Hoosier PRSA Blog

Still looking for a few good volunteers

I'm thrilled with the response we've gotten so far from this post in August asking for volunteers to serve in 2010. We have an amazing roster of professionals who raised their hands to make a strong chapter even better and offer richer experiences for our members.

Still, I'm looking for just a few more people to step up this year (perhaps outside your career comfort zone?) to help us in the area of public service. Reporting to our newly named Advocacy Chair Kay Millar, our public service co-chairs would be responsible for developing opportunities for Hoosier PRSA and our members flex our PR muscle to help nonprofits locally. For instance, a few years ago we assisted IPS in the Backpack Attack. And did you read about the effort by creative agenices here in Indy just last week? Couldn't/shouldn't we be doing that?

Kay will be a fabulous mentor, and this will be a great way to learn more about PRSA leadership and your local community. Interested? E-mail me at presidentelect@hoosierprsa.org or call me at 317-655-2111. Don't be shy. See this as an opportunity to expand your professional horizons! 

Announcing (Earlier) Annual Meeting and 2010 Slate of Officers

The Hoosier Chapter of PRSA bylaws state that the annual meeting is to occur in November. However, in order to distance the business of the annual meeting from the already-busy Half Day with a Pro luncheon and to allow the new board to have more transition time before the holidays, the 2009 Annual Meeting will be held on Oct. 14, 2009, during the regularly scheduled luncheon at the Hilton.

At the annual meeting, the members will be asked to vote on the following slate of officers for 2010.

President: Jamaison Schuler, APR
President-elect: Becky Moore, APR
Past President: Jennifer Mahoney, APR
Director, Operations & Research: Cindy Dashnaw
Director, Communications*: Chuck Gose
Advocacy Officer**: Kay Millar, APR
Director, Member Services: Andrea Farmer 
Director, Professional Development: Jeremy Ecenbarger
Director, Membership: Amy Kraft
Director, Finance: Ryan Puckett
Ethics Officer: Bobbi Simmons, APR
Assembly Delegates: Rick Nelson; APR; Myra Cocca, APR; Sonja Popp-Stahly, APR; Chris Bias, APR
Assembly Delegate - Alternate (Non-voting): Bob Schultz, APR

*Formerly known as Director of Internal Communications
**Formerly known as Director of External Communications

The nomination committee convened on Aug. 31 to choose this slate of officers. While the number of voting board members remains the same, the evolution of our chapter has prompted a small adjustment to the titles associated with the communications area of the board. After the national PRSA bylaws have been adopted and our chapter has received proposed template bylaw language for local chapter adoption (estimated timing is early Q2 2010), we will amend our bylaws as appropriate and bring those proposals forward for the membership's vote.

According to the chapter bylaws, additional nominations shall be accepted from the members at the annual meeting provided such nominees have been consulted and agree to serve if elected. In that circumstance, balloting shall be by secret ballot. Please notify a member of the nomination committee in advance if a write-in nomination is planned so that proper accommodations can be made.

If you have any questions or comments about the slate of officers or the election process, please contact Jennifer Mahoney at president@hoosierprsa.org or Jamaison Schuler at presidentelect@hoosierprsa.org .

Respectfully submitted by the 2009 Nomination Committee: Jennifer Mahoney, APR; Jamaison Schuler, APR; Dan Millar, APR, ABC; Ryan Puckett; Kristen Fuhs Wells

We want you... to volunteer with the Hoosier Chapter of PRSA

The Hoosier Chapter of PRSA is gearing up for 2010 already and we are in need of a few good volunteers to join the chapter’s board and committee structure.

All that’s required to volunteer is to be a chapter member in good standing and a good attitude. The current board and committee chairs represent a diverse microcosm of the chapter – from new pros to seasoned veterans. We intend to maintain a diverse group of volunteers, but we’re looking for fresh faces who are eager to get involved and help the chapter reach its potential.

We’re interested in familiar faces too! If you’ve been involved with the chapter in the past and it has been awhile, consider lending your valuable experience to benefit the chapter again.

Volunteering with the chapter is a great way to build your network, gain experience in an area in which you need practice, and help advance the profession.

If you are interested, contact President-elect Jamaison Schuler ASAP! You can contact Jamaison by email (schulerjr@lilly.com), phone (317.655.2111) or Twitter (@jamaison).

Wanted: PR Pros to help with IPL Mayor's Lunch for Parks

Experienced PR professionals are needed to help create the IPL Mayor’s Lunch for Parks, the largest annual fundraiser for the Indianapolis Parks Foundation. The seventh annual event, slated for March 5, 2009, attracts some 400 guests from central Indiana’s largest and most civic-minded corporations. Held each year at The Westin, the lunch is known for its park-like atmosphere both in aesthetics and meal. Guests are encouraged to loosen their ties and share a picnic complete with family-style dining while they are welcomed from children and seniors alike from Indy Parks programs.

PR volunteers will serve on the communications committee and choose how best they can be a part of the group. From drafting and implementing pre-event communications with guests and sponsors, to managing the media buy and printing of event materials, to creating the event rundown and drafting the script, there is a place on the committee for PR pros of all skill sets.

Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to contact Wendy Mehringer, Indianapolis Parks Foundation board member and chair of the IPL Mayor’s Lunch for Parks communications committee. Wendy can be reached at wendy@willowmarketing.com or 317-333-8935. Learn more about the Indianapolis Parks Foundation at indyparksfoundation.org.