September 2011
Member Incentive Points (MIPs) Posted
Hi everyone!
I just want to make a quick post saying that the MIPS page is up and running! Right now, we have the month of September on there. It will be updated every week. The more activities, fundraisers, chapter meetings you attend…the more points you will have! Now you will never be out of the loop! You also will have an idea of who is ahead for Member of the Month to keep the motivation for the number one spot going! This can eventually lead to Member of the Year. Competition is encouraged, but remember, let’s keep this friendly and clean!
Have a great weekend,
Your Friendly Blogger
I just want to make a quick post saying that the MIPS page is up and running! Right now, we have the month of September on there. It will be updated every week. The more activities, fundraisers, chapter meetings you attend…the more points you will have! Now you will never be out of the loop! You also will have an idea of who is ahead for Member of the Month to keep the motivation for the number one spot going! This can eventually lead to Member of the Year. Competition is encouraged, but remember, let’s keep this friendly and clean!
Have a great weekend,
Your Friendly Blogger
Meet the 2011-2012 President: Michelle Ketcham
Name: Michelle Ketcham
Year: Senior
Position: President
Hometown: Bloomindale, Ill.
Major: Public Relations with a minor in Cinema Studies
1. Why did you want to be on the executive board?
I wanted to be on the executive board since my first semester as a PRSSA member, however, there was always something preventing me from running. I did not want to agree to such a big commitment unless I knew that I could give it my full attention. What really interested me with the executive board was the position to organize professional opportunities for PRSSA members. As a member I was always thinking “wouldn’t it be cool if they offered this…” or “I wish they would have done things differently in this aspect…” I wanted to aid our members, but I never felt that I had the ability to do as much for them as I desired. Now that I am on the executive board I want to use my experience as a member to reach everyone’s interests and help them develop into the PR professionals I know they can be. I try to constantly put the members before anything else and when making a decision I always ask myself, “how will this benefit our members?”
2. How has PRSSA helped you get where you are today?
Where am I today? Well, I am an intern for SoC PD, I TA for Tom Lamonica’s Intro to PR course and of course, I am the President for our PRSSA Chapter. I spent the summer in China interning for Universal Ideas and fending for myself with only two other ISU students. When I say it out loud or read it on paper, it sounds like a lot, but I have only just begun. That being said, I would have never pictured myself being so involved and driven if it wasn’t for PRSSA. Oddly enough, for a communicator, I have always been rather shy. To sit back and think about how much I have broken out of my shell these past few years is really astonishing to me. I think that PRSSA has taught me to be active in my life instead of just watching it go by. We can’t just assume things will happen for us, we have to make things happen. There were times where I questioned my major but since I have been involved in PRSSA I will sit down in front of my laptop, begin working on something and not even notice that six hours have gone by. I think that shows that I really enjoy what I do and I don’t know if that desire would have developed so fast if it wasn’t for this organization.
3.What advice would you give to younger members who want to enter the PR world?
The advice I would give to younger members to get involved, get involved, get involved! Seek out new challenges! The trick is to think about who you want to be and what you want to achieve so you can choose the things that will best help you get there.
4. Name one class that you took in the SOC that you thought was beneficial?
I have learned so much from every course I have taken and am truly honored to have been taught from such great and insightful professors. However, Doctor Smudde’s Leadership course really inspired me. Having the opportunity to reflect on what type of leader I would like to be helped me realize that in order to become that leader I have to start now.
5. What do you like to do in your free time?
It is pretty rare for me to have free time but when I do like to relax with one of my favorite television shows. I am a big fan of 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, True Blood, Entourage and so many more.
6. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I hope that I am healthy, happy and successful, and surrounded by friends and family.
7. One interesting fact about yourself.
I first knew that I wanted to be in public relations 11 years ago after watching the Bruce Willis movie, “The Kid.” I was inspired by Bruce Willis’ character’s advice to the aspiring News Anchor. I thought, if I can be that knowledgeable and help people be seen the way they desire, than I could really impact someone’s life. That day, I decided I wanted to become an image consultant and help others achieve their dreams by becoming the best they can. Since then I have learned that there is so much more to public relations and with each new discovery I am more and more confident in my career choice.
Year: Senior
Position: President
Hometown: Bloomindale, Ill.
Major: Public Relations with a minor in Cinema Studies
1. Why did you want to be on the executive board?
I wanted to be on the executive board since my first semester as a PRSSA member, however, there was always something preventing me from running. I did not want to agree to such a big commitment unless I knew that I could give it my full attention. What really interested me with the executive board was the position to organize professional opportunities for PRSSA members. As a member I was always thinking “wouldn’t it be cool if they offered this…” or “I wish they would have done things differently in this aspect…” I wanted to aid our members, but I never felt that I had the ability to do as much for them as I desired. Now that I am on the executive board I want to use my experience as a member to reach everyone’s interests and help them develop into the PR professionals I know they can be. I try to constantly put the members before anything else and when making a decision I always ask myself, “how will this benefit our members?”
2. How has PRSSA helped you get where you are today?
Where am I today? Well, I am an intern for SoC PD, I TA for Tom Lamonica’s Intro to PR course and of course, I am the President for our PRSSA Chapter. I spent the summer in China interning for Universal Ideas and fending for myself with only two other ISU students. When I say it out loud or read it on paper, it sounds like a lot, but I have only just begun. That being said, I would have never pictured myself being so involved and driven if it wasn’t for PRSSA. Oddly enough, for a communicator, I have always been rather shy. To sit back and think about how much I have broken out of my shell these past few years is really astonishing to me. I think that PRSSA has taught me to be active in my life instead of just watching it go by. We can’t just assume things will happen for us, we have to make things happen. There were times where I questioned my major but since I have been involved in PRSSA I will sit down in front of my laptop, begin working on something and not even notice that six hours have gone by. I think that shows that I really enjoy what I do and I don’t know if that desire would have developed so fast if it wasn’t for this organization.
3.What advice would you give to younger members who want to enter the PR world?
The advice I would give to younger members to get involved, get involved, get involved! Seek out new challenges! The trick is to think about who you want to be and what you want to achieve so you can choose the things that will best help you get there.
4. Name one class that you took in the SOC that you thought was beneficial?
I have learned so much from every course I have taken and am truly honored to have been taught from such great and insightful professors. However, Doctor Smudde’s Leadership course really inspired me. Having the opportunity to reflect on what type of leader I would like to be helped me realize that in order to become that leader I have to start now.
5. What do you like to do in your free time?
It is pretty rare for me to have free time but when I do like to relax with one of my favorite television shows. I am a big fan of 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, True Blood, Entourage and so many more.
6. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I hope that I am healthy, happy and successful, and surrounded by friends and family.
7. One interesting fact about yourself.
I first knew that I wanted to be in public relations 11 years ago after watching the Bruce Willis movie, “The Kid.” I was inspired by Bruce Willis’ character’s advice to the aspiring News Anchor. I thought, if I can be that knowledgeable and help people be seen the way they desire, than I could really impact someone’s life. That day, I decided I wanted to become an image consultant and help others achieve their dreams by becoming the best they can. Since then I have learned that there is so much more to public relations and with each new discovery I am more and more confident in my career choice.
Welcome to the ISU PRSSA Chapter Blog
Welcome to the Illinois State University Chapter blog, the newest addition to our relations committee! This is an outlet for all of our members to learn how to write for another platform, whether it is freelance writing or covering chapter news and events.
Once a month we will feature a recognized professional to share his or her real world experience with our readers. Another feature on our blog is the MIPs Tracker. MIPs are Member Incentive Points awarded to dues-paying members based on varying levels of chapter involvement. MIPs will be updated at the end of every month, and the highest MIP earner will be awarded Member of the Month. At the end of the year, the member with the highest MIPs score will be awarded Member of the Year award along with one year’s ISU PRSSA membership!
Feel free to email the account at, prssa@ilstu.edu, if you have any ideas for the chapter blog. We are very excited for our newest member-outreach program and hope everyone will find it valuable!
Once a month we will feature a recognized professional to share his or her real world experience with our readers. Another feature on our blog is the MIPs Tracker. MIPs are Member Incentive Points awarded to dues-paying members based on varying levels of chapter involvement. MIPs will be updated at the end of every month, and the highest MIP earner will be awarded Member of the Month. At the end of the year, the member with the highest MIPs score will be awarded Member of the Year award along with one year’s ISU PRSSA membership!
Feel free to email the account at, prssa@ilstu.edu, if you have any ideas for the chapter blog. We are very excited for our newest member-outreach program and hope everyone will find it valuable!
