From snowstorms, to pandemics, to floods, to blackouts, to terrorism – do you know what you would do if a catastrophe happened in Lake County? Do you have a plan for your family, neighbors or coworkers?

If not, join the Lake Communicators at the Lake County Emergency Operations Center, 8505 Garfield Road in Kirtland, Wednesday, May 2 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., to learn about how prepared we are as a county.

To get to the Lake County EOC from Route 306 and I-90, turn right on Route 84. Take another right onto Garfield Road past the Great Lakes Mall. The EOC is at the end of Garfield Road, just past Lakeland Community College’s Mooreland Mansion entrance. You can also drive straight through the Lakeland campus.

In addition to a tour of the EOC, the Lake

Communicators has taken the initiative in developing a breakthrough marketing communications program to express awareness for more personal preparedness and responsibility by our residents.

The leaders for this marketing communications plan are: Jessie Baginski, Laketran’s liaison to the Emergency Management Agency; Ray Somich, Local Emergency Planning Committee Board member; and Tom Ruffner, mayor of Wickliffe.

EMA Director Larry Greene and LEPC Chairman, Deputy Chief Tom Talcott, will lead the tour of the EOC and discuss the communications efforts already in place between local government and community organizations.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the initial brainstorming to name and develop the campaign.

Reservations are required by Friday, April 27 by calling Diana Lewis at 440-255-8932 or sending an e-mail to olfeshirley@yahoo.com. Guests are always welcome. Cost is $13 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

The following professionals have offered their expertise and experience on an informal basis to members seeking communications counsel.

Discussions are personal, and should not be considered a substitute for regular consultations from commercial agencies or consultants. The Web site soon will have this information.

Advertising & Marketing
Robert Zyromski, Director of Communications, Lake County YMCA
440-354-5656 (W – days)
440-357-1606 (H – evenings)
rzyromski@sbcglobal.net

Dick Fraser, President – Fraser Video Productions
440-392-9307 (W)
fraservp@sbcglobal.net

Media Relations, Publicity
Devere “Dee” Logan, APR Fellow PRSA
President – D.E. Logan Public Relations
440-357-4471 (W)
440-352-8292 (H)
delogan@ameritech.net

Public Relations
Devere “Dee” Logan (See previous listing.)

Robert Zyromski (See previous listing.)

Photography
Robert Barbian, Owner – Barbian Photography
440-352-3300 (Phone during afternoons.)
barbianphoto@mailbag.net

Robert Zyromski (See listing above.)

Video Production, script writing
Dick Fraser (See previous listing.)

Joseph Smith is an account representative at Villa Beach Communications in Euclid. He is a recent graduate of the University of Dayton with a BFA.

He uses his creative skills to comprehend customer’s wants and needs. He hopes to be involved in the continued success of Villa Beach while incorporating a West-Side connection.

Joe comes from a large family. He is the second oldest of seven siblings and has 55 first cousins. He lives in Lakewood.

Treasurer’s Report: 2007 Budget – K. Purmal passed out 2006 actual, 2007 proposed - $19,759, about the same as last year. The seminar is showing on this year’s expenses. Put in a $200 emergency for printing. Added committee meal funds. Responsible for budget in your committee; monitor it. Committess must advise the board if they have to go over their budget. K. Purmal suggests doing a line-item budget ahead of time for committees. She won’t pay a bill until the committee chair approves and signs off on it. Directories are more this year because it’s four pages longer and we printed extra copies for new members. Budget was approved.

Committee Reports
Apex: T. Ruffner – Apex committee met and agreed hold the event in November. T. Ruffner said he’d look into alternate ways to promote Apex and grow it to promote more to the business community of Lake County. Proposed holding the event in conjunction with the Lake County Biz Expo, hang entries at Expo, possibly have a luncheon along with it in place of the usual evening affair. T. Ruffner presented many other ideas for Apex, but he will get with the Apex committee and make a presentation to the board.

Internal Communications/Directory:
T. Ruffner/L. Freeman – directory coming out in May.

Programs & Meetings: J. Venen said there was a possibility that the April speaker won’t be.

available as his wife is due any day. He has back-up speakers lined up. Suggested making speaker announcement,
introducing new members and guests at noon sharp then everyone can network until lunch is served.

Marketing & Promotions: J. Cerne – McKinney sent the press release to the media to promote the April 11 speaker and made follow-up media calls for placement. It was picked up in The News-Herald. Judy has been contacting potential speakers for the ’08 Lake Communicators Marketing Workshop and has two speakers lined up. Both speakers are ones that the Special Events committee members suggested she contact. Both charge a fee but agreed to do our
workshop pro bono. She is working on lining up the third one now. We don’t have our theme as yet for the workshop both speakers will work around whichever theme we choose.

Scholarship: K. Purmal - Has about six entries from North, South, Madison, Mentor. Deadline is Monday.

NOCA: D. Lewis – checking on membership fee.

Special Events: B. Snow – Meeting April 24 and picking theme for ’08 seminar.

Old Business: D. Lewis checked on Dino’s. Second Wednesday is available. Diana also checked on Comfort Inn menu; we can have whatever we want, including soup and salad.

The Lake County Apex Awards Committee will soon make final recommendations to the board on its 2007 ceremony.

As recommended by the board of directors, the Lake County Apex Awards will take place this year.

One strong possibility is to hang the winning entries during the Lake County
Business EXPO Nov. 8 at LaMalfa Center.

The committee will be deciding on whether to continue to host an evening awards
ceremony or move to a noon luncheon, possibly at LaMalfa during the Business EXPO.

Also under consideration is producing a full-color booklet of the winning entries with

May 2
Join Lake Communicators for networking, a box lunch, and a presentation on disaster preparedness.

RSVP Deadline: Apr. 27