Public relations group hears from UAFS historic interpreter
by February 26, 2009 3:29 pm 83 views
story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg
The Northwest Arkansas Public Relations Society of America met Feb. 25 at the Fort Smith Museum of History to hear Tom Wing, director of the historical interpretation program at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, discuss the connections between history and communications.
Wing said in the 1950s, Freeman Tilden toured the country to see how national parks were doing their job. As a result, he outlined six principles that are still used today.
• Relate what is being presented; get personal, pull them in.
• Make displays relevant.
• Consider interpretation as a gift.
• Have to be provocative; move your audience; what does it mean to your life?
• Address the big picture.
• If for children, a totally different approach.
“These principles apply to all of us,” Wing said. “Our job as interpretation is to facilitate your connection and be a catalyst to form an emotional and intellectual connection.”
To demonstrate this, Wing gave attendees a clump of rock and concrete and asked for first impressions. Words like “rough” and “conglomerate” were used. Then he explained that a student had given him the “clump” and said it was a piece of the Berlin Wall.
The piece was passed around again and words to describe it were “freedom,” “confining” and “graffiti” – all emotional and different as the first descriptive words were intellectual.
“I am always looking for connections that motivate me,” Wing said.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY
The Public Relations Society of America was formed in 1947. Today it has more than 20,000 members, is organized in 114 chapters, and is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals.
The Northwest Arkansas PRSA encompasses Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas.
“It is one of the fastest growing chapters in the nation – a dynamic assembly of seasoned veterans, spokespeople and communications specialists from major corporations, recent graduates new to careers, private consultants, agency representatives, researchers and non-profit leaders,” said Jami Lamontagne, president of the Northwest Arkansas chapter.
Leigh Allison, The Sells Agency and NWAPRSA hospitality chair, visits with Jami Lamontagne, international division of Wal-Mart and NWAPRSA president.
Tom Wing, director of the historical interpretation program at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, used a piece of the Berlin Wall to demonstrate the bridge to intellectual and emotional connections.
Allison Walden, Fort Smith Symphony and NWAPRSA president elect; Robert Morgan, Alzheimer’s Association; Wing; and and Tracy Winchell, city of Fort Smith and NWAPRSA assembly delegate, gather prior to the start of the meeting.