Friends and fellow PPRS members, Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the recent PPRS survey. Your responses provided valuable insight into how PPRS can best serve you in the midst of this unprecedented public health crisis. Below are a few key takeaways: April MeetingPPRS will hold a virtual meeting at the…
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl As I sat down to write this month’s PPRS column, I stared at the blank page before me and longed for the wisdom and expertise Ken Robinson may have offered in this situation. I felt woefully…
PPRS is pleased to announce that Shayla Gaither of Albright College is our 2020 scholarship recipient. A current junior, Shayla has a GPA of 3.951 and is majoring in business administration and communications with a concentration in in PR and advertising. One of Shayla’s professors writes, “Shayla was one of the few students I could…
Friends and fellow Pennsylvanians, This month our Commonwealth and the nation have been rocked by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent directives from the state and federal government. As the situation evolves, PPRS will continue to update our response strategy. You are probably aware that we transitioned our March 26 meeting to…
At the February PPRS meeting, where we heard a terrific program from speakers Roger Baumgarten, Ed Coffey and Rachel Jarabeck, I challenged each table to come up with at least one positive uplift during their dinner conversation. This isn’t unusual; in fact, for years PPRS leaders have been encouraging members and guests to celebrate their…
It’s a tradition of our monthly PPRS meetings to introduce guests (whether they like it or not!), share shameless plugs and uplift individuals for their volunteer efforts or positive impact on the community. I’d like to dedicate this month’s President’s column to the latter: giving a monumental kudos to this year’s PPRS leadership team and…
The Pennsylvania Public Relations Society is now accepting applications for its 2020 Communications Scholarship. Please help us to spread the word among any qualified students! We will choose one $1,000 scholarship recipient. All applicants must be full-time communications and/or public relations students and: an upcoming junior or senior a legal PA resident and full-time student…
Happy New Year, PPRS Members! This year is a big year for PPRS. It marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the organization. More importantly, the year is being dedicated to the memory of Ken Robinson, APR, who passed away suddenly last year. To try to be true to his memory, I reached out…
During the Evening of Honors in November at the Susquehanna Club, public relations veteran Jason Kirsch, APR, was presented with the Ernest R. McDowell Award for Excellence in Public Relations. Established in 1991, the McDowell Award recognizes an individual for sustained excellence in the field of public relations. It is presented annually at the PPRS…
President Carolyn SimpsonDirector of Communications | Pennsylvania Commission for Community CollegesCurrently overseeing the statewide advocacy efforts of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges, Carolyn was formerly Deputy Director of Communications for the Pennsylvania Attorney General and Communications Manager at SpiriTrust Lutheran®. A graduate of Kutztown University, she has more than a decade of experience in media relations,…
