Where are you going this October? To the PRSSA 2007 National Conference in Philadelphia, of course! From Oct. 19–23, PRSSA will return to its birthplace to ring in 40 years of success.

This year's National Conference features new and innovative programs as well as popular staples from past conferences. Resume Enhancement sessions and a revitalized Career Development Exhibition both make a return this year. New additions include Philadelphia's Next Top Model: Dress for Success, a business fashion show for college students on a budget.

Chapters, start your fund-raising now! The registration deadline, Sept. 24, is just around the corner. Member registration is $275 and non-members pay $310.

Registration forms and updates about the National Conference are available at http://www.prssa.org/conference. E-mail PhillyConf07@gmail.com for more information.

The Anthony J. Fulginiti PRSSA Chapter at Rowan University recently created a Mentor Program for incoming freshmen and transfer PR majors to increase recruitment and build camaraderie among the membership last fall. New students are partnered with upperclassmen PRSSA members who help them transition into Rowan, its College of Communication and PRSSA.

Each new student was presented with a Mentor Program gift, which included a Rowan PRSSA mug, information about the association and candy. Throughout the year, Rowan PRSSA will host several Mentor Program events including movie nights, socials and off-campus trips to foster friendships and introduce new students to PRSSA members.

*Share your Chapter's best practices by e-mailing Allison Tomei, vice president of member services. One Chapter will be recognized in each Bi-weekly e-mail for demonstrating and sharing its innovative and creative ideas with the Society.

9/12 Bimonthly mailing to Chapters: newsletter, Planning Calendar, 2007-08 Scholarship & Awards Deadlines mailed to Chapters.

FORUM mailed to Chapters

9/17 The Following National Scholarship and Award Applications are due to PRSSA Headquarters -

Brandi Boatner, Vice President of Advocacy:

September is PRSA National Ethics Month! I encourage Chapters to take this opportunity to address an increasingly important topic in public relations. Ethical behavior is fundamental to public relations and a personal commitment. In your Chapters, each student brings his or her understanding of ethics and its practice to campus. The ethical way is the only way in public relations.

PRSSA Chapters should consider sponsoring professional development activities that focus on ethics and invite guest speakers to attend Chapter meetings and discuss ethics in public relations and the business community. Chapters should also elect an Advocacy chair or advocacy subcommittee to monitor ethical practices in public relations on campus. PRSSA members can represent the integrity of the profession to which they aspire. We can become exemplars, leaders and advocates for ethics among our peers!

Denise Kreft, Vice President of Internships and Job Services:

Congratulations to the 2007-2008 PRSSA JobCenter Sub-committee.

The Sub-committee will be contacting organizations from around the country and asking them to post employment opportunities on JobCenter.

Please join me in welcoming Chris Nacinovich, Gregory Frieden, Evan Roberts, Robert Hoppey, Traci Coffman and Gail Patches.

Kelly McFall, Vice President of Regional Activities:

As school begins, and you hit the ground running to make your PRSSA Chapter the best it can be, keep in mind that hosting a 2008 Regional Activity during the Society’s 40th Anniversary is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

If you like the idea of teamwork, reach out to a neighboring Chapter and discuss the idea of co-hosting a Regional Activity. You still have over a month to put together a bid, which will be due October 5, 2007.

Use the Regional Activity Handbook as your step-by-step guide to planning your 2008 Regional Activity. In it, you will also find other helpful hints, along with the bid form. Contact Vice President of Regional Activities Kelly McFall for more information.

Brenda Schulze, Vice President of Public Relations:

Make your local Chapter News national news! Simply post online today! Whether your Chapter has an upcoming event, a major accomplishment, a noteworthy Chapter leader or a new program, your Chapter has news and this is the place for it. Go to www.prssa.org/news/chapter.asp or e-mail Brenda Schulze, vice president of public relations, at brenda.schulze@gmail.com to post your Chapter News.

Ryan McShane, FORUM Editor-in-Chief:

With FORUM at the printer and almost ready to be distributed to PRSSA members, I am now working with my staff to prepare our first Connecting with PRSSA issue, which will publish Sept. 19. Connecting is an online publication that gives each member of the National Committee the opportunity to address goals, plans and actions for each quarter of the school year. After redesigning FORUM, I thought it would also be a good idea to bring some new life to Connecting. Though we will be using the same concept as previous years, the overall look of the publication should look significantly different.

Dwayne Waite, Vice President of Chapter Development:

Check out the PRSSA blog for a new discussion: The professor vs. the practitioner: Is there a difference? If you have any ideas for topics and discussions, please e-mail Dwayne. Work is also underway in re-shaping the Nationally Affiliated firm guidelines and revealing a new program to tie PRSSA members with Champions for PRSSA. Stay tuned!

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