PRSSA - Grand Valley State University

A message from GrandPR’s CEO

administrator — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:13:12 +0000

Joining PRSSA provides a wide range of benefits, from professional to social. A position on the executive board allows you the opportunity to plan the meetings, agency tours, fundraisers, etc., that your peers and fellow PRSSA members will receive these benefits from.

My position as CEO of GrandPR, GVPRSSA’s nationally-affiliated PR firm, requires a role on executive board to ensure communication between the firm and our chapter. Though our general assembly meetings take place separately from chapter meetings, we are a branch of PRSSA. The client work we produce is a reflection of our chapter. My duty is to ensure we are always growing and providing a valuable experience to future PR pros.

Loved a particular guest speaker? Wished for more discussion of an area of PR? Continuation is great. Growth is better. Apply for a leadership position for the 2013-2014 year. Take this year and make it awesome.

If you have any questions you can email Shayne at Shayne.Boonie@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter at @shayneboonie

Vice President of Public Relations

administrator — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:57:44 +0000

I have been a part of GV PRSSA since my sophomore year at Grand Valley State University. Getting involved early helped me grow as a student and as a public relations professional. I was able to get to know other members who were in my classes, I was able to network with professors and professionals in the area, and I was able to obtain the position as an Account Executive at GrandPR – GVSU’s young professional public relations firm.

My position entails updating the website, maintaining our blog, updating our social media and being the media contact for our organization.

It was also my job to create and execute a plan for Campus Life Night. I had to make decisions on what types of promotional items we would give away, how students would sign up if interested, and ways to get students attending this night filled with tons of student organizations interested in GV PRSSA!

I think this position is great for anyone interested in social media. They should be able to manage their time well and be able to work with WordPress. The website is easily maintained with some practice and getting to know the site. Experience managing other social media pages is beneficial. Members utilize the sites to find out where and when meetings are, to catch up on missed events, and to see what’s coming up throughout the semester. It’s my job to keep these sites up-to-date with the most important and relevant material for members.

I would highly encourage anyone who is interested in getting more involved with GV PRSSA to do so! Not only do I have talking points for interviews, I have established great relationships with my peers, professors, and professionals because of my experiences. I am so proud to be a part of such a well-established and distinguished organization!

To contact Andrea with any questions, email her at filter@mail.gvsu.edu or follow her on Twitter @AndreaJFilter!

President

administrator — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:46:54 +0000

My sophomore year I joined PRSSA and from that first meeting I realized the passion I had for public relations. My involvement began when I was on eboard my junior year as VP of Professional Development and through my involvement with GrandPR and from there flourished into a passion for not only PR but for leading our PRSSA Chapter. Spending my senior year as the leader of a pre-professional organization like PRSSA has been one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences in my college career thus far. Being President means so much more than just a “title” to me. PRSSA has been the reason that my young career has seen incredible growth and shaping me into the professional that I strive to be. When I first applied for this position, I wanted to be able to show other people just how beneficial being a part of this organization really is. I want members to succeed and enjoy the careers that they are going to embark on, and PRSSA will enable them to do just that. If you are considering applying for President, there are a few skill sets that are vital to have

The first would be managerial skills. The President has to be able to successfully manage eboard members while also being aware of not micromanaging. Simple things such as scheduling meeting times, communicating via email and setting deadlines for specific tasks are ways what the President manages. Also being able to think on your feet and know how to handle sensitive situations without damaging the relationship between your VPs is important. You all work as a team and it’s important to maintain cohesion and a productive team environment.

A willingness to travel is also very important. Our Chapter frequently travels to both regional and national events and the President has to be willing to be at most if not all events. These events include Leadership Rally in June, National Conference in October, Region 6 Regional Conference and agency tours/trips that we frequent. These travel opportunities are once in a lifetime!

The President is the liaison between National PRSSA and the Chapter. Any events, scholarship opportunities, awards, competitions, Twitter chats and more are perks that members need to know about, it is important that members know and are encouraged to participate in National initiatives. It’s also important the President applies for all eligible awards to ensure the Chapter is recognized for achieving goals.

The President also has do understand basic budgeting. The President works alongside the VP of Member Services to create the yearly budget to ensure that the Chapter has enough funds to be successful in the year.

Being President, I have had the opportunity to network not only with professionals but other PRSSA members across the United States. I got to attend great leadership workshops and expanded my knowledge of current PR trends. My excitement for the public relations industry has doubled since my time as President. This is a great opportunity for any public relations student looking to be a leader and develop their future career.

To contact Breann with any questions, email her at andersen.breann@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @Breann_Andersen.

Vice President of Member Services

administrator — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:40:03 +0000

In 2010, I knew that I was majoring in public relations, so I joined PRSSA. What I didn’t realize at that time was that my passion for public relations and our organization would develop and expand so greatly. I decided to run for the executive board to learn more about the field, to step up as a leader and to dedicate my time to an organization I was passionate about. Serving as the Vice President of Member Services for the 2012-2013 school year was one of the best decisions I have made in my professional life.

My position combines the responsibilities of a secretary and a treasurer. Some of my primary duties include: handling all financial responsibilities, taking weekly attendance, creating the newsletter, keeping track of the point system, hauling materials to and from meetings, sending emails, and so much more. This position is a lot of behind the scenes work. It’s difficult, harder than it seems, but it is a fun position that is necessary for the success and growth of the chapter. I was continually learning over the course of my position. New things would pop up that would fall under my title, so quick thinking and a positive attitude are key.

Are you interested in Serving as the Vice President of Member Services? You should be organized, honest, and you should have time to dedicate to the chapter. Ideally, you should have reliable transportation for banks runs and to haul materials to and from each meeting. You must be passionate about PRSSA and genuinely concerned about the overall wellbeing of the chapter and its future growth.

Please contact me if you would like to learn more or talk about this position. I hope to pass my title on to an individual who cares about the chapter as much as I do. Good Luck!

epstudt@gmail.com

@LizStudt

Vice President of Professional Development

administrator — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:32:33 +0000

When I took on the role of Vice President of Professional Development for GV PRSSA, I knew it would be a valuable learning experience, but I had no idea how beneficial it really would be.

Since last Spring I have had so many wonderful opportunities to network. Not only have I planned and lead various agency tours throughout Grand Rapids, Detroit and Chicago, but I have also attended monthly WMPRSA board meetings, luncheons and other events. I have been able to assist with registration at the WMPRSA events as well as write blog posts for their website.

Meeting and mingling with professionals has been one of my favorite aspects of the position. I have learned a lot of valuable information from the professionals I have met through WMPRSA, as well as the ones at the agency tours.

I have planned and lead agency tours throughout Grand Rapids at the ArtPrize Hub, Experience Grand Rapids, and Clark Communications. I planned trips to Detroit and Chicago as well, where we visited Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Red Wings, Quicken Loans, Ketchum, Zeno Group, Finn Partners and a variety of other agencies. Planning such tours has allowed me to improve my time management skills and has allowed me to gain valuable connections. I have enjoyed being able to provide valuable learning experiences for other PRSSA members to attend.

Not only I have I developed my networking skills, but I have also improved my leadership and communication skills. My role as Vice President of Professional Development has been a very rewarding experience and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to be so involved in PRSSA.

To contact Ashley with any questions, email her at ashleycurd88@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @FashAsh22!

Vice President of Programming

administrator — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:59:51 +0000

Joining PRSSA my sophomore year really deepened my love for this industry. Not only did I further my knowledge and experience in the PR industry by attending agency tours, National Conference, and informative meetings, but I have met some of my best friends through PRSSA, as well. As I narrowed in on my career path, I became highly interested in event planning. This interest led me to apply for Vice President of Programming.

The Vice President of Programming is the spearhead for chapter meetings and chapter socials. This role involves creativity, organization, multi-tasking, and excellent communication skills. First, the VP of Programming will come up with creative, interactive chapter meetings. One of the most important parts of this position is to make meetings worthwhile and an overall great experience for members. It is nice to have fresh ideas to bring to the table that old and new members will appreciate and learn from. Next, you will be in charge of contacting professionals and planning the details of the meeting. The details of the meeting include talking points, a schedule for the day-of meeting, food and beverage options, and reserving the room and projector.

In addition to the chapter bi-weekly meetings, the VP of Programming is also in charge of chapter socials. With the help of the executive board, you will be in charge of creating fun events outside of the meetings for members to hang out and relax with each other.

Bear in mind, not everything goes according to plan, therefore it is important to always have an alternative idea of what to do if a speaker cancels or something goes wrong.

Overall, if you are interested in meeting and event planning, I strongly encourage you to apply for the VP of Programming. This position allows you to utilize creativity, organization, and communication skills in an autonomous way.

To contact Shelby with any questions, email her atschwarsh@mail.gvsu.edu or follow her on Twitter @smschwarzkoff.

2013-2014 Executive Board

administrator — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:13:14 +0000

Hello PRSSA member,

Thank you for your interest in an executive board position with GV PRSSA for the 2013–2014 academic year. The current executive board is honored to be able to pass the PRSSA traditions down to you, an eager new leader of GV PRSSA.

In this packet you will find qualifications to apply, directions on how to apply and the selection process, position descriptions, and the actual application. Please feel free to contact me, or any of the rest of the executive board members, with any questions regarding anything in this packet.

I look forward to receiving your application. Good luck.

Best Regards,

Breann Andersen

Chapter President

Qualifications:

Must be a student at GVSU
Must be a dues paying member of PRSSA
Must be ready to commit 5+ hours per week

Must be able to attend a mandatory interview with the current executive board for each position applied for on. From there the current executive board will narrow down the candidates to two for each position. The final two candidates will give a short 3 minute speech at the general assembly meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 and the entire Chapter will then vote for the most qualified candidates.

How to Apply:

Members must submit an application for each position they wish to apply for and their resume to Breann Andersen in electronic form by Wednesday March 6, 2013, 11:59pm. Members may apply for as many positions as they wish.

Position descriptions and the application are below

The 2013-2014 executive board will be officially announced at the March 27, 2013 general assembly meeting.

Executive Board Position Descriptions

President

The President is responsible for managing the executive board, overseeing the Chapter, and communicating with National PRSSA. The President should have regularly scheduled meetings with the executive board. The President must have a passion and initiative to help the Chapter and Chapter members continue to grow.