DAR Recognized for One of
Best Communications Programs in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The DAR Public Relations Department was honored with a Thoth Award at the 2004 Thoth Awards Gala held September 23, 2004 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Named for the Egyptian god of communication, the Thoth (pronounced “tot”) Awards recognize the premier public relations programs produced in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The National Capital Chapter (NCC) of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) sponsors the Thoth competition to recognize and reward outstanding achievement in public relations and to encourage continued excellence in the field.

The DAR’s winning campaign, “The New DAR,” won the award for the best communications program in the Brand/Reputation Management category. This category, new to the 2004 competition, spotlights programs designed to build or enhance the overall reputation, integrity and/or perceived value of an organization from a holistic point of view. The on-going public relations campaign strives to shape a better public image for the DAR and rebuild its reputation as a respectable and relevant service organization for today’s world and today’s woman.

The main objective of “The New DAR” campaign is to proactively address controversial issues concerning the organization as well as create a unified, professional appearance for everything DAR presents to the public. These implementations have helped to better reflect the true nature of the organization in order to change the public’s attitudes and perceptions. The winning entry highlights some of the new and improved materials and programs coming from DAR headquarters including the DAR press kit and brochures; the redesigned American Spirit magazine and Daughters newsletter; the DAR public and members’ Web sites; the Forgotten Patriots exhibition and symposium; and the DAR Christmas Open House.

“This is a great honor which recognizes the diligent work of our Public Relations Department, but this campaign could not have been successful without the help of all of our headquarters departments and member volunteers working together to present a unified image of our multifaceted organization,” said Presley Merritt Wagoner, DAR President General. “Winning such a prestigious award as the PRSA-NCC Thoth Award shows that we are not only getting the message out to the public that the DAR is a dynamic service organization, we are also producing some of the best public relations work in our nation’s capital.”

There were 118 entries in this year’s competition with Thoth Awards and Certificates of Excellence being presented in various categories to representatives of public relations agencies, corporations, government agencies, and trade and professional associations. “The caliber of work demonstrated by this year’s Thoth winners is an absolute compliment to the public relations profession and to the Washington area,” said Pam Miles, PRSA-NCC president.

To learn more about the work of the DAR, visit www.dar.org. For more information on the PRSA – NCC Thoth Awards, visit www.prsa-ncc.org.

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