May President’s Message
May greetings, PRSA Richmond members.
There’s a bookshelf in my living room, and on it are a handful of trophies, medallions and glassware. Each commemorate special achievements. Tennis tournaments. PR Awards. Many of you likewise have a wall or shelf holding similar keepsakes. We all remember the moment we received them. And the elation and pride we felt of jobs well done.
Many of us soon will experience this pride once again. This month, we celebrate the 73rd Virginia Public Relations Awards presented by Padilla, in virtual format. Now more than ever, it is important that we applaud the exceptional work being done by our colleagues in the communications profession. Be sure you’re following and tuning in to our chapter’s Facebook page on May 18-20. While we can’t collectively celebrate in-person this year, rest assured – we’ve got a great recognition in store, with sparkly trophies heading to our winners.
Our April virtual lunch program last week was a hit! Ken Jacobs is a terrific speaker, counselor and coach to communications professionals everywhere. Many of you gave us great feedback in our post-event online survey, which is helpful as we plan more upcoming events. Our next virtual lunch program on Wed., May 27, will address some innovative social media strategies that VDOT’s Northern Virginia District is taking during COVID-19. So mark your calendars, and be sure to register!
As we navigate this new virtual world (temporarily), we are exploring more “fun” virtual programming for our chapter members. Some of our special interest sections will be planning some virtual networking. And of course, hopefully a chapter virtual happy hour coming soon! Stay tuned to our events page to keep up with all that’s happening around the chapter.
Beyond PRSA Richmond, be sure you’re taking advantage of some great professional development opportunities offered by PRSA National. The webinars (a $200 value) are free to members. You can also dig deep and “up-skill” with some online certificate courses and workshops. Check them out. Now is a great time to explore best practices and changing skill sets in the communications field.
We are very grateful to our generous sponsors! Our Platinum sponsor Padilla; our Gold sponsors Dominion Energy and The Hodges Partnership; our silver sponsors, CarMax and Virginia Tourism; and our bronze sponsor, Virginia Association of Broadcasters. We appreciate their ongoing support, especially this year when we are facing unprecedented challenges.
As we enter May, let’s all stay safe and keep making smart choices. I look forward to a time when we can gather in-person once again!
Windy Campbell
2020 PRSA Richmond chapter president
president@prsarichmond(DOT)org
