Four Types of Students Who Should Attend National Assembly
This March, public relations students representing PRSSA Chapters from across the Americas will travel to Portland, Oregon, for the PRSSA 2015 National Assembly. At this annual event, members gather to make decisions about the future of the Society, elect a new National Committee and review the Bylaws.
The Assembly draws in a smaller, more intimate group than National Conference, allowing members to make close connections with students outside their own Chapters. Here are the key groups of students who should attend this national event:
Voting delegates
Voting delegates are essential to Assembly activities and serve as the voice of their Chapters. Each Chapter has a vote in our Society’s future officers and Bylaws. To assist Chapters in sending delegates to Portland, PRSSA covers the cost of registration and hotel for one delegate from every Chapter.
*Note: Every PRSSA Chapter should include Assembly Delegate and Alternate Delegate as elected positions in their Bylaws. The National Assembly Delegate and Alternate Delegate may simultaneously hold another office within the Chapter.
Rising leaders
National Assembly offers attendees Chapter officer sessions, three leadership training sessions, a Day-of Competition with a real-world client and two speaker sessions. Whether they plan to take the next step in Chapter leadership or run for National Committee, attendees will leave armed with knowledge of PRSSA operations and leadership techniques.
Networkers
All PRSSA members should have this one covered. Assembly attendees have the opportunity to network with fellow students, local professionals and keynote speakers. Opening night of Assembly will include a mixer with the PRSA Portland Metro Chapter. PRSA Portland Metro members work for organizations such as Weber Shandwick, Travel Portland and Legacy Health. Stay tuned for National News releases announcing the keynote and special session speakers.
Explorers
The Marriott Downtown Waterfront offers Assembly attendees ease of access to great food, coffee and shopping — the latter of which is sales tax-free in Oregon. “The city is a thriving hot spot for both creativity and diversity, but can easily be overlooked,” University of Oregon PRSSA President Abigaelle Mulligan said over email. Furthermore, attendees can explore the thriving public relations landscape of Portland. “If you’re interested in a lifestyle that touches on many facets of the PR world, you will be headed to the right place,” Mulligan said.
In Portland, there’s an activity for every adventurer. Some highlights:
- Coffee lovers may experience a Portland Coffee Crawl.
- Shoppers may peruse local shops, with the added perk of no sales tax.
- Foodies are in luck, as March is Portland Dining Month. During the month, local restaurants will offer specials on three-course meals and donate proceeds from each OpenTable reservation to the Oregon Food Bank. If you’re looking for something smaller, the city offers plenty more options, including a delicious variety of food carts.
For more information about Portland, go to www.travelportland.com.
See you in Portland, PRSSA!
_____
PRSSA National President Heather Harder is a recent graduate of Elon University and an account coordinator at Capstrat in Raleigh, North Carolina. Follow her on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn.
