The Annual Distinguished Lecture & Awards Dinner is an unbroken tradition dating back to 1961. Each year, a major figure in PR practice or education, or a related field, addresses a topic of vital importance to our profession. In addition, the Institute bestows a variety of major awards including the Alexander Hamilton Medal for lifetime contributions to the public relations profession and the Pathfinder Award for a program of original scholarly research.

Nov. 11, 2010 • Yale Club • 50 Vanderbilt Ave. New York City

William (Bill) Margaritis, Senior Vice President, Global Communications and Investor Relations of FedEx Corporation, is the Institute for Public Relations 2010 Distinguished Lecturer. Bill also is Chairman of the Board of the Arthur W. Page Society, a professional association composed primarily of the chief communications officers of the world's top multinational corporations, and the CEOs of the world's largest public relations agencies.

At FedEx, Margaritis oversees global reputation management, investor relations, public relations, employee communications and social responsibility programs. He has been with FedEx since May 1997. During his tenure, FedEx has been consistently ranked as one of the most admired companies in the world and recognized as a "best place to work."

"People in our profession generally agree that public relations is an inflection point, and there is nobody better than Bill Margaritis to help prepare communications leaders to master the ever-evolving business and social environments in which we operate," said Robert W. Grupp, President and CEO of the Institute. "He is a passionate advocate for the value of our profession to the world and an expert at building brands and corporate reputation. We are delighted to have Bill deliver this year's lecture."

The Institute Board will present its Alexander Hamilton Medal for lifetime achievement in public relations to Margery Kraus, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of APCO Worldwide. She founded APCO in 1984 and transformed it from a company with one small Washington office to one of the largest privately owned communications and public affairs firms with offices throughout the world.

The medal is named in recognition of the strategies that Alexander Hamilton used to gain the acceptance and adoption of the U.S. Constitution. Scholars have called Hamilton's techniques "the finest use of public relations in history."

"In this spirit, the Alexander Hamilton Medal honors our colleague, Margery Kraus, whose lifetime achievements demonstrate the power of the effective use of public relations and public affairs," said Institute Co-chair Matt Gonring.

RSVP

Tickets to the event are $400 per person or $4,000 for a table of ten. Price includes cocktail reception, dinner and lecture. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible. Proceeds will be used to sponsor research (published free on the Institute's website), educational initiatives, awards, and professional development opportunities for tomorrow's PR leaders.

To pay by credit card: register online at www.instituteforpr.org

To pay by check or wire: use the form provided. Or contact Jenn Moyer at jmoyer@jou.ufl.edu, +1.352.392.0280

Sponsorship Opportunities

You and your organization have a unique opportunity to build your brand with public relations, corporate communications and business leaders by supporting the Institute and sponsoring this prestigious event.

Interested sponsors please contact Michelle Hinson mhinson@jou.ufl.edu or +1-352-392-0280.

Thank you for supporting the Institute for Public Relations

For information about sponsorships
Opportunities are available for your organization to show its support for research-based knowledge and learning in the field of measurement and evaluation.

Michelle Hinson
Director of Development, Institute for Public Relations
+1 352 392 0280 - mhinson@jou.ufl.edu

Presenting Sponsors: 49th Distinguished Lecture or Alexander Hamilton Award

Leaders in Public Relations

Friends of the Institute