Comments on: What's the real value of PRSA to today's PR professional? http://www.catchingflack.com/2009/04/whats-the-real-value-of-prsa-to-todays-pr-professional/ Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:01:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jamie Bull http://www.catchingflack.com/2009/04/whats-the-real-value-of-prsa-to-todays-pr-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Jamie Bull Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:39:04 +0000 http://catchingflack.com/?p=881#comment-137 While I was fairly active in PRSSA during my college days, paying association dues on an entry-level PR salary is almost comical. I never joined and managed to find my own free networking events to replace whatever my PRSA membership promised. Now with a few years under my belt, I just don't feel like a PRSA membership offers anything that I can't manage to fill on my own. It could just be a regional thing, because you can't throw a rock in Boston without finding a new group of really smart PR and marketing folks to connect with and share career advice and industry tips with. I will still likely attend a few local PRSA events each year, but I've never had a second thought about not writing out that annual dues check. While I was fairly active in PRSSA during my college days, paying association dues on an entry-level PR salary is almost comical. I never joined and managed to find my own free networking events to replace whatever my PRSA membership promised.
Now with a few years under my belt, I just don’t feel like a PRSA membership offers anything that I can’t manage to fill on my own. It could just be a regional thing, because you can’t throw a rock in Boston without finding a new group of really smart PR and marketing folks to connect with and share career advice and industry tips with.
I will still likely attend a few local PRSA events each year, but I’ve never had a second thought about not writing out that annual dues check.

]]> By: jongreer http://www.catchingflack.com/2009/04/whats-the-real-value-of-prsa-to-todays-pr-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-135 jongreer Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:01:20 +0000 http://catchingflack.com/?p=881#comment-135 Thanks for the comment, Arthur. Good modeling of blogger relations for PR pros out there. Thanks for the comment, Arthur. Good modeling of blogger relations for PR pros out there.

]]> By: Arthur Yann http://www.catchingflack.com/2009/04/whats-the-real-value-of-prsa-to-todays-pr-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Arthur Yann Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:39:10 +0000 http://catchingflack.com/?p=881#comment-136 Hi Jon, It's always rewarding when a PRSA member takes the time to reflect on the value they receive from taking part in our organization. I was a PRSA member for about 10 years, before joining the PRSA staff in August of 2008. Speaking purely from my earlier perspective, PRSA was most valuable to me in the following ways: Education. Programs delivered on the national and local levels, whether "Meet the Media" or writing or measurement seminars, helped me develop and hone important professional skills that continue to serve me well even today. Networking. The people that I met through PRSA have been incredible resources to me over the years. They've helped me navigate thorny client and staff management issues, referred new business leads and helped me find new jobs. They have been mentors, friends, supporters and confidants, and I can say that I've shared a lot of laughs – and even shed a few tears – with many of them. Leadership. Being an involved PRSA member means doing things like joining national committees, serving on the executive committees for professional interest sections or local Chapters and Districts, and speaking at national and Section conferences. These are all terrific ways to develop and refine your leadership skills; plus, they all look great on your resume. Information: PRSA has always been a trusted resource for me when trying to obtain industry data, trends and benchmarks. The Professional Resource Center, Silver Anvil database and Public Relations Strategist were all invaluable sources for me at various times in my career. I can honestly say that database of Silver Anvil-winning programs contributed greatly to the winning entries I've written during my career. The greatest value I received, however, is the aggregate of all these things; professional development, if you will. It's not just about learning new skills, or meeting new people, or acquiring new information, but how all those things (along with the imprimatur of the world's largest association of public relations professionals) helped me to be a better, happier, more successful professional. I hope your readers find my personal experiences of interest. We also have two recent blog posts on this topic, for anyone who would like more information; they can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/dh3dfw and http://tinyurl.com/cum52q. Thanks again for taking the time to post your views on the value of PRSA membership. Cheers, Arthur Yann Arthur Yann is vice president of public relations for PRSA. Hi Jon,

It’s always rewarding when a PRSA member takes the time to reflect on the value they receive from taking part in our organization.

I was a PRSA member for about 10 years, before joining the PRSA staff in August of 2008. Speaking purely from my earlier perspective, PRSA was most valuable to me in the following ways:

Education. Programs delivered on the national and local levels, whether “Meet the Media” or writing or measurement seminars, helped me develop and hone important professional skills that continue to serve me well even today.
Networking. The people that I met through PRSA have been incredible resources to me over the years. They’ve helped me navigate thorny client and staff management issues, referred new business leads and helped me find new jobs. They have been mentors, friends, supporters and confidants, and I can say that I’ve shared a lot of laughs – and even shed a few tears – with many of them.
Leadership. Being an involved PRSA member means doing things like joining national committees, serving on the executive committees for professional interest sections or local Chapters and Districts, and speaking at national and Section conferences. These are all terrific ways to develop and refine your leadership skills; plus, they all look great on your resume.
Information: PRSA has always been a trusted resource for me when trying to obtain industry data, trends and benchmarks. The Professional Resource Center, Silver Anvil database and Public Relations Strategist were all invaluable sources for me at various times in my career. I can honestly say that database of Silver Anvil-winning programs contributed greatly to the winning entries I’ve written during my career.

The greatest value I received, however, is the aggregate of all these things; professional development, if you will. It’s not just about learning new skills, or meeting new people, or acquiring new information, but how all those things (along with the imprimatur of the world’s largest association of public relations professionals) helped me to be a better, happier, more successful professional.

I hope your readers find my personal experiences of interest. We also have two recent blog posts on this topic, for anyone who would like more information; they can be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/dh3dfw and http://tinyurl.com/cum52q.

Thanks again for taking the time to post your views on the value of PRSA membership.

Cheers,

Arthur Yann

Arthur Yann is vice president of public relations for PRSA.

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