Get Active -- Participate in a PRSA Arkansas Chapter Committee
With 120 members, the PRSA Arkansas Chapter is the perfect place to network with other public relations professionals and learn from a diverse and skilled pool of practitioners. Contact the committee chairmen below and learn how you can get involved.

Accreditation Committee
Contact: Andrea Smalec, APR

The Accreditation Committee serves in an advisory capacity to all members who want to become accredited. The committee organizes training sessions, recruits and organizes Readiness Review Panel and serves as a liaison with national PRSA and members to ensure all processes are followed.

Communications/Hospitality Committee
Contact: Heide Harrell

The Communications/Hospitality Committee is responsible for development of chapter communications and networking events. Provides public relations for public relations professionals, keeping members involved and knowledgeable of chapter activities, job opportunities and broad outreach in the professional business community. Members of this committee also serve a meet-and-greet function at monthly meetings and special events, including PRSA Fifth Thursday networking events. They also collaborate with PRSA National to support recruitment and retention efforts at the chapter level.

Crystal/Diamond Award Committee
Contact: Andrea Smalec, APR

Given to a chapter member for service to the community or to the public relations profession, the Crystal Award recipient is selected by the Past Presidents' Council. Any member of the chapter may submit nominations. The Diamond Award is an external award presented to a person who has, in the opinion of the judges, made significant contributions resulting in the enhancement of the image of Arkansas or who has performed outstanding service to the state in which the principles of public relations have played a part.

Membership Committee
Contact: Robin Henson

Members of this committee collaborate with PRSA National to support recruitment and retention efforts at the chapter level.

Past Presidents Council
Contact: Mary Wagoner, APR

Chaired by the chapter president from two years prior, the Past Presidents' Council is composed of all chapter past presidents, who provide senior level advice on the challenges of continued growth and prosperity of the PRSA Arkansas Chapter. The council judges nominations and selects recipients for the Diamond Award (an external award to someone who has made significant contributions resulting in the enhancement of Arkansas' image), and annual Crystal Award (given to a chapter member for service to the community or profession of public relations).

Prism Awards
Contact: Bruce Trimble, APR

The Prism Awards ceremony is an annual event recognizing outstanding public relations programs and skills of companies, organizations and practitioners. Open to both members and nonmembers of the chapter. Entrants have 19 categories -- 10 for multi-element campaigns and nine for single-element pieces -- from which to choose when entering their work.

Programs Committee
Contact: Stacey Jones, APR

Chaired by the chapter president-elect, the Programs Committee is responsible for scheduling programs at the chapter meetings (normally held on the third Friday of each month). Monthly programs are one method of continued professional development, focusing on timely, or timeless, public relations issues with community or social interest.

Public Relations Student Society of America - PRSSA
Contact: Brandon Morris

The Public Relations Student Society of America Committee functions as a liaison between the professional chapter and student associations throughout the state. Committee members work with student chapters within the state to plan the fall Professional Development Seminar, Student Prism Awards and spring public relations Tour of Little Rock events.
The committee also offers national conference grants, a mentoring program, internship placement and a speakers' bureau for college and university professors to use in securing guest lecturers on a variety of public relations topics. Active PRSSA chapters in Arkansas include Arkansas State University, Harding University, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University and the University of Central Arkansas.