OC/PRSA and PR Newswire Host Fourth Annual Diversity Conference 'Hi-Tech, High Touch' on September 18, 2008 in Costa Mesa

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- OC/PRSA and PR Newswire are teaming up to present the OC/PRSA Fourth Annual Diversity Conference, a half-day conference focusing on diversity in public relations. The event is scheduled Thursday, September 18, 2008 at The Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza inCosta Mesa, CA.

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Entitled, "Exploring Targeted PR & Marketing for Today's Diverse Audiences," the conference will address diversity concerns and issues surrounding today's public relations workforce and will include a morning session, "Diversity Milestones & Celebrations," a Diversity Clinic and a special guest speaker luncheon panel, "Hi-Tech, High-Touch."

"We are thrilled that the conference lineup will initiate insightful discussion on diversity issues not only about race but also encompass gender, sexual orientation, and disability," said Marcie Perez, co-chair of the Fourth Annual Diversity Conference and Vice President at Idea Hall. "As the digital realm changes, we as members of the media, communications and marketing fields hold the responsibility to serve as advocates for diversity and inclusion. It is imperative that we remain true to delivering messages in the best form possible to reach today's diverse audiences."

Southern California has become a majority-minority community; exemplifying the need for businesses to embrace diversity in their best practices. Nearly one-third of Americans now come from a mix of other racial and ethnic groups, primarily African-American, Hispanic and Asian. In fact, minorities are expected to become the majority by 2042. Through its diversity initiative, OC/PRSA is working to make the public relations profession more inclusive by emphasizing the impact of diversity on the bottom line.

"The annual Diversity Conference has really put the OC/PRSA Chapter in the limelight for its efforts to inform the PR and marketing communities ofOrange County and beyond about the growing importance and impact of diversity for all," said co-chair Laarni Rosca Dacanay, Diversity Communications Specialist, NBC Universal. "We were honored to be recognized with an award last year from National PRSA and we invite our colleagues to support this year's Conference and continue our efforts to advance the national diversity initiative."

The half-day program begins with a morning roundtable (8AM-11AM): "OC Firsts: Diversity Milestones & Celebrations," which will cover areas of diversity firsts within the county and a Diversity Clinic, featuring Manny Ruiz, President, Multicultural Markets & Hispanic PR Wire, PR Newswire and co-chair of the national PRSA Diversity committee, which will consist of an in-depth workshop of tips for community-based organizations and community relations programs to support diversity and multiculturalism.

The luncheon session (11:30AM-1:30PM) is an expert guest speaker panel titled: "Hi-Tech, High Touch," which aims to offer strategic insights and best practices from some of the region's best public relations and marketing campaigns -- including entertainment, consumer, non-profit and government.

    Event Details
    Title:     FOURTH ANNUAL OC/PRSA DIVERSITY CONFERENCE

    Date:      Thursday, September 18, 2008

    Time:      8AM-1:30PM
               Morning Session:   8am - 11am
               Luncheon Program:  11:30am - 1:30pm

    Location:  The Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA
               3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
               (714) 708-2582 ***For directions only

    Morning Session Panel includes:
     -- Michele Martinez, Councilwoman City of Santa Ana
     -- Tracy Bright, KABC-TV 7, Weeknight Producer
     -- Sande Hart, Founder of Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope
        (SARAH)
     -- Anh H. Do, Vice President, Editor-Nguoi Viet 2


    Lunch Session Panel includes:
     -- Patricio Fuentes, GelComm, Founder & Agency Principal
     -- Randy Lopez, G&M Plumbing, Partner/Chief Marketing Officer
     -- Charisse Browner, LAGRANT Communications, V.P. /Group Account
        Director
     -- Galen Newton, Producer/Editor, Bravo Network
     -- Michael Phelps, Publisher/OUT; Associate Publisher/ADVOCATE Magazine
     -- Moderator: Manny Ruiz, President, Multicultural Markets & Hispanic PR
        Wire, PR Newswire and co-chair of the national PRSA Diversity
        committee

Cost and RSVP: Register online at http://www.ocprsa.org or e-mail info@ocprsa.org

Cost with reservations by September 15, 2008*:

Morning session (8AM-11AM) "OC Firsts: "Diversity Milestones & Celebrations"

    *$30 member *$40 non-member *$25 student

    Afternoon session/monthly luncheon (11:30AM-1:30PM) "Hi-Tech, High Touch"
    *$40 member *$50 non-member *$35 student

    BOTH sessions (8AM-1:30PM):  OC/PRSA FOURTH ANNUAL DIVERSITY CONFERENCE
    *$65 member *$80 non-member *$45 student

*After September 15, there is an additional $5 charge for walk-ins and late reservations, and no refunds are available.

About OC/PRSA

The Public Relations Society of America (http://www.prsa.org/), based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 100 Chapters nationwide, 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 (PRSSA) has nearly 300 Chapters at colleges and universities throughoutthe United States.

The Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (http://www.ocprsa.org/) consists of more than 300 public relations professionals. Members participate in local activities with the region's top PR professionals. OC/PRSA offers monthly meetings with engaging speakers, affordable professional development seminars, opportunities to work with other professionals on a variety of committees, regular email announcements, and PROTOS, the county's foremost public relations award program. Local members also have access to the Chapter's Agency and Freelance Referral Service and to the Orange County PRSA Job Line. OC/PRSA members are from business and industry, public relations counseling firms, government agencies, educational institutions, trade and professional groups, healthcare groups and not-for-profit organizations.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire Association LLC (http://www.prnewswire.com/) provides electronic distribution, targeting, measurement and broadcast services on behalf of tens of thousands of corporate, government, association, labor, non-profit, and other customers worldwide. Using PR Newswire, these organizations reach a variety of critical audiences including the news media, the investment community, government decision-makers, and the general public with their up-to-the-minute, full-text news developments.

Established in 1954, PR Newswire has offices in 14 countries and routinely sends its customers' news to outlets in more than 170 countries and in more than 40 languages. Utilizing the latest in communications technology, PR Newswire content is considered a mainstay among news reporters, investors and individuals who seek breaking news from the source. PR Newswire's leading services include ProfNet(SM), eWatch(TM), MEDIAtlas(TM), Search Engine Optimization, MediaRoom, MediaSense(TM), MultiVu(TM), U.S. Newswire, the preeminent policy newswire in the industry, Vintage Filings, the fastest growing Edgar filing company, and Hispanic PR Wire, LatinClips and Hispanic Digital Network, the foremost Hispanic communications services. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited ofLondon.

     FOR MORE INFORMATION:
     Laarni Rosca Dacanay
     Co-Chair, Diversity Committee
     NBC Universal, Diversity Communications Specialist
     (818) 777-9195
     Laarni.Dacanay@nbcuni.com

     Marcie Perez
     Co-Chair, Diversity Committee
     Idea Hall, Vice President
     (213) 236-3582
     Marcie@ideahall.com

SOURCE OC/PRSA

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