It’s Never Too Soon for Protos Prep

For many industries, a new year brings awards. The film industry has the Oscars (Academy Awards), SAG awards, Golden Globes. The music industry has the GRAMMYs, American Music Awards, MTV Music Video Awards. It may not be quite as glamorous as the Hollywood scene, but in the Orange County PR industry, we have OCPRSA’s Protos Awards. And at HKA, Protos are our Oscars and GRAMMYs combined.

For us, the new year comes and we’ve got Protos on the brain. What were our accomplishments? Which media hit are we most proud of? Does that campaign fit in category A5 or A2? Should I submit that project under category B3 or B13? Maybe all four? Protos season is BIG around the HKA office. We look forward to and dread it every year. We dread it because of the late nights and long hours it takes to create our various entries (in addition to our client work) and the high stress levels we often hit. Most importantly, though, we look forward to Protos because we get to look back on the previous year, highlight our accomplishments and quite possibly be awarded for it.

At HKA, we are always busy doing what we do for our clients. I’ve noticed that individually we might get caught up in the hustle and bustle and often don’t congratulate ourselves for a job well done.  Not only that, but when we do accomplish something great, we often think of how we could have done a better job. It’s the high achievers in us.

Luckily, Hilary Kaye, our leader and mentor, is amazingly quick to commend us on every job well done, which always puts a smile of happiness, comfort and confidence on our faces. But individually, we are our toughest critic. Fortunately, Protos forces us to review everything we’ve done the year before and realize, wow, that really was an awesome campaign. I’m not saying we should toot our own horns or that we don’t have room for improvement, but it’s such a motivating feeling to know we’re doing our job right and we’re doing it really well. Whether we win the award or not (though we’d rather win!), just having something worthy enough to be in the running means a lot to us.

Now, OCPRSA may not have posted the 2010 Protos Call for Entries yet, but we’re already preparing–we feel it’s never too early in the year to get ready for it.  So far our list of award-winning possibilities has had to be whittled down a bit–we had too many! The late nights and long hours may be inevitable, but we’ll keep our eyes on the walls and shelves of our office where HKA’s multiple Protos Awards are displayed. We know we have what it takes to add to the collection.

FUNdraisers

Our nonprofit clients are busy busy busy this time of year, and it doesn’t slow down as the holiday season approaches. I had the opportunity to be part of two wonderful fundraisers this fall:  the Komen Orange County Race for the Cure and Working Wardrobes’ Blue Jeans and the Blues. One overall thing I observed at both these events: our nonprofits and the community are truly amazing. Despite the economy, people are still coming in droves to support these ever-important causes. To put it simply: it’s inspirational.

The Race was just as magnificent as ever this year. HKA worked harder than ever to secure media exposure for this event and I’m proud to say we were successful, despite the fact that several media outlets had shut down since last year’s event (including KDOC’s Daybreak OC and Your Cancer today). The Orange County Register’s supplement and Race day story captured the event and stories of survivors.

And survivors’ stories are powerful. These women warriors captivate me during the Survivor Tribute each year. One woman revealed that she was  recently diagnosed and currently going through treatment, but at the end said she’d “always wanted to be a blonde,” then promptly yanked off her wig and waved it around amid cheers from her fellow survivors and everyone watching. I still get chills thinking about that moment.

All smiles after the Race!

Exactly one week after the Race, Working Wardrobes held their first ever Blue Jeans & the Blues fundraising event. I am in love with Working Wardrobes’ creativity in its fundraisers. While the Black Tie & Tennies was a favorite of mine last year, this year’s more relaxed gala was just as inspiring. People had a grand time enjoying barbeque, dancing to tunes from sultry songstress Pamela G, and raising money through the casino, opportunity drawings and live auction. 944 Magazine was there to capture great moments of the evening. And of course, team HKA was there in style:

An interesting twist: One of the live auction items was donated by chef Martin Gilligan, a Working Wardrboes success story, who had shared with guests how he had overcome alcohol and substance abuse to become a successful chef at the Kyoto Grand Hotel in Los Angeles. His story touched the hearts of so many at the event, including mine.

Both these organizations change lives and save lives.  And we love being part of that!

Jazz Moves and Tennis Shoes

What a busy weekend for the HKA team!  Last Saturday marked the start of back-to-back events for us beginning with the  7^th Annual Gala: Prohibition Party and Jazz on the Beach.  The early 1930s theme transformed the cove into an exclusive speakeasy in honor of the beach community’s development during the Prohibition era.  Although I had been looking forward to the gala since I first heard about it, I was absolutely blown away by the turnout.  Over 400 guests attended, many wearing Prohibition-inspired costumes, to support CCA’s mission of preservation and continued restoration of the area as well as the expansion of the nonprofit’s educational programs.   While flapper dresses, feathers and fedoras flooded the beach, my favorite get-up of the night went to Steve Murow pictured below with his wife Jeanne:

Guests embraced the Prohibition theme with 1930s-inspired attire

The party took place on the sand of the cove during the slow coastal sunset. Attendees enjoyed authentic Prohibition cocktails, including classics like, “bathtub gin fizz” and “sidecars,” a three-course menu, based on 5-star hotel menus from the Prohibition era and live entertainment by the Brenna Whitaker Jazz Orchestra who performed early 1900s hits like “It Had to Be You” and “Big Spender.”

Brenna Whitaker takes the stage at the Prohibition Party

As the celebration of Crystal Cove’s remarkable past came to a close, the HKA ladies got ready to trade in their jazz moves for tennis shoes at the Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure.

Survivors raise their roses in celebration of their strength

On Sunday Sept. 27, swarms of pink took over Fashion Island for the annual Race for the Cure.  Although I had participated in the race in the past, this was the first year I got to experience the Survivor Tribute, during which breast cancer survivors are recognized for triumph over the disease in an incredibly moving ceremony.  As the speakers took the stage, I couldn’t help but to tear up at the amazing strength and courage exhibited by all. Being a part of the 2009 race was nothing short of amazing.  Unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it’s hard to imagine what it feels like to be surrounded by 30,000 people who have been touched in some way by this disease and are truly devoted to finding a cure; it’s inspirational, humbling and hopeful all at the same time.

The HKA staff bright and early at the Komen Race for the Cure

One of my favorite things about HKA is the wonderful non-profit organizations we’re involved with and I am so glad I was able to experience these amazing events.  Stay tuned for more HKA staff recollections coming soon.  In the meantime, check out more from the Orange County Register about the Prohibition Party and Race for the Cure!

See HKA in action at these upcoming events!

Team HKA is working hard and looking forward to several great events this month and next.  Our nonprofit organizations do great work for the community and we are so excited to be part of it all, whether it’s working toward finding a cure for breast cancer or helping to preserve a historical part of the community.  Join us at our upcoming events and see the team in action!

Kids On Track Golf Tournament
Monday, Sept. 21 at 9:30 AM
America On Track

Client America On Track is an award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the social conditions of disadvantaged children and youth through mentoring and life transforming programs. This annual fundraiser includes a special dinner and live auction, and it takes place at the Mesa Verde Country Club. All the funds raised at this event will benefit the On Track Mentoring Programs throughout Orange County.  More info here.

Prohibition Party & Jazz on the Beach
Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 PM
Crystal Cove Alliance

Orange County’s Crystal Cove Alliance is bringing the Prohibition era to the beach! The theme of this event is tied directly to Crystal Cove’s early Prohibition history when rum was running and jazz was hot.  Guests will travel back to the 1930s by stepping into the speakeasy on Crystal Cove’s beach where they will enjoy live music, dancing, fine dining, and even some authentic Prohibition cocktails (“bathtub gin fizz” or “sidecar,” anyone?).  Funds raised at the event will support CCA’s mission of education and restoration of the Crystal Cove State Park Historic District. And we think that’s just the bee’s knees! Purchase tickets here.

Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure
Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7 AM
The Komen Orange County Affiliate

2009 will mark HKA’s third time at the Race, held annually at Fashion Island, and we love it every single year. The event is such an inspiring one – the breast cancer survivor tribute at 9 AM is personally my favorite part of it all.  Watching nearly 2,000 breast cancer survivors in a sea of pink walk up and receive their pink roses is always a tear-jerking moment. The first Race begins at 7:30 AM, the second at 9:45.  The Race raises vital funds for mammograms and breast health programs in OC and groundbreaking breast cancer research.  Register here!

Blue Jeans & the Blues
Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5 PM
Working Wardrobes

Working Wardrobes is creating a fun new fundraiser this year: Blue Jeans & the Blues invites guests to come dressed in their best denim-chic and enjoy a night under the stars with sultry blues tunes from artist Pamela G and down-home cooking from Beach Pit BBQ. The event, taking place at the Lakeside Lagoon near the Verizon Amphitheater, will raise funds for an important cause in today’s economy: empowering more men and women to re-enter the workforce.  Purchase tickets here.

PROTOS: A Race to the Finish

The Winners of the Evening

They say it’s not about the destination but the journey we experience along the way.  While this is true, it sure is exciting to reach monumental milestones after traveling down a long and treacherous road to get there. This past weekend was a culmination of hard work, endurance, perseverance, commitment, discipline and dedication to my role as a PR professional and my own personal landmark.  

Spending long hours sifting through e-mails and gathering evidence of all my work to get Farmers & Merchants Bank into the spotlight this past year was like running a marathon.  It started out slow but then required a faster pace as the deadline to submit entries for the annual OC-PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) PROTOS Awards approached, honoring outstanding PR work in Orange County. As a first time applicant, I was unprepared for the rocky road ahead that required hours of compiling information, articulating the value of our hard work and sweating up hills to complete a nomination worthy of submission. The race was a series of peaks and valleys that culminated in tears once I crossed the finish line.

This was not an individual endeavor, as my colleagues here at HKA were an instrumental part of the process. The tedious tasks of typing, stapling, writing, hole-punching and copying were completed by my co-workers, Mari, Anika, and Linda to ensure my entry would receive recognition (Nicole was supporting us in spirit, although she had not quite yet joined our team!) It was a team effort with Hilary, Inez, Martha, Emily and myself actually running in the race.

Although Inez was struggling to forge ahead with her submissions, she served as a cheerleader, providing constant encouragement and support at the wee hours of the morning and at night.  The road was familiar territory for her since she had entered the race last year and was hard at work to complete her nominations at the same time. Hilary dedicated countless hours to writing, refining and revising the final outlines to confirm they were worthy of winning. After the final revisions were instituted, we did our annual “blessing of the nominations,” hoping they would lead to victory.

The Blessing of the PROTOS

This past Friday night was the countdown to the outcome of the race announcing the recipients of the awards at the PRSA awards dinner at Rancho Las Lomas. As we sat underneath the stars hearing Steve Churm announce the categories I had entered, my heart started beating and my palms started sweating.  As he presented the media relations category, I jumped up and screamed when he announced the Award of Excellence goes to…Robyn Williams! It felt like a drum roll when he started to announce the Award of Excellence for Total Program goes to…Robyn Williams!

It was unbelievable night with Inez winning an Award of Excellence for Media Relations on behalf of Komen for the Cure OC along with a PROTOS statue for ethnic media outreach. Martha and Emily were victorious in receiving an Award of Excellence for an article pitched to the Orange County Register on behalf of O’Connor Mortuary. At the end of the night, HKA walked away with 5 prestigious awards, claiming the PRSA marathon a victory!

We are all winners with HKA!