Why You Should Apply for the 2015-2016 Executive Board

Serving on our Chapter’s executive board has easily been the best experience of my undergraduate career. I’ve learned so much not only about myself, but also about what it means to be a leader and how to work with a close group of people. There is nothing more I could have done that would have been as productive or valuable to my pre-professional career. Here are some reasons why I believe you should apply for executive board: 

1. You will gain leadership skills that will be useful in any career. 
2. You will grow close to a group of people who are there to help you during the good and the bad times.
3. You’re able to network with countless professionals and alumni. 
4. You will gain experience that you would have never gained in the classroom. 
5. You will be a leader within one of the largest and most highly-regarded Public Relations Student Society of America Chapters. 
   


So have I convinced you to apply? Great! Here are some skills that come in handy for each of the different positions.

President: The president is responsible for overseeing the entire Chapter. This position really allows you to be a part of everything the Chapter is doing. You should apply for president if…

• You plan on devoting your life to PRSSA for one year.
• You enjoy connecting all of the little parts to the bigger picture. 
• You can handle conflict and working with different personalities. 
• You have great time management and organization skills.
  

Vice president: The vice president is responsible for recruitment and planning the professional development opportunities, such as speakers, workshops, and panels. You should apply for vice president if…

• You’re comfortable reaching out to professionals you may not know. 
• You love meeting new people and helping them love PRSSA too. 
• You have great organizational skills.
• You have patience and professionalism when working with guests.
  

National liaison: The national liaison is responsible for coordinating tours, PRSA dinners, Regional Conference, and National Conference. You should apply for national liaison if…

• You enjoy planning events and fundraising. 
• You’re comfortable reaching out to agencies to set up tours. 
• You have great time management skills.
• You have professionalism when leading the Chapter at tours and National functions. 
  

Digital media director: The digital media director handles all of the Chapter’s social media, photographs all Chapter events, and keeps Chapter records. You should apply for digital media director if…

• You are interested in immersing yourself in the digital world. 
• You are great at creating content and always taking pictures. 
• You are focused on building the Chapter’s image and bringing it to a global audience. 
• You have strong editing skills since you serve as one of the executive board advisors to the relations committee.  
  

PRogressive Image director: The PRogressive Image director oversees the Chapter’s student-run firm, PRi. You should apply for PRi director if…

• You have agency experience or are interested in taking the agency route. 
• You can handle working on multiple projects at once. 
• You’re capable of managing a team with differing personalities. 
• You have previous campaign experience.
  

Treasurer: The treasurer is responsible for the Chapter’s budget, serves as one of the executive board advisors to the development committee, and oversees the mentor-mentee program. You should apply for treasurer if…

• You are great at working with numbers. 
• You are detail-oriented and can manage a budget. 
• You enjoy event planning and fundraising. 
• You are extremely organized and good at record keeping.
  

Secretary: The secretary is responsible for producing agendas and meeting minutes and oversees the Chapter’s philanthropic efforts. You should apply for secretary if…

• You are extremely organized and have excellent time management skills. 
• You are good at listening and taking notes.
• You are passionate about volunteering. 
• You enjoy creating surveys and analyzing the data. 
  

Dues-paying members who are interested in applying for the 2015-2016 executive board should submit their resume and cover letter in one PDF to prssa@ilstu.edu by midnight next Tuesday, March 31. Include your top three positions of interest and why, which may be included in the cover letter. A letter of recommendation may also be submitted. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview that will take place the following week. 

By Cassidy Obis, 2014-2015 president