September President’s Message

It’s been a busy year. First, we launched a new website. Then, we revised our chapter’s bylaws. Next up, our board plans to devote some time and energy to updating our chapter’s sponsorship package.

I know I’m biased, but I think we have some of the city’s best corporate sponsors—companies that value public relations and the professional and that are invested in helping all of us develop our knowledge and skills. This year, Padilla CRT, The Hodges Partnership, Dominion, CarMax, AAA Mid-Atlantic and the University of Richmond signed on to support us and the work that we do. We can’t thank these organizations enough.

At the beginning of this year, I asked our director-at-large, Wendy Jenkins, to interview some of our past and present sponsors. I wanted our board to have a better sense of why our sponsors support PRSA Richmond and what they want to get out of the relationship. Special thanks to Jen Curtis and Michelle Ellwood at CarMax, Tom Topinka at Genworth, Jeff Wilson at Padilla CRT, Robin Russ at Studio Center, Martha Meade and Tammy Arnette at AAA Mid-Atlantic, Cynthia Price at the University of Richmond and Chet Wade at Dominion for helping us better understand their business’ priorities.

Now the real work begins. Over the next month, a working group will hammer out the details of a revised sponsorship package—one that we hope will offer enticements for sponsors old and new to support PRSA Richmond in the years ahead. We plan to submit two options to the board in late September and roll out our 2016 sponsorship package by mid-October. Ultimately, we want to begin soliciting much earlier each year.

I’d love to hear from you. If you have any thoughts on PRSA Richmond’s sponsorship package, please send them along to me at president@prsarichmond.org.

Thanks, and I’ll see you in September!

Sincerely,

Rachel Beanland, APR
2015 PRSA President