Editor’s Note: Throughout the ongoing discussion regarding a proposed dues increase, some PRSA members have expressed interest in better understanding the value of PRSA National. In a May 2011 column in Public Relations Tactics, William M. Murray, CAE, PRSA president and chief operating officer, offered insight and commentary on the value of National and the role it plays helping PRSA’s 114 chapters and its 22,000 professional members succeed daily.

We spend a lot of time at PRSA thinking about member value and looking for ways to keep member satisfaction at its presently high level. One question that people occasionally ask me pertains to the value that our members receive from PRSA National, relative to the value that they receive from their local Chapters.

As the relationship between PRSA and its Chapters is cooperative, complementary and mutually beneficial, it’s sometimes difficult to know exactly where the value of National membership ends and the value of Chapter membership begins.

It’s a fair question — one that merits further exploration here. And perhaps the best way to answer this is by considering what our profession might look like without PRSA National.

Without a national organization knitting together PRSA’s Chapter network, there would be essentially 114 local PR organizations of different sizes, philosophies and membership criteria. Each former Chapter would be separate and distinct from other Chapters, as well as from similar organizations.

The members of these new organizations would have far fewer professionals to network with — most likely several hundred locally, compared with the 22,000 members of PRSA nationally.

Continue reading " PRSA Perspectives: The ‘Value of National’ Question "

Something that I’ve continued to stress since joining PRSA as president and COO in 2007 is the importance of making PRSA a more data-driven organization. That is, using formal and informal research to shape our strategic plans and tailor our product and service offerings to the wants and needs of our unique member segments.

In 2008, we conducted an extensive member value and perception survey, which revealed a number of things with respect to, among other things, which attributes of PRSA that our members like, and dislike, the most. While the survey showed most members have a high level of satisfaction with their PRSA memberships, it has nevertheless helped us to focus on those areas where we can do better.

Continue reading " PRSA Members: More of What You Want, Less of What You Don’t "

PRSA is pleased to launch PRSAY, a place where PRSA leaders and members—and other industry professionals—can exchange viewpoints and opinions. The first question you’re probably asking is “why another blog?” After all, there are literally millions of blogs, including dozens in the public relations space, and your attention is already stretched by information overload. I’d like to give you a window into our thinking—but I’ll keep it brief, since time is in short supply for us all.

Over the past several years, we’ve solicited a great deal of feedback from members about their (our) organization. We’ve conducted several major research initiatives, held leadership rallies and teleconferences, sat in the Assembly, established electronic discussion boards (eGroups), asked for input in letters and e-mails, and created a professional development blog (check out my post on the ways PRSA can help you in lean economic times). While we’ll continue to seek our members’ input and guidance, we’ve established some clear direction based on what we’ve heard so far.

Continue reading " Introducing “PRSAY” "