Diversity SIG E-Newsletter, June-September 2008

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Contents

Diversity SIG E-Newsletter – June-August 2008

Contents

1. New SIG Leadership Business Items
2. Meet Tom Merrill – Vice Chair Elect
3. Searching for New C&A Judges
4. Latino Briefs
5. Other Diversity News and Resources


1. New Sig Leadership Business Items

Our SIG leadership has met three times via teleconference to work on next year’s plan. Following are the touch points discussed and currently “on the table”:

1. Collaborating with Writing SIG: Myriam and Ariel have contacted Barb McBreen (Writing SIG Chair) to collaborate on including “Global and Plain English” in the writing workshop at the next ACE conference in Iowa.

2. C&A: We would like to possibly add diversity criteria in the writing entries of C&A. This would include a better definition of categories that contain elements of diversity. This will be something to work on next year; maybe have a category for a targeted publication for specific audiences.

3. E-Newsletter: Marusela will continue to publish the newsletter. It was suggested that the newsletter be sent as text in an e-mail and as a wiki. It was agreed to have only 4 issues a year on the following dates:

  • a. End of August
  • b. End of November
  • c. End of February
  • d. End of May

4. Wiki – Ariel will continue overseeing the wiki, with Tom's input and assistance.

5. Teleconferences: Leadership will have monthly teleconferences to continue communication and brainstorming to carry out the SIG’s Annual Strategic Plan, increase membership, participation and strengthen communication.


2. Meet Tom Merrill – Vice Chair Elect

Tom Merrill is a professor with the LSU AgCenter in its Communications unit in Baton Rouge, where he's worked for the past 21 years. His primary responsibilities involve news writing, editing, and the Web.

He's been involved personally in diversity, inclusivity, and social justice issues for more than 20 years through his involvement and leadership in such groups as Metropolitan Community Churches and PFLAG. That interest crossed over into his professional life around 1998 when he was assigned as the writer for the group working on a "Diversity Vision Statement" for the LSU AgCenter.

He's been involved professionally with the LSU AgCenter's diversity initiative since that time -- serving as a member of its Diversity Council, chair of its Community Outreach Action Group, a senior trainer in its diversity education program for faculty and staff, and a variety of other capacities. He also was recognized in 2000 with the LSU AgCenter Diversity Initiative Award for Excellence and has received other recognition for his involvement in efforts designed to extend the AgCenter's service to nontraditional clientele and to assist faculty and staff members in making that happen.

In more recent years, he's also become involved in the LSU initiative known as Safe Space, which is designed to help faculty and staff develop a broader understanding about GLBT students and to offer "safe spaces" for those students to voice concerns, as well as learn. He serves as the AgCenter's liaison to that initiative and as a Safe Space trainer.

As for ACE, Merrill currently serves as the Southern Region director and has served on its Professional Development Committee. He's a longtime member of the Writing, Media Relations, Publishing, and Marketing SIGs, and because of his interest in diversity, joining the Diversity SIG when it was formed seemed the natural thing to do.



Look for the new section "Getting Personal" in our next issue, where we will feature fun and interesting facts about our members.



3. Searching for New Judges for C&A Contest

Our SIG’s leadership is looking for a few-good-judges for C&A entries and is asking for your assistance to recruit. We need about 6-7 new judges for the following categories:

  • Class 41 - Writing for targeted publics
  • Class 42 - Targeted publications
  • Class 43 - Electronic media, audio for targeted publics
  • Class 44 - Electronic media, video for targeted publics
  • Class 45 - Marketing & media relations program for targeted publics

A few guidelines to select judges –

  • Do not choose ACE members as judges.
  • Select judges who have demonstrated excellence in the area for which they will be judging.
  • Judges are paid at the rate of $10 per entry.

Please contact Myriam if you know of potential judges in your institution and/or if you have any questions about how to choose a judge. The deadline to submit the names and bios is October 20th.



Are you a member of your institution’s Diversity Catalyst Team? If so, we would love to hear your ideas, news, or any information that will enrich our group.

Please let Myriam or Marusela know.



4. Latino Briefs

Vol. 4, Issue 9, September 2008
http://news.ucanr.org/latinobriefs/latinobriefs.cfm?issue=Vol%2E%204%2C%20Issue%209%2C%20September%202008

Vol. 4, Issue 8, August 2008
http://news.ucanr.org/latinobriefs/latinobriefs.cfm?issue=Vol%2E%204%2C%20Issue%208%2C%20August%202008

Vol. 4, Issue 7, July 2008
http://news.ucanr.org/latinobriefs/latinobriefs.cfm?issue=Vol%2E%204%2C%20Issue%207%2C%20July%202008


5. Other Diversity News and Resources

PRSA Examines Diversity Communications Issues in America with Launch of “PRSA Diversity Today” Podcast on July 21

New York -­ The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) launched a new monthly podcast series, “PRSA Diversity Today,” which explored the many facets of diversity in America as they apply to communicators, and will feature in-depth and frank discussions. The podcasts are produced in partnership with 24/7 Internet radio network WebmasterRadio.FM. The series started on Monday, July 21, with a broadcast titled, “Why Is Diversity So Important? A PRSA Executive Leadership Perspective.”

PRSA Diversity Tools Task Force Chair Joe Carleo, of Advanced Language and Media Services, is the executive producer/co-creator of the series. Multicultural public relations expert Manny Ruiz, PRSA Diversity Committee co-chair and president of PR Newswire’s Multicultural Services, hosts the podcasts.

“PRSA is proud to provide these podcasts to help professionals understand why a commitment to diversity is not just the right thing to do, but also the right thing for the success of our members, their companies and employers,” said PRSA Chair and CEO Jeffrey Julin, APR. “A diverse PRSA is a strong PRSA, and it is our hope that this kind of diversity programming will enhance and enrich the diversity of our membership.”

During the next several months, the series will feature the following topics:

  • Men in public relations:­ an “endangered species”?
  • Award-winning diversity programs from PRSA Chapters.
  • Corporate best practices for your business or organization.
  • An Alaskan lesson on what a “diverse-thinking society” is like.
  • Best practices for hiring and retaining a diverse work force.

To listen to the July 21 podcast, visit PRSA Diversity Today ( http://www.prsa.org/diversity/communications.html). The show also was hosted on WebmasterRadio.FM on the PRSA Conference Channel http://www.webmasterradio.fm/Conferences/PRSA/ .

Subscribe to the show via an RSS feed (entries) or through iTunes, where you also can download the podcasts. At iTunes Store, search for “PRSA,” and shows will be listed by date.

About WebmasterRadio.FM WebmasterRadio.FM lifts the “veiled curtain” of the Internet, bringing the business community together through an interactive radio network. Its listeners are a global group, comprised of everyone from corporate executives and decision makers to small and mid-sized businesses and individual entrepreneurs. WebmasterRadio.FM’s stellar lineup of radio programming includes “CoverStory,” with Joe Beaulaurier of PRWeb, WebmasterRadio.FM’s official newswire; “The Hook with Katie Kempner,” with Katie Kempner, vice president of Crispin Porter + Bogusky; “The Daily SearchCast,” featuring search authority Danny Sullivan of SearchEngineLand.com; and more. To tune into WebmasterRadio.FM’s live content or check out the show lineup, visit www.WebmasterRadio.FM http://www.WebmasterRadio.FM .

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) The Public Relations Society of America http://www.prsa.org , headquartered in New York City, is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into 109 Chapters and 10 Districts nationwide, and 19 Professional Interest Sections and Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America http://www.prssa.org (PRSSA) has 296 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States, and one Chapter in Argentina.


Making Diversity Count: New Online Tool Teaches Teachers

Making Diversity Count. A resource for teachers http://www.adl.org/education/mdc/

San Francisco, Aug 04, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- To counter bias and prejudice in students, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has launched an innovative, Web-based professional development course to help teachers make their classrooms respectful and inclusive.

Making Diversity Count is a self-paced, immersive online course for middle and secondary school teachers to explore issues of bias and prejudice. The goal of Making Diversity Count is to help teachers develop skills to confront prejudice, sustain classroom environments that promote respect and fairness, and increase their capacity to interact positively with students of diverse backgrounds. "Making Diversity Count is a groundbreaking new tool that uses interactive technology to enhance teachers' understanding of diversity issues," said Nina Grotch, Education Director. "This tool will provide educators with a forum to learn about anti-bias and multicultural education so they will be better equipped to share critical lessons of respect, acceptance and intergroup understanding in students."

The Ford Foundation and the Sylvia and Leon P. Nagin Family Foundation are founding sponsors of the Making Diversity Count program. Making Diversity Count is offered through ADL's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE(R) Institute, a leading provider of anti-bias education and diversity training programs and resources. The Institute seeks to help participants recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society; explore the value of diversity; improve intergroup relations; and combat racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.

The interactive course takes approximately 15 online hours to complete, offering interdisciplinary curriculum materials, school-based video scenarios, online discussion with peers, as well as a course journal and a readings and resource list.

Course modules cover subjects such as diversity, personal identity, cross-cultural communication, conflict, name-calling and bullying. These help teachers incorporate standards-based, interdisciplinary, anti-bias resources and lessons into their classrooms.

Making Diversity Count was created with leading educators and anti-bias professionals, piloted with teachers from around the country and evaluated by researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Educators who complete the program receive certification of 15 hours of online professional development work and can obtain Continuing Education Units from their districts.

The program was honored ( http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Education_01/5275_01.htm ) in April 2008 by the United States Distance Learning Association with its Platinum Best Practice Award for Distance Learning Programming.

To speak with a local ADL education expert, contact Nina Grotch, Education Director at 415-981-3500 x227 or ngrotch@adl.org. For more information about the Making Diversity Count online course, visit http://www.adl.org/education/mdc/. The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. SOURCE Anti-Defamation League



If you have questions about this newsletter or would like to contribute to a future edition, please contact Vice Chair Marusela Anders at anders.40@cfaes.osu.edu.

Marusela Anders
Program Assistant
Communications and Technology
CFAES, OSU Extension, OARDC
The Ohio State University
216 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road
Columbus, OH 43210-1044
Phone: 614.292.2011
Fax: 614.292.2270
http://commtech.ag.ohio-state.edu
CommTech: Creative. Integrated. Results-driven.

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