1. Public Relations Chair Report Gaston Gianni NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

2.  WHY IS PUBLIC RELATIONS IMPORTANT  VFC PR GOALS  WHERE WE STAND  WHAT WE DID  MATCHING FUNDS  LICENSE PLATE PROJECT  OTHER DUTIES  PRESENTATIONS  CLOSING THOUGTHS NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

3. Another Year of More BS!! NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE Brilliant Stuff of Course!

4.  "Public relations is the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organization (NARFE) and its publics."  Everything you do or say is public relations ! NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

5.  Build the NARFE Brand  Build Awareness-Local Newspapers  Build Goodwill-Local Activities  Create Interest in NARFE  Provide NARFE Information  Stimulate New Membership  Strength In Numbers NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

6.  Establish Communications Network with Chapter PR Chairs  Identify Best Practices in other Federations  Increase Use of Matching Funds  Assist Chapters PR Chairs  Determine where potential members live or work  Develop Strategic Plan  Review Web Site Content NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

7. Progress made in filling Chapter PR Positions  43 of 60 Chapters have PR Chairs - gain of 3  37 0f 43 PR Chairs have e-mail – gain of 3 MORE WORK NEEDED! NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

8.  Matching Funds  License Plate Project  Region X Conference Presentation  Other Duties as Assigned  Chapter Visits/ Presentations NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

9.  2011 Projects—13 10 Chapter 3 VFC  Total Cost of Projects $14,152 NARFE HQ--$6,823 VFC --$5,188 Chapters--$2,140  Project Range--$100-$3,700 NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

10.  Booths at Health Fairs, Festivals & EXPOs  Tables at Postmaster Conventions  Pre Retirement Seminars  Parade Float  Various Newspaper Ads  Recruiting Events  PR Recruiting STUFF—Banners, Bags, Pens, Note Pads, Tape Measurers NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

20.  Need 450 to Go Forward  Goal: 8-10 per Chapter  3 Options Available: -6 digits assigned by state $10 -Existing 6 digit personalized $ 20 -New 6 digit personalized $20

21. NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE  68 Applications as of April 1, 2012  An increase of 20 since last year’s Convention  Only one Chapter (Woodbridge 1270) met and exceeded goal of 8-10 with 14 applications  Due to lack of support, recommend project termination and refund of money.

22. NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE  VFC Strategic Plan—Input to VFC Board  Developing Guidelines for Pre-Retirement Seminars  Briefing on Public Relations at Region X Federations’ Conference  Established a coordinating network among Region X Federation PR Chairs  Represented Region X on the NARFE National By- Laws Committee  Final draft By-Laws and Standing Rules on the NARFE web site and will be voted on at National Convention in August.

23. NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

25.  Accepted invitations to Speak  Northern VA Caucus (Areas IX &X, 13 Chapters)  Area VII Chapters: 2358 Shenandoah County 164 Harrisonburg  ACCEPTING INVITATIONS for 2012 !!

26. NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE  PUBLIC RELATIONS IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY  PR CHAIRS HELP LEAD THE WAY  WE NEED EVERYONE WORKING TO MAKE NARFE BETTER KNOWN  WE NEED EVERYONE WORKING TO BRING IN NEW MEMBERS  REMEMBER MATCHING FUNDS HELP STRETCH CHAPTER FUNDS!

27. NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE  NARFE Public Relations Handbook FH-9 (12/10) Web Sites: www.narfe.orgwww.narfe.org www.vanarfe.org Protect America’s Heartbeat Tool Kit VFC PR Handbook (Still Under Construction) VFC PR Chair gastongianni@aol.comgastongianni@aol.com 703-508-4339

28. NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE  BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH,  BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, MORE BS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, Still MORE BS, BLAH, BLAH  FINAL THOUGHTS, MORE BS, BLAH, BLAH, ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !  THE END

29. NARFE-ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE