Fall 2018 FORUM
Firm of the Issue : Eagle Communications
By Ashleigh Kathryn Vice President of Professional Development
Summer came and went , but where did the time go ? It felt like it was only yesterday at Leadership Rally , when some of the nation ’ s top Student-run Firms met to discuss this upcoming year and how to prepare . A point of conversation was National Affiliation and how it can benefit your firm .
Alex Downing , director of Nationally Affiliated Student-run Firm Eagle Communications , was present at this discussion at Leadership Rally . Downing later shared some insights and discussed what National Affiliation means for his firm and the future since achieving this designation in the spring .
“ Last year , it was the firm ’ s eighth year , and we had been staying the same ,” Downing said . “ Kind of going the same direction for that whole time . We weren ’ t really growing or expanding and we were doing good work for clients and getting our name out there , but it felt like time to start expanding and growing a national reach .”
Eagle Communications has been in operation for almost a decade . They are a smaller firm at American University ( AU ) and work with a variety of clients . Currently , they are working with a community development non-profit in New York , a local agency in Washington D . C . and with an AU faculty member ’ s small business . They provide both paid and pro-bono services , but are looking to expand their interests , especially in the political arena .
“ I think now getting the opportunity to connect with other firms around the nation through PRSSA and all the connections that come along with that are going to be very helpful ,” Downing said . “ In terms of expanding , the firm can now branch out and look into different industries as well as be able to draw interest from potential members .”
PRSSA ’ s National Affiliation currently offers advantages such as the prestige of working for a firm that represents the best of the Society and future client visibility on the PRSSA website . Only firms that are Nationally Affiliated are listed on the website for such requests . This type of referral system provides more significant opportunities for service and meaningful work for students . Nationally Affiliated firms can also participate in CreateAthon . Lastly , only firms that have earned National Affiliation may apply for the Student-run Firm Awards .
These benefits , as well as the growing network of firms , will allow Eagle Communications to improve recruitment and retention strategies going into the fall .
“... Being able to get that other angle of being in a community ,” Downing explained . “ We ’ re not just one firm ; we ’ re part of a network that will
Courtesy of Eagle Communications
draw people in with the national appeal of it all .”
Downing plans on incorporating this into his personal goals to push the firm to grow . As a firm director , he understands that he needs to challenge the status quo while also building sustainability , which is why he helped urge the firm to apply . He is now using the designation as a pitching point and PRSSA will be excited to see how Eagle Communications thrives this year .
Interested in applying ? More information on the National Affiliation process can be found at http :// prssa . prsa . org / national-affiliation /. PRSSA will no longer be accepting applications on a rolling basis . The deadline to apply will be Nov . 15 , 2018 and March 15 , 2019 . Please email Vice President of Professional Development Ashleigh Kathryn for any questions .
FORUM Staff 2018 – 2019
Publications Editor in Chief Emma Ingram
Managing Editor Elizabeth Frenaye
Graphic / Design Coordinator Harrison Allen
Editorial Assistant Celeste Brown
Advertising Manager Sydney Wishnow
FORUM is published three times per year for PRSSA members .
The options expressed are not necessarily those of the Society or the staff . The editor in chief reserves the right to refuse all copy .
Article submissions , comments and suggestions may be made via email to the editor in chief at publicationseic @ prsa . org .
3 www . prssa . prsa . org / forum
Why YOU Should Attend Conference
By Elizabeth Frenaye American University
National Conference season is among us ! For veterans and first-time Conference goers alike , the PRSSA 2018 National Conference will be a learning experience for us all . From new friends and mentors to new food , Austin will be a Conference location to remember . By the end of the week , your network and passion for public relations will be invigorated and expanded . We spoke with two PRSSA members , a veteran and a first-timer about their Conference thoughts and experiences .
Monica Salmeri , former president of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh PRSSA , is a true veteran when it comes to PRSSA events . Salmeri attended the PRSSA 2015 , 2016 , and 2017 National Conferences , PRSSA 2017 National Assembly , PRSSA 2017 Leadership Rally , and two PRSSA Regional Conferences .
“ At Conference , there were so many members with such a passion for public relations all in one place ,” said Salmeri , “ I loved being able to network with peers as well as with the great speakers .”
While PRSSA has a vast amount of members , it is a small , tight-knit community with everyone ready to help . Salmeri ended her interview by offering some advice to first-time Conference attendees : “ Simply : GO . You won ’ t regret it .”
Due to her activism in PRSSA , Salmeri was able to reach out to her Professional Adviser for a recommendation for her post-grad internship . This recommendation was the main reason Salmeri received the competitive position at Hiebing , an agency in Madison , Wis . Her coworkers encourage her PRSA participation , and she hopes to join her local Chapter ’ s board as a PRSSA liaison . Since Salmeri recently graduated , she is unable to attend Conference this year .
Russia Boles , public relations coordinator of the State University of New York Plattsburgh ( SUNY Plattsburgh ) PRSSA , attended the PRSSA 2018 Leadership Rally in Scottsdale , Arizona — her first PRSSA national event . Boles attended Rally in place of her Chapter ’ s president . Since this was her first conference , Boles wanted to learn and understand PRSSA on a national scale .
Rally is always a learning experience , and Boles learned this . She left Rally with a “ google doc full of notes .” We asked Boles what the most important takeaway was and she said , “ One thing that really spoke to me and can really contribute to every part of my life is that [ being ] average is dead ! You need to be an above average person to get what you want in life . Settling for the bare minimum isn ’ t going to get you anywhere .”
Boles left Arizona with a brain full of knowledge on how she can help improve her Chapter as well as her personal brand . As we know , networking is a key component to public relations , and Boles made connections with inspiring and hardworking individuals across the country that she will continue speaking with . Boles is taking her knowledge gained , and excitement over Rally to the next level by hoping to make it to Conference .
Fall 2018 FORUM