Weber Shandwick has been selected by the United States Mint to develop and implement a multi-year, national communications campaign to promote public information, education and awareness about the new Presidential $1 Coin.

The Weber Shandwick team – comprised of people in its Twin Cities, Chicago and Washington, D.C., offices – worked with United States Mint and Federal Reserve Bank officials to provide Americans with their first glimpse of a new series of circulating Presidential $1 Coins at a highly publicized design unveiling ceremony last week at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

"The new Presidential $1 Coins are an educational and fun way to learn about former presidents," said United States Mint Director Edmund C. Moy. "Our research indicates that, like the 50 State Quarters coins, the Presidential $1 Coins will be popular with millions of Americans."

The campaign supports the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, which requires the United States Mint to issue four new Presidential $1 Coins annually, bearing the likenesses of U.S. presidents in the order of their service, as well as the continued minting and issuance of Sacagawea-design $1 coins for circulation. The federal law also imposes new mandates on various federal entities to promote robust circulation of these coins in commerce, including ensuring that business operations are capable of accepting and dispensing $1 coins as well as displaying notices of such capabilities.

The first Presidential $1 Coin, featuring George Washington, will be launched around Presidents Day in February 2007. The integrated campaign includes consumer and business-to-business marketing targeting the financial services industry; retailers; coin equipment manufacturers; vending, parking, car wash and transit communities; federal employees and service members; and coin users groups.

"This important initiative for the United States Mint is exactly the kind of challenge at which our firm excels,” said Barb Iverson, president of Weber Shandwick’s North American Financial Services practice and leader of the firm’s Minneapolis financial services group. “Weber Shandwick has deep knowledge about the ways in which government and financial services intersect. We will use this expertise to raise awareness and drive usage of the Presidential $1 Coins among key audiences through effective and persuasive approaches.”

The United States Mint is the bureau of the U.S. Treasury that produces coinage for the nation to conduct trade and commerce. Weber Shandwick also works with other major bureaus of the U.S. Treasury, including the Financial Management Service and the Internal Revenue Service.

Weber Shandwick’s United States Mint team is led by Jim Holland, a senior vice president of financial services in the firm’s Chicago office. The Chicago office is responsible for overall campaign leadership, consumer marketing and materials development. In Minneapolis, Randy Sands, senior vice president of financial services, is leading a team that’s driving the campaign’s business-to-business component, and David Krejci, vice president of Web relations, and his team are responsible for the campaign’s Web relations component.

THE party to attend!

Before your holiday plans book up, here is THE party you won't want to miss; , December 7, at Trocaderos night club and restaurant. This charitable fundraising event promises a few surprises, fun people, delicious food, a complimentary "Jingletini" signature cocktail, free valet parking, and an opportunity to bid on fabulous auction items. Click here for more details, mark your calendar and reserve your spot quickly for Thursday, December 7, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

So over the holidays I had a discussion I have had with several people in the past including a gentleman from K&G Mens Superstore. The question, can men wear black shoes with blue dress pants. Voice your opinion, vote by clicking here or comment below.

When the survey is complete I will post the results.

New and long-standing members of MWC are invited to mix, mingle, learn about MWC, exchange business cards, knock down some pins, and have a cocktail!

Details
Date: Thursday, Dec. 7
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 West Lake Street, Minneapolis
Cost: $3.75 per game, attendees pay for their own refreshments (no checks accepted)

Contact Melissa Peick at for more information. Register here.

Minneapolis-based public relations firm LaBreche Murray announced the promotion of Callie Briese and Jacqueline Varriano to assistant account executives.

Briese, who previously served as account assistant since November 2005, will continue providing valuable expertise to her business to business, consumer, financial services and professional services clients. Throughout her time at LaBreche Murray, Callie Briese has been instrumental in achieving desired results for her clients. She is a member of the firm’s marketing and business development committees.

“Callie has a keen understanding of the business-to-business needs of our clients,” said Beth LaBreche, president. “She has built significant relationships with key media influencers for national businesses over the past year.”

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Over the past year, Jacqueline has consistently moved up the ranks; from intern to account assistant and now as an assistant account executive. She amassed the largest portfolio of clients for an account assistant in the agency’s history. Varriano will continue delivering exceptional expertise and quality work for her current clients, which span professional and financial services, consumer and healthcare industries. Jacqueline led the agency’s marketing committee and significantly contributed to the agency’s pro-bono clients.

“From day one, Jackie has exceeded our expectations by growing beyond her job description and providing exceptional value for her clients,” says Jacob Trippel, the vice president and CFO of LaBreche Murray Public Relations.

Jacqueline came to LaBreche Murray Public Relations from Wax Marketing. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of North Dakota.

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LaBreche Murray also announced today, the addition of Lindsay Childs as an account assistant.

Childs comes to LaBreche Murray from Harrison & Shriftman Public Relations where she was responsible for handling event logistics, coordinating event guest lists and developing strategic communications materials for clients. While attending the University of Miami , Lindsay interned in the media relations department. During her time there, she assisted with the media activities for the architecture, law, business, and arts departments.

Academic leadership contributed to Lindsay’s college experience. Childs was involved in PRSSA as well as Quantum Entertainment where she had a chance to further her public relations skills. As director of advertising and public relations for Quantum, she was responsible for creating full-scale promotional campaigns for theatrical performances.

Childs graduated from the University of Miami in May 2006 with a 3.9 GPA. Prior to moving to Miami , Lindsay graduated from Apple Valley High School in 2002 and was honored to be the valedictorian of her class.

Colle + McVoy carried home 35 awards, including three gold, four silver, fourteen bronze and fifteen merit honors at The Show, the annual advertising awards gala. The honors, given on the evening of Fri., Nov. 10 at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis, were for agency clients including Schell's Beer, Winnebago, Red Wing Shoe Company, Nestlé Purina and Minnesota State Lottery.

The advertising and interactive marketing awards were judged earlier this year. Out of 1,446 entries, a total of 19 gold, 46 silver, 89 bronze and 226 merit honors were awarded.

"It was a fantastic night, a night years in the making," says Mike Fetrow, executive creative director, Colle+McVoy. "The Show was a tangible chance for Minneapolis to see what's been happening at Colle+McVoy and for all of us to celebrate some great work."

"This is more of the momentum we've been gaining since we moved to downtown Minneapolis in September," says Christine Fruechte, Colle+McVoy¹s president. "No agency has ever achieved such a dramatic change in one year at the Show, and it's the beginning of more great things to come from Colle+McVoy."

Yesterday’s Minnesota PRSA luncheon focused on “How to Move the Measurement Needle – and Prove It – Without Getting Stung.”

The session was led by Monika Strom, Ph.D., who has an extensive communications research and public relations background with experience in both quantitative and qualitative measurement. Strom shared the customized measurement program she developed for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and provided insight as to how to implement such an initiative within a company or on behalf of clients. Strom made the following case:

Why does measurement matter?

• Measurement is the new business reality
  
• Everyone wise to public relations views it as the antidote to advertising and information overload, so expectations are higher and “results” are the new normal
  
• Results are not holistic. Instead, they are linear and in line with the business makers’ decisions
  

The five steps to better measurement include:

• Shifting your mind-set
  
• Identifying your organization’s needle and metric
  
• Identifying your organization’s comparison set
  
• Translating what’s helpful to you into what’s meaningful to the organization
  
• Regularly reporting and sharing results to decision makers
  

Further information can be obtained from the Minnesota PRSA.

Jillian Beauman
Associate
Carmichael Lynch Spong

Mark your calendar and join for the most joyous holiday gathering and charitable fundraiser ever!

This year's party features a happy hour -- with a complimentary
"Jingletini" signature cocktail, delicious food and a few surprises.

Try your luck in the raffle or place the winning bid on fabulous silent and live auction items. Plan to leave work a little early -- our festivities start at 4:00PM. Come enjoy some holiday cheer with
a few hundred of your closest Ad Fed friends!

NEW LOCATION and FREE VALETPARKING

Date: Thursday, December 7, 2006
Location: Trocaderos (107 Third Avenue North, Downtown Minneapolis)
Time: Registration 4:00 p.m.
Silent Auction and Raffle 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Live Auction 5:45 p.m.- 6:05 p.m.
Hors d'oeuvres and mingling 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Costs: $30 for members, $50 for non-members and $400 for groups of ten. (An additional $10 after November 30th).

Be sure to make your reservations by November 30.

Click here to register or call the Ad Fed office @ .

The time has arrived to enter your best public relations elements and programs for award consideration. The Minnesota PRSA Classics committee is now accepting entries for the 29th Annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards. To access an entry form or to find more information about award categories, please visit www.mnprsa.com/classics07.

Entries must be received by 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006, and should be sent to:

Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards
c/o Nonprofit Solutions
1821 University Avenue West, #S256
Saint Paul, MN 55104

The awards ceremony and banquet to honor the best of local public relations will be held at Solera in downtown Minneapolis Thursday, March 15, 2007. Any questions should be directed to Classics committee co-chairs, Dawn Lindgren, or Curtis Smith, .

Tunheim Partners, a Minneapolis-based public relations and public affairs agency, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bryan Brignac, Kate Slater and Matt DePoint to account representatives and Jason Lucas as executive assistant.
Brignac, Slater and DePoint bring expertise in media relations, measurement analysis and writing to the firm. Brignac and DePoint are graduates of the University of Minnesota. Slater is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas.
Lucas joins Tunheim Partners from Minnesota Diversified Industries, where he provided executive assistant support and event planning expertise.

Dear Friend of PR News,

As a PR professional you understand that finding your match in a PR firm is one of the most difficult and important endeavors for a PR professional, whether it’s the corporate or nonprofit PR professional looking for an agency or the PR firm seeking clients. In short, who you partner with can make or break your campaign and sometimes your career.

That’s why we’re inviting you to attend our 90-minute Webinar next Wednesday, November 15 at 1:30 p.m At ET. “Choosing Your PR Firm & Making the Relationships Work”. You’ll hear from a distinguished panel of corporate and agency professionals that will share the secrets of choosing the right PR firm for a project, finding an agency of record, and setting the right expectations for maximum gain on both sides.

Register Now

The following award-winning experts will present during the live conference:

• Deborah Radman, APR, Fellow PRSA Managing Director, Stanton Communications; Immediate Past Chair, Counselors Academy
• Kathy Callahan, Director of Communications, Ameristar Casinos
• Rose McKinney, President, Risdall McKinney
• Jessica Pantages, Senior Manager, General Dynamics Advance Information Systems

Register now

Where: ONLINE (from your office or conference room)
When: November 15, 2006 at 1:30 ET
Questions:

Plus, live Q&As throughout the workshop.

If you're not available at this time, still register, you'll have access to the program and materials for 6 months from date of the Webinar. This added benefit allows you to view the program when it's convenient to you and your team. We also recommend using the Webinar as a teaching tool through-out the year. If you are not the best contact for partnership programs or there are others in your organization who have an interest, please forward this to the appropriate people.

Sincerely,

The PR News Team

Mobile marketing tour takes new acne line nationwide

Colle+McVoy has launched the , a cross-country mobile spa marketing tour, in New York, Los Angeles and Minneapolis. The campaign was launched to support Outer Peace Acne Relief Skincare, Aveda¹s new skin care line.

Using a converted Airstream Basecamp trailer, pulled by an eco-friendly hybrid vehicle, Aveda's Outer Peace Patrol offered product, prizes and skincare tips to those stopping by the mobile spa. National skincare expert Krista Kiley, Aveda¹s director of spa education, and additional members of Aveda's professional team of skin care experts staffed the mobile spa to
provide expertise and product demonstrations at each stop.

"We knew that the Outer Peace Acne Skincare line would appeal not only to our core consumers but also to a younger audience, including teens. We've seen what Colle+McVoy has done for some of its youth-oriented clients and knew that the agency would be a strong partner to help Aveda connect to this trendy and ambitious consumer," says Rachael Ostrom, director of consumer marketing and media, Aveda Corporation. "With the production of the mobile spa, after-hour teen spa events and Outer Peace¹s MySpace profile page (), Colle+McVoy helped us create marketing tools that put us right in front of our target audience."

"Helping Aveda launch Outer Peace gave Colle+McVoy an opportunity to
leverage our youth marketing and non-traditional media muscle," says
Christine Fruechte, president, Colle+McVoy. "We created tools to align with
the interests of today¹s teens, including a MySpace profile page that made
it easy to build brand awareness and credibility with this very important
consumer."

Dear Eligible Voter,

"I'm a believer that if enough people get involved in the vote, the right decisions will be made."

This quote was taken from an article in last Friday's Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and it sums up my feelings entirely. As Americans I believe it is our right, our responsibility and our privilege to vote.

Every year after the election I hear people say, "next year I will get more involved." The first step to ‘getting involved’ is to become an informed voter. That means more than just trying to recall the commercials you’ve been inundated with on television. That means more than just voting based on party affiliation. Take a few minutes to read about where your candidates stand on issues that are important to you.

The second step is actually voting. As the quote above says, I believe the 'right decision' can, and will, be made. You’ve got an opportunity to help determine the future of the place you call home. Below you will find some information that will help you make your decision on who to vote for, so step up and help make the right decision--Vote.

Thanks for you participation,
Ryan

You can find your polling place here http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

Weber Shandwick was named Large PR Agency of the Year by PR News at the publication’s Platinum PR Awards ceremony held on October 18 in New York City. The awards honor the best campaigns and practices in public relations. Weber Shandwick also received Platinum Awards for Best Branding Campaign of the Year (Siemens) and Best Internal Publication Communications (American Airlines).

"Just after being named Pan-European Consultancy of the Year by The Holmes Report, this honor further underscores our firm’s commitment to our clients, and the strategic and creative thinking of our professionals around the world," said Harris Diamond, chief executive officer of Weber Shandwick.

"Our clients, in both the public and private sectors, allow us the opportunity to deliver exceptional communication strategies and programs," said Sara Gavin, president of Weber Shandwick’s Twin Cities office. "The caliber of communication assignments and challenges we manage with our clients also allows us to attract the best public relations talent the Twin Cities has to offer."

In its review of Weber Shandwick, PR News wrote: “Weber Shandwick’s worldwide presence was underscored by a year of record growth and award-winning campaigns that ran the PR gamut in 2005. These included an integrated communications effort as the U.S. Department of the Treasury/Federal Reserve Bank moved away from paper checks, as well as a brand management initiative for the Minnesota Hospital Association. Judging from its high customer satisfaction rates, Weber Shandwick has hit that goal many times over, placing it at the pinnacle of outstanding PR service.”

Twin Cities-based executive lecture series, The Masters Forum, to feature
marketing and psychology expert, Dan Ariely. Through his work at MIT, Ariley has explored the decision making process and has conducted extensive examinations of online auction behaviors, personal health monitoring, the effects of different pricing mechanisms, and the development of systems to overcome day-to-day irrationality.

Ariely’s presentation will explore the connection between decision-making and marketing:

• Behavioral Economics
  
• Decision-making
  
• Consumer Welfare
  
• Rationality
  
• Irrationality
  

INFO: The Masters Forum
Thursday, Nov. 16
8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Thrivent Auditorium
625 4th Ave. S.
Minneapolis
Cost $375

ABOUT: The Masters Forum is an executive lecture series that has been bringing the world’s best business thinkers to share their new and innovative ideas with Twin Cities’ leaders since 1987. Past presenters include such luminaries as James Collins, Michael Porter, Stephen Covey, Tom Peters, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Gary Hamel, Clayton Christensen, Malcolm Gladwell, Margaret Wheatley and Peter Block.

WHO: Ariely holds a joint appointment between MIT's Program in Media Arts and Sciences and Sloan School of Management and is the principal investigator of the Lab's eRationality group and co-director of the Lab's SIMPLICITY consortium.

With PhDs in both cognitive psychology and marketing, Ariely’s career has been focused on understanding the decision-making process and the effects of marketing on that process. Recognized in both marketing and psychology circles, Ariely’s research and opinions have been widely published, and he has received numerous honors and awards for his work in the both fields. Prior to his appointment at MIT, Ariely held positions at University of California at Berkley, Stanford and Princeton.

For more information on Ariely’s background visit