Delegates to PRSA’s 60^th Assembly, and the inaugural PRSA Leadership Assembly, turned their attention toward the Society’s strategic planning as they met prior to the start of PRSA’s 2010 International Conference, “Powering PRogress.”

Delegates were provided with a vision for PRSA’s future as part of the annual State of the Society Report, given via a joint presentation by Gary D. McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2010 PRSA chair and CEO, Rosanna M. Fiske, APR, chair-elect of PRSA and William M. Murray, CAE, PRSA president and CEO.

Continue reading " Leadership Assembly Focuses on Future, Strategic Value of Public Relations "

PRSA recently became aware that six of its members have formed an ad hoc committee and are circulating a petition in support of an amendment to PRSA’s Bylaws. The amendment would remove the requirement that PRSA’s national officers and Board members be Accredited in Public Relations (APR).

The committee is following a time-honored, democratic tradition of bringing forward important issues for the PRSA Assembly to debate and decide — on behalf of all Society members. Like it or not, this is the way that the egalitarian governance process functions at PRSA. It’s possible that still other proposed amendments will be brought before this year’s Assembly.

Continue reading " To Remove — or Not To Remove — the APR Requirement for Board Service "

Delegates to PRSA’s Assembly came together on Nov. 7 and overwhelmingly approved a new set of bylaws that strengthen the Society. New provisions were adopted that give the Nominating Committee greater flexibility in proposing candidates for Board service, establish a “Leadership Assembly” to focus on issues of concern to the profession, and move the organization closer to the direct election of Directors and Officers for the National Board.

The Assembly adopted the comprehensive slate of changes to PRSA’s bylaws, which become effective immediately, by a final tally of 264 to 20. In most cases, the revisions successfully attached amendments proposed by Assembly Delegates to the original changes suggested by the Bylaws Rewrite Task Force. These amendments were tendered in an iterative and collaborative process that took place over a six-month period leading up to Assembly, which included a series of Assembly Delegate communications, teleconferences and eGroup discussions.

Continue reading " PRSA Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts New Bylaws "

As professional communicators, we’re keenly aware of the importance of keeping key constituencies thoroughly informed. It’s what we do. In serving our organizations and clients, we all convey messages that at times are complex and challenging to explain. But, of course, best practices call for the professional diligence and creativity to get those messages to audiences. And, it’s no different when those constituents are PRSA members.

That’s why PRSA has employed a variety of communications strategies to engage its members in the process of rewriting the organization’s Bylaws. While the underlying concepts can be complicated, this initiative is critical to modernizing PRSA’s governance structure. PRSA’s bylaws have not been thoroughly revised since they were first ratified more than 60 years ago. The rewrite is intended to bring PRSA in line with current best practices and make the organization nimbler, stronger and better equipped to fulfill its mission of advancing the profession and the professional.

Continue reading " May I Have Your Attention, Please? "

As a longtime PRSA volunteer at the National and Chapter levels, I’ve taken part in a fair number of debates over whether or not to broaden the criteria for PRSA membership. Today, we’re approaching the tipping point:  In November, the 2009 General Assembly will be asked to approve a more general definition of who is eligible to join the organization. It’s one of several recommended changes to PRSA’s Bylaws that will be put before the group at that time.

Having served on the Membership Committee, the National Board of Directors and the Bylaws Rewrite Task Force, I’ve listened to members, spent time examining association trends and consulted with PRSA’s professional staff.  I’ve determined that there are so many reasons to broaden PRSA’s membership guidelines, that I would just ask one simple question … “What are we afraid of?”

Continue reading " Opening the Door to Our Tent "