Looking Ahead to an Exciting 2007

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2007!  With the holidays behind us and a splendid 2006 for the chapter, we look forward to a new year with great anticipation and expectations. We are fortunate to be the largest chapter of the country with nearly 1,300 members. That size of membership demands a variety of programs, professional development sessions and networking opportunities. All of which we will continually strive to deliver in 2007, along with our signature Thoth Gala, the Thoth Awards Competition and Hall of Fame events, to name a few.   

Our 2007 goals reflect the five-year strategic plan developed and approved by the board in 2004 as well as the findings of the 2005 Membership Satisfaction Survey many of you completed. We will use what we are calling the Five Star Program in 2007 that will guide our activities this year to ensure we respond to member needs. The Five Star Program will:

• Open our stellar programs such as the Thoth Awards and Hall of Fame to other communication groups to extend networking opportunities

• Test methods of providing professional development to members through different technologies

• Hold special program luncheons as a venue to hear from leaders in the industry and network

• Outreach to new potential members to have a balance of membership with more representation from sectors such as government, agencies and the military

• Promote the chapter as the “must-join” organization for professionals to increase their visibility, network, develop professional skills and advance their careers. 

You can learn more about the Five Star Program and its execution at the 2007 Leadership Rally to be held at DAR Memorial Continental Hall on Thursday, January 18 in the O’Byrne Gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. The rally will begin with an open meeting of the board, committee chairs, co-chairs and members will have an opportunity to meet the new board, get an overview of the goals of our close to 25 committees and, if you’d like, join a committee. In addition to the open meeting, there will be a cocktail reception where you’ll find plenty of networking, door prizes (such as two tickets to a Cap’s game), refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and fun. The event is FREE, but registration is required and you can register online at the chapter website, www.prsa-ncc.org.

Our chapter provides incredible opportunities. Please join me in spreading the word that PRSA-NCC is the “must-join” organization to get access to outstanding professional development and networking opportunities.

Sincerely,

Sandra Wills Hannon,
PRSA-NCC President

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2007 Leadership Rally and Networking Event

Come and join the PRSA-NCC on January 18 at the prestigious DAR Memorial Continental Hall where you’ll meet the new chapter leadership, committee chairs and hear what’s in store for 2007. You’ll also mix and mingle with old friends and meet new ones in an elegant venue while you enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. The event is FREE, but registration is required.  Make your reservations today by calling the chapter management office at 703-691-9212 or registering online.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you’re looking for a new and direct approach to increasing visibility for your firm, we may be your venue.  We offer sponsorship opportunities that will provide you with consistent exposure to more than 1,300 communications professionals. PRSA-NCC represents the world’s leadership in the practice of public relations and is the essential network for practitioners in the Washington, D.C. region. More than 1,300 members strong, the chapter provides high-quality and timely professional development programs, accreditation instruction, and networking opportunities. The chapter promotes public relations education through the support of five regional PRSSA chapters and a Career Academy for inner city high school students.

The chapter’s sponsorship program strives to offer value for your marketing dollars. Participating chapter sponsors at our PLATINUM, GOLD and BRONZE levels receive recognition as chapter sponsors throughout the year. We also offer sponsorships of one-time events, a suitable alternative for sponsors with very specific fields and interests. 

Contact the sponsorship committee co-chairs Robert Udowitz at 703-621-8060 or udowitz@gmail.com, or Robb Deigh at 703-503-9321 or rdeigh1@aol.com or the chapter office at 703-691-9212 or sherricore@aol.com.

PRSA-NCC Honors Top Professionals
at 2006 Holiday Luncheon 

PRSA-NCC presented its annual awards for individual accomplishments at its holiday luncheon held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, December 12, 2006. The Diamond Award for Chapter Service was given to Paul Hanley, director of strategic communications for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Diversity Champion Award was presented to Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR, Howard University faculty; and the inaugural Young PR Professional of the Year was presented to Katie Hall Carter, new business manager, eastern region, Edelman Public Relations. 

“This year’s award winners are known by many as friends, colleagues, and leaders,” said Tracy Schario, PRSA-NCC past president and director of media relations at The George Washington University. “Each brings inspiration and energy to their work and their involvement with the chapter and helps demonstrate why Washington is the world’s capital for the practice of public relations.” 

The 2006 Diamond Award for Chapter Service was presented to Hanley for his ongoing commitment to PRSA-NCC and to the profession. The Diversity Award was presented to Ford for her commitment to multicultural communications and diversity initiatives. The Young PR Professional of the Year was presented to Carter for her tenacity, enthusiasm, and initiative.

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Sheila Francis

Director, Event & Venue Public Relations
Washington Sports & Entertainment

Sheila Frances joined PRSA to meet more people in the PR field and to gain additional knowledge and insight from other PR professionals in the hopes of applying that new knowledge to her field of work.

1. What skills are required to do your job?
   
   A person in my position needs to be dedicated, compassionate, creative, a good writer and speaker, a multi-tasker, a good listener, patient, independent and group-oriented. They also need to be able to drop what they’re doing at any moment and take care of an urgent matter when needed.
   
   
2. What’s your greatest career achievement?
   
   Creating and coordinating an aggressive two week timeline for the name change of our building earlier this year from MCI Center to Verizon Center. I was the main PR contact within my company in terms of incorporating and implementing all of the PR changes and ideas, which involved multiple departments internally, as well as externally. As a result, it played a major role in my receiving a second Pollin Award at the end of the year, which is given in recognition of outstanding company service throughout the entire year.
   
   
3. Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
   
   Either attaining my dream job of being a VP of Communications or at least being one step closer to attaining the VP position.
   
   
4. Who’s your role model, and why do you admire him/her?
   
   Susan O’Malley, our company president. She is the first female to run a professional sports team, the Washington Wizards. I also admire her because of her tireless work ethic, her creativity and her appreciation of employees. She gives credit where credit is due.
   
   
5. Tips for maintaining the elusive work/life balance?
   Don’t try to do everything in one day. Take some risks in doing something different every once in a while. I also make it a point to play sports and be social whenever I can. It also helps to have a puppy at home and a sister that I live with to complain too when needed or when I’m stressed out.

If you’ve joined the chapter within the past six months and would like to receive a questionnaire, please contact newsletter@prsa-ncc.org. To view past new Member Spotlights, visit the membership section of the Web site.

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