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: Dan McFadden, 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: Eileen Denne, APR

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.

2011 Crystal Award 

Contact: Bruce Trimble, APR

Awarded 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.

Instituted in 2009, this award recognizes Arkansas PRSA members who have an outstanding record of mentoring in public relations. It honors the memory of Tom Steves, Sr. who during his long and distinguished career was an inspiration and mentor to countless young professionals.

Membership Committee

Contact: Adena White

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

Past Presidents Council

Contact: Natalie Ghidotti, 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: Brandi Hinkle and Melody Hubbell

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: Heide Harrell, 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: Markham Howe, APR

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.