The Value of Membership

When you join PRSA you join a vibrant network of practitioners, focused on sharing insights and best practices. Our members understand the realities of practicing public relations and offer solutions for all career levels. As the world’s leading advocate for public relations and communications professionals, PRSA represents a diverse cross-section of the industry, including corporate institutions, agencies, independent practitioners, public affairs organizations, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit.

Through various membership types, PRSA provides the support you need by connecting you with top industry experts at conferences and events. Discover up-to-date strategies and tactics as well as the latest industry news. PRSA’s communities focusing on specific industries, geographies and career levels, also help share your career. If you are new to the profession or a seasoned professional, PRSA has a benefit for you. Get started and join today.

Is It Real? Communicating in a World of Fake News, December 5

Social media has shaken the communications industry, and staying informed in an always-on media world is more challenging than ever. Any story, good or bad, can go viral at any time. Understanding how to identify fake news and ethically fight back is an important skill for every professional communicator.

Join Yankee Chapter PRSA for a discussion on successfully delivering messages in a world filled with “fake news,” followed by our annual meeting and networking with professional colleagues.

When: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017, 3–6 p.m.

Where: New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH

Cost: $25: PRSA Members; $30: Member & Guest; $35: Not-Yet Members; FREE: Students/Interns/Saint Anselm Staff

REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 28


Meet Our Panelists and Moderator

Randall Mikkelsen

Randall Mikkelsen

Randall Mikkelsen, Managing Editor North America, Enterprise Risk Management, Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence

Randall Mikkelsen has worked as a financial and political journalist with Thomson Reuters since he joined Reuters in 1988. He has covered many of the major stories of the era, including the fall of the Soviet Union, the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, the war on terrorism and the financial crisis.

Randall was a front-row member of the White House press corps for nearly seven years. He also covered the Justice Department, CIA and other agencies in Washington and served postings in Philadelphia and Stockholm, Sweden. As a desk editor in Washington, he handled major stories from around the globe.

He has won awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and the North Dakota Newspaper Association.

Randall has lived in Plaistow since 2009. He founded the Friends of Education at Timberlane and the New Hampshire Theater Spotlight pages on Facebook and writes press releases as a volunteer for the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth.

Melissa Albano-Davis

Melissa Albano-Davis

  Melissa Albano-Davis, Founder & President, Grapevine Marketing

Melissa is an inbound marketing-obsessed entrepreneur working with financial, healthcare, and higher education organizations to help them grow and thrive. She helps businesses build proven, trackable campaigns so that they know what works and what doesn’t, using that knowledge to launch remarkable programs. Melissa holds certifications in inbound marketing and SEO from Google and HubSpot. She writes a monthly marketing series for the New Hampshire Business Review and contributes to various publications. She is a member of the Entrepreneur’s Fund of New Hampshire advisory board and the Boston Women’s Leadership Council. Melissa holds a BS in Marketing from Northeastern University and has mastered the fine art of running conference calls and webinars while juggling her toddler son and his toys on her lap.

Melissa Zimdars

Melissa Zimdars

Melissa Zimdars, Assistant Professor of Communication and Media, Merrimack College

Melissa Zimdars is an Assistant Professor of Communication and Media at Merrimack College. She is currently working on a co-edited anthology of essays entitled Fake News: Mis/Disinformation in the Digital Age.

 

 

Moderator

Roz Whitaker-Heck, APR

Roz Whitaker-Heck, APR

Dr. Roz Whitaker-Heck, APR, has been an associate professor and associate dean in the Division of Communication and Creative Media at Champlain College in Burlington, VT since July 2015. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the Champlain PRSSA chapter which she helped to reinstate in January 2016.

She earned a B.A. in Communication from Howard University (Washington DC), an M.S. in Media Management from Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Va.) as well as a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University (Washington, D.C.).  Her research project examined the tactical and strategic roles of public relations officers employed in U.S. higher education institutions.

Her professional career spans 20 years and includes time at Penn State University as a PBS producer/director; a media spokesperson for the Newport News (Va.) Public School District; as well as serving in faculty and administrative positions at Hampton University, and Old Dominion University in the state of Virginia.

She has been an active member of PRSA national since 2000 and has served in various officer positions with state chapters. She was most recently elected as a YPRSA board member.

 

 Thinking of Earning Your APR? – Learn More

Is it time to step up your game? Becoming accredited in public relations (the APR) is a mark of distinction and professionalism. The APR demonstrates your mastery of strategic communications and your commitment to the highest standards of ethics and lifelong learning. Yankee Chapter’s Accreditation Committee, Jane Law, APR and Mary Ellen Hettinger, APR invite you to join the 30% accredited members and fellows in our chapter.

We will offer 90-minute classes on Wednesdays starting at 5:30 p.m., at the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA) office: 32 Constitution Drive in Bedford, NH. The charge for each session will be $15, or $50 for all four sessions.

If you’re interested, download the PRSA APR Study Guide. We’ll be working from this and also Cutlip and Center’s Effective Public Relations (11th Edition); a slightly earlier edition is also fine.

Proposed schedule:

  • Oct. 18, 2017: Introduction to the APR

Includes how to “get on the clock” and apply

Questionnaire and portfolio. See this link: https://prsay.prsa.org/2016/12/07/apr-demystifying-the-panel-presentation/

  • Jan. 17, 2018: KSAs and Exam Preparation
  • Feb. 21: More KSAs and Exam Prep

For questions and to sign up, email info@yankeeprsa.org. To learn more about accreditation, go to www.praccreditation.org.

 

Boston Hosts 2017 PRSA Int’l Conference Oct. 8–10

At the PRSA International Conference, enhance your personal and professional network while engaging with some of the world’s most influential companies and organizations that call Boston home. Connect with thousands of colleagues and over 150 industry experts from all career levels, sectors, work environments and industries for three days of practical insight and networking.

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Monday Morning Keynote Speaker: AmyK Hutchens
Business Strategist AmyK Hutchens has recently joined our speaker lineup for the 2017 PRSA International Conference in Boston this fall.

Widely recognized as a catalyst for producing sustainable solutions to leaders’ most pressing challenges, she founded AmyK International Inc., an executive development firm focused on leadership development, healthy team cultures and innovative thinking. Hutchens will spotlight ways to “Ignite Brilliance in Your Leadership” on Monday, Oct. 9.

A former executive of a billion dollar global consumer products company, AmyK received the Vistage UK, International Speaker of the Year (World’s Leading CEO Membership Organization). More than 45,000 executives in nine different countries have benefited from her keen insight and intuitive understanding of the issues leaders face.

Hutchens also served as senior executive vice president, operations for one of the largest sales and marketing firms in the U.S. Her latest book, “The Secrets Leaders Keep,” is an Amazon best-seller. She is also a featured contributor for Entrepreneur magazine; her company has won five Telly Marketing Awards and the Summit International’s Award for Creativity. Learn more

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Monday Morning Keynote Speaker: Bea Arthur
Innovative entrepreneur Bea Arthur, founder and executive director of a think tank called “The Difference,” will share her insights on “Entrepreneurship: Resilience & Pivoting to Success.”

In addition to being the first African-American woman accepted into the prestigious startup accelerator called Y Combinator, she also pitched her company on the TV show, “Shark Tank.”

Arthur has been recognized as one of the “New Guard of Women in Tech” by Marie Claire magazine as well as an “Entrepreneur to Bet On” by Newsweek. Learn more

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Tuesday Morning Keynote Speaker: Jay Baer
Hype-free digital marketing expert Jay Baer will spotlight his eye-opening perspectives as the Conference keynote speaker on the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Baer, a best-selling author and consultant, will spotlight dynamic ways to “Turn Your Customers Into Volunteer Marketers.”

As the founder and president of Convince & Convert, a strategy consulting firm, Baer helps leading businesses gain and keep more customers through the smart intersection of technology, social media and customer service. Among the many companies he has advised are Nike, 3M, Walmart and Oracle.

Baer was recently inducted into the Word of Mouth Marketing Hall of Fame and he hosts the top-rated Social Pros podcast. Learn more

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Opening Keynote Speaker: Morgan Spurlock
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock will deliver his unique perspective on the world with us at the Opening General Session on Sunday, Oct. 8. Known for his innovative documentaries, Spurlock now hosts a series on CNN called “Inside Man” in which he continues to investigate a wide array of subjects, from gambling to life for senior citizens.

Morgan Spurlock will deliver what he modestly calls, “The Greatest Lecture Ever Presented.” Utilizing the cutting-edge tools of comic exploration and total self-exploitation, he dissects the world of advertising and marketing by using his personal integrity as currency to sell out to the highest bidder. Scathingly funny, subversive and deceptively smart, Spurlock shines the definitive light on our branded future.

His critically acclaimed film, “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold,” examines branding, advertising and product placement in America — ironically, in a film funded by branding, advertising and product placement.

You might remember Spurlock best for his role as guinea pig for his movie “Super Size Me,” which became the first documentary to ever break into the weekend box office top 10.   Learn more

Four Things We’re Looking Forward to at Conference

Photo of attendees at the PRSA International Conference
New Approaches to Use Immediately at Work
Tailor your Conference learning within six different tracks: Reputation Management, Special Interests, Integrated Marketing Communications, Leadership & Management, Tools & Techniques, and Big Data & Measurement.
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Success Stories Spanning Sectors and Career Levels
Find groundbreaking approaches from Silver Anvil Award-winning programs and technique-based programs that are tailored to the changing needs of professionals at all career stages.
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Networking Events That Connect Thousands of PR Colleagues
Join thousands of old and new friends for networking events featuring the best of the industry and Boston at the Opening Night Reception.
Photos of attendees networking at International Conference
Pre-Conference Workshops Offering In-Depth Insight
Looking for a day to develop one particular skill set? Check out the menu of pre-Conference sessions.

Measurement Base Camp

Friday, July 21, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Most communications professionals have listened to at least one, if not many, lectures on how to do measurement right. The challenge is, once they’ve heard the theory, how do they implement it at their place of work?

What sounds great in a lecture hall or at a conference can end up being a complex situation when one is faced with a limited budget, no staff, and competing priorities. To help individuals prepare and manage these hurdles and more, Paine Publishing holds Measurement Base Camp—a one-day intensive training session that will cover all things measurement in which attendees will learn how to:

  • Define measurable goals and objectives
  • Figure out what needs measurement
  • Create and use online surveys
  • Filter, clean up, and validate data
  • Analyze data using various methods such as Excel Pivot Tables
  • Calculate correlations between media outreach and customer action
  • Define bespoke metrics that reflect one’s contribution to the bottom line
  • Use Google Analytics to measure impact
  • Write a report that will make one’s leadership team swoon
  • Craft an RFP and select a measurement vendor
  • …and much, much more!

Hosted by Paine Publishing in partnership with PRSA’s Yankee Chapter, the next Measurement Base Camp will be held Friday, July 21, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to 25 people, so don’t wait, register today!

PRSA Members “Early Bird Special” – $300

Non-Members “Early Bird Special” – $400

A portion of the proceeds will support the James H. Bradley PRSSA Grant for active Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapters, associated with the Yankee Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (Yankee PRSA). Grant funds are available to all chapters seeking financial support aimed at creating professional development opportunities and strengthening the chapter’s goals and initiatives in 2017.

Learn More: http://painepublishing.com/measurement-base-camp-july-2017/

Register Now: https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/96738/chk/68ce

Writing Without Bullshit for Public Relations Professionals

Today, people read everything on a screen. That demands copy that’s brief, bold and BS-free. Join Yankee Chapter PRSA and author Josh Bernoff at the offices of LTC Partners to explore the breakthrough power of writing shorter copy, the secrets of effective web copy, and writing processes that maximize flow and creativity.

Bernoff will compare two PR approaches: the simple, direct communication that powers Google, Apple and Twitter, and the more traditional, wordy approach. You’ll learn how to maximize the meaning ratio: the percentage of meaningful words in a piece of prose. And you’ll learn how to write as directly as possible, avoid toxic prose, and develop a process that can maintain meaning even with multiple reviewers involved. Each attendee will receive a copy of Josh Bernoff’s book Writing Without Bullshit with the opportunity to have the copy signed following the presentation.

Tuesday, May 2 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

LTC Partners, 100 Arboretum Drive #200, Newington, NH 03801

Members: $40.00 • Non-Members: $50.00 • Students/Interns: $20.00

About Josh Bernoff

Josh Bernoff has been a professional writer since 1982. He has coauthored three books on business strategy, including Groundswell, which was a bestseller. Bernoff is passionate about clear, brief, and fascinating communication.

For 20 years at Forrester Research, he wrote and edited reports on the future of technology. It was there that he learned to do kickass analysis of business strategy, and then taught others to do so. In his last five years there, as Senior Vice President, Idea Development, he identified, developed, and promoted Forrester’s most powerful and influential ideas. He gave hundreds of speeches around the world, got quoted in every news source you can name, and gave strategy advice to countless clients from the world’s largest companies and tech vendors. Bernoff also created Technographics, the segmentation that launched Forrester’s highly successful consumer survey business.

April is APR Month

APR: Accredited in Public Relations

Not just anyone can do what you do.

As a skilled public relations professional, you know that your success is dependent on staying relevant, resourceful, and inspired. The Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential certifies your drive, professionalism, and principles, setting you apart from your peers and positioning you as a leader and mentor in the competitive public relations field. Building on the foundation of your educational degree, the APR keeps you current on today’s best practices and applications in the ever-evolving communications world.

The APR:

  • Asserts professional competence
  • Communicates professional expertise, plus personal and professional dedication and values
  • Reflects progressive public relations industry practices and high standards

Preparing for the APR is an exercise in success, as the process provides an assessment of your proficiency and accurately calibrates your craft, contacts, and career goals. Where extra support is needed, you’ll be introduced to a tremendously skilled and experienced network of mentors, providing you with a lifetime of guidance and expertise.

Earning the APR demonstrates your mastery of today’s strategic communications practice and your commitment to lifelong learning and ethical standards. Attaining this valuable distinction is a personal and professional achievement that can lead you to the next level in your career.

It takes a professional — someone with exceptional experience, broad expertise and strong dedication and values — to thrive at what you do. Profess what you know with the APR. Begin your journey to Accreditation in four steps.

Accreditation in Four Steps

The Accreditation process can be summarized in four steps. It is important to review resources available for all four steps, starting with the process chart, before pursuing APR.

  1. Review and complete the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations Application.
  2. Study and sit for a Panel Presentation.
  3. Continue to study and complete the computer-based examination.
  4. Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning through maintenance.

Request More Information!

Yankee Chapter’s Accreditation Co-Chairs Mary Ellen Hettinger, APR, and Jane Law, APR, can show you how. Not sure if the time is right for you? See this free webinar from PRSA, available on demand starting April 11: http://apps.prsa.org/learning/Calendar/list/date

Additional PRSA Resources

Yankee Chapter to Honor Van McLeod with Pat Jackson Award – April 12

Van McLeod will be honored posthumously by the Yankee Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America with its Patrick Jackson Award on Wednesday, April 12 at the Capitol Center for the Arts.  Van was NH Commissioner of the Arts. He demonstrated the importance of building relationships among many publics as he championed the arts and culture in our state.

The award recognizes a professional who is not in the public relations field but nonetheless successfully uses public relations principles to benefit his or her organization and society while demonstrating a track record of building relationships which earn trust.

Previous award recipients include Lew Feldstein, Governor Walter Peterson, John Swope, Michael Hickey, Dr. James Squires and Bishop Gene Robinson.

Joan Goshgarian of the NH Business Committee for the Arts will accept the award on behalf of her late husband.

The event will run from 5:30-7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

 

PRXNE17: PR Means Business

April 28, 2017
#ExploreCorning

Join us in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York for the 2017 PRSA Northeast District Conference, PRXNE 2017, on Friday, April 28, 2017. More than 200 public relations practitioners from the seven-state PRSA Northeast District are expected for this day-long conference packed with keynote presentations, case studies, panels and much more. Plan to network with colleagues and emerging professionals, and hear from experts across the industry.

Early Bird Registration is Now Open!

 

This year’s theme is “PR’s Role in Economic Development and The Bottom Line”

Everything we do as Public Relations practitioners must directly support The Bottom Line. Our ideas, strategies, tactics, and measurement must all be tied directly to the business goals and the success of our organizations and our communities. We have seen a tremendous boom of economic development in the Finger Lakes region, throughout New York State, and across the Northeast District, and so much of our work as PR practitioners has supported these efforts, whether through tourism, cultural development or the success of the companies we work for.

Ferociously Fun Networking Event

April 10, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats have extended an invitation for YPRSA members to attend their “Ferociously Fun Networking” event April 10 at 5:00 p.m. YPRSA members will be able to network enjoy raffles, ballpark fare food, happier hour, raffles, and more!  All YPRSA members can receive two (2) complimentary mixer and game tickets and be some of the first fans to check out the new renovations at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Tickets will be available for pick up the evening of the event at Will Call. If a member would like to provide a raffle prize from their organization, please bring it to the event. The evening’s DJ will be sure to announce a winner during the mixer!

Register Now: http://www.nhfishercats.com/networking