Second City, the comedy club that launched Gilda Radner, Dan Ackroyd, Shelley Long and other well-known comedians and actors will be the site for a fun-filled evening benefiting the Illinois Psychological Association (IPA) public education campaign on Thursday, August 14, 1997. Late night improvisation will augment food, drink, a live auction and a show to ensure an evening of entertainment for attendees.

'Once we knew we wanted to host a fundraising event during the APA Convention, we considered a variety of options - from museum events to boat rides - before selecting Second City. We wanted to showcase a little bit of Chicago, and we wanted it to be fun and reasonably priced. We think Second City is ideal,' said Nancy Molitor, IPA campaign coordinator. 'We started planning this event one year ago, and it's been a lot of work, but it's fun work,' she continued.

Second City has worked closely with IPA to help make the evening financially successful, as well as entertaining. The club provided a 15 percent discount on the site, offered references and a list of approved caterers -- they even hired an announcer for the live auction. Items currently secured for the auction include airplane tours of Chicago and tickets to museums and sporting events. The IPA is continuing to contact local businesses to request donations for the auction.

'As psychologists, it's not easy to 'cold call' businesses and ask for help with fundraising. But once you get started, it's not so bad,' says Molitor. 'Oddly enough, the most challenging part of this venture has been arranging for food. It took us three months to find the right caterer.'

To promote the event, IPA placed an ad in the APA Monitor and sent out direct mailings to psychologists throughout the state. 'But our best methods for getting the word out are also the easiest - word of mouth and e-mail,' Molitor said.

The fun begins with cocktails at 7:00 p.m. and ends at 11:00 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be ordered by calling Second City at (312) 372-7610.

Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA) has launched a successful fundraising campaign to support public education activities, including advertising, in Arizona. The key to their success -- a direct mail effort that went the extra mile by adding a personal note to each solicitation letter. By including hand written notes of encouragement from its leadership, AzPA has already secured $25,600 in new funds.

'We knew that the personal touch would be our key to success, and it really paid off,' said Betty Kjellberg, AzPA's executive director. 'We received $18,000 as a direct result of our letter writing and another $7,600 in voluntary contributions.' The average contribution to the campaign thus far has been $170 per member, according to Kjellberg.

In addition to the solicitation letter, which focused on the results of the Denver test market effort -- a 400 percent increase in referrals, 650 calls to APA's 800 number and increased consumer and media attention -- AzPA enclosed a pledge card, return envelope and one of the campaign's 11 x 17 print ads.

'One of the best ways to motivate people to action is to demonstrate actual results. By including test market results, our members could actually see that the campaign can make a difference for psychologists,' said Kjellberg.

In addition to generating enthusiasm from Denver's impressive results, AzPA's letter focused on the do-ability of repeating Denver's success in Arizona. 'We also pointed out that through APA's Campaign Advertising Assistance Program, everyone's contribution could be doubled,' Kjellberg said. 'The letter stated that this year, more than ever before, our fundraising effort is critical to the future of psychologists in Arizona,' she added.

To emphasize the quality and effectiveness of the public education campaign, and to support its fundraising effort, AzPA also featured the campaign advertisements on the front page of their newsletter which included a message from AzPA President, Martin R. Levy, Ph.D.

'I am pleased to report that APA has heard us and has obviously taken action. The AzPA Governing Council is responding as well. We will do whatever we can to bring our individual members the results of this campaign and to make it happen here in Arizona,' Levy noted.

California and New York are the first states to double their advertising funds through APA's Campaign Advertising Assistance Program.

Building on the collective action of 30 local committees, the Los Angeles/Orange Regional Network for Marketing and Public Education (a coalition of five chapters of the California Psychological Association) is gearing up for their advertising campaign.

'We are very excited about the $50,000 grant and plan to coordinate our advertising around events such as National Depression Screening Day to maximize our efforts and investment,' said Committee Treasurer, Bill Wallace, Ph.D.

The New York Psychological Association (NYSPA), which received $12,019, began a comprehensive radio, television and print advertising campaign on May 19. One radio station was so supportive of the NYSPA efforts and the campaign messages -- work stress and breast cancer -- that they extended the placement run from four weeks to six weeks.

'We are hoping that the combination of advertising and other community outreach events, including talks by psychologists at Borders Books, will generate more referrals for our members,' said campaign coordinator, Elizabeth Carll, Ph.D.

Both associations are combining advertising with other community outreach activities.