Editor’s note: This is the first post in a series of guest posts from the PRSA Philadelphia publicity committee leading up to the PRSA 2013 International Conference, October 26 – 29. Follow the Conference conversation by searching the hashtag #PRSAICON and following our PRSA National Events Twitter handle, @PRSAevents.
Labor Day is upon us, heralding the official end of summer, which leaves many of us feeling wistful and wishing fall wasn’t so close at hand. But Labor Day also means we’re mere weeks away from the annual PRSA International Conference, which is something to which I always look forward. (Not to mention being mere days from the September 6 deadline to save $200 on registration!)
This year, I’m particularly excited that the Conference is returning to my hometown of Philadelphia. The last time the Conference visited the City of Brotherly Love, Twitter was the hot new thing, and Facebook had just begun to expand beyond college campuses.
That was 2007, and since then both the public relations field and Philadelphia have evolved. If you haven’t visited us since that last Conference, you’ll find a changed city. In the six years since you’ve been here, we’ve won a World Series, added a new museum – The Barnes – on the Ben Franklin Parkway, and even had our skyline updated with the completion of the Comcast Center. Our arts, music and culinary scenes are as vibrant as ever, and our Center City neighborhoods continue to serve up hidden gems in the form of boutique shopping, public art and architecture.
Visitors find Philadelphia is a thoroughly modern city where the present and past coexist. I think it’s a great metaphor for our field, which has embraced and blended traditional and modern methods to reach our audiences.
We also have a very active PRSA chapter, filled with practitioners and educators who are passionate about the field, and passionate about networking and sharing best practices with our colleagues.
This year’s Conference has a strong line-up, which features keynoter and social media visionary Brian Solis, as well as keynote presentations from Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour, America’s first African-American female combat pilot, and John J. Wood founder and board co-chair of Room to Read.
We’re also very proud to join with our Host Chapter Philanthropic Partner, Career Wardrobe, in an accessory drive. The drive will benefit women transitioning into the workforce who are in need of professional work attire, educational programs, and networking tools and opportunities.
Inspired by PRSA National’s ongoing PRServing America™ program, the drive honors volunteer efforts strengthening and preserving the local communities in which we live and work.
On behalf of the Host Committee, I hope you join us from October 26 – 29 in Philadelphia for a fantastic program in an easily accessible city that offers some amazing experiences.
Courtney L. Robinson, APR, the publicity chair for the 2013 PRSA International Host Committee, works in Executive Communications for AmeriHealth Caritas, and is an adjunct instructor at La Salle University.
