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If you have not yet been, it's worth the trip. In a symbolic gesture to quit smoking and begin a new smoke-free life, over 100 packs of cigarettes have been discarded by visitors into the "I Quit" container at the San Diego Natural History Museum's Gunther von Hagen's Body Worlds & The Brain -- Our Three Pound Gem exhibition.

Blackened lungs from a smoker and a set of healthy lungs placed side-by-side cast a dramatic light on the negative effects of smoking. The display has inspired people to make a positive choice and pledge not to smoke. The lung specimens are one of the most memorable examples people comment on after visiting the exhibit. Independent surveys conducted at Body Worlds exhibitions have revealed that 68 percent of visitors resolved to pay more attention to their physical health after seeing the exhibition.

In partnership with the American Lung Association's Smoke-Free San Diego campaign, I Quit was launched as a voluntary smoking cessation program that began April 15. The idea was conceived after exhibition cleaning crews kept finding unfinished packs of cigarettes on the glass display case containing the smoker's lung.

"Each rejected pack marked a victory by one person against nicotine addiction," said Dr. Angela Whalley, a physician and designer of the Body Worlds exhibitions. "Many visitors to the exhibition reported they had tried everything but only stopped after seeing the smoker's lung," said Whalley.

Partnered with the Body Worlds lung specimens, the I Quit program plays a poignant public service announcement by the late actor Yul Brynner before his death from cancer in 1985, pledge cards for visitors intending to give up smoking, a repository where visitors can leave their last packs of cigarettes, and take-home information about the hazards of smoking.

For more information on Body Worlds, running through Oct 4, visit bodyworlds.com.

Lynne Friedmann, of Friedman Communications in Solana Beach, was recently elected to the College of Fellows of PRSA.

She will be one of 11 PRSA members who will be inducted Nov 7 during a ceremony at PRSA's 2009 International Conference in San Diego and she joins an elite group that represents 2 percent of PRSA's 22,000 membership.

Public relations professionals will be providing free counsel to nonprofit organizations during the second annual "Quality Time with PR Minds," on Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at AMN Healthcare. This one-day event provides thousands of dollars worth of free PR advice and guidance to San Diego-based organizations.

Last year, more than 20 PR professionals offered consultation to 10 nonprofit organizations, including Alzheimer's Association San Diego/Imperial Chapter, Fresh Start, Juvenile Court Book Club and San Diego Armed Services YMCA. This year, PRSA San Diego anticipates serving 10 to 15 nonprofit organizations also representing a variety of important community services throughout San Diego County.

To be considered, visit prsasandiego.org.

San Diego PR firm Chemistry was hired to handle local, regional and national public relations for Porto Vista Hotel & Suites and The Glass Door Restaurant in Little Italy.

San Diego PR firm Nuffer Smith Tucker has been tapped to represent The San Diego Union-Tribune in launching its multimedia campaign with the message: The newspaper is "Here to Stay."

The campaign includes print and broadcast advertising, social media outreach, outdoor signage, events and community outreach.