January 2012
How to Get Involved with PRSSA on a National Level
Bio: Lauren K. Gray currently serves as the PRSSA 2011-2012 Vice President of Public Relations and is an active Chapter member after serving as Chapter President for almost two years. Tweet her @laurenkgray and visit her website laurenkgray.com for more information and blog posts.
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is a National Society of over 10,000 members in over 300 Chapters across the nation, including countries such as Argentina. As one of ten National Committee members, I have the incredible opportunity to serve this Society I am very passionate about.
Joining PRSSA, becoming Chapter President and running for Vice President of Public Relations are some of the best decisions I have ever made. I learned about the position of Vice President of Public Relations by attending PRSSA 2010 National Conference in Washington D.C. and by getting more involved on a National level with PRSSA.
Through my position as Vice President of Public Relations, my responsibilities include managing the PRSSA Biweekly email, promoting and managing PRSSA public relations activities to internal and external publics, promoting and managing the PRSSA Style Guide, Branding Identity Guidelines and Annual Report, connecting members to the PRSSA social media accounts, managing Chapter News submissions and more. Needless to say, this is a very busy, day-to-day position but it is very rewarding and I love what I do.
One of the best things about joining a local Chapter is that you can get involved on the National level by applying for scholarships, participating in PRSSA competitions like theBateman Case Study Competition and participating in National Initiatives our Society works toward.
Less than 2% of our PRSSA memberships actually apply for scholarships! As a result, your odds of winning a scholarship are very high. The competitions and case studies are a great way to build portfolio pieces and gain more real-world experience.
Some of our other National Initiatives include community service, high school outreach, building a relationship with your PRSA Chapter, participating in Ethics Month, attending a National Conference and more. It’s very easy to get involved with PRSSA on a local and National level.
Chapters can always feel free to reach out to me with questions about PRSSA branding, PRSSA terminology, submitting Chapter News, asking for Skype requests and so forth. Part of being on the National Committee means we are serving our members and we are always available. Our email addresses are listed on our Committee webpage and we also have a Twitter list of all of our Twitter handles. If you or your Chapter have any questions, please reach out to us.
To learn more about the National Committee, please click on the link for a list of ourCommittee position descriptions and the where you can learn about running for National Committee at this year’s National Assembly in Charlotte, NC from March 15-18 .
I look forward to seeing you, your Chapter and your members at National Assembly! Please contact me if you have any questions about our National Initiatives or about getting more involved on the National level.
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is a National Society of over 10,000 members in over 300 Chapters across the nation, including countries such as Argentina. As one of ten National Committee members, I have the incredible opportunity to serve this Society I am very passionate about.
Joining PRSSA, becoming Chapter President and running for Vice President of Public Relations are some of the best decisions I have ever made. I learned about the position of Vice President of Public Relations by attending PRSSA 2010 National Conference in Washington D.C. and by getting more involved on a National level with PRSSA.
Through my position as Vice President of Public Relations, my responsibilities include managing the PRSSA Biweekly email, promoting and managing PRSSA public relations activities to internal and external publics, promoting and managing the PRSSA Style Guide, Branding Identity Guidelines and Annual Report, connecting members to the PRSSA social media accounts, managing Chapter News submissions and more. Needless to say, this is a very busy, day-to-day position but it is very rewarding and I love what I do.
One of the best things about joining a local Chapter is that you can get involved on the National level by applying for scholarships, participating in PRSSA competitions like theBateman Case Study Competition and participating in National Initiatives our Society works toward.
Less than 2% of our PRSSA memberships actually apply for scholarships! As a result, your odds of winning a scholarship are very high. The competitions and case studies are a great way to build portfolio pieces and gain more real-world experience.
Some of our other National Initiatives include community service, high school outreach, building a relationship with your PRSA Chapter, participating in Ethics Month, attending a National Conference and more. It’s very easy to get involved with PRSSA on a local and National level.
Chapters can always feel free to reach out to me with questions about PRSSA branding, PRSSA terminology, submitting Chapter News, asking for Skype requests and so forth. Part of being on the National Committee means we are serving our members and we are always available. Our email addresses are listed on our Committee webpage and we also have a Twitter list of all of our Twitter handles. If you or your Chapter have any questions, please reach out to us.
To learn more about the National Committee, please click on the link for a list of ourCommittee position descriptions and the where you can learn about running for National Committee at this year’s National Assembly in Charlotte, NC from March 15-18 .
I look forward to seeing you, your Chapter and your members at National Assembly! Please contact me if you have any questions about our National Initiatives or about getting more involved on the National level.
Meet the 2011-2012 National Liaison: Brian DePasqua
1.) Why did you initially join PRSSA?
I joined PRSSA because I wanted to get involved more with my major and I saw it as a way to start building my portfolio and resume. The networking opportunities were also very appealing to me. 2.) What do you feel is the most beneficial part of being a member of E-board? The most beneficial aspect of being on Executive Board is getting to know the many great members that make up our Chapter. These members are what makes this Chapter great, and I love to engage with them and hear about their goals going forward. 3.) What is your dream job? I suppose my ultimate dream job would be the media relations director for the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, I am fascinated by the diversity of world culture and would also love to have some sort of international public relations position at some point in my career. 4.) What is the most valuable lesson you have taken from your time in PRSSA? I have learned a terrific amount of information about all facets of the public relations industry, but receiving a better understanding of how to properly create a resume and cover letter is perhaps the most valuable. Another valuable part of my PRSSA experience has been the leadership positions I have held. These positions have given me a new perspective on the organization, and have allowed me to experience the trials that come with any leadership position. It is because of these leadership positions that I feel I will be a better professional going forward. 5.) Do you have any hobbies? Name some! I have always been a big sports enthusiast and I love to the follow the daily actions of my beloved Pittsburgh Pirates. I am also really into architecture and I like to follow skyscraper developments across the world. Additionally, I enjoy researching the histories of various urban centers around the world. 6.) Why do you think someone should join PRSSA? I strongly encourage people to join PRSSA because it is a gateway to putting yourself in a strong position going forward. The networking opportunities, guest speakers and active engagement presented by this organization are terrific ways for a person to gain initial public relations experience. One of the things that stood out to me when I first joined was the fact that numerous ISU PRSSA alumni can be found working for prestigious public relations firms. It is representative of the quality of people and experiences that have made this Chapter great. 7.) What is something you are good at that nobody would expect? My roommate claims that I am pretty good at dancing, specifically the John Wall Dance. I’m not sure if I completely agree with him. 8.) What is your favorite memory from ISU? I can’t say I have one specific memory, more a collection of positive memories that I’ve experienced with ISU PRSSA over the past couple years. I suppose one that stands out is having the opportunity to represent this Chapter at PRSSA National Assembly in Seattle, which was a fascinating experience. I still have one year left at Illinois State, and I believe that I have a lot of great memories to still make. 9.) Where can you usually be found on a typical weekend? You can often find me working an Illinois State Athletics event on weekends through my internship. 10.) If you could offer one piece of advice to younger members of PRSSA what would it be? Be involved. There are numerous opportunities to gain experience as a leader and to become a better professional going forward. Make sure you take advantage of these opportunities. |
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5 Tips to Help You Stay Active Over Winter Break
I hope you’ve been having a great winter break. Between spending time with family, catching up with friends and celebrating the holidays, it is easy to forget about the hustle and bustle of your academic life.
Winter break is a great time to review some of the things you may have been too busy to do during the semester. If you haven’t used your break for any professional reasons, do not fear, it’s not too late. Below are five tips to help kick start your spring semester. Here’s what to do:
1.) Update your resume. Yes, resumes need to be tailored for the position you apply for, but now is a great time to give your resume a makeover. Did you throw together a template the last time you needed one? Well, try playing around with the fonts and styles to design a resume that’s unique to you. Update your resume based on your past semester. Did you just finish an internship or leadership position? Add those skills! Raise your GPA? Time to update! Taking the time to revamp your resume now will ensure that the next time a great opportunity with a short deadline comes up, you’ll be ready to send in your current resume.
2.) Clean up your social media. We’ve all heard it, now more than ever, employers are using social media during the hiring process. Although you might think your keg stand profile picture is totally cool, “real-world” employers won’t be so impressed. Clean up your page and investigate the privacy settings. These settings are constantly changing so research yourself online and find out how others are seeing you.
3.) Begin applying for internships and jobs. Whether you’re graduating in May and need to begin the job hunt or you’re a freshman in college trying to land an internship, using this valuable time to search for the perfect job is crucial. Why wait until classes start and the commitments and assignments pile on? Use this time to focus on making yourself, stand out and snag your dream opportunity. If you’re an ISU student, contact talamon@ilstu.eduto find available internships that might interest you.
4.) Apply for scholarships. PRSSA National (www.prssa.org) offers scholarships for dues-paying members, but many require letters of recommendation and essays. Professionals don’t like to be bombarded with short deadlines when students need letters. Giving them plenty of time to prepare one for you shows not only drive and initiative, but consideration towards their busy schedule.
5.) Follow up with contacts you’ve made. The holidays are a perfect way to send a friendly email to the people you’ve connected with over the semester. Waiting until you need a favor or until you hear about a job opening that they could help you with is poor form. Stay in touch and build relationships, that way when an opportunity does arise, they don’t feel used and under appreciated. Taking the time to wish your contacts “Happy Holidays” shows you care even when you don’t need something.
So while you’re finishing out winter break and preparing for the spring semester, try out a few of these tips to get ahead professionally. Balancing productivity along with relaxation will ensure a successful new year!
Your friendly blogger,
Kaitie Ries
Vice President
ISU PRSSA
Winter break is a great time to review some of the things you may have been too busy to do during the semester. If you haven’t used your break for any professional reasons, do not fear, it’s not too late. Below are five tips to help kick start your spring semester. Here’s what to do:
1.) Update your resume. Yes, resumes need to be tailored for the position you apply for, but now is a great time to give your resume a makeover. Did you throw together a template the last time you needed one? Well, try playing around with the fonts and styles to design a resume that’s unique to you. Update your resume based on your past semester. Did you just finish an internship or leadership position? Add those skills! Raise your GPA? Time to update! Taking the time to revamp your resume now will ensure that the next time a great opportunity with a short deadline comes up, you’ll be ready to send in your current resume.
2.) Clean up your social media. We’ve all heard it, now more than ever, employers are using social media during the hiring process. Although you might think your keg stand profile picture is totally cool, “real-world” employers won’t be so impressed. Clean up your page and investigate the privacy settings. These settings are constantly changing so research yourself online and find out how others are seeing you.
3.) Begin applying for internships and jobs. Whether you’re graduating in May and need to begin the job hunt or you’re a freshman in college trying to land an internship, using this valuable time to search for the perfect job is crucial. Why wait until classes start and the commitments and assignments pile on? Use this time to focus on making yourself, stand out and snag your dream opportunity. If you’re an ISU student, contact talamon@ilstu.eduto find available internships that might interest you.
4.) Apply for scholarships. PRSSA National (www.prssa.org) offers scholarships for dues-paying members, but many require letters of recommendation and essays. Professionals don’t like to be bombarded with short deadlines when students need letters. Giving them plenty of time to prepare one for you shows not only drive and initiative, but consideration towards their busy schedule.
5.) Follow up with contacts you’ve made. The holidays are a perfect way to send a friendly email to the people you’ve connected with over the semester. Waiting until you need a favor or until you hear about a job opening that they could help you with is poor form. Stay in touch and build relationships, that way when an opportunity does arise, they don’t feel used and under appreciated. Taking the time to wish your contacts “Happy Holidays” shows you care even when you don’t need something.
So while you’re finishing out winter break and preparing for the spring semester, try out a few of these tips to get ahead professionally. Balancing productivity along with relaxation will ensure a successful new year!
Your friendly blogger,
Kaitie Ries
Vice President
ISU PRSSA
