Only 15 Days to the Northeast District Conference

There is still time (barely) to sign up. This is a powerhouse lineup in a great city.

If you are still on the fence, check out the program here: 2008 PRSA Northeast District Conference.

The quality of the speakers and topics rivals the International Conference (and I am not just saying that because I am speaking).

It contains topics of interest for senior practitioners to new professionals and students. The keynotes are from David Jones – VP of Digital Media H&K Canada and Michael Cherenson, National Chair Elect of the PRSA.

Social media is well represented, and I will be hosting a session “Down and Dirty: Practical Lessons on Blogging and Social Media Ethics.”

Don’t wait – register today.

It’s a party in Boston

On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, PRSA Boston will be hosting its summer social and networking event at the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston. It is always a great time, with a really lively crowd.

If anyone is vacationing in Boston at that time, or Boston’s friends from RI and NH want to make the trek, they are invited to register here.

The event will run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Note: Other chapters, I am happy to promote your events – just let me know about them!

Honoring our two newest fellows

Please join me in congratulating Ann R. Carden, APR, assistant professor of communications, SUNY Fredonia, and Anthony D’Angelo APR, director, communications, Magna Powertrain as the two PRSA Northeast District Members who are the latest inductees into the PRSA College of Fellows.

This is one of PRSA’s most prestigious individual honors. Officially, to be considered for admittance, a member of PRSA must have practiced or taught public relations for 20 or more years, demonstrated superior capability as a practitioner or educator, be accredited, exhibited personal and professional qualities that serve as a role model, and advanced the state of the profession. Unofficially, I have heard the rigorous background checks make CIA background checks look like a walk in the park.

There are less than 500 fellows.

I have had the pleasure of interacting with Mr. D’Angelo on a number of occasions and know this is an honor well deserved. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Carden, but look forward to doing so (perhaps at the Northeast District conference on 9/11, where she can share words of wisdom with many of us?) in the future.

PRSA National Slate Announced

As my loyal readers know, this past weekend, I served on the nominating committee for the PRSA National as the representative from the Northeast District. This afternoon, the slate was officially announced.

Chair Elect

Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, director, partnership development, HGT, Scripps Networks

Treasurer
Thomas E. Eppes, APR, Fellow PRSA, senior partner, general manager, Eric Mower and Associates, Charlotte, N.C.

Secretary
Leslie J. Backus, APR, president, Leslie J. Backus Public Relations, Davie, Fla.

Director, East Central
Catherine A. Huggins, APR, assistant vice president of corporate communications, Western & Southern Financial Group, Cincinnati, Ohio

Director, Mid-Atlantic
Steven Lewis Grant, APR, senior manager, public relations, National Education Association, Washington, D.C.

Director, Midwest District
Gail D. Liebl, APR, director, corporate communications, Travelers, St. Paul, Minn.

Director, Northeast District
Gail A. Winslow-Pine, APR, director, marketing & corporate communications, Catholic Medical Center, Brentwood, N.H.

Director, Sunshine District
Kathy Nelson Barbour, APR, communications program manager, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Fla.

Director, Tri-State District
Lynn Appelbaum, APR, Fellow PRSA, associate professor advertising/public relations, program director, The City College of New York, New York, N.Y.

Director, Western District
Donald P. Kirchoffner, APR, Fellow PRSA, senior communications consultant, Don Kirchoffner Consulting, Broomfield, Colo.

At-Large
Deborah A. Silverman, Ph.D., APR, assistant professor of communication, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, N.Y.

More information is in the PRSA release, which can be found here.

The new role of PR…it’s free

No, I am not suggesting every agency will go out of business and we will not be fairly compensated for our expertise – rather PRSA National is offering a free teleseminar on August 7 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

I am intrigued in spite of myself. The panelists include:

Jeffrey Julin, APR, chair and CEO, PRSA; and president, MGA Communications, Inc.

Jerry Swerling, professor of professional practice and director of PR studies and the USC Annenberg Strategic PR Center, USC School for Communication

Amy Mauzy, public relations manager, Malibu Boats

For more information and to register, click here

Chapters, don’t forget…this is a great opportunity to bring your members together for networking and discussion afterward, or to engage with our PRSSA chapters.

Selecting the slate

In a few hours, I am headed out to Chicago to serve on the PRSA National Nominating Committee. We will be conducting interviews all weekend (8 a.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow) to select a slate of National Officers and Board Members.

As the time approaches the responsibility has hit me more. I (along with a dozen or so others) will be serving as the voice of PRSA’s 30,000 plus members. We have great applicants this year and it is going to make for some interesting, and tough, decisions.

I wanted to thank all the members of the Northeast District that took the time to contact me (I need to report you as lobbying me…) and write letters of support for candidates.

I won’t be able to talk much about the process, but with the quality of the candidates, I am confident that PRSA will be in good hands no matter who is slated and elected.