Do you wish more people knew about the terrific program your Branch is planning? Did Sue just win a prize for her art? Pat is doing pet portraits? Anne published another children's story for that national magazine? Kathleen composed a song that will be performed at her church? Sherry is teaching landscape painting in her studio? You're holding a membership tea and want to attract creative women?

Tell the world in the form of press releases, often referred to as news releases. A good press release (PR) informs the media. Make your news interesting and tell your whole story. Add any background information that the public may need to know about your company or your news. Newspapers, television stations, and local magazines are eager to highlight achievements by local people. Radio stations are always looking for interesting people to interview.

Sell your story to the editor or journalist, not your product. This is not the time to try to sell a product. Your PR's sole purpose is to communicate to journalists that you have news to use. Your tone should be neutral and objective, not full of hype or text that is typically found in an ad. Avoid addressing the consumer or your target audience directly. The use of "I," "we" and "you" outside of a direct quotation is a red flag that your copy is an advertisement rather than a press release.

Your approach will vary depending on what media you are targeting. For example, if you are sending a press release to a print media publications such as the business editor of your local newspaper, you should include facts, figures, and statistics. If you are sending press releases to radio talk shows, you should appeal to emotions and "sell" your bit of news or yourself as a great guest. Imbue your writing with "power-words" that convey emotion and excitement to the reader. Because you want the editor or journalist to act now, invite them to contact you again at the bottom of your press release.

The standard press release is 300 to 800 words. Write your press release with a word processor and spellcheck. Remember that spellcheck does not catch all errors, so proofread carefully. Write your headline and summary last to be sure you include the most important news elements in the body of the release. Your lead sentence should contain the most important information in twenty-five words or less. Grab your reader's attention here.

A news release, like a news story, keeps sentences and paragraphs short, about three or four lines per paragraph. The first couple of paragraphs should answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. The news media may take information from a news release to craft a news or feature article or may use information in the release word-for-word, but a news release itself is not an article or a reprint.

There is a standard format for a press release. Below is an example of formatting you can follow:

1. Do not break each line at 70 characters. Use word-wrap.
2. Our biggest local newspaper wants the 5Ws (who, what, where, when, why) stated at the top of their releases. Ordinarily this is not necessary.
3. Use a role email account instead of a personal account. (pr@nlapw.org)
4. Even the best writers occasionally miss grammatical errors and typos. Be sure to proof-read, edit, and re-proof your press release.
5. Never submit a press release in all upper case characters.
6. If your meeting is in a private home, include RSVP phone numbers, but do not list the name of the hostess. Ask prospective members to call for directions and keep a list of their phone numbers. You don't want to invite someone who is only there to "scope out" your home. And make sure everyone knows you're keeping that list.
7. Photos can be good. Either email a digital photo, or simply mail in a print or slide with an SASE. Make sure that attachments are allowed by the recipient.
8. Make sure you put your name at the bottom "submitted by ______" so editors can call you if they need additional information.
9. Send out lots of press releases, but remember that not everything is newsworthy. Anytime your members do something out of the ordinary, announce it. It's nice for them and good for your branch.
10. Use active, not passive, voice.
11. Communicate plainly. Stay away from jargon.
12. Stick to the facts. Economize on words. End with a short paragraph that describes your company or organization.
13. Make sure that you have written permission before including information or quotes from employees or affiliates of other companies or organizations.
14. Include possible article ideas with a snappy title and a short sentence to whet the editors' appetites.
15. Keep in mind that if your meeting place is public, you'll get men coming in for the programs, too. That's okay. Just remind them when they ask to join that it is a league of women.

On Saturday, Oct 27, from 10a to 4p, members of the Suncoast Creative Artists Guild will present an outdoor art show around the grounds of the Palm Harbor Historical Museum. The Palm Harbor Museum is located at 2043 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor, at the NW corner of Curlew and Belcher Roads. A special display of paintings of local historical buildings will be shown.

The Creative Artists Guild features local artists who work in a wide range of media. New members are welcome.

Admission to the art show, and light refreshments will be free. For more information, call 789-2713.

If you've thought of making up your own children's book, this workshop is for you. From inception of the story idea (writing) to drawing the cartoons (art), to composing cheerful little songs that accompany each book (music), Sandra Johnson will have some valuable tips on what she has learned about it all.

An accomplished artist and book illustrator, Johnson has been drawing since childhood. She painted the "King Tut's Treasure Turtle" that is standing outside the SH Library. She works for Froginhood & Friends Publishers of Safety Harbor, originators of the Kitty Fish book series.

The National League of American Pen Women is an organization consisting of many branches of professional women artists, writers, and composers. The Clearwater Branch has been in existence over forty years and is composed of talented women from St. Pete to Hudson. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at different locations around the Clearwater area. Lunch will be dutch from the Paradise menu. For more information, call 725-1015, 842-6985, or 938-7094.

Artists, come to Safety Harbor on Sunday, May 16, and produce a one-day work of art!

The Clearwater Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is sponsoring a one-day art contest in conjunction with the Safety Harbor Summer Festival on Main Street. Thirty-five of the winning artists will receive certificates of honor, plus they will be be invited to bring their work back to hang in Safety Harbor Art Shows.

Artists should bring their own materials, and plan to produce a work of art while they are at the Festival. Subject matter will be limited to scenes of Safety Harbor such as buildings, trees, people, the marina, and the Gazebo, making for hundreds of possibilities. Media such as paint, pencil, prismacolor, pastels, etc., are ideal. Artwork must be by hand only, no photography.

Each backing (paper, canvas, matboard, or however the finished art is produced) must be registered and stamped at the Pen Women table in the Gazebo from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration will be $5 for adults, $1 for school children. Sheets of newsprint and crayons will be available for $1 a set for anyone that does not bring their own art supplies.

Artists are free to go work anywhere in the Safety Harbor downtown area: Main street from the Spa to the RR tracks, the Marina area, Linear Park, SH Museum, and perhaps out to 2nd Streets north and south. All entries must be turned by 3pm or earlier. The 35 top pieces of both the adults and kids categories will be chosen by professional artist members of Pen Women.

In addition to being rewarded with certificates, the winning artists will be invited to bring their framed and wired art back on May 23 for two consecutive shows, one at the SH Library May 24 to July 2 and the other at the SH City Hall July 6 to Aug 13.

The National League of American Pen Women is an organization consisting of many branches of professional women artists, writers, and composers. The Clearwater Branch has been in existence over forty years and is composed of talented women from St. Pete to Hudson. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at different locations around the Clearwater area. For more information, call 725-1015, 842-6985, or 938-7094.