INDIANAPOLIS – The Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC) wants to help credit unions brush up their public relations skills. MAC will host workshops on "Best Practices in PR: Affordable and Efficient Ways of Maximizing Your Credit Union's Presence in the Community" on September 13 and 14 in Northern and Southern California. To help attendees sharpen their public relations skills sessions will feature hands-on exercises and analysis of industry case studies. Public relations veteran Phoebe Wall Howard of Howard Consulting will serve as keynote speaker and facilitator at both workshops. "Phoebe was a keynote speaker at one of our conferences a few years ago," said MAC Chair and Redwood CU Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations Kate Kelly. "She was insightful, moving, dynamic, and very entertaining. We are excited about the upcoming workshops, which will put invaluable information in the hands of credit unions, looking to maximize their institution's presence in the press and the communities they serve." Prior to running an agency, Howard worked for the largest public relations firm in the country. She spent 12 years working in newspapers, magazine, TV and radio and is an Associated Press award winner and Pulitzer Prize nominee. The workshops will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at the Walnut Creek Marriott in Walnut Creek and on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at the California/Nevada Credit Union League in Rancho Cucamonga. For more information visit www.macnetwork.org.