge as the kind of group worth joining.
Work with your ER, Secretary, Club Manager, Newsletter Editor, Facebook Editor and/or Activities Chairman to make sure you are informed of all upcoming events as far in advance as possible.
Develop a system to gather information and photos of all newsworthy events.
Recruit a PR Committee.
Go out and meet the media personally.
Promote your Lodge Events,
PR Chairperson’s “Top 5 To Do” List
April
Installation of new officers
May
Elks Youth Week
Mother’s Day events
Memorial Day events
June
Flag Day (pre-event announcement and post-event coverage)
Father’s Day events
Scholarship winners
Golf League
Little League/baseball team sponsorships
July
Hoop Shoot (announcement/winners)
Golf outings
August
Lodge awards received at Ohio Elks convention
September
Americanism Contest
What Should Our Lodge Publicize?
October
Children's Halloween Party
Scholarship applications available
November
Veterans Day events
Thanksgiving/Holiday food baskets
Hoop Shoot location/date announcement
Elk’s Memorial Service announcement – members to be honored
December
Hoop Shoot winners
Children’s Christmas party
January
Local winners at the District Hoop Shoot
February
Americanism Contest winners
Valentine’s Day activities
March
Member Awards (like GER Membership Recruitment, Officer of the Year)
Scholarship applications available
Additional suggested subjects you can publicize.
National initiatives implemented on the local level (example: Dictionary Project)
Drug Awareness programs or literature distributed.
Events hosted (festival beer garden, track meet, etc.)
All donations (ENF grants, Community Service grants, etc.)
Veteran’s activities (visitation, dinners, awards, etc.)
Remember: your release will be 5 times more likely to be printed if it is accompanied by a photograph!
I have some press releases/stories for these events that have been used successfully. If you would like me to share them or post them on the OEA website, email me.
Also, don’t forget to send copies of your releases to your District Public Relations Chairperson to have them included in the OEA News section, https://ohioelks.com/oea-news/ .