January
Launching of PRSA New Professionals Group

January 16
Gary Yoshimura Scholarship Due

January 21
President Talk

February 6
PRSA/PRSSA Internship Application Due
Candidate Nomination Forms Due
National Assembly Delegate/Non-Delegate Forms Due

February 20
Day-of-Competition Registration Deadline

February 27-28
Weber State Regional Activity

March 1
Spring Dues Deadline

March 18-21
National Assembly in Redondo Beach, California

March 24
North Carolina State Regional Activity

March 26
Bateman Case Study Due to Headquarters
Penn State University Regional Activity

March 27
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Regional Activity

Nichole Felix, Vice President of Regional Activities
Get your members excited by taking a trip to a regional activity. These mini-conferences that take place during the spring months offer workshops, professional presentations, career fairs, etc. Visit the regional activities web site at http://www.prssa.org/regional/default.asp to find schedules and contact information.

Nelson Locher, Vice President of Internships/Job Services
Spring showers bring summer flowers, but they also remind us about summer internships! Do not forget that PRSSA’s JobCenter is a database only available to dues-paying members. Employers have specifically opened up their opportunities to members of this organization. To use this resource, just click on the following link: http://www.prssa.org/jobcenter/. Please note that you will need your Chapter’s login name and password to access the database. If you do not have this information, please feel free to contact me via e-mail. Good luck, and happy internship hunting!

Katie Peltier, Vice President of Chapter Development
Introducing PRSSA President Talk--President Talk is a new program created to provide a communication link between Chapter presidents. This online chatroom gives PRSSA leaders a place to come together and share information and ideas. The discussion will be opened and led by Chapter participants, allowing any topic to be introduced. If you are interested in joining this talk, please email me at ktepltr@otterbein.edu to receive a username and password. Then, log on January 21st at 7 p.m. EST. The chatroom will remain open until 9 p.m. EST.

Kim Prohaska, Vice President of Public Relations
Attention all Chapter liaisons and executive board members! Keep the Society informed of your Chapter’s activities by submitting press releases and contact information to prssa.org. News from PRSSA Chapters is a special area on the site designated for local Chapter news. You can visit this site and post information at http://www.prssa.org/news/chapters.asp. Please note that to submit articles you must have your Chapter’s login name; this is the same name that you use to register on the JobCenter Web site.

Sarah Yeaney, Vice President of Member Services
All PRSSA members can participate in this hands-on competition during the 2004 National Assembly. Members who take part in the second annual Day-of-Competition will have the opportunity to solve a past crisis communications case once experienced by Hill & Knowlton. PRSA professionals, media reporters and the agency’s representatives will judge the competition and offer teams helpful tips and suggestions during the evaluation process. To register for this event, click here: http://www.prssa.org/assembly/registration/doc_registration.asp. Remember, the Day-of-Competition will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 18th. MAKE TRAVEL PLANS ACCORDINGLY.

Members of minority descent are encouraged to apply for the Multicultural Affairs Scholarship Award. Applicants must submit an essay pertaining to diversity and its obstacles in the public relations industry. Two winners will receive a $1,500 award and will be recognized during the 2004 National Conference in New York City. Click here to download the online application: http://www.prssa.org/downloads/scholarships/2004MulticulturalAffairs.pdf

All members are also invited to download the updated list of scholarship descriptions and applications at: http://www.prssa.org/resources/MemberAwards.asp.

PRSSA’s National Assembly allows members to participate in scholarship activities, leadership training and the election of the National Committee. This year the Society has introduced Hill & Knowlton as a sponsor for two main parts of its program.

The public relations agency has worked with the national vice president of member services to present the second annual Day-of-Competition. Hill & Knowlton has recreated a past crisis communications case for this event. Their representatives will be among a panel of professionals that will judge the competition.

After their sponsored luncheon, Hill and Knowlton will also present a session for all National Assembly attendees. This two-hour event will be dedicated to answering questions from the audience and presenting imperative information on today’s public relations markets. Members interested in researching Hill & Knowlton’s background and history are invited to explore their website at http://www.hillandknowlton.com/.

To read the entire National Assembly schedule, please view the following table:

Schedule
*NOTE: This schedule is tentative and is subject to change

For registration, click here: http://www.prssa.org/assembly/registration/forms.asp.
All forms are due by Friday, February 6th.

Sarah Yeaney
Vice President of Member Services
sey117@psu.edu