Chapter Newsletter
- 1. 1 SUPERIOR THE CHRONICLE Fall 2014 An alumni reflects on his time in PRSSA and offers advice Our Treasurer recaps our time in Washington DC NATIONAL CONFERENCE ALUMNI CORNER REFLECTIONS A first and last year member share their favorite memories
- 2. Chapter President's Note 2 This semester felt like it flew by faster than any other semester I've been at NMU. With National Conference scheduled earlier than usual, our semester was split into two hectic timelines -- pre-conference and post- conference. I was ecstatic that we took 16 people, including myself, to National Conference this year. Not to mention, we also had Jordan Paquet and Brian Price, our National Committee representatives, attend as well as our supporting faculty Jes Thompson. That totals 19 representatives from NMU at National Conference this year. I couldn't be more proud to say that our Chapter received the Star Chapter Award this year as well. By: Emma Finkbeiner Chapter President After returning from National Conference, our Chapter was in a frenzy trying to finish planning and preparing for our third annual Hometown Pizza Taste-off campaign. This campaign has been one of our most successful each year and each year we donate our proceeds to a different charity. This fact is something unique about our Chapter that I am very proud of. As the semester came to an end, the executive board assessed how our semester went and how our Chapter could be improved. With our notes from the Chapter development sessions at National Conference, we decided to make some changes to our meeting structure and organization of our Chapter. These changes, such as more professional development exercises in meetings and a separation of the firm and Chapter meetings, are being made in hopes of offering more hands on experience outside of the classroom and gaining more interest in the firm. We had a great first semester together with our membership growing and needless to say, I am very excited to start our next semester.
- 3. Meet the Executive Board 3 Emma Finkbeiner Chapter President Junior I am majoring in public relations with a minor in journalism. I am the Editor in Chief of The North Wind student newspaper and an Onyx Block in the Student Leader Fellowship Program. I have interned in the Northern Michigan Office of the Governor doing research and at a local clothing boutique helping with marketing and blogging. After graduation, I hope to work in an agency or at a newspaper. Rachel Eckert Vice President of Chapter and Professional Development Senior I am majoring in public relations with a double minor in communication studies and dance. I am currently in my last year in the Student Leader Fellowship Program Onyx Block and in Superior Edge. I also intern with NMU's Athletic Department in the Marketing and Promotions office. When I graduate I want to travel and work abroad. I hope to be able to work in international public relations. Savannah Mallo Vice President of the Treasury Senior I am majoring in public relations with a minor in sustainability. I am a leadership programs coordinator in the Center for Student Enrichment working with the Student Leader Fellowship Program where I was an emerald block member. While at Northern, I have held internships with the Marquette Food Co- op and Oregon Wild assisting with public outreach. After graduation, I want to work for an environmental or food-related nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest.
- 4. 4 Abbie Beekman Vice President of Public Relations Senior I am double majoring in public relations and music with a minor in art and design. I play the alto saxophone in Northern Michigan University's Jazz Band and sing with the Lake Effect Show Choir. I was a member of the Student Leader Fellowship Program as an Emerald Block. After graduation, my goal is to develop a career in the field of music and Broadway public relations or event planning. I also wish to continue performing along with teaching private music lessons as I do now. Katie Bultman Firm Director Junior I am double majoring in public relations and Spanish. In addition to PRSSA, a member of the Spanish club, Superior Edge and have had an internship with the communications department on campus. When I graduate, I would like to work in either sports or agency public relations. Molly Rinckey Vice President of Member Services Senior I am majoring in public relations with a minor in marketing. I am on the executive board for the American Marketing Association and am currently an intern for NMU Rec Sports. After graduation I would like to do public relations, marketing or sales for an outdoor related company. My passion is to promote ethical hunting and conservation as well as tearing down gender rolls.
- 5. From the Firm 5 The Northern Michigan University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America has developed a firm. Chapter members devote their time to both the PRSSA Chapter as well as the firm. This semester, Chapter members worked with three separate clients, the largest number of clients the firm has taken on since current executive board members have attended NMU. The firm’s first client was the campus organization known as the Cancer Awareness Committee. The firm assisted the committee with the Cancer Awareness Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 11. Members worked to share the event on social media, place posters around campus and provide advice for increasing attendance. Chapter members also assisted the Students for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center by providing advice for increasing membership. The organization is fairly new to campus, with little student involvement. Firm members met with the organization’s president to provide advice about improving the Facebook page, meeting with classes and creating exclusive membership events in order to increase student involvement. Lastly, the firm assisted the Social Work Education Enrichment Team in creating posters for one of their upcoming events, a dinner and a movie night for families living in local shelters. By: Katie Bultman - Firm Director Outside of clients, the executive board, as a function of the firm, presented a skill builder workshop in November to students involved in many on-campus organizations about how strategic public relations can benefit a student organization. This workshop busted myths about public relations and taught student leaders about concepts such as branding, media relations, community relations and social media practices. Throughout the course of the year, members have been very helpful in assisting with the work of the firm, while still participating in Chapter meetings and events like National Conference and the third annual Hometown Pizza Taste-Off. Next semester, the executive board is working to re-structure the firm as a separate entity to work on gaining more clients for the firm in order to increase student involvement and experience in real-life public relations situations. We have been very pleased with our ability to assist other organizations and raise awareness of the benefits of engaging in public relations. We are excited to try something new with our firm next semester in hopes of expanding our reach and sharing our skills with other organizations in the community and on the NMU campus.
- 6. 2014 National Conference 6 By: Savannah Mallo - Vice President of the Treasury Northern Michigan University never fails to represent at a PRSSA National Conference. This year we were the third largest Chapter in attendance, with 18 members and one advisor traveling to Washington D.C for the six-day conference experience. Not only did our numbers draw attention but we also proudly claimed two members of the PRSSA National Committee as fellow Wildcats. Jordan Paquet, our Chapter president last year, is the current Vice President of Member Services on the PRSSA National Committee and Brian Price, a recent graduate of NMU and Edelman employee, serves as Immediate Past President on the National Committee. We were excited and proud to bring such a large group to represent our university on a national level. Our Chapter’s executive board worked hard to make this opportunity possible for so many members. We believe all members, no matter what age or position, can benefit from the lessons and wisdom offered at a PRSSA National Conference. As part of our duties as executive board members, we work to make sure the opportunity to attend the conference is available to everyone. Our Chapter President, Emma Finkbeiner, and our Vice President of Chapter and Professional Development, Rachel Eckert, worked through the summer months to plan the trip including making hotel reservations, purchasing plane tickets and coordinating all travel logistics for the group. Our university is highly supportive of this opportunity and provides much of the funding that makes this trip possible. This year we were fortunate enough to receive funding from the Student Travel Fund, the Communication and Performance Studies Department and the College of Arts and Sciences.
- 7. 7 Due to the generosity of these campus entities, we were able to fully fund the students who attended the National Conference. We are grateful to attend a university that understands the benefits of the PRSSA National Conference and we deeply appreciate their continual efforts to send students to experience this unique opportunity. We are a small Chapter in comparison to many other schools in the country so having 18 of our 30 members attend the National Conference was extremely special. The beauty of a PRSSA National Conference is that there is something for everyone. From sports, to food, to fashion to non-profit public relations, a variety of workshops sparked excitement in all of our members. My favorite part of the experience was getting together with the rest of my Chapter at the end of each day to hear about which session each person liked most and what they learned, and there was much learning to be done. The Chapter development sessions allowed us to get advice from Chapters across the country, the keynote speakers offered us wisdom that only comes with years of experience and the officer discussions allowed our executive board to improve and grow in their individual positions. Anyone who has ever been to a PRSSA National Conference knows that there is no substitute for the lessons learned and the memories made. This year’s conference was even more special because we were able to explore our nation’s capital. We emerged from this experience as a more functional Chapter, more knowledgeable public relations students and perhaps most important of all, closer friends. We hope to continue to send our students to the PRSSA National Conference and we thank everyone who makes this opportunity possible each year. The NMU Chapter all dressed up and all smiles after the awards dinner "We always bring our 'eh' game"
- 8. Alumni Corner 8 It’s hard to know where to start when I think about how PRSSA has helped me after my time at NMU ended. The short story is that my PRSSA experience directly led to a skillset and network that allowed me to land my first job in June. I now sit in my cubicle writing this article on the 66th floor of the Aon Center in downtown Chicago, having just finished another day at Edelman, the world’s largest public relations agency. The longer version sort of goes like this: PRSSA took me places. I went out of the state for conferences and meetings 25 times in four years. I have a network of peers that I can depend on in at least 10 different cities across the country. I have a multitude of mentors that I rely upon for counsel and direction. I spent a summer in Charlotte, N.C. interning for Taylor Strategy working on NCAA football and Major League Soccer through a PRSSA connection and used the weight of my Brian Price experiences to intern at Porter Novelli in Chicago the following summer, working on McDonald’s and Deluxe, Corp. PRSSA has given me my best friends here in Chicago and my best friends from college. Through my PRSSA connections, I’ve spent time with people who have led agencies and major divisions of corporations, who are chief communications officers and who are fast-rising young professionals. I’ve asked a lot of questions and received world-class support. And trust me, I’ve needed it. PRSSA has given me a mindset. The mentors and resources that helped me along my journey have inspired me to offer my assistance to others and contribute to existing resources. It has taught me that the more great people we funnel into public relations and the more those people grow, the better this profession can become. PRSSA gave me leadership experience, which started as a member of the NMU Chapter executive board. I learned that working with volunteers, with friends, isn’t easy. I learned through errors, mistakes and mistreatment. PRSSA was my vehicle for personal growth, for developing an ability to work with others; it was my way to understand things like group leadership, setting and managing expectations, how to be flexible and even how to be liked. Bachelor's - '12 Master's - '14
- 9. 9 My PRSSA experience was uncommon. I went to Washington, D.C. for meetings, planned a three-day leadership retreat in Phoenix, stood at a podium in front of 1,300 members in Philadelphia and lost track of the number of sessions I’ve ran at conferences. I’ve given speeches to PRSA leaders in New York and in D.C. and I’ve been a guest lecturer in classes at the universities of Alabama, Florida and Miami. My experience was uncommon, but the end result is not. I have a good job, a network of peers, a few mentors and people to have dinner with if I’m ever in Denver, San Diego, Pittsburgh or wherever. A lot of PRSSA members leave with that, so why not you? What you get out of PRSSA is exactly what you put into it. I put in uncommon efforts and had an extraordinary ride. Make the investment. It can be so much fun. Brian Price is an assistant account executive at Edelman Chicago, working as a social community manger on ConAgra Foods, and an active member of PRSA. While at NMU he spent three years in the communications and marketing office (now the identity, brand and marketing office) and is old enough to have experienced the Doctors Rybacki-Niebauer era of the CAPS department. Brian with the 2014-2015 National Committee Brian presenting a member with the PRSSA National Gold Key Award at the 2014 National Conference in Washington, D.C.
- 10. The Third Annual Hometown Taste-Off 10 By: Emma Finkbeiner - Chapter President This year marked the third annual Hometown Taste-Off event held by our Chapter of the PRSSA. This event involves the donation of pizzas from restaurants in the greater Marquette area to compete in a blind taste test in order to be named the best pizza. This campaign has been one of our most successful and continues to grow each year. This year, eight restaurants donated 15 pizzas each to the event. The competitors included Pizza Hut, Domino's, Jet's, Toarmina's and Aubree's from Marquette; Tino's and Pasquali's from Negaunee; and The Dry Dock from Harvey. For the second consecutive year, Aubree's came in first place in the blind pizza taste test. Pizza Hut and The Dry Dock tied for second place and Jet's took third place. Not only do the restaurants gain a chance to compete head to head with other pizza restaurants in this event, but they also know the proceeds of the event always go to a good cause. In the past, we have donated to the Upper Peninsula Children's Museum and the NMU Student Flexible Aid Fund. This year, we were able to donate $700 to the Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family program. We adopted a family of five and went on a shopping spree to provide them with clothes, home essentials and Christmas gifts. Each member of our Chapter is involved in the entire process of planning and executing this event. Members are able to get real experience by contacting local media, writing a press release, contacting sponsors, creating visual campaign materials and social media posts and organizing the logistics of the event. We would like to thank our partner for the third year, the Culinary Students of NMU, for helping us to have another successful Hometown Taste-Off.
- 11. First and Last 11 Doug Lindblom Freshman As a freshman at NMU, my involvement in the Public Relations Student Society of America has been nothing but beneficial. Because of PRSSA, I have experienced so many things that I would have never gotten the chance to do otherwise. I have not yet taken any formal public relations classes and have looked to PRSSA meetings for educational purposes as well as for connecting with other students. I had an amazing opportunity to go to the PRSSA National Conference in Washington, DC in October, where I heard some of the most successful and respected professionals in the public relations industry talk about their paths to success and shared some advice to the thousands of students who attended. I also played a role in hosting an event that taught me some of the basics of planning a full-scale event. I would recommend involvement in PRSSA to anyone, not just public relations majors. Not only have I learned a lot about what public relations has to offer but I have found a group of people who have acted as my role models regarding how to spend my college years. These people are willing to help you take everything you can away from each meeting. PRSSA has already helped me in my first semester and I look forward to seeing where it can take me in the future. Megan Crowder Senior Heading into my senior year as a public relations student at NMU, schoolwork, job applications, swimming and work were a few things on my mind. Besides the lists of obligations that had to be completed in my final year, I couldn’t hide my excitement for my involvement in NMU’s Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and of course National Conference in Washington, D.C.
- 12. 12 When I was a junior, I had switched my major for the third time to public relations. I was informed about PRSSA and the benefits from joining the society on my first day of class that year. I had always tried to join groups, because I though it would be a great way to try new activities and converse with groups outside of being a varsity athlete. I went to the first meeting and from then on I continued going weekly and became a dues paying member. I didn’t go to National Conference the first year because I wanted to test out the waters before jumping head first into it. I decided to go to a regional conference in Chicago in March 2014 and it was one of the best experiences I have had in college. I stepped out of my comfort zone and networked like crazy. I was able to attend agency tours, go to workshops with incredible speakers and participate in a case study competition. The knowledge I gained from this conference was immense. Attending that conference was my first step into the world of public relations and it assured me that I was on the right track for the rest of my future. At the beginning of my senior year, I had a checklist of things that I wanted to get involved with in my Chapter. National Conference was the first on the list. Going to Washington, D.C. was like regional conference but on a much larger scale. It involved networking around every corner, professional meet and greets, speeches from public relations professionals and so many other learning opportunities. Looking back on all of the memories and experiences I have from both of these trips makes me realize what great benefits I have received by being a member of PRSSA. I have learned skills that will help me for the rest of my life and met people that have become a family to me on campus and around the world. My involvement in PRSSA is the gift that keeps on giving. I have only been a member for two years and have gained experience and memories from my Chapter that will help me with my future endeavors. I have one semester left at NMU and with the PRSSA Chapter here. I plan to attend another regional conference in March and plan to join PRSA after I graduate.
- 13. A Word From National Committee By: Jordan Paquet - National Vice President of Member Services My time as the Vice President of Member Services on the PRSSA National Committee has been nothing short of life- changing. By gaining nine new peer mentors and three professional mentors that I work with almost daily, I have learned so much more about the field I am about to enter. Their advice, innovative ideas and support have pushed me to become a better student and future professional. I firmly believe my work with PRSSA sets me apart when I apply for entry-level jobs after graduation in May. Serving nearly 12,000 members across the United States is stressful at times, but the reward that comes from inspiring universities to charter their own Chapter, attracting new members to join our organization and each smiling face at National Conferences is worth it. The responsibilities of my position include, but are not limited to, assisting 300 plus Chapters with recruitment and retention, promoting over $30,000 in scholarships and awards and strategically promoting new competitions to all members. I have had the pleasure of overseeing the affiliate program as well. This program allows students without Chapters at their universities to join PRSSA and begin receiving the benefits of general membership. These members come from various backgrounds and various countries worldwide, but all show strong enthusiasm for the profession and our organization as a whole. My one-on-one contact with them always leaves me with a smile on my face because I can see first-hand how the organization is viewed from the first day of someone’s membership. I can make a difference in the lives of our members and as I look ahead to my final five months in this position I hope to focus on more strategies for recruitment and retention among some of our smaller schools. At NMU, I am an active member participating in campaign activities and also assisting with the revitalization of our student-run firm. This real-world experience with real clients is the best way to feel confident when exiting the university this spring. 13
- 14. Without the help of my fellow NMU PRSSA members, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve gone from general member to vice president of Chapter and professional development, to Chapter president and now a member of the National Committee. The positions I’ve held on the NMU executive board through the last three years have taught me the skills I use today. The PRSSA members have quickly become my close friends. I reach out when I need advice and they reciprocate equally with a variety of questions. PRSSA is a network of students who will become fellow professionals in the field and I’m excited to transition into PRSA membership after graduation, where I know I will continue building those friendships my whole life. The professionals I’ve met in this role have been wonderful and I have been able to exchange business cards with CEOs of global agencies. The professional development I have received through those connections is unfathomable and the unique projects I am assigned to help to strengthen what I’m learning in the classroom. I am currently working on projects for the PRSSA National Assembly in Portland, Oregon where I have the honor to coordinate a case study competition with a well-known and worldwide brand, and present to a local community college about the field of public relations. I don’t know where I’ll be in five years, much less in five months, but I know that my year as the vice president of member services will stay with me the rest of my life. I’ve been honored to serve at this level and I can’t wait to see what else I can do with the remainder of my term. Jordan Paquet is a senior studying public relations at Northern Michigan University. The 2014-2015 PRSSA National Committee. 14