Join us on May 6 as we celebrate excellence in communications at the 2010 Del Oro Awards Banquet.  Morning News Anchor Monica Taylor, co-host of FOX San Antonio’s morning show, Fox News First, will serve as banquet emcee. The evening will also feature a Silent Auction filled with must-haves!  Any organization interested in donating Silent Auction items to PRSA can contact Mela Perez, who can be reached at mperez@txorgansharing.org.

You still have time to nominate professionals for a Del Oro (Gold) Award. Del Oro Awards are presented in four categories to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the PR profession. 

2010 Entry Deadline: 3 p.m., Thursday, March 18 Download Del Oro Nomination Packet (.pdf). There is no entry fee for Del Oro individual award nominations, which should remain confidential.

Don’t miss out, register for the 2010 Del Oro Awards Banquet today!  For more information, click on the headline above...

The Steven R. Levitt PRSSA Chapter at UTSA is preparing for our newest fundraiser, a PRSSA raffle. With the funds we receive from the raffle, we hope to actively engage our PRSSA members by sending more students to attend professional development conferences and sponsoring more students to participate in events like the National Bateman Case Study Competition.

The Bateman Competition gives students the opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world public relations campaign. This year the Steven R. Levitt PRSSA chapter is sponsoring two teams composed of five students each. To aid this effort, the UTSA PRSSA chapter will be hosting a raffle on campus.

We hope that PRSA members will support our mission by requesting donations from their respective employers or donate items as individuals. We know PRSA members are established professionals in the workplace. The credibility you have as an insider in your organization and contacts you may have at others will help us secure donations like movie passes, meal certificates, hotel coupons, Six Flags and Sea World tickets, tickets for sporting events or any other item of some value we can give as prizes.

 Raffle items are needed the raffle items by March 25. If you are able to donate, contact us at steven.levitt@utsa.edu or margeginter@gmail.com.  For more information, please click the headline above.

PRSA has designated April as Accreditation Month. During this month, members can learn more about APR through many special events, including a free APR Webinar on April 13 from 3-4 p.m. and an Online Course Open House on April 20 for potential candidates.  If you are interested in learning more about pursuing your APR contact monica.faulkenbery@nisd.net or amy.shaw@usaa.com.

March Teleseminar

Join us Tuesday, March 23 to learn how to successfully manage a social media campaign by pairing your insight and strategy with the skills and enthusiasm of the technically savvy junior pros on your staff.  With the exploding growth of social media the need to apply strategic thinking to your public relations and communications campaign has never been more critical.  Join Kami Watson Huyse, APR, and learn how to join forces to create ultimate social media success.

For more information, including location, please visit the invitation!

Members attend for free and non-members attend for the reduced price of $20.  Please arrive between 1:30-1:45 p.m.  As a service to our members and the communications community, PRSA hosts all teleseminars at a greatly reduced (complimentary for members) cost. Don’t forget, space is limited so register today.

From Shadow to Friend

By Rebecca Villarreal

Every year on the second Wednesday of February, high school seniors from across the nation participate in National Signing Day to sign with the college of their choice as an athlete. I am fortunate enough to have a job where I get to be these young student-athletes’ press agent for a day as a school public relations professional.

This year’s Shadow Days, sponsored by our PRSA chapter, were being held during this time. So I seized the opportunity to have a student “shadow” me on this particular day.

To my surprise, I was paired with a student who wants to go into public relations in the sports and entertainment industry. She was thrilled to see the humble beginnings of these young athletes and the “buzz” their early success created.  MORE

Digital Publications and the News Cycle

The Texas Tribune, which launched in late 2009, is an online newspaper based in Austin, Texas which accepts no advertising and is supported completely by private funding and gifts. Tribune CEO and Editor-In-Chief Evan Smith left Texas Monthly to start the digital newspaper. Join us as Smith talks about the role digital publications like The Texas Tribune will play in the news cycle and how he sees the future and evolution of his industry.  For more information, please visit LINK.

Members Note: Early bird price ends the Friday before the luncheon. Due to the luncheon planning cycle, we cannot accept walk-ins on event day. Don’t miss the cut-off; register today!

If you’re interested in becoming more involved with the chapter and want to further develop your skills utilizing PRSA, a few positions have opened on the Board.  You must be an active PRSA member to serve on the Board.  We’re looking for people interested in filling the following positions:

            Ethics Chair (Anyone interested in filling this spot must have an APR certification.)

PRSSA liaison (Serve as liaison between the chapter board and the leadership of our student chapters at UTSA and UT-Pan Am, travel not required)

Sponsorship Chair (Helps garner corporate support for the October Professional Development workshop)

Please contact Clarissa Rodriguez at (210) 476-4490 or crodriguez@ssfcu.org.

February Luncheon Review

By Margaret Ginter

PRSSA President

Attending the February luncheon proved a revelation. It was a learning experience that gave me a sense of excitement about my future career. As a student, I am always looking for new ways to get ahead in my major. I have worked hard as a student and PRSSA member to make sure that I get the most out of my education and organization.  Marlene Neill introduced me to the fact that accreditation can get you ahead of the game. Until the presentation, I had no idea what APR was and what it could do for me in my near future. She gave me important advice about furthering my education as well as maintaining professionalism in the field. I will certainly keep an eye out for the Tier One exam for college graduates.  Thank you for letting us join you during this PRSA luncheon, and for giving me something that I can use for my future.