THE GRAND DIRECTRESS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS PGDR Brenda Joyce Burgess
Well everyone, we did it! Public Relations is off and running. Thanks in part to the vision of Dr. Jean C.W. Smith, Grand Daughter Ruler. Dr. Smith had the vision that it was necessary for the Daughters of Elk to be competitive with the technology of the next millenium. For this we had to take advantage of a very important medium - the world wide web.
The Grand Temple Public Relations Department is the auxiliary to the Grand Lodge Public Relations Department. We work hand in hand with the Grand Commissioner Brother Eugene Johnson. We also work to promote programs that are indigenous to the Grand Temple.
The Grand Temple Public Relations Department is highly structured. We have four Regional Grand Assistant Directresses who cover the four corners of the United States and provinces abroad. We also have numerous appointed Grand Assistant Directresses who chair various funtions within the department such as fundraising. Lastly, we have Field and Local workers who support the function of this department.
The Grand Temple Public Relations Department consist of four main components,
1. Publicly Speaking, our newspaper that report on issues and news involving members of our organization and events that happen in our communities. You do not have to be a member of the Elks to subscribe to our paper.
2. Grand Temple Public Relations ONLINE. This is our interactive webpage soon to include chat rooms. We are also about to design webpages for members to be attached to this site as well as a stand alone site. The purpose of the website is to keep a continual flow of information about our organization and allow it to be completely interactive between members and the community.
3. News, television and radio liaison. When we have functions, such as our Grand Convention (which will be held in New Orleans this year) we provide local and national media exposure to our organization via press clippings, news releases, online services etc.
4. To cover events of our member. There are Public Relations workers strategically poised around the country to cover events as they happen. With the help of our State Association Presidents, we are able to expedite PR workers to delegated function around the country. In turn, we are able to take this information and place it on our website or in our newspaper expedetiously.