Table Contents

a. Resume

b. In Focus Newsletter

c. Applied Research

d. NWFL Epilepsy Society Grant

e. Escambia County Press Release

f. Escambia County Press Release

g. Escambia County Press Release

h. Speech Writing for Alltel

i. Power Point Presentation for Alltel

j. Feature story about Leon Gross

k. American Humane Association

l. Crisis Communication Plan for Bartiromo

m. News release for broadcast on Accelerated Reader

n. Escambia County Flier for Health Fair

 Melissa Rapisarda
1007 E. Bobe St Pensacola, Fl 32503
Msr9@students.uwf.edu
850-428-1052
Career Objective
My career objective within working for this company is to utilize my knowledge of
public relations and to proactively further the development of this company.

Work Experience
Just for Fun: Toys and Gifts
Niceville, Fl
April 2003 until August 2005
Afternoon Assistant Manager
Responsibilities included:
 Offering excellent customer service
 Ordering merchandise
 Stocking merchandise
 Cashier
 Attended market shows
 Meeting with sales representatives
 Increasing revenue

Stewardship Dynamics: Financial Advising, Planning and Developing Firm

Destin, Fl
May 2006 until August 2006
Office Assistant
Responsibilities included:
 Drafting computer documents on Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher,
Power Point and Photoshop
 Updating and maintaining clientele information
 Account change paper work
 Mail outs
 Bank deposits
 Answer phone calls and emails
 Transferring hard copy documents onto burned CDs

Big Sexy Food: Fine Catering

Pensacola, Fl
January 2006 until August 2008
Server
Responsibilities included:
 Offering excellent customer service
 Serving food and beverages
 Promoting the company
Hub Stacey’s Food and Spirits
Pensacola, Fl
August 2008 until Present
Server
Responsibilities included:
 Offering excellent customer service
 Serving food and beverages
 Promoting the company
 Increasing sales

Escambia County Public Information and Communication

Pensacola, Fl
January 2010 until May 2010
Intern
Responsibilities included:
 Writing press releases
 Updating pictures for website
 Writing articles for the employee newsletter
 Planning and executing events
 Creating fliers
 Archiving news articles
 Answering phone calls

Education
The University of West Florida
Pensacola, Fl
August 2005 until Present
Seeking degree in Communication Arts Public Relations
With a Minor in Marketing Applications

Memberships
Florida Public Relations Society of America Pensacola chapter

References
Sonya Daniel
Escambia County Public Information and Communications Manager
850-595-3476 sonya_daniel@myescambia.com

Robert and Sue Albrecht

Retired Navy
850-729-2605
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY
Melissa Rapisarda

28 October 2008

PUR3100
 Julia Fikse’s company, Save the Ta-Tas clothing brand, has been making

people “pause for the cause” since its birth in 2004. Fikse founded the company after

working on a concept for a new t-shirt line as a seasoned accessories designer for Adidas,

Levi’s and Jessica McClintock. The company’s mission is to fight breast cancer by donating

five percent of sales to organizations such as The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The

Revlon Run/Walk for Women, and weSPARK. Save the Ta-Tas apparel includes t-shirts,

koozies, lip balm, bumper magnets, hats, stickers, and other items.

Fiskse wants her products to first, bring laughter to women who have dealt with

breast cancer. Second to bring a joyful spirit to families who have lost a loved one, to

cherish and celebrate their memory. And third, to bring awareness to women who may

have never thought about breast cancer. Her line is an opportunity to think about the

disease, fight it and spread the word to others – in a spirit of humor and love. Save the Ta-

Tas firmly believes that in working together, they can inspire others to join together in a

positive way and recognize that as a team, they can really make a difference.

To date, Save the Ta-Tas has donated $150,000 from their sales to breast cancer

research. Products can be purchased at over 200 specialty stores, and on the internet. They

sponsor many events such as tee it up for ta-tas, bowling for boobies, and the Revlon

Run/Walk for Women. For more information, visit www.savethetatas.com.

PRESS RELEASES FOR PRINT MEDIA
 News Release
Escambia County
Office of Public Information and Communications
221 Palafox Place, Suite 410, Pensacola FL 32502

March 29, 2010 For More Information Contact:

News Release# 10-0329 Hurricane Hunter Aircraft John Dosh
Emergency Management
471-6400

Hurricane Hunter Aircraft to visit Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport

The Hurricane Hunter crew goes wherever the wind blows. On April 29, Pensacola is a stop on
the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center Hurricane Hunter Aircraft
nationwide tour.

While the focus of the morning tours at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, 2430 Airport
Blvd., will be local elementary and middle schools students, the general public is welcome from
2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Come check out the National Oceanic and Atmosphere
Administration (NOAA) WP-3 Orion turbo prop, talk to the actual pilots who fly through
hurricanes and learn more about hurricane preparedness.

NOAA uses the hurricane awareness tour to get the message out to communities that now is the
time to prepare for a hurricane, rather than when a storm is at your doorstep. “After a relatively
quiet season last year, we don’t want people to become unconcerned. We want our coastal
residents to be ready for the next hurricane season, that’s why we’re bringing this awareness tour
to Pensacola before the season begins June 1,” said John Dosh, Emergency Management chief.
“We want to save lives through awareness and preparedness.”

For more information, please contact John Dosh, Emergency Management at 471-6400.

###

Media Note: A 30-minute window has been reserved for the media from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
 News Release
Escambia County
Office of Public Information and Communications
221 Palafox Place, Suite 410, Pensacola FL 32502

February 1, 2010 For More Information, Contact:

News Release# 10-0201-Spay Neuter Month Marilyn Wesley
595-1679

Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare

Sponsor “Spay and Neuter Month”
at the Escambia County Animal Shelter
Throughout the month of February, Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, a local animal
welfare organization, will pay for half the cost of spay or neuter procedures for eligible low
income pet owners during “Spay and Neuter Month” at the Escambia County Animal Shelter,
200 West Fairfield Drive.

“We’ve sponsored spay and neuter programs since 1988,” said Dorothy Kaser of Concerned
Citizens for Animal Welfare. “It’s very important that we do everything possible to reduce the
number of unwanted animals being born.”

Each spring, cats and dogs that have not been spayed or neutered give birth to countless puppies
and kittens, overwhelming shelters all over the country with unwanted litters. In just seven years,
one unspayed cat and her offspring – producing an average litter of three, twice a year – grows
exponentially to more than 450,000 kittens. Dogs, having an average of one litter per year, can
produce more than 4,000 puppies in equal time.

The spay and neuter assistance program is available to qualified citizens year-round. Providing
these services at half price during Spay and Neuter Month benefits not only the low income pet
owner, but also all residents of Escambia County. Rabies vouchers are made available through
the Junior Humane Society.

A voucher for a free rabies vaccination will be available for the first one hundred qualifiers at
Ferry Pass Veterinary Clinic. The animal must have proof of a rabies vaccination before the
surgery.

For information on low cost spay and neuter services, or to find out if you qualify, call the
Escambia County Animal Shelter at 595-3075 or visit the shelter, from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday
through Sunday. For more information on Escambia County bureaus and services, visit
myescambia.com.
###
SPEECH WRITING
Running head: ALLTEL RELOCATION TO PENSACOLA FLORIDA

Alltel Relocation to Pensacola, Fl

Melissa S. Rapisarda

The University of West Florida

Purpose: The purpose of my speech is to convince the executive board of Alltel to relocate to

Pensacola.

Thesis: Pensacola offers not only job growth and salary increases, but the chance to experience

Pensacola’s assets.

INTRODUCTION

A. Imagine being able to wake up on Saturday mornings, pack lunches and towels

and then head to the crystal white beaches with the family. This could be you.

[Attention Getter]

B. Hi, I’m Melissa Rapisarda, a PR representative of the Pensacola Chamber of

Commerce. I myself was offered a job promotion 3 years ago from Denver and it

was the best decision I ever made. [Ethos assertion]

C. I have been asked by your CEO Scott Ford to come and share with you all of the

wonderful benefits that you can reap from simply relocating to Pensacola’s new

Alltel headquarters. [Purpose]

D. Pensacola offers not only job growth and salary increases, but the chance to

experience Pensacola’s assets. [Thesis]

E. In the next several minutes I am going to share with you why you should relocate

to Pensacola, the benefits, and lastly the negative effects of staying in Little Rock.

[Preview]

Transition: Let me start by explaining why you should relocate.

I. NEED

A. The question you need to ask yourself is: Can relocating fulfill the need for job

growth, a salary promotion, and experiencing Pensacola’s assets?

 1. Not only will you be making more, but Pensacola along with the rest of

Florida does not have income taxes. In place of an income tax, taxes are used

to support the public schools, roads, and services.

2. Pensacola has to offer 52 miles of beaches with undeveloped pristine beauty-

and we’re determined to keep it that way.

3. “Southern sensibilities merge with various cultural influences to produce a

sophisticated downtown, a place where innovation and beach culture co-exist,

and where water and whimsy blend to produce the area’s unique

personality”(Pensacola Chamber).

4. In downtown, Pensacola is building a spectacular 30-acre, $70 million

Maritime Park on the waterfront. It will feature a 3,500 seat multipurpose

stadium, a conference center, a marine museum, offices, restaurants, and

plenty of green space where you can do nothing but bask in the breeze and

soak up the sound of the water.

5. Health care in Pensacola is also the largest employer right behind the military.

Pensacola’s health care rivals that of any major metropolitan area having 3

major hospitals.

B. All of this information applies to you because you have the opportunity to accept

the promotion and reap the benefits.

Transition: Given that, the following information are the benefits that relocating will allow.
II. SATISFACTION

A. Accepting the promotion will result in salary increase, job growth, and the

opportunity to experience Pensacola’s assets.

B. A new life in Pensacola will satisfy all of these needs. Some examples of the

benefits are :

1. Pensacola employers offer 0.8% more a year than Little Rock. This percent is

equivalent to about $300 more a year (Salary.com).

2. Alltel has chosen you to be the first 6 picked to be promoted from $100,000 a

year to $110,000. That’s a little more than $300.

3. Pensacola is sunny 343 days a year compared to only 120 days in Little Rock

which means plenty of opportunities to hit the beach (about.com).

4. Pensacola’s high schools are ranked best number 36

(PensacolaChamber.com), where Little Rock’s are ranked only 50

(LittleRockChamber.com).

C. I know you may be thinking that this is just too much, but the pros defiantly

outweigh the cons.

Transition: I am now going to explain some of the positive and negative effects of my

proposal.

III. VISUALIZATION

A. The positive effects of accepting this job promotion are shorter commutes all over

town, pay increase, the beaches and historical districts, better schools, and the

growth of the city all around.

 B. The negative effects of not accepting this job promotion are lack of job growth,

maintain worn out responsibilities, same paychecks, same mediocre schools, long

commutes, heavy traffic, land locked, and the list continues.

C. Recently I did a similar seminar for another corporation you might be familiar

with called Apple. They too expanded into Pensacola and it has been nothing but

a great success not only for the corporation but as well as the employees.

CALL TO ACTION

A. So ladies and gentlemen I encourage you to take all of the information that I have

shared with you and let it sink deep down and convince you that this is such a

wonderful opportunity all around for not just your family but as well as the

growth of Alltel.

B. There is a reason that you were the 6 handpicked by Scott Ford to open and lead

this new headquarters. You are the determining success of the growth of this

company.

C. Pensacola is where it’s at- financially, promotionally, and enjoyably. This is your

chance to grow with Alltel, taking on new challenges and responsibilities. This is

the opportunity to make that extra $10,000 a year. And lastly to experience all of

the neat wonders that Pensacola has to offer.

D. I as well as Alltel have agreed to help you through this change in any way that we

can. I have a staff ready and willing to help you find a house, new schools, and

anything else that you need.

E. And don’t forget about being able to pack the family up and head to the beach!
 References

Unknown. (2008). Economic development: Pensacola. Retrieved July 27,2008, from Web site:

http://pensacolachamber.org/economicdevelopment/

Unknown. (2008). Salary calculator. Retrieved July 28, 2008, from Web site: http://salary.com

Unknown. (2008). City ratings. Retrieved July 28, 2008, from Web site: http://cityrating.com

Unknown. (2008). Little rock chamber. Retrieved August 1, 2008, from Web site:

http://littlerockchamber.org

Unknown. (2008). Pensacola’s greatest. Retrieved July, 27, 2008, from Web site:

http://pensacolasgreatest.com
ISSUE TRACKING RESEARCH
 The Effects of 18-29 Year-old Voter Turn Out in the 2008 Election
Executive Summary

Overview
Since 1972 when 18 year-olds were given the right to vote with the 26th amendment
added to the Constitution, we have seen a decrease of 16 percentage points in ages 18-30 voter
turnout rates. But 2004 signaled a change, with an 11 percent increase in youth voting. Since the
2004, election young voters have empowered each other to educate themselves and others with
political issues that we all face as young and old citizens. With issues from the Iraq war to the
depressing economy resulting in few jobs, young people are highly affected in this election. It’s
not just about social security and health care this time.
Voters under 30 years old make up about one-fifth of the electorate for the whole
country. That may not seem like a large portion but when all of those citizens actively participate
in campaigning and voting, their voices do not go unheard. Thus far, millions and more young
Americans have registered to vote this year alone.

Summary of Findings
To sum up the extensive research that I have found on this topic, I should first say that I
am pleased to be in a generation of people that are showing a sense of patriotism in the fact that
we will no longer tolerate being acknowledged as a group of youth that does not care, and do not
matter in a political sense. So many organizations have formed to fight this stigma- just to name
a few, Rock the Vote, Smack Down the Vote, and Choose or Loose. In one of my articles “This
Time We Mean It” Chris Cillizza says, “the report goes on to say that the growth in young
people’s participation in the electoral process is not a one-time phenomenon but rather,
represents a civic reawakening of a new generation”.
Another highlight that I really found to be true in “The Young Vote” is that an investment
in young voters provides an opportunity to instill partisan affiliation and devotion; long term
loyalty is largely founded in the early years of voting. Nearly a third of 17-29 year-olds report
having engaged in politics. Also, as of June 2007, 65 percent of 17-29 year-olds surveyed
reported that they did not believe that the candidates had made enough effort to reach them. That
amazes me that even a year before the elections, young Americans were even remotely interested
in the candidates and what they have to offer our generation.

Technology takes the credit for politics progressing further than ever before. Now young
Americans can access the internet at their leisure and research the candidates for themselves.
This is also another reason why more and more young people are engaged in politics. Although
our generation may be the children of cyber space, we still want face time with the candidates.
We still want rallies and campaigns centered around our needs and lifestyles too.

Summary of Recommendations
I recommend to the 18-30 year-olds of America to keep up the good work. Don’t stop
while we are ahead. We need to keep proving ourselves in the political world. We need to fight
for the right to vote at any poll even if we are out of state for school for all states. We need to
fight for same day registration for all states as well.
As for candidates in the future for any election, spend more time on the young people of
the nation. Showing an interest and firing up the youth empowers the whole campaign. Giving
off the impression that the young don’t vote and don’t matter does not solve any issue.
Encourage any young person that you know to educate themselves and share with others what
they learn.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the 18-30 year-olds of the nation will have a huge impact on the
presidential election of 2008. More youth are fired up and ready to vote than ever before. We are
all looking for a change no matter who we vote for. We are all excited about exercising our right
to speak up about issues that affect us. This fire will not be extinguished. This fire will continue
on for years and years. We are to show the next generations that our vote is just as important as
any others. This is not just a phenomenon that will cease, we will remain actively engaging in the
political world and making our voices count- because they do.
APPLIED RESEARCH
“How do college students
perceive the use of social
media?”

Melissa Rapisarda
PUR4800
November 18, 2009
 Executive Summary

I am going to conduct research on how college students view the potential for

social media. Are they using it strictly for social purposes, or are they branching out and using it

to network and look for future careers? And are they aware of the benefits of using social

media?

The issue began right around the time Myspace was introduced in 2003 as a social

networking site for employees of eUniverse. Following after, Facebook was introduced in

February 2004 as an online social networking site for college students. It was a way for students

to communicate through the use of writing on friends “walls” and viewing pictures. Allowing

public access in 2006, contributed to the many more millions of people all over the world who

are now able communicate via the site. This can be very beneficial to college students who are

seeking careers after graduation. Through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and other

various blogs, students are able to befriend people of the same field, join discussion groups, and

interact from anywhere in the world.

The focus group for my research on “How do college students view the potential for

social media?” will consist of current students that are ranging from freshmen to seniors. They

will all be chosen at random when they walk through the computer lab doors. I will ensure that

they are appropriate representatives of my target audience by asking to see their UWF

identification card. To motivate them to participate, I will offer participants a copy of a recent
 Background Summary

“How do college students perceive the use of social media?”

The old phrase it’s who you know, not what you know has now taken on a new

shape to the digital age. It’s what you know about social networking that lands your

dream job. Unknown (2009) stated in The Toronto Sun that as competition for

employment intensifies job seekers who have a firm understanding of how to promote

themselves through new technologies and tools will have an edge on the competition.

Many jobs aren’t advertised. That’s why networking, both online and in person, can help

candidates uncover opportunities.

Generation Y has improved the hiring process, and developed a new way to do

business. Anonymous (2009) stated in a PR Newswire article that Generation Y has

arrived at work. They are smart, visionary and independent. They carry their social

networks to work, visit their Facebook pages several times a day and collaborate to get

their work done. They are motivated by an open culture that lets them speak their minds,

challenge status quo, and one that rewards out-of-the-box thinking. The old methods of

talent acquisition won’t work – this generation will make you rethink your entire business

model. Many college students are finding that connecting to social networks such as

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Myspace are allowing them to expand their networks

from not just their friends and family, but to business professionals. Ranscombe (2008)

stated in a The Scotsman newspaper article that in a recent US student survey, 97 percent
found that young people are using social networking sites to find out what companies are really

like to work for, by talking to their employees. They are also seeking advice about careers from

online friends, rather than pursuing the traditional route of asking parents. This is a perfect

example of how the internet is changing the way we do everything.

The social networking site LinkedIn, based in Mountain View, Calif. is referred to as the

ultimate Rolodex, with more than 37 million members and counting. The profiles read more like

a resume with users listing their work experience and education along with noteworthy

accomplishments. The most common tools used are people and job searches, questions and

answers from other networks, and contact lists. Koster (2009) stated in her article that LinkedIn

is fabulous for recruiting. It’s more direct than some of the others. It’s more of a professional

network than a social network. Shammah (2008) stated in The Jerusalem Post editorial that

maybe a LinkedIn job search won’t find you your dream job on the first try but if the person who

has the keys to finding that job is on the site too you’re already halfway to your goal. Fost (2009)

from the Los Angeles Times found in an interview with a user that instead of being one of many

throwing your resume into a dark black hole, you use can use LinkedIn as an internal

gravitational pull.

With 300 million users and counting Facebook, launched from Harvard, is the largest

social network in the world. Employers are recruiting employees through Facebook everyday.

Stone (2008) stated in The New York Times that executives at Facebook have recently said that

they see networking tools for professionals as a primary avenue of growth. The site recently

added networking to the list of options that new users select when they are asked to specify what

they intend to do on the site. Tribble (2008) of The New York Times stated that Facebook makes

it easy to carry on a casual conversation or ask group questions.

 Although many students are using these social networking sites, many of them are not

using them enough for career networking and some claim to not know how. Forret (2008) stated

in her article that 70 to 80 percent of all professional jobs are not obtained through classified

advertisements; rather, they are obtained through effective and consistent networking. Despite

this wisdom, she added, many students lack the knowledge and skills needed to effectively

network. She also stated that our relationships with others are a resource that can provide new

ideas, timely information, job opportunities, business leads, influence, and social support.

Students should not perceive social networking as using or asking favors to get ahead. Social

networks are designed for everyone to benefit from each other.

Other methods of job hunting are becoming less and less effective for college students. In

a survey Joyner (2009) conducted found that on a scale of 1 (least effective) through 5 (most

effective) networking came in at 3.98, social networking sites came in at 3.3, management

recruiting firms at 3.0, internet job boards at 3.0, employer websites at 2.9, cold-calling

employers at 2.2, blind resume submission at 1.7, newspaper classified ads at 1.7, and job fairs at

1.6. Chan (2009) stated in an article in The Straits Times that networking is important in every

aspect of life. You never know when you might hit the jackpot with a huge pool of contacts at

your finger tips. The more people sign on to these networks, the more effective the websites

become as a tool to manage a large base of contacts. She could not be more accurate.
 Source List

Anonymous (2009, September 16). “Mylatch Launches Revolutionary Social Tool.” PR

Newswire, p.1.

Chan, Fiona (2009, June 22). “Online networking sites can be useful for work.” The Straits
Times, p.1.

Fost, Dan (2009, March 30). “It’s all about whom you know, but it’s online.” The Los Angeles
Times , p.1.

Forret, Monica (2008, October). “ Learning The Art of Networking: A Critical Skill for
Enhancing Social Capital and Career Success.” Journal of Management Education, p.629-635.

Joyner, Tammy (2009, September 3). “Networking Trumps Job Fairs, Survey Finds.” Palm
Beach Pos, p. B6.

Koster, Kathleen (2009, September 15). “Fish or cut bait; Employer can find either feast or
famine when fishing for talent on social media sites.” Employee Benefit News, pg.12.

Ranscombe, Peter (2008, June 13). “Facebook is the future for recruitment.” The Scotsman, p.
33.

Shamah, David (2008, February 26). “LinkedIn: What is it good for?” The Jerusalem Post, p. 18.

Stone, Brad (2008, June 18). “At Social Site, Only Buisnesslike Need Apply.” The New York
Times, p.1.

Tribble, Sarah Jane (2008, August 14). “The Social Network as a Career Safety Net.” The New
York Times, p.6

Unknown (2009, March 18). “What’s ‘In’ and ‘Out” in the job hunt?” The Toronto Sun, p.49.
 Focus Group Plan

The focus group for my research on “How do college students view the potential for

social media?” will consist of current students that are ranging from freshmen to seniors. They

will all be chosen at random when they walk through the computer lab doors. I will ensure that

they are appropriate representatives of my target audience by asking to see their UWF

identification card. To motivate them to participate, I will offer participants a copy of a recent

job hunting manual.

Warm Up:

1. Show of hands: how many of you use social networking sites on a daily basis?

2. How many of you use them to network for your future careers?

Detailed:

3. How do you plan to job hunt after graduation?

4. How effective do you think job fairs, cold-calling or blind resume submissions are?

5. Can someone tell or list all of the sites that are available for social networking?

6. How do you feel about using social networking sites to network for your career?

7. Does anyone know of someone who has been hired through using social networks? How/

or what social networking sites did they use?

Wrap Up:

8. How likely are you to start using social networking sites for more than just social

purposes?

9. What new thoughts or ideas do you have in terms of using social media to further your

careers?
 “How do college students view the potential for social media?”

I am going to conduct research on how college students view the potential for social

media. Are they using it strictly for social purposes, or are they branching out and using it to

network and look for future careers?

I chose to research this topic because social media is the latest and greatest trend in the

technology world. There are so many benefits within using social media, and I am interested in

what college students are actually doing with it.

The issue began right around the time Myspace was introduced in 2003 as a social

networking site for employees of eUniverse. Following after, Facebook was introduced in

February 2004 as an online social networking site for college students. It was a way for students

to communicate through the use of writing on friends “walls” and viewing pictures. Allowing

public access in 2006, contributed to the many more millions of people all over the world who

are now able communicate via the site. This can be very beneficial to college students who are

seeking careers after graduation. Through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and other

various blogs, students are able to befriend people of the same field, join discussion groups, and

interact from anywhere in the world.

The results of this research would be of interest to any current college students who

already engage in social media for any purpose, to see the benefits of preparing for a career prior

to graduation through social media. This research would also be of interest to any professional to

encourage them to interact with college students to help them in any way.
Some research questions I will ask are:

1. T o what extent do college students see social networking sites as a resource for

career achievements rather than just socializing?

2. What would motivate students who aren’t using social media to benefit their careers

motivated to start engaging in this idea?

3. Are students aware of all the different outlets of social media that are right at their

finger tips that can help them?

Survey Plan

My survey sample will consist of current college students attending the University of

West Florida. The sample students will be chosen at random, and will participate in an online

survey that will be sent through the university’s email system. To ensure they are appropriate

representation of my target audience, only enrolled students at UWF will receive the emailed

survey. The participants will be asked to respond to the survey within 30 days of receiving it.

The participants will each receive a copy of the latest job hunting manual in appreciation for

their time.

Demographic Questions:

1. Please select gender:

o Female

o Male

o Prefer not to answer

 2. Please select age group:

o 18-24

o 25-31

o 32-38

o 39+

o Prefer not to answer

3. Please select your ethnicity:

o African American

o White

o Hispanic

o Other

o Prefer not to answer

Psychographic Questions:

4. Please select your current student status:

o Freshman

o Sophomore

o Junior

o Senior

5. Please select your current employment status (mark all that apply):
 o Full-time employed

o Part-time employed

o On campus employee

o Off campus employee

o Not employed

6. Please select your current enrollment status:

o Full-time student

o Part-time student

Substantive Questions:

7. On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) how likely are you to use social networking sites on a
weekly basis?

o Never

o Almost Never

o A few times a week

o Almost always

o Always

8. On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) how many social networking sites are you an active
member of?

o One or two

o Three or four

o Four or more
9. In your opinion rank the following, which site would you say is more useful for career
networking? 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest)

Facebook ____

Twitter ____

LinkedIn ____

MySpace ____

10. Rank the following from least effective to most effective 1 (least) 7 (most):

Networking ____

Social Networking Sites ____

Internet Job Boards ____

Employer Websites ____

Cold-Calling Employers ____

Blind Resume Submissions ____

Job Fairs ____

11. How substantial do you feel your current career network is?

o Substantial

o More than substantial

o Not substantial at all

12. How do you view the fairness or unfairness of employers using social networking sites to recruit
employees?

o Extremely fair

o Somewhat fair

o Neither fair nor unfair

o Slightly unfair
 o Not fair at all

13. What do you currently use social networking site for (mark all that apply)?

o Socializing with friends and family

o Career Networking

o Relationship Seeking

o Alumni Connecting

o Political Participation

o Other (please specify)

NEWS RELEASE FOR BROADCAST MEDIA
Public Service Announcement
Local Contact: Melissa Rapisarda

1007 E. Bobe St.

Pensacola, Fl 32503

850-428-1052, msr9@students.uwf.edu

Start Date: October 9, 2008 through November 9, 2008

Slug Line: Accelerated Reader Program Announced

30 Seconds:

Top ten ways to get your child to be a better

reader- read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read,

read and read. Escambia County is implementing

the Accelerated Reader program in order to help raise

student motivation to read and to help raise test scores.

AR books are available at the library for students to

complete by a certain time and be quizzed on.

For more information visit us at

www.acceleratedreader.com.

###
FEATURE STORY
 Feature Story

Not only is he a husband, father, professional, and a humanitarian, but Leon Gross is a

Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. Originally from Pinczow, Poland, and oldest of six children,

Gross was 17-years-old and a member of a resistance fighters group, when the Nazi’s invaded

his hometown. While he was hiding in the woods for a year, Gross was able to secretly live in a

barn that he paid for with hidden silver and linens that his mother had stowed away. When he

was finally reported by village people, Gross was taken to Kelce hasag, a work camp, to work on

a lathe to make ammunition for the German army; his youthfulness and ability to work hard is

what kept him alive.

From there he was taken to Buchenwald, a well known worker concentration camp, for a

year and a half. There he was assigned work detail, outside of the camp, in bombed areas to

collect valuables to be turned in. On one of the days of collection, he decided to steal some coins

that he had found and sew them into the inside of his hat. Upon return to the concentration camp,

a Nazi coincidentally hit him upside the head and felt the coins. Gross knew that he would be

killed for his disobedience, so on the way to report to officials he found a dead man’s body and

swapped clothes with him, taking on his number and identity. His life was saved.

Right before liberation, the Nazis lined up people one last time for a death march. Gross

and a few others knew what was going to happen, so they successfully hid from the guards.

Finally on April 11th, 1945, all of the Jews at Buchenwald were liberated. After liberation, Gross

spent two years in a displaced persons camp in Germany. He took some vocational classes in

pattern design. After taking classes, he saved up enough money to move to the states. His uncle,
the only family member he had left, sponsored him to immigrate to Toledo, Ohio. From there he

moved to Toronto, Canada where he met and married his wife, Molly Holender (she too is a

survivor). Together they raised two children, Brian born in Toronto in 1954, and Lori born in

Philadelphia in 1960.

Gross moved his family to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1973, where he managed a division of

the Jonathan Logan textile corporation. He oversaw over 300 employees, to which he was fair

and just toward each one of them. He believed in humanity, and that no race should be set apart

and treated un-justly. He felt that right before and during the Holocaust, the Jews were “blind

sighted” by the Nazis and trusted too deeply that God was going to save them instead of

preparing for what was to come.

In his better days, Gross was an active antisemitism advocate, and spoke consistently at

the University of Alabama and to churches around the area. In 1994, he and his wife took part in

Steven Spielberg’s documentary project,”Shoah”. During this project, Spielberg traveled to 57

countries to collect more than 50,000 eyewitness interviews from survivors; Gross being one

among them.

Gross continues to live his life as a well balanced, assimilated man. Although he still

questions God’s existence during the Holocaust, he “would die for his religion” as he almost did.

Currently, Gross lives with his wife in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He has been diagnosed with

Dementia, which is tragedy in itself because his illness has stolen his story. As with other

survivors, their stories often die if they are not passed on. Had Gross not passed down his

experiences to his family, there would be no story left to tell.

POWER POINT PRESENTATION
 Present ed by:
Melissa S. Ra pisa rda
PR Agent of Pensa cola Cha mber of
Commerce

Ca n Relocating Fulfill the Need for

Job Growth? Sa la ry Promotion? And
experiencing Pensa cola ’s Assets?
 YES!

Needs Pensa cola Fulfills

• No income taxes- support public schools, roa ds, a nd services.
• 52 miles of bea ches with undeveloped pristine bea uty
• Downtown, 30 a cre, $70 million Ma ritime Pa rk
• Fea tures 3,500 seat multipurpose sta dium, conference center,
ma rine museum, offices, resta ura nts, green spa ce
• Health ca re la rgest employer behind milita ry, Riva ls a ny
other major metro a rea ha ving 3 ma jor hospita ls
• New tasks and responsibilities

• “Southern sensibilities merge with various

cultural influences to produce a
sophisticated downtown, a place where
innovation and beach culture co-exist, and
where water and whimsy blend to produce
the area’s unique personality”.
---- Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
 You CAN get some Sa tisfa ction

• Employers offer 0.8% ($300) more a yea r

• Alltel ha s chosen YOU to promote to
$110,000
• Sunny 343 da ys a yea r vs. 120 da ys in Little
Rock
• High Schools ra nked # 36 vs. 50 in Little
Rock

PROS
• Shorter commutes
• Pa y increa se
• Bea ches a nd Historica l Districts
• Better Schools
• Growing city

Cons
• La ck of Job Growth
• Worn out responsibilities
• Sa me pa ychecks
• Mediocre schools
• Long commutes
• Hea vy Tra ffic
• La nd locked
 Apple

• Grea t Success
• $500,000
increa se in just 6
months
• All employees
ha ve sta yed

Fina ncia lly

Promotiona lly

Enjoya bly
CRISIS COMMUNICATION PLAN
 Crisis Communication Plan

Risk Assessment
1. Underage employees stealing damaged goods when they are returned to the warehouse and
consuming the alcoholic beverages.

2. C.E.O. drove under the influence striking a pedestrian.

3. C.E.O. carried on an affair with underage intern.

4. Summer drought affecting our crops causing a shortage of beer production.

5. Hurricane hits the East Coast destroying our main brewery in Jacksonville, Fla.

6. Intoxicated delivery driver strikes elementary school bus.

7. Employee tampered with product in production causing massive recall of Bud Light.

8. C.E.O. becomes extremely intoxicated and proceeds to perform a strip tease for the
shareholders of the company.

9. Bribing executives of an ad agency with expensive gifts for promotional purposes.

We studied past experiences within the company, looked at other C.E.O.s of major
corporations, and researched the history of similar companies. Some risk assessments were
fabricated by our own ideas of a crisis within the company.

Audiences
1) Media
2) Community
-St. Louis
3) Internal
4) Stakeholders

Objectives
1) Media
a. Accurately inform and update the media about the issue within 2 hours of the
crisis.
b. Update the media as changes occur daily.
c. Check the accuracy of what is being reported to the audiences every 10
minutes.
2) Community
a. Update the community involved every 15 minutes with the latest on the
incident after the first hour.
b. Offer assurance with the community in regards to the crisis.
 3) Internal
a. Notify our employees immediately (within 2 hours) about the crisis and provide
them with sufficient information so no employee is left with questions.
b. Follow up after the crisis set up a timeline notifying employees what the current
situation is and what is happening next.
4) Stakeholders
a. Notify the shareholders within the first 20 minutes after we are away of the
crisis.
b. Ensure that the stakeholders receive the most up-to-date information when it
comes available.

Tactics
1) Media
a. Short-Term
i. Press release
ii. Press conference
iii. Our spokesperson will be our CEO
b. Long-Term
i. Set up a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to keep the media aware of any
changes or additional information.
ii. Follow-up press conference with updated information
iii. Press section on corporate website with updated information
2) Community
a. Short-Term
i. Include local news stations
b. Long-Term
i. Toll-free hotline
ii. Town-hall meeting to address concerns
iii. Community section on corporate website to address concerns of location
where crisis occurred
3) Internal
a. Short-Term
i. Instant text messages to notify employees immediately
ii. E-mails with additional information
1. Describe toll-free number for employees
2. Describe employee website
b. Long-Term
i. Internal relations director and CEO will hold employee meeting to address
concerns
ii. Offer counseling for employees if needed
4) Stakeholders
 a. Short-Term
i. Establish and update website for stakeholders immediately
ii. Inform the stakeholders by email or phone immediately
b. Long-Term
i. CEO to visit speak to stakeholders
ii. Email shareholders everything that pertains to situation.
iii. Offer assurance that their money is still a safe investment with our
organization.

Calendar

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 1 2 3 ~ Day 2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Media
Initial press release D E
Press conference D E
FTP server D E
Follow-up press conference D E
Press Web Page D E
Community
Invite local news D E
Toll-free hotline D E
Town hall meeting D E
Community Web Page D E
Internal
Text messages D E
E-mails D E
Toll-free hotline D E
Internal Web Site D E
Employee Meeting D E
Counseling Services D E
Stakeholders
Draft email D E
Inform stakeholders D/E
CEO speaks with Stakeholders D E

Budget
1) Salaries
2) Tactics
3) Risk assessment
4) Evaluation
Evaluation
1) Media-
a. Accurately inform and update the media about the issue within 2 hours of the
crisis.
b. Update the media as changes occur daily.
2) Community
a. Update the community involved every 15 minutes with the latest on the incident
after the first hour.
b. Offer assurance with the community in regards to the crisis.
3) Internal
a. Notify our employees immediately (within 2 hours) about the crisis and provide
them with sufficient information so no employee is left with questions.
b. Follow up after the crisis set up a timeline notifying employees what the current
situation is and what is happening next.
4) Stakeholders
a. Notify the stakeholders within the first 20 minutes after we are away of the
crisis.
b. Ensure that the stakeholders receive the most up-to-date information when it
comes available.
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