Greetings everybody. My name is Samson. Based in Perth, Bentley Campus. I am currently doing my PR placement with a NFP organization, Alzheimer's Australia WA.
I have been there 3 weeks now and am enjoying every bit of it. I began on the 13th, a Monday. A warm welcome greeted my first day at office. I was going around the various departments and being introduced to each and every member of the 'family'. At that time, I also got to meet the CEO of the organization. It was a fantastic feeling! To be honest, I really did expect such an environment as it was a 'not-for-profit' which might have been the reason as well. Especially after reading from the previous blog posts by Desiree on Wednesday, July the 22nd.
Immediately after that, I was introduced to the organization's background, vision, missions and other aspects of the company. It all began in the year 1980! My department is the Fundraising & Public Affairs Sector. I was immediately involved in the planning and preparation for the Dementia Awareness Week, World Alzheimer's Day and a couple of other upcoming events such as a public forum, symposium and Charity Golf Day. It did seem beckoning and also appalling at the same time given we don't have much time to prepare! These are the various tasks that I have done/doing thus far:
1. Come up with key messages for Dementia Awareness Week.
2. Setup Facebook pages for Alzheimer’s Australia - (since this is a new initiative taken by the company, I was asked to head it)
3. Memory Walk 2009 event promotion
4. Updated media contact list
I also had the privilege to go for meetings with my Head of Department to meet our Curtin counterpart for an upcoming Memory Walk event. The meeting with the Curtin marketing department was quite an experience when we brainstormed a little for the promotion of the event. I am glad that my supervisors have given me the opportunity and have showed their trust in me to handle a couple of agendas which would normally be a rare occasion for a large corporation or PR firm.
My supervisor is a nice person to talk to. He has helped me understood the pros and cons of a being an NFP organization. We had an opportunity to have a chat one day about ‘in-house PR’ as oppose to hiring someone. For in-house, most of the things are done by themselves and these includes - photography, writing releases, newsletters and even designing. Most of the skills learnt are acquired along the way. Before this, its most of the time those with experience in the working field are hired over those who have no experience at all (eg. a fresh graduate without working experience). In a way, after working in the work field gives us more knowledge, wisdom and we are also more versatile.
I believe that it’s always a plus to know and research on the organization's background beforehand. Having that pre-knowledge before going into a new workplace is somewhat essential to help you know whom you're working for and what you can offer the organization/company. Hence helps us be on familiar terms with whom we represent.
Ultimately, through this the first week of experience with the organization has opened my eyes to understand ‘what’ I represent in a company. Questions like ‘how do I represent my department – PR?’, ‘do I represent a charity foundation or any typical support organization out there?’, or even ‘how do I represent myself?’. Being an employee is all about getting in sync with your organization’s character. Characteristics can be generating sales, getting fundings, sponsorships, corporate partnership, age care or even pro-bono. For eg., if it’s a large mining company, then just do the best towards achieving that purpose. Since stepping into this organization (Alzheimer’s Australia WA), I immediately dedicated myself to working not only for the company but also to know that everything I do can serve the betterment of the society living with dementia.
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