How to make client events a success

Your client has a big event coming up that of course, as their agent you’re spearheading. They’ve communicated their needs and goals and now it’s time for you, to deliver. Consider the following steps in your approach to managing a client’s event and you’ll be well on the way to success.

Step 1. Brief the suppliers. You may have to work with several persons outside of your team - the photographer, writer, among others depending on what the need is. It is very important to brief the suppliers before the event so that they know what exactly is to be done.

Step 2. Communicate with your team. As the Account Executive (AE) or Public Relations Officer (PRO), you will have a team working with. Be sure to share all the necessary details with the team supporting you on this event. Have a thorough briefing where you share information not only about the event, but the client, their team, and their purpose. Effective communication on a project is key to a smooth event.

Step 3. It’s now time for the event. While you’re there, brief your client, and get acquainted with everyone else involved to ensure that the event goes well. Also, try as best as possible to stay on top of things. If any new information should arise you must be aware and inform your client if appropriate. Ensure that relevant persons are introduced and briefed accordingly.

Step 4. Finally, follow up. Keep in contact with your media partners and suppliers for the necessary post-event work. You may need to provide some information afterward, or a supplier may need to surrender footage, all this needs to be done in a timely manners. Don’t forget, once the work is completed, say thank you.

Successful events require strategy. Always have a fool-proof plan, communicate, and don’t forget teamwork. Try to avoid the rush and clutter so that your client can walk away being pleased with your work.

Gordon Town SDA spreads provisions and gospel

The Gordon Town Seventh-Day Adventist Church has expanded its outreach programme to meet the multitude of needs since the onset of COVID-19.

Faced with mounting pressures of unemployment, pay cuts and job losses stemming from the pandemic, residents of Gordon Town and surrounding communities are receiving donations of food and personal care items by the church, which normally focuses its major outreach to the year-end. 

Donovan McNee, Community Service Manager at Gordon Town Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Having already distributed over 200 care packages, community service manager Donovan McNee and the team in the community service department are grateful for the support of the myriad of private and company donors.

As a part of the church’s core values, the Gordon Town SDA believes giving back to the community is a mandate they must fulfil. 

Sharing what inspired the initiative, Mr. McNee said: “I grew up hungry, so I know what it is like to lack. I believe that as God blesses me, it is my duty to give back to the community. The church and its members see the community’s challenges and are committed to providing assistance.”

Through a collective effort of pledges and monetary donations from other companies, the church administration, and friends, Mr. McNee and the team have been able to purchase, and deliver products including basic and non-perishable food items from LASCO, toiletries and hygiene products.

“Helping to mitigate the harsh economic realities in vulnerable communities has always been at the forefront for LASCO,” explained Omar Palmer marketing manager ⁠— consumer division at LASCO Distributors Limited, a member of the LASCO Affiliated Companies. “The impact of the pandemic has been felt by all. Every act of kindness counts towards getting our citizens through this period of difficulty, and we eagerly came on board to bring hope to the Gordon Town residents,” he added. 

A Charitable History

Approximately 200 individuals have benefitted from the Church’s outreach activities since the start of the 2020.

Elder Neville Morrison of the Gordon Town SDA delivered COVID packages to the community members on Saturday, July 4, 2020.

Since 2012, the congregation has hosted an annual year-end community treat and health fair, of which LASCO is also a major sponsor. The fair offers free health tests ⁠— particularly HIV, blood pressure and blood sugar — medical examination and health education, from which an estimate of 300 people access yearly. The Church’s community service manager hopes to continue this philanthropic move for as long as possible.

“We want the community that surrounds us to know that the church is here to offer support. These things are not being done for the benefit of our members, but that all can come to know their Saviour through our service,” McNee said. “We’re pointing people to the Almighty.”

Write things down

You’ve heard this before “always write things down, no matter how phenomenal you think your memory is”, but how much do you actually adhere to this instruction? I’ve seen it so often where people manage to convince themselves that they don’t need to take notes because they will remember what was said. Although they may leave having some recollection of what transpired, what is remembered is not necessarily what is needed. Key points are forgotten. Here are some powerful benefits of writing things down.

Our brains for a full day are not only concerned with a singular task. There will be occasional reminders of things to do at home, matters concerning your family, this random thing you saw or read about, the government and how they are handling a matter, this great business idea you had, among other things. Your memory serves you a mixture of priorities and non-important things. It is your job to sift them and that can be done by writing things down.

It is believed that writing down goals increases the chance of them being achieved as we’re forced to work through inner conflict and emotions. If you leave your mind in the webbed state it brings itself to, you are less likely to be productive. Unorganised tasks lead to stress and mental pressure causing people to feel overwhelmed, thus accomplishing less.

Lastly, If you are an overactive thinker, everything that you’ve ever thought to do plays over and over in your head. They may not be tasks needed to be completed that particular day, but they are things that need to be addressed. Writing these things down will limit the distraction from your daily, more pressing tasks and save yourself from information overload. They will be readily accessible for the moment that you need to work on them.

“Writing things down is a simple yet powerful way to record anything and everything that has your attention - Tet”

There is so much coming at you as a public relations specialist. Whether it is with your client, your boss, a meeting you had to attend, or that phone call, you want to make notes so that you never miss a beat.

Always write things down.

Jamaica Producers focuses on the frontline at successful AGM

Jamaica Producers Group (JPG) Managing Director Jeffery Hall expressed his support for frontline workers at the start of his presentation at the company’s annual general meeting on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Hall took the opportunity, prior to his presentation of the management report, to acknowledge the most topical issue in the world – COVID-19.

Acknowledging that the usual cadre of shareholders was not present at the AGM, and watching via the secure meeting platform, Hall said the management chose to change the traditional AGM dress code from wearing the usual business suits and opted instead to show support by wearing the uniform of the JP front line team.

“This year, we felt duty bound to change our dress code slightly as a small gesture to show solidarity with our frontline workers all over the world. We just did not think it was the right to present ourselves to you as suit and tie people. The truth is, that everything that we do, every business that we operate is deemed to be an essential service in every country in which we operate,” he said.

“By associating myself firmly with the frontline workers everywhere, and with those of Jamaica Producers Group in particular, I want to thank and salute them for their courage and dedication at this time…”, he said.

Nigel Chambers, partner at KPMG; Jeffrey Hall, managing director of Jamaica Producers Group (JPG); Charles Johnston, chairman of JPG; Simone Pearson, group general counsel and corporate secretary of JPG; and Kathleen Moss, director of JPG settle in to the new normal for the 91st Annual General Meeting for JPG held recently at the JPG Head Office.

Hall reiterated that the core of the Group’s business is providing materials essential to and complimenting everyday life.

“None of [what we do] can be done by a Zoom call. Whether it be sourcing fruit from Egypt, Spain or South Africa to make juice for the Scandinavia[n markets], Belgium or the Netherlands. Or peeling plantain and banana to produce snacks or making Tortuga Rum Cake in Jamaica for sale to Costco in Texas in time for their Father’s Day promotion. The discharging a car ship with 2,000 cars or manning cranes to unload grain or containers of consumer goods or clearing the barrel of personal effects from relatives in London.

“Or harvesting bananas and pineapples in St Mary and making them available for sale every single day without fail on the road side in Half-Way-Tree or in supermarkets across Jamaica. All of it is extremely valuable to us as shareholders and to the communities in which we do business,” as Hall detailed the far-reaches of the Group.

Hall’s presentation set out a detailed plan to navigate the company through the COVID-19 pandemic.   He pointed out that the businesses in which the Group was engaged were essential services and were organised to continue to serve their customers.  He explained however that the businesses would seek to target channels that were growing during COVID-19 such as ecommerce as well as market trends such as healthy eating.  He also indicated that the balance sheet of the Group was strong and the company had identified resources to engage in acquisitions of other businesses.

AGMs and COVID-19

COVID-19 has pushed many familiar processes into new constructs. The JPG AGM, which met quorum through a combination of proxy and attendees, was held utilising the following guidelines. Shareholders were encouraged to vote by proxy. Shareholders who were unable to attend the meeting were encouraged to send any questions ahead of the function by email. In addition, protocols were observed where all attendees had to wear masks, submit to a temperature check and to sanitise hands before entry. Seating was provided in accordance with legal regulations and social distancing best practices. Last, but not least, it was livestreamed for shareholders who chose not to be present.

Simone Pearson, group general counsel and corporate secretary of JPG commented that the AGM was a success and that the shareholders who were present were very satisfied with the meeting.

Attendees of the Jamaica Producers Group (JPG) 91st Annual General Meeting.