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8:11	Tonight Leslie Thornton is speaking. She will be speaking about her day-to-day duties and her experiences as a PR professional.

8:12	Leslie Thornton (LT): Tonight's topic is "Thoughts on Starting Out in PR"

8:13	LT: Overview - PR often includes the unexpected. PR in a large organization. The most important skills for working in PR.

8:14	LT is a PR professor here at Clemson, she is the Public Information Director for development within the Advancement Division here at Clemson

8:15	LT: Unexpected PR - PR is in many places, including volunteering and internships (even if it is not always called PR).

8:18

LT: example - As an undergrad she worked at a rape crisis center. Some of what she did included going to the hospital with victims for examinations, and going to the police stations to help in filing reports. These two things involve PR because she had to build strong relationships with clients (sexual assault victims) , police, and hospital personnel.

8:18	LT: Although LT never thought of these as PR - they are. Be thinking about how you are doing PR in volunteer experiences.

8:22	LT: In her first job she did research for an organization that got grants to create tobacco cessation programs for teenagers who live in tobacco-growing communities. -In this role she had to build relationships with principals and parents. Good PR was crucial to research and survey 15-year olds.

8:24	LT: While doing job searches, look for jobs that don't always say "PR" in the description that will allow you to use some of your PR skills as well as some of your other skills.

8:27	LT: LT works in the CU Creative Services office - mostly writers, editors, and graphic design artists work in this office

8:28	LT: She writes proposals to major donors. She works on projects that helps the development office secure gifts from donors.

8:30	LT: PR at CU - Day to Day Activities

8:31	LT: Focuses on perspective donors, current donors, and future donors (students). LT provides support to help build relationships with these publics

8:38

LT: Her position includes planning - example:
A couple donated their $1.2 million lake house to Clemson.
-When things like this happen they have to make sure they thank the couple.
-They must publicize the gift - let wider publics know about the major gift.
- When major gifts are given a committee comes together to determine how to make the donor's experience special - an event that will be memorable
- Someone from media services crafts press releases about the gift announcement event.
- Someone creates invitations to the event.
In these cases the most important thing is to create the experience that will mean the most to the specific donors.

8:41	LT: Her job includes both pre-planning and post-planning. Examples: googling people, talking to people to learn about donors/ possible donors

8:45	LT: Her planning also includes communicating aspects - creating invitations, and other tactics and materials to build relatioships with publics (She is passing some examples around the room).

8:49

LT: On the leadership circle- an annual giving group for people who give $10,000/ year to CU - with the money given as unrestricted (meaning President Barker or the dean of a specific college can spend the money however they deem necessary).
Pres. Barker just spent the first round of the Leadership Circle money by creating jobs and opportunities for students who would not be able to come back to Clemson without scholarship aid from the LeadershipCircle.

8:51	LT: Her office had to help create an event to thank the Leadership Circle donors. example: A video including student testimonies of thanks was included at the past Leadership Circle banquet.

8:51	LT: Clemson World - the magazine that goes out to Alumni to help build relationships with them.

8:53	LT: She does event planning - her audience is donors and prospective donors - and her skill focus is writing and editing. *So when you are thinking about your job choice consider your skill set and what specifically you will be doing.

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