SHEREHE YA KUAZIMISHA KUZALIWA KWA SSPRA HAITAFANYIKA TENA

SHEREHE YA KUAZIMISHA KUZALIWA KWA SSPRA AMBAYO ILITARAJIWA KUFANYIKA TAREHE 16/03/2013 HAITAFANYIKA TENA KWA SABABU KUU MOJA, KWA SASA NI KIPINDI CHA KWARESMA HIVYO SHUGHULI ZOTE ZA SHEREHE NDANI YA CHUO ZIMESIMAMISHWA MPAKA BAADA YA PASAKA.

BADALA YAKE SIKU HIYO KUTAKUWA NA SEMINA YA BLOG DESIGNING ITAKAYOFANYIKA JENGO LA MWANJONDE B3 KUANZIA SAA 4:00 ASUBUHI.

TAFADHALI KUMBUKA KUJA NA LAPTOP PAMOJA NA MODEM. "NI MUHIMU SANA".

Padri Kitima na maajabu ya SAUT

PADRI Charles Kitima alipoteuliwa kuwa makamu mkuu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Mt Agustino (SAUT), Mwanza mwaka 2004, hakuna aliyekuwa na wazo kwamba miaka kumi ya uongozi wake angeweza kufanya maajabu ya kukifanya chuo hicho kuwa hivi kilivyo.

Akishika nafasi ya mtangulizi wake, Padri Kamugisha, aliamini kuwa amepewa kazi kubwa na nzito katika taifa. Nayo ni kupigana na moja ya maadui wakubwa ‘ujinga’. Hivyo, aliazimia kutumia nguvu, akili, maarifa na wakati mwingine kuteseka kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya chuo hicho.

Kasi yake ndiyo inayowashangaza wengi ndani ya kanisa na nchi kwa ujumla, ambapo atakapokabidhi madaraka kwa mwenzake Julai mwaka huu, Padri Kitima anaicha SAUT ikiwa ndicho chuo kikuu pekee nchini chenye idadi kubwa ya wanafunzi, matawi mengi na maendeleo ya kuridhisha.

Chuo Kikuu cha SAUT kilianzishwa rasmi mwaka 1998 ikiwa ni mafanikio ya kilichokuwa Chuo cha Maendeleo ya Jamii Nyegezi (Nyegezi Social Training Institute) kilichoanzishwa tangu mwaka 1960 na Wamisionari wa Kanisa Katoliki ambao kwa sasa wanajulikana kama Wamisionari wa Afrika chini ya Askofu Mkuu Joseph Blomjous wa Jimbo Kuu la Mwanza.

Mwanzoni mwa miaka ya 1960 kilikuwa ni kipindi ambacho nchi nyingi za Afrika zilipata uhuru ikiwemo Tanzania. Kutokana na wimbi la mabadiliko katika nchi za kusini mwa Jangwa la Sahara, Wamisionari wa Afrika walitambua kuwa ujuzi katika suala la habari na mawasiliano, maendeleo ya jamii, uhasibu, usimamizi na utawala vilihitajika kuendelezwa ili kuelimisha wafanyakazi ambao wangechukua uongozi katika nchi za Afrika Mashariki na Kati ambazo zilikuwa zimepata uhuru.

Taasisi ya Maendeleo ya Jamii Nyegezi (NSTI) ililenga kutoa mafunzo ya kitaaluma na kitaalamu, lakini pia kutoa maadili ya elimu ya uraia na kijamii kwa wazawa bila kujali rangi au imani katika nyanja hizo kuu za elimu.

Askofu Joseph Blomjous alipostaafu mnamo mwaka 1964, alikabidhi taasisi kwa mrithi wake, Askofu Renatus Butibubage ambaye aliongoza taasisi hii hadi mwaka 1975 alipoikakabidhi rasmi kwa Baraza la Maaskofu Tanzania (TEC).

Hadi kufikia mwaka 1998 zaidi ya watu 2,400 walikuwa wamepata mafunzo katika taasisi hii kwa ajili ya kutoa huduma katika nchi za Afrika Mashariki na Kati.

Tangu mwaka 1992 kulikuwa na hoja mbalimbali ndani ya Serikali ya Tanzania, ikiwamo suala la utoaji wa huduma za kijamii kuwa huria. Hivyo mwaka 1996 ukawa mwaka kikanisa ulioazimia kupanua huduma ya elimu ya chuo kikuu.

Hivyo, Taasisi ya Maendeleo ya Jamii Nyegezi, ikapandishwa hadhi na kuwa Chuo Kikuu cha Mtakatifu Agustino (St. Augustine University of Tanzania-SAUT), chini ya TEC kikikubali mamlaka ya sheria ya Canon (Canon Law) na katiba ya Apostoliki (Apostolic-Constitution) “Ex-Corde Ecclesiac” kwa ajili ya vyuo vikuu Katoliki.

Chuo cha Mtakatifu Augustino kimeanzishwa kwa mujibu wa sheria za nchi na kinafanya kazi chini ya Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania (TCU) kwa mujibu wa masharti ya vyuo vikuu sheria namba 7 ya mwaka 2005.

Haikushangaza kuona kwamba ndani ya muda mfupi wa uongozi wa Kitima, mamia ya wanafunzi kutoka nchi nyingi za Afrika Mashariki kama vile Kenya na Uganda pamoja na za bara la Ulaya, Amerika, na Australia walivutiwa sana kuja kusoma katika chuo hiki.

Dira na maono

Maaskofu wa Kanisa Katoliki Tanzania waliamua kupanua huduma ya utoaji wa elimu ya juu katika maendeleo ya mtu na heshima kwa utu wa binadamu.

Lengo la kuanzishwa kwake

Chuo Kikuu cha Mtakatifu Agustino kililenga kuwa kituo cha ubora wa elimu, utafiti na utumishi wa umma; kukuza harakati na ulinzi wa kweli, uwazi na uaminifu, pamoja na umahiri na kujituma katika utoaji huduma; kujenga na kuendeleza dhamira ya kutunza mali binafsi na mali ya umma; kuhamasisha maendeleo ya jumla kwa kutoa elimu bora juu ya uwezo wa uchambuzi na dhamira ya kutoa huduma kwa ukarimu na heshima kwa binadamu.

Mafanikio yake tangu 1998

SAUT kilipoanza mwaka 1998 kimefanikiwa chini ya uongozi wa Padri Kitima, kimeongeza matawi mengine mapya 13 katika kanda mbalimbali hapa nchini, na kuongeza udahili wa wanafunzi kutoka wanafunzi 204 hadi 13,121 kwa mwaka wa masomo 2012/2013.

Chuo kimeongeza vitivo vingine vinne (4) kutoka kitivo kimoja cha Sayansi ya Jamii na Mawasiliano ambacho kilikuwa na shahada moja ya Mawasiliano ya Umma. Kimefanikiwa kujenga madarasa mapya, na majengo ya utawala ambayo yamesaidia sana kuongeza ufanisi katika utoaji wa elimu bora.

Chuo kimefanikiwa kutoa elimu kwa wazawa juu ya kuwekeza katika ujenzi wa nyumba za kuishi wanafunzi (hostel) ambazo zimewawezesha kujipatia kipato na pia kuwapa elimu ya biashara ndogondogo.

Kinachofundishwa SAUT

Tangu chuo kuanzishwa mnamo mwaka 1998 kumekuwa na ongezeko la programu mbalimbali ambazo zimekuwa zikiongezwa kwa awamu tofauti.

Hii ni kutokana na tafiti makini na za kina zinazofanywa na wahadhiri wa chuo ndani na nje ya nchi, ambazo zimekisaidia kutambua umuhimu na uhitaji wa programu mbalimbali katika maendeleo ya jamii, Afrika na duniani kwa ujumla. Programu hizi zimegawanyika katika vitivo vifuatavyo:

Kitivo cha biashara na utawala:

Shahada ya Uzamili katika Usimamizi wa Biashara, Sayansi katika Ugavi, Utalii na Usimamizi. Nyingine ni Stashahada ya Juu katika Ununuzi na Usimamizi katika Ugavi na Uhasibu. Pia kinatoa elimu ya cheti katika Utawala wa Afya na Ugavi.

Kitivo cha Sayansi ya Jamii na Mawasiliano:

Hiki kinatoa elimu ya Shahada ya Uzamivu katika Mawasiliano, Uchumi, Mawasiliano ya Umma na Maendeleo ya Jamii. Kinatoa pia Shahada ya Mawasiliano ya Umma na Masoko, Uchumi, na Maendeleo ya Jamii. Kadhalika kinatoa elimu ya cheti katika Uandishi wa Habari.

Kitivo cha elimu:

Kitivo hiki kinatoa elimu kiwango cha Shahada ya Uzamili katika Usimamizi wa Mipango ya Elimu, Usimamizi wa Maendeleo ya Elimu ya juu na katika Isimu.

Pia kinatoa Shahada ya Sanaa na Elimu, Shahada ya Falsafa na Elimu na Shahada ya Mafunzo ya Dini na Elimu.

Kitivo cha Sheria:

Kwa sasa kitivo hiki kinatoa Shahada ya Uzamivu (PhD) katika Sheria, na Shahada ya Uzamili katika Sheria. Kadhalika kinatoa Shahada ya Sheria.

Kitivo cha Uhandisi:

Hiki kinatoa elimu ngazi ya Shahada ya Sayansi katika Uhandisi Ujenzi, Shahada ya Sayansi katika Uhandisi Umeme pamoja na cheti katika Teknolojia ya Habari.

Changamoto

Wahenga wanasema “kwenye msafara wa mamba na kenge hawakosekani”, ndivyo ilivyo katika Chuo cha Mtakatifu Augustino, kwani pamoja na mafanikio yaliyopatikana tangu kilipoanzishwa yapata miaka 14 sasa, kumekuwa na changamoto mbalimbali. Hizi ni pamoja na ucheleweshwaji wa malipo ya ada kwa wanafunzi wanaolipiwa na Bodi ya Mikopo ya Wanafunzi wa Elimu ya Juu.

Changamoto hii imekuwa ikijitokeza kila mara na kwa muda mrefu hali ambayo imesababisha chuo kuchelewa kutekeleza baadhi ya shughuli za maendeleo ya elimu.

Nyingine ni kuyumba kwa uchumi wa taifa usio imara, na ushawishi wa kisiasa ambao unaweza kuharibu uhuru katika utoaji wa elimu.

Kadhalika kipato cha chini kwa Watanzania walio wengi kunachangia baadhi ya wanafunzi kushindwa kumudu gharama za masomo ya elimu ya juu hivyo kushindwa kuendelea na masomo.

Mafanikio

Dk. Kitima alipoulizwa amewezaje kufanikisha haya ndani ya muda mfupi hadi chuo kikawa na umaarufu kiasi hicho anasema: “Siri ya hatua hii nzuri iliyofikiwa na SAUT inatokana na ubora wa elimu inayotolewa na chuo kwa kuangalia mahitaji muhimu yanayomwezesha mwanafunzi kuwa na uwezo na ufanisi mkubwa wa kujiajiri na kuajiriwa baada ya kuhitimu.

“Katika mtaala wa chuo, wanafunzi wanapata fursa ya kusoma masomo ya ujasiriamali na kujiajiri baada ya kuhitimu masomo yao na hivyo kuondokana na dhana ya kungoja kuajiriwa.”

Anadai kuwa chuo kimeboresha kiwango cha elimu inayotolewa ili kuhakikisha wahitimu wanahimili soko la ushindani Afrika Mashariki na duniani kote, pia kutokana na elimu ya dini na maadili kwa wanafunzi wote.

“Lengo ni kusaidia kujenga maadili mazuri katika jamii kwani sasa upo mmomonyoko mkubwa wa maadili katika ofisi mbalimbali na kukithiri kwa rushwa, ufisadi na mengine mengi sambamba na hayo,” anasema.

Pia wanafunzi wote wanapata fursa ya kusoma masomo mbalimbali yanayomwezesha mwanafunzi kuwa na uwezo na ufanisi mkubwa wa kupambana na kukabiliana na mambo mbalimbali katika utendaji wa kazi, kama vile Kifaransa, Falsafa, Kiingereza, Ujuzi katika mawasiliano, Upembuzi yakinifu (Kufikiri kwa kina), Takwimu na Uchumi.

Ushirikiano na jamii

Chuo kimefanikiwa kuwawezesha wanajamii wa Kata ya Mkolani, hususan Kijiji cha Sweya ambapo kimewafadhili kupitia kikundi chao cha Muungano katika shughuli zao za ujasiriamali. Kila mwaka chuo hutoa kiasi cha shilingi milioni 20 kwa kikundi hicho.

Kimefanikiwa kutoa misaada ya vitabu mbalimbali kwa baadhi ya shule za msingi zilizo karibu na mazingira ya chuo kupitia shughuli mbalimbali za kitaaluma zinazofanywa na wanafuzi kwa jamii.

Chuo kimefanikiwa kutoa mafunzo ya maadili kwa wanafunzi wote, ambayo ni msaada mkubwa kwao katika utendaji wa kazi hasa katika kipindi hiki cha sayansi na teknolojia.

Kimefanikiwa na kinajivunia kuanzisha mashindano ya mpira wa miguu, mpira wa pete, kikapu, meza na riadha yajulikanayo kama “PRO-LIFE” (Promote Life) kuanzia mwezi Agosti hadi Februari kila mwaka.

Pia mashindano ya FAWASCO kuanzia mwezi Machi hadi Juni. Mashindano haya yanajumuisha jumla ya shilingi milioni 40 pamoja na fursa ya kutembelea nchi mbalimbali za Afrika Mashariki kwa mshindi wa kwanza na wa pili.

Chuo pia kimefanikiwa kuanzisha kituo cha kuzalisha na kuwawezesha wajasiriamali (Business Incubation Centre) ambapo wanafunzi wanaohitimu wanapata fursa ya kuandika mawazo yao ya biashara na baada ya mawazo yao kukubalika wanapatiwa mafunzo maalumu juu ya mawazo yao ya biashara na kisha wanapatiwa mtaji kati ya shilingi milioni 25 hadi 30 kwa ajili ya kuendeleza shughuli zao za ujasiriamali.

Wito kwa wadau

“Tunaiomba serikali kuandaa mazingira bora hasa kwa wahitimu kwa kuwapa mikopo stahiki kupitia asasi za serikali kama benki ili waweze kutumia ujuzi walionao hasa kiujasiriamali na kuleta maendeleo kwa mtu binafsi na taifa kwa ujumla.

“Tunaishauri serikali na sekta binafsi kuwatumia wasomi mbalimbali katika mipango ya maendeleo ya nchi ili wananchi waweze kufaidi matunda ya wasomi kwa maendeleo ya taifa,” anasema Dk. Kitima na kuongeza:

“Serikali pia inapaswa kuboresha elimu ya msingi na sekondari ambayo haswa ndio kitovu cha ubora wa elimu, ili kusaidia taasisi za elimu ya juu kupata wanafunzi wa kutosha na wenye sifa sitahiki.”

Anasema serikali inapaswa kuviangalia vyuo binafsi na kuviwezesha angalau kwa kuvipatia ruzuku kwa ajili ya miradi yake ya maendeleo, kwamba hii itasaidia kuongeza kasi ya maendeleo na kukuza ubora wa elimu ya juu hapa nchini.

KIKAO CHA MWAKA WA TATU WOTE NI JUMAMOSI HII

WANACHAMA WOTE WA MWAKA WA TATU MNAOMBWA KUHUDHULIA KATIKA KIKAO KITAKACHOFANYA JUMAMOSI TAREHE 9/03/2013 KUANZIA SAA 4 ASUBUHI HADI SAA 7 MCHANA KATIKA JENGO LA MWANJONDE B3...TAFADHALI FIKA BILA KUKOSA NI KIKAO MUHIMU SANA.

AGENDA KUU
1. SWALA LA GRADUATION
2. KUHAKIKI MAJINA YENU KWA AJILI YA KUANDAA  VYETI

SEMINA YA MATUMIZI YA INTERNET KWA WANACHAMA WA SSPRA YAFANYIKA

Semina juu ya matumizi ya Internet katika ulimwengu wa Digital imefanyika leo katika chuo cha SAUT katika kuwapatia uwezo wanachama wa SSPRA kuelewa umuhimu na matumizi ya Internet katika maisha yao ya kila siku lakini pia kuwa na uwelewa wa kutosha juu ya matumizi yake sehemu za kazi na kuandaliwa vizuri kabla ya kwenda kufanya kazi ya Afisa Uhusiano wa Umma na Masoko.

Semina hii imeweza kua ya mafanikio zaidi kutokana na maudhurio ya wanachama pamoja na maswali mbalimbali ambayo yameulizwa wakati wa semina.

Nyanja Kelvin Poti (kushoto) pamoja na Zawadi Kipacha (Kulia) wawezeshaji wa Mada

Nyanja K. Poti akifafanua kwa wasikilizaji wa semina

Semina ikiendelea wakati huu ulikuwa ni maswali na majibu

CALENDER YA FEB

CHECK OUT NEW SSPRA MEMBERS LIST

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IMPORTANT NOTE
PLEASE READ ALL NAMES CAREFULLY, SOME OF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MISALOCATED SPECIFICALLY ON THE YEAR OF STUDY AND THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE REGISTRATION FORM THAT WAS FILLED DURING THE APPLICATION TO BECOME A MEMBER.

IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR NAME OR NAME ERRORS PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US THROUGH OUR EMAIL sspra2011@gmail.com WITH A SUBJECT OF "CORRECT INFORMATION" FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE 28/02/2013.

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SSPRA NEW MEMBERS LIST

MKUTANO MKUU WA CHAMA KUFANYIKA JUMAMOSI HII TAREHE 23/2

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AGENDA KUU ZITAKUWA NI.

• SHEREHE YA MIAKA MINNE YA SSPRA PAMOJA NA FORUM
• SHEREHE YA MAAFALI YA TATU
• UFANYIKAJI WA SEMINA AMBAZO HAZIKUFANYIKA

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Tunawatakia mtihani mwema wanafunzi wote wa SAUT na bila kuwasahau wadau wakuu ambao ni wanachama walengwa wa SSPRA Mungu awe pamoja nasi katika kipindi chote cha mitihani.

Mitihani inatarajiwa kuanza Jumatatu  tarehe 28/07/2013 mpaka tarehe 12/02/2013

KIKAO CHA WANACHAMA WOTE SSPRA KITAFANYIKA BAADA YA MITIHANI YA SEMESTER YA KWANZA

HABARI YA WEEKEND WANA SSPRA? KUHUSU KIKAO CHA WANACHAMA WOTE NA MAMBO MENGINE YA SSPRA YATAENDELEA MARA BAADA YA MITIHANI YA SEMISTER YA KWANZA. LAKINI KWA MAULIZO YOYOTE TUMA KWENYE EMAIL sspra2011@gmail.com AU TUANDIKIE KWENYE UKURASA WETU  WA FACEBOOK  (Ssspra)  TUTAKUJIBU PIA.

VERIFY YOUR NAME IN A LIST OF SSPRA MEMBERS

IMPORTANT NOTE
PLEASE READ ALL NAMES CAREFULLY, SOME OF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MISALOCATED SPECIFICALLY ON THE YEAR OF STUDY AND THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE REGISTRATION FORM THAT WAS FILLED DURING THE APPLICATION TO BECOME A MEMBER.

IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR NAME OR NAME ERRORS PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US THROUGH OUR EMAIL sspra2011@gmail.com WITH A SUBJECT OF "CORRECT INFORMATION" FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE 30/01/2013.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE LIST, AFTER THE LINK OPEN CLICK THE SMALL BUTTON WRITTEN DOWNLOAD THAT IS  AT THE BOTTOM.

http://www.2shared.com/document/78xPqGUd/SSPRA_MEMBERS.html

WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE

The 10 Steps Of Crisis Communications

Crisis: Any situation that is threatening or could threaten to harm people or property, seriously interrupt business, damage reputation or negatively impact share value.

Every organization is vulnerable to crises. The days of playing ostrich are gone. You can play, but your stakeholders will not be understanding or forgiving because they've watched what happened with Bridgestone-Firestone, Bill Clinton, Arthur Andersen, Enron, Worldcom, 9-11, The Asian Tsunami Disaster, Hurricane Katrina and Virginia Tech.


If you don't prepare, you WILL take more damage. And when I look at existing "crisis management" plans while conducting a "crisis document audit," what I often find is a failure to address the many communications issues related to crisis/disaster response. Organizations do not understand that, without adequate communications:

• Operational response will break down.
• Stakeholders (internal and external) will not know what is happening and quickly be confused, angry, and negatively reactive.
• The organization will be perceived as inept, at best, and criminally negligent, at worst.

The basic steps of effective crisis communications are not difficult, but they require advance work in order to minimize damage. The slower the response, the more damage is incurred. So if you're serious about crisis preparedness and response, read and implement these 10 steps of crisis communications, the first seven of which can and should be undertaken before any crisis occurs.

The 10 Steps of Crisis Communications

1. Identify Your Crisis Communications Team 

A small team of senior executives should be identified to serve as your organization's Crisis Communications Team. Ideally, the team will be led by the organization's CEO, with the firm's top public relations executive and legal counsel as his or her chief advisers. If your in-house PR executive does not have sufficient crisis communications expertise, he or she may choose to retain an agency or independent consultant with that specialty. Other team members should be the heads of major organization divisions, to include finance, personnel and operations.

Let me say a word about legal counsel. Sometimes, during a crisis, a natural conflict arises between the recommendations of the organization's legal counsel on the one hand, and those of the public relations counsel on the other. While it may be legally prudent not to say anything, this kind of reaction can land the organization in public relations "hot water" that is potentially, as damaging, or even more damaging, than any financial or legal ramification. Fortunately, more and more legal advisors are becoming aware of this fact and are working in close cooperation with public relations counsel. The importance of this understanding cannot be underestimated. Arthur Anderson lost its case and went out of business due to the judgment rendered by the court of public opinion, not the judgment of a court of law.

2. Identify Spokespersons 

Within each team, there should be individuals who are the only ones authorized to speak for the organization in times of crisis. The CEO should be one of those spokespersons, but not necessarily the primary spokesperson. The fact is that some chief executives are brilliant business people but not very effective in-person communicators. The decision about who should speak is made after a crisis breaks — but the pool of potential spokespersons should be identified and trained in advance.

Not only are spokespersons needed for media communications, but for all types and forms of communications, internal and external, including on-camera, at a public meeting, at employee meetings, etc. You really don't want to be making decisions about so many different types of spokespersons while "under fire." 

3. Spokesperson Training 

Two typical quotes from well-intentioned organization executives summarize the reason why your spokespersons should receive professional training in how to speak to the media:

"I talked to that nice reporter for over an hour and he didn't use the most important news about my organization."

"I've done a lot of public speaking. I won't have any trouble at that public hearing."

Regarding the first example, there are a good number of people interviewed by CBS' "60 Minutes" or ABC's "20/20" who thought they knew how to talk to the press. In the second case, most executives who have attended a hostile public hearing have gone home wishing they had been wearing a pair of Depends.

All stakeholders — internal and external — are just as capable of misunderstanding or misinterpreting information about your organization as the media, and it's your responsibility to minimize the chance of that happening.

Spokesperson training teaches you to be prepared, to be ready to respond in a way that optimizes the response of all stakeholders. 

4. Establish Notification Systems 

Remember when the only way to reach someone quickly was by a single phone or fax number, assuming they were there to receive either?

Today, we have to have — immediately at hand — the means to reach our internal and external stakeholders using multiple modalities. Many of us have several phone numbers, more than one email address, and can receive SMS (text) messages or faxes. Instant Messenger programs, either public or proprietary, are also very popular for business and personal use. We can even send audio and video messages via email. Depending on how "techie" we choose to be, all of this type of communication — and more — may be received on or sent by a single device!

It is absolutely essential, pre-crisis, to establish notification systems that will allow you to rapidly reach your stakeholders using multiple modalities. The Virginia Tech catastrophe, where email was the sole means of alerting students initially, proves that using any single modality can make a crisis worse. Some of us may be on email constantly, others not so. Some of us receive our cellphone calls or messages quickly, some not. If you use more than one modality to reach your stakeholders, the chances are much greater that the message will go through.

For a long time, those of us in crisis management relied on the old-fashioned "phone tree" and teams of callers to track people down. But today there is technology — offered by multiple vendors and also available for purchase — that can be set up to automatically start contacting all stakeholders in your pre-established database and keep trying to reach them until they confirm (e.g., by pressing a certain number on a phone keypad) that the message has been received. Technology that you can trigger with a single call or email.

5. Identify and Know Your Stakeholders

Who are the internal and external stakeholders that matter to your organization? I consider employees to be your most important audience, because every employee is a PR representative and crisis manager for your organization whether you want them to be or not! But, ultimately, all stakeholders will be talking about you to others not on your contact list, so it's up to you to ensure that they receive the messages you would like them to repeat elsewhere.

6. Anticipate Crises 

If you're being proactive and preparing for crises, gather your Crisis Communications Team for long brainstorming sessions on all the potential crises which can occur at your organization. 

There are at least two immediate benefits to this exercise: 

• You may realize that some of the situations are preventable by simply modifying existing methods of operation.
• You can begin to think about possible responses, about best case/worst case scenarios, etc. Better now than when under the pressure of an actual crisis.

In some cases, of course, you know that a crisis will occur because you're planning to create it — e.g., to lay off employees, or to make a major acquisition. Then, you can proceed with steps 8-10 below, even before the crisis occurs. 

There is a more formal method of gathering this information that I call a "vulnerability audit," about whichinformation is available here. 

7. Develop Holding Statements

While full message development must await the outbreak of an actual crisis, "holding statements" — messages designed for use immediately after a crisis breaks — can be developed in advance to be used for a wide variety of scenarios to which the organization is perceived to be vulnerable, based on the assessment you conducted in Step 6 of this process. An example of holding statements by a hotel chain with properties hit by a natural disaster — before the organization headquarters has any hard factual information — might be: 

"We have implemented our crisis response plan, which places the highest priority on the health and safety of our guests and staff."

"Our hearts and minds are with those who are in harm's way, and we hope that they are well."

"We will be supplying additional information when it is available and posting it on our website."

The organization's Crisis Communications Team should regularly review holding statements to determine if they require revision and/or whether statements for other scenarios should be developed.

8. Assess the Crisis Situation 

Reacting without adequate information is a classic "shoot first and ask questions afterwards" situation in which you could be the primary victim. But if you've done all of the above first, it's a "simple" matter of having the Crisis Communications Team on the receiving end of information coming in from your communications "tree," ensuring that the right type of information is being provided so that you can proceed with determining the appropriate response. 

Assessing the crisis situation is, therefore, the first crisis communications step you can't take in advance. But if you haven't prepared in advance, your reaction will be delayed by the time it takes your in-house staff or quickly-hired consultants to run through steps 1 to 7. Furthermore, a hastily created crisis communications strategy and team are never as efficient as those planned and rehearsed in advance. 

9. Identify Key Messages 

With holding statements available as a starting point, the Crisis Communications Team must continue developing the crisis-specific messages required for any given situation. The team already knows, categorically, what type of information its stakeholders are looking for. What should those stakeholders know about this crisis? Keep it simple — have no more than three main messages for all stakeholders and, as necessary, some audience-specific messages for individual groups of stakeholders. 

10. Riding Out the Storm 

No matter what the nature of a crisis...no matter whether it's good news or bad...no matter how carefully you've prepared and responded...some of your stakeholders are not going to react the way you want them to. This can be immensely frustrating. What do you do? 

• Take a deep breath.
• Take an objective look at the reaction(s) in question. Is it your fault, or their unique interpretation?
• Decide if another communication to those stakeholders is likely to change their impression for the better.
• Decide if another communication to those stakeholders could make the situation worse.
• If, after considering these factors, you think it's still worth more communication, then take your best shot!

"It Can't Happen To Me" 

When a healthy organization's CEO or CFO looks at the cost of preparing a crisis communications plan, either a heavy investment of in-house time or retention of an outside professional for a substantial fee, it is tempting for them to fantasize "it can't happen to me" or "if it happens to me, we can handle it relatively easily." 

Hopefully, that type of ostrich-playing is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Yet I know that thousands of organizations hit by Hurricane Katrina will have, when all is said and done, suffered far more damage than would have occurred with a fully developed crisis communications plan in place. This has also been painfully true for scores of clients I have served over the past 25 years. Even the best crisis management professional is playing catch up — with more damage occurring all the time — when the organization has no crisis communications infrastructure already in place. 

The Last Word — For Now 

I would like to believe that organizations worldwide are finally "getting it" about crisis preparedness, whether we're talking about crisis communications, disaster response or business continuity. Certainly client demand for advance preparation has increased dramatically in the past half-decade, at least for my consultancy. But I fear that there is, in fact, little change in what I have said in the past, that 95 percent of American organizations remain either completely unprepared or significantly under-prepared for crises. And my colleagues overseas report little better, and sometimes worse statistics. 

Choose to be part of the prepared minority. Your stakeholders will appreciate it!

Job Duties and Tasks for: "Public Relations Specialist"

1) Prepare or edit organizational publications for internal and external audiences, including employee newsletters and stockholders' reports.

2) Respond to requests for information from the media or designate another appropriate spokesperson or information source.

3) Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, and public interest groups.

4) Plan and direct development and communication of informational programs to maintain favorable public and stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments and agenda.

5) Confer with production and support personnel to produce or coordinate production of advertisements and promotions.

6) Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product and service awareness and to promote goodwill

7) Study the objectives, promotional policies and needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products and services.

8) Confer with other managers to identify trends and key group interests and concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.

9) Consult with advertising agencies or staff to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media for products, organizations, or individuals.

10) Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public and with employees.

11) Prepare and deliver speeches to further public relations objectives.

12) Purchase advertising space and time as required to promote client's product or agenda.

13) Plan and conduct market and public opinion research to test products or determine potential for product success, communicating results to client or management.

The founding fathers of PR: Ivy Lee and Edward Bernays

Historians of PR will often say that Public Relations has been around for hundreds of years, claiming Julius Caesar to being a PR innovator, and the Bayeux Tapestry to be some form of public relations.  However, there are two men who are acclaimed with the title of making PR a respectable profession, and who are often called the founding fathers of modern public relations; Ivy Lee and Edward Bernays.

Lee’s development of public relations began earlier than Bernays’, and he is credited with making US businessmen more communicative about their businesses.  To do this, he used press releases, where he provided more information rather than less, and listened to the opinion of the press and the public, which no one had really done before. However, Lee’s reputation as a professional was somewhat tarnished shortly after the Nazi regime began in Germany.  Shortly after Hitler came to power in 1933, Lee went to Germany to try and improve US-German relations.  However, it is said that he was a Nazi sympathiser after he met with top Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler.

Ivy Lee

Lee also made his declaration of PR principles: “This is not a secret press bureau. All our work is done in the open. We aim to supply news. This is not an advertising agency…Our matter is accurate. Further details on any subject treated will be supplied promptly, and any editor will be assisted most cheerfully in verifying directly any statement of fact. In brief, our plan is, frankly and openly, on behalf of the business concerns and public institutions, to supply to the press and public of the United States prompt and accurate information concerning  subjects which it is of value and interest to the public to know about.”

Edward Bernays

Edward Bernays, who was the nephew of the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud, is often described as the ‘father of public relations’.  

He applied his uncle’s theories of mass psychology to the practice of corporate and political persuasion, and started the first public relations course in the 1920s at New York University.

However, it is thought Bernays associated public relations with propaganda after the First World War, and praised it in his 1928 book titled ‘Propaganda‘.  In his book, he says: “Propaganda will never die out.  Intelligent men must realise that propaganda is the modern instrument by which they can fight for productive ends to bring order out of chaos”.

source:http://nathanedgedmu.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/the-founding-fathers-of-pr-ivy-lee-and-edward-bernays/

PUBLIC RELATIONS TOOLS AND ACTIVITIES

By using proven Public relations (PR) tools and activities, you can promote positive attitudes and behaviors towards your business that will help convert interested consumers into customers.
PR tools are very cost-effective, and often give you a greater degree of control than more broadly targeted advertising campaigns. Consider using these PR tools to build your business's reputation.

Media relations

Media strategies focus on circulating messages through media channels to manage how your business is portrayed by the media. Your media tools might include releasing media statements and fact sheets, offering on-site media tours to encourage journalists to report positive messages about your business, and using social media to get the attention of journalists and track journalists who report in your market.
By developing good media contact lists and building relationships with key journalists to help you distribute your key messages, you can use local, regional or state media to:

• Promote your business
• Manage risks issues or crises affecting your business.

Advertorials

Advertorials are advertisements in the form of news stories or reviews in newspapers. Advertorials allow you to associate your advertising with the credibility of the newspaper.
Many businesses employ advertising or marketing professionals to help them develop TV advertorials - which are commonly used as a form of advertising and product placement.

Social media

Social media lets you bypass the media and go straight to your customers. Using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter allows you to follow and be followed by journalists, drive web traffic, manage issues by responding quickly to criticisms or negative perceptions, and increase exposure for your business brand

Newsletters

Print or emailed newsletters have long been a good way to promote your business, communicate with customers and keep them informed of new product and services.
Regular newsletters can strengthen your personal connections with customers and reflect your business brand and personality.

Brochures and catalogues

'Take home' or mail-out brochures or catalogues can help keep your customers thinking about your business and its products and services.
Properly designed brochures and catalogues give customers confidence in you and what you sell, and help drive customers to your website. Information contained in business brochures and catalogues can be effectively reworked for your website, helping you do business online.

Business events

Events are opportunities for business people to gain exposure for their businesses, promote new products or services and make sure accurate information reaches targeted customers.
From a sales point of view, events are a chance to counter customer doubts and build customer confidence. They can also help you research your market and competitors, and build your mailing list.
Trade shows are an opportunity for businesses to compete in their industry and share information with people in similar lines of work. Learn more about promoting your business at trade shows and exhibitions.

Speaking engagements

Speaking at events where customers are likely to attend helps position you as a leader or innovator in your field. As a business owner or leader, building your reputation as an expert also builds the reputation of your business - and draws new customers.
Events are valuable promotional opportunities even if you don't have top billing as a speaker. You will build reputation simply by having your business name or logo on the event listing, or delivering a presentation about a new product or innovation.

Sponsorships or partnerships

Partnerships and sponsorships are good for business. Supporting a not-for-profit cause can help build feelings of goodwill towards your business. Community partnerships may involve an exchange of funds or in-kind benefits to grow a local community organisation in return for benefits that promote your business reputation.
Partnerships can help consumers identify your brand with good business practice and good ethics.

Employee relations

Your staff are ambassadors for your business and its brand. Many larger businesses conduct employee relations - building their business culture and team relationships by sharing information, promoting involvement and instilling a sense of pride in business achievement. This can improve teamwork, staff retention and productivity.

Community relations

Building good relationships with members of the community where you do business helps build customer loyalty. Find out where the customers in your community live by collecting postcodes at point of sale.
Engaging local stakeholders and decision makers helps build your profile and level of influence, helping you to attract more customers through word-of-mouth and ensuring your business interests are factored into community decision making.

source:http://www.business.qld.gov.au/business/running/marketing/public-relations/public-relations-tools-activities

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How to work well in a team environment

1. In today’s fast paced world, you will hardly find any profile within an organization that requires you to work individually. When you work in a team, it is important to know that the success of your team translates to your success. It may not be rally easy to work in team, especially when the team comprises of people from different backgrounds. But at the same time it is important to know that working in a team can be rewarding. To work well as a team, there are some things that you must know.
   The success of a team largely depends on how well each member can communicate with each other. it is important to have all team members involved in the work and hence all the more important for all of you communicate. The underlying principle of team working is to take advantage of each other’s strengths in achieving the end result. If you cannot listen to a team member or cannot talk to another member, then you are not following the principles of effective team working.
   Here are some simple tips to help you work well in a team environment:
   1. Understand your role in the team. Work within the boundaries of your role. If you happen to be very efficient in your work and always finish your task ahead of others, as other members if they require help from you. By helping others, you are helping the team inch closer to the goal.
   2. Respect the schedule that is set for the team and contribute effectively towards meeting the deadline. If for some reason, you are not able to meet the deadline, ask for help. Others will appreciate your openness and be willing to help. This way you will be owning responsibility for your actions as well as not putting the team in an awkward position of missing the deadline.
   3. Treat other team members with respect and support them in whatever way you can. In any team discussions, always be willing to give others a chance to talk and express their opinion.
   4. It is always important to remember that you are part of a team and the efforts in achieving the end result are not just yours. Every member of the team has a significant role to play in making the project a success.
   5. If you are leader of the team or have to step into the leadership role in the absence of the team leader, ensure that the responsibilities are communicated well to all team members. The results of each member should be such that it can be measured objectively. Also it is important that you are open to listening to the issues faced by team members as well as helping them find solutions.
   6. Teaming is a collaborative effort towards achieving a goal. Make every team member feel wanted and motivate them to achieve the results.
   7. Avoid any type of gossiping or passing negative remarks about the team members. You must always remember that you require the help of teammates to ensure your success. Maintain a positive outlook always and thrash out any differences by discussing it face to face.
   Following these simple principles will go a long way fostering a strong bond as well as in working well within a team environment.

Functions of Public Relations

Professionally speaking, public relations means the activities that management undertakes to evaluate and measure the attitudes, opinions, and sentiments of the public toward your organization.

 A public relations plan will be an integral part of who determines policies, processes, and procedures with regard to public interest that your organization will follow and implement.                            
In conventional marketing public relations is employed to influence customers and their buying habits. Public relations is also part of a comprehensive marketing communications amalgam which also includes advertising, sales promotion, and direct sales.

The effective use and practice of Public relations theory which results in the organization being viewed in the general publics’ eyes as a responsible and ethical company that is concerned about the welfare of its customers will soon manifest itself in the organization’s bottom line.

What Are The Functions of Public Relations?

Community Relations. Any organization must be seen as a good community citizen and should have the goodwill of the community in which it operates. An effective community relations program will need to be continuing and comprehensive.

Organizations can implement various programs to improve community relations on a regular or even ongoing basis. So, clearly, one of the major functions of public relations is to bridge the business/community gap. When organizations support activities and programs that improve quality of life in their communities their image and reputation will be enhanced.

Employee Relations. Maybe the most important resource that a company has are its employees and the customer service they provide. The functions of public relations in regards to the company’s employees is the maintenance of employee goodwill. The image and reputation of a company among its employees is also another responsibility of public relations in its function ofemployee relations

Product Public Relations. When new products are introduced to the market the role that public relations plays is crucial for creating awareness and differentiating the product in the public’s eyes from other similar products. When existing products need a push public relations is often called on the improve product visibility.

Sometimes there are changes instituted in existing products and public relations has to focus the attention of consumers on the product. If a product needs to be positioned in the market a properly executed public relations campaign, much like an effective viral marketing campaign, it can overcome buyer inertia and remove negative perceptions on the part of the public.

Financial Relations. This function involves communication with the wide variety of individuals and groups that the company deals with in the course of its operations. This includes the stockholders and investors but is not limited to them.

Financial analysts and potential investors have to be informed about the company’s finances. A well planned and executed financial relations campaign can increase the value of the company’s stock because of improved image and reputation. This improved image can also make it easier to gather additional capital.

And if you are seeking free money for your small business, your pr will put you in a better position to be seen in a good light, by the people that write the checks
.
Political and Government Relations. The wide range of activities that public relations has to cover in the political arena includes influencing legislation that can be hindrances to the proper operation of the company. Public relations in politics may have to stage debates and seminars for government officials.

So one of the functions of public relations can actually be to not only change the way your community works, but your state, and even your nation.

Crisis Communications. When anything untoward happens like an accident in a production plant it is the job of public relations to provide honest and accurate information so that the uncertainty by the people involved directly or indirectly can be assuaged. Natural disasters, management wrongdoings, bankruptcies and product failures are crises which public relations must play a large part.

We all want justice, and the truth to come out. That is why it is nice to know that one of the functions of public relations - crisi communication - makes this happen.

source www.voteforus.com/functionsofpublicrelations