Nowhere to Hide: PRSA and NIRI Present New Rules of Corporate Ethics and Liability.

Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2003

What do Enron, Worldcom and Tyco all have in common? These firms and their executives, along with others, have led the U.S. government to enact new regulations that require board members, CEOs, audit committees and key executives to take a more active and larger role for corporate liability issues.

What does this mean for executives, directors and corporate staffers?

The Puget Sound chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) on Nov. 18 will present a panel outlining the legal ramifications -- including personal and criminal liability -- for those who participate in unethical practices in public and private companies.

The panel will also outline the new requirements for ethical practices and the role of investor relations and public relations practitioners in driving adoption of these practices by their organizations. Criminal liability can now apply to anyone involved in distributing misleading or inaccurate company information, regardless of whether they are specifically involved in the decision-making progress.

The line-up of speakers for this important and timely presentation includes:

-- Leslie Larson, APR, Director of Marketing, Williams, Kastner &

Gibbs PLLC, and the current Puget Sound Chapter PRSA Ethics

Officer;

-- Jane McCahon, Consultant, Conway Communications. Having served

as a member of the Board of Directors of NIRI since 1998, Ms.

McCahon was Chairman of the Board from March 2001 to March

2002. She now serves as the Chairman of NIRI's Ethics Council;

-- David Smith, Attorney, Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC. His

practice emphasizes defense of criminal allegations against

corporations and corporate management; defense of related

civil and administrative matters; and defense of civil RICO 

and fraud allegations and investigations;

-- Neil Moir, Manager, Ethics and Business Conduct, Weyerhaeuser

Co. Moir is responsible for Weyerhaeuser's education and

training initiatives; works with the staff and Director to

provide ethics and business conduct materials and training for

all Weyerhaeuser employees; monitor adherence to external laws

and company policy; and report trends and concerns to the CEO,

senior managers, and the Governance Committee of the Board of

Directors.

This joint PRSA and NIRI event is open to both members and non-members on Tuesday, Nov. 18,2003 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Lobby Lounge at the Washington Athletic Club, located at 1325 6th Avenue in Seattle. Tickets cost $35 for PRSA members; $45 for non-members. All attendees must pre-register by calling 206-623-8632.

The meeting is sponsored by CCBN and Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC.

About PRSA:

The Puget Sound chapter of PRSA is the region's largest professional organization for public relations professionals, with nearly 400 members from throughout Western Washington. Members of this non-profit association represent corporations, agencies, sole practitioners, military, government, health care and other service organizations. The Puget Sound group is one of 116 chapters affiliated with the national PRSA organization, which serves 20,000 members. For more information: www.prsapugetsound.org.