Final Prospectus Letter: Pinnacle Security

*Above is how the prospectus letter would look printed out.
*Below is the letter.
*Attached is the finance breakdown

Nathan Braithwate, President
Pinnacle Security
1290 Sandhill Road
Orem, UT 84058-7306

Dear Mr. Braithwaite,

My name is Tressa Gilbert. I represent Stokes Nature Center, a non-profit nature center located in Logan Canyon. I am contacting you regarding needed sponsorship for the new Nature Center facility we plan to occupy in July 2010. We are seeking a $10,000 title sponsor to furnish the new children’s library. The library is a 700 square foot room located on the north side of the facility. The library will be a place for children to study the natural world, specifically those things that can be found in Cache Valley. The library will house over 1,000 children’s books, maps and diagrams, and a wall with paintings. With the help of your generous donation, the Pinnacle Library at Stokes Nature Center will bring joy and learning to the children of Cache Valley.

We noticed that in the Logan community you are very active in donating, specifically with Utah State University athletics. We would like to give you the opportunity to support a non-profit organization that will give Pinnacle Security a “Go Green” image.

The library will bear your company’s name keeping it in the minds of the community. It associates your name with something good and positive, a non-profit organization with good community ties. It will be a lasting contribution that will continually promote your company. We have chosen you as a sponsor because of your care about domestic security and we promote environmental safety.

The funds will be used to purchase three couches, three bean bags, ten shelf units, three lights, paint and carpet, two computers, twelve chairs, two tables, and two rugs. With your help the library can be a comfortable place for children to learn to love and appreciate nature. They can experience the joy of self-learning and accomplishment.

Based on estimations, Stokes Nature Center is asking for donation of $10,000. Attached you will find a spreadsheet breakdown of the different items, and their respective costs. We have already had our annual auction and have received donations from multiple companies in the Cache Valley area. We know that your company and employees are interested in the security of people and their homes, and would invite you to join our efforts in securing the environment.

Upon receiving this donation, the children’s library will be called Pinnacle Children’s Library at Stokes Nature Center. Your name will be featured on all media advertising that comes from SNC. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, we would invite your president to cut the ribbon and formally address the public and media at the grand opening. All brochures, newsletters, and public announcements about activities at the Nature Center will include your company name.

We would like to set up a meeting with you to discuss the details and benefits of this donation. Please email me with a time that would be good for you.. You can reach me at tressa.gilbert@gmail.com, and my direct line is 435-724-4544. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,



Tressa M. Gilbert, PR Director

2300-The Press Release Lie

An article about press releases and their relevance and ability was written by Bill Stoller at "All About Public Relations." In the article Stoller makes the claim that sending hundreds of press releases to everyone and "waiting for Oprah to call" is a "cruel joke." Stoller says the truth is that you have to have something great or interesting to pitch. I feel that we have talked about this is class numerous times.

You have to do great things for the pr people to be able to report that. He compared this to a musician with a demo tape. An artist who wants to be discovered could make hundreds of demo tapes and send them out, but unless the demo tape has great and catchy music, that will set the artist apart, it won't matter who gets hold of the sample. The same thing goes for press releases. They are still a good way to get some attention, but they have to possess something great. Stoller gave a few suggestions on ways make the press release effective.

1. Make it a newswothy story. We have talked about this in class as well. Make it exciting. Don't send a press release to the paper that talks about something that no one in the community will care about. Make it make sense to have it placed where you are pitching your story.
2. Learn to think like an editor. This makes a lot of sense. If I can pitch a story to them, the way they would like to hear it, and in a way that they understand what I'm saying and how to get more info, they will be more inclined to listen and possibly produce a story.
3. Make it relevant. Kind of like the first step, make it matter. Tell them why it's important to them and the readers. Show them how it will affect the community.
4. Be persistent. He said that you can't send them all out, and sit aroud waiting. If you really think what you sent out is important for a large group to hear, act passionate. Don't give up.

These are really good guidelines to making a press release work. The article can be found here, along with other good tips.

2300: Good PR From the Whitehouse

An article in the New York Times about the State Dinner held at the White House shows that Obama understands his audience and is doing great PR. There are two things specifically that President Obama and Michelle Obama did that sent great messages to Americans. It was a dinner with a lot of world leaders, but the details are what really tell the story that the Obamas would have portrayed to the American people. Two things are the guests they invited, and the food they served.

1. Among celebrities such as Jennifer Hudson, Kurt Elling, and the music director from "Slumdog Millionare," there was an additional demographic. The Obamas had invited school-aged children from poor schools to the White House to witness the arrival of the guests. The children were treated to a tour of the White House and were given a sample of the pumpkin pie that was served to the guests at the dinner. Mrs. Obama even made herself available to speak with the children for a time in the Grand Dining Room. This I think shows that Obama understands how to follow up with actions that he has preached. He has wanted to be the President that understands the average Joe. He followed suit at least in this situation by having a room full of celebritites and world leaders, and taking the time and effort to invite the young minds of America.

2. The food at the dinner was local! Obama has made very clear his stance on energy, the environment, and oil. The First Lady has a vegetable and herb garden at the Whitehouse and many of the pieces served at the dinner came from there. This is a good message. He is not a hypocrit when he talks about saving the environment. He, the President of the United States, has a garden. And eats from it! This is a sustainable practice and a good part of his life to be shown to the public. The dinner was also mostly vegeterian. Not quite sure their stance on that, but I thought that it hinted towards their opinion on eating meat.

These two things are small but huge. They didn't set out to explain why they had done so, but the press received good information and I was impressed with the Obama's decisions.
The article can be found here.

Presentation Draft Outline

Our presentation about Stokes Nature Center will go as such.

1. Introduce the organization, what they do, where they are located, what they do, and who they serve.
2. The next slide is the "Claim to Faim." This slide explains why we are a good place to donate to, what we do that is worthwhile..basically explain why they should give us money.
3. The third slide explains what we want to accomplish at the new site. This slide will tell why we need funds, what it is we are trying to do.
4. The fourth slide clearly states that we need $10,000 to complete our project.
5. The fifth slide outlines what would be purchased with the donation. Computers, tables, chairs, books, shelves, etc.
6. The sixth slide reinforces what it is we need from them. We mention that we want security of the environment while they look for security of the home.
7. The next slide gives tells them the ethical reasons to donate to us.
8. The last slide tells what is in it for them. You should donate because the library will bear your name.

This is the outline to our presentation.

~Group Guacomole
Over and out.

2300- Andre Agassi Book

I recently watched an interview with Andre Agassi about his new book “Open” with the New York Times. I found the video (here) to be full of talking points and those important things to discuss when trying to gain publicity- all things we have talked about in class.

The book was bound to be popular once people found out that he admitted to the use of drugs in the book, but I think that doing an interview such as the one I will talk about brought the spotlight back to the real reason he wrote the book. For many reasons his interview made me want to read the book. If it made me want to read the book, it will probably make media outlets want to talk about the book, which all in turn will mean increased sales for Agassi’s book.

In the interview the real reason for writing the book was showcased because of the talking points that I assume Agassi had set up before the interview. We have learned in class that by having clear and concise, outlined talking points we can make an interview, speech, or presentation work to our benefit. I believe in this case, having prepared for this interview; he was spared from having to talk about the drug part of the book.

Agassi stayed to the thread that he wrote the book because he disliked tennis. He continued to mention that his father, not unlike many West Europeans and Russians, caught the gold and glimmer and tennis and forced their children to train to become the best in the world. Agassi repeatedly mentioned that it was an unhealthy way to grow up. He said he found himself uneducated, in a life he didn’t want, and sad. He never had to justify his drug use because he didn’t vary to that subject of discussion. He answered the questions the interviewer asked him, but the never said more than he needed to.

The media that went into the interview was also very impressive. The music that led into the interview as well as faded out was the music that plays at Wimbledon. Also, prior and directly after the interview they filmed Agassi coming and leaving the room, very similar to what they do at tennis matches; showing them enter and leave the match.

I really thought the interview was professional, shed a positive light on his book, and made me want to learn more.

2300-Zions Bank PR

I have been banking with Zion’s First National Bank for eight years and I have always been impressed with their marketing, public relations, and their ability to grab groups of differing demographics. I won't be critiquing my experiences within a Zion's bank, but rather the weekly emails I get from them, their marketing posters and slogans, and their campaigns that I remember seeing as well as current marketing. I have found that Zion’s has good community relations and definitely have the presence online that they should.

The first thing I thing Zion’s does correctly on Utah State's campus is their give-a-ways and incentives to work with college students. Every time I walk by their place in the TSC I see some sort of new poster showing a college student or someone young on it. I also thought the placing of a scooter that they were giving away right in the hallway was a great way to get students to sign up. And that is what I really think gets them a lot of accounts. When I joined in high school it was to get a free lava lamp or something. A lava lamp sounds weird to me know, but then it was something that I really wanted. They have continuted to find those things that students would be interested in and have targeted us to them. I remember signing up and learning about other accounts because of what I could get in return. One incentive was a specific number of downloads on iTunes.

Currently, I receive emails from Zion’s bank a few times a week. The emails are always clear, concise, and easy on the eye. They notify of new deals, something that the bank is donating to or working with, as well as really big events. Although I can never go to the events they announce, I really appreciate that they take the time to invite me, a shareholder, to know and understand what sort of things they are involved in. Their slogan, “We haven’t forgotten who keeps us is business,” really rings true when I think of the emails. I don’t always read them, but it makes me think that I am important to them. I feel that I have all the information that I will ever need.

Going to their website I can point a few things that are good. One, they have a “Community and More” section listing things that they sponsor or want me to get involved with. They have links to discounted ski passes, a place where they will pay me for the A’s I get in school, and links to other places they have a presence on the web. They have a link to Facebook, United Way, and a lot of Utah’s sports teams and attractions. I feel that they have good community relations that we have been discussing in class. They promote local talent by advertising and giving discounts to Utah activities.

Prospectus Letter Draft

Nathan Braithwate, President
Pinnacle Systems
575 E 1400 North
Logan, UT 84341

Dear Mr. Braithwaite,

My name is Adrea Wheaton. I represent Stokes Nature Center, the only nature center in Cache Valley. I am contacting you regarding needed sponsorship for the new Nature Center facility located at Second Dam. We are asking you for a 5,000-10,000 dollar title sponsor to furnish the new children’s library. The library will be a place for parents to bring their children to study the natural world, specifically those things that can be found in Cache Valley. The library will house over 1,000 children’s books, many maps and diagrams, and a wall with paintings. With the help of your generous donation, the Pinnacle Library at Stokes Nature Center will bring joy and learning to the children of Cache Valley.

The library will bear your companies name and we will expose your name on many advertisements that we do, with no cost to you. It associates your name with something good and positive, a non-profit organization with good community ties. It will be a lasting contribution that will continually promote your company as long as community members attend the Nature Center.

The funds will be used to purchase 3 couches, 3 bean bags, 10 shelf units, 3 lights, paint and carpet, 1 computer, 12 chairs, 2 tables, and 2 rugs. With your help the library can be a comfortable for children to learn to love to read and learn about nature.

This is a meaningful contribution and it is essential the fulfillment of this project.

We have already had our annual auction and have received donations from multiple companies in the Cache Valley area.

Budget: We need 10,000 dollars.


We would like to set up a meeting with you to discuss the details and benefits of this donation. Please email me with a time that would be good for you. We are open from 8-5, Tuesday through Friday. You can reach me at tressa.gilbert@gmail.com, and my direct line is 435-724-4544. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,



Adrea Wheaton
Program Coordinator