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December 2019 
President's Message
This is my last letter as PRSA Dallas president, and what a great year it’s been. My heart is full of gratitude and admiration for our hardworking officers, board of directors, committee leaders and volunteers – as well as every single chapter member – for making PRSA Dallas the largest, strongest, most engaged community of communications professionals in North Texas.
At our annual meeting in November, I shared a few highlights of how we’ve grown to better serve our members in 2019:
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Our membership grew by 15%, making us the fifth-largest chapter in the PRSA network
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We welcomed six new group memberships: Neiman-Marcus, Richards Partners, Oncor Energy, Mr. Cooper, Saatchi & Saatchi and Frito-Lay
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We added a new chapter member benefit: the PRSA Dallas Leadership Development Program
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We celebrated two members who earned their Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), bringing our chapter’s total to 64 APRs and 7 College of Fellows members
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We added a third PRSSA chapter sponsorship: the University of Texas at Arlington
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We saw strong program attendance and engagement, with five events attracting 100+ members and guests
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We bid and were selected to host next year’s PRSA Southwest District Conference (mark your calendars for September 2020!)
Now that we’re wrapping up the year, I hope you’ll celebrate with us at our annual holiday party on Tuesday, Dec. 10. It’s always a fun way to see old colleagues and acquaintances – and make a few new ones, too. We’ll mix, mingle and wish our 2020 leaders well on the year ahead. The chapter is in excellent hands in 2020 under the leadership of our incoming president, James Shackelford, APR, and our newly elected officers and board of directors.
Thank you for the opportunity to lead and serve this chapter this year. It’s been an honor that I’ll treasure forever – and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Warmly,
Brooke Traister, APR
[email protected]
Monthly Event
PRSA Dallas annual holiday party Dec. 10
Join PRSA Dallas for our annual holiday party on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Network Bar at Trinity Groves. Paper City Dallas calls this VIP high-tech watering hole “Texas’ most unique drinking network” – normally accessible only to Network Bar members. Don’t miss your chance to visit this exclusive location, home to the largest single collection of David Yarrow photographs in the United States. We’ll mix, mingle and toast another great year of chapter programming. Festive dress is welcome!
PRSA Dallas members and students enjoy free admission, nonmembers $20. All attendees enjoy complimentary appetizers and happy hour pricing on drinks from 5-7 p.m. Register today!
PRSA Dallas Chapter News
2019 Pegasus Awards winners
Congratulations to all 2019 Pegasus Awards winners, who were unveiled at a cocktail party in the Dallas Design District that featured networking, lively music and an energy-fueled awards presentation hosted by Alanna Sarabia from WFAA’s Good Morning Texas.
In total, 28 winners were honored in a range of categories. Top honors included:
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Best in Show, Programs: SPM Communications, Nothing Bundt Cakes Delivers Joy with “Thank You For 300"
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Best in Show, Projects: Children’s Health, Children's Health Uses Data & Research to Create Industry-Leading Content Program.
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PR Pro of the Year: Scott Collins, Buckner International
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PR Team of the Year: Buckner International Communications Team
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Norm Teich Award: Donna Coletti, APR
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President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Chapter: Thomas Bennett III, UT Southwestern Medical Center
See the full list of winners online.
Meet our 2020 Officers and Board of Directors
Congratulations to our 2020 PRSA Dallas officers and board of directors, who were elected by chapter members at the Pegasus Awards and Annual Meeting on Nov. 7. Led by 2020 President James Shackelford, APR, the board will take office on Jan. 1.
If you’d like to enhance your membership by serving on any committees in 2020, there are numerous opportunities and positions available. Contact PRSA Dallas President James Shackelford, APR, to learn more!
APR Spotlight
December APR study group this Saturday!
Interested in knowing how you can become certified as an APR? Join our final APR Q&A/study group for coffee and croissants this Saturday, Dec. 7, 9-10:30 a.m. at La Madeleine, 5900 Preston Road in Plano (SW Corner of Park and Preston). James Shackelford, APR and Rosanne Hart, APR will lead the session. RSVP to Rosanne if you plan to attend.
APR spring panel presentation
The next APR panel presentation will be held in February 2020 for those considering pursuing their APR certification.
For more information about the APR process please visit the website.
PRSSA News
PRSA Dallas Pro-Am Day a success
A record number of students shadowed PR and communications professionals during PRSA Dallas’ annual Pro-Am Day. Among those mentees is SMU student and PRSSA member Kate McLeod who spent the day with Bill Kula, APR, director of marketing and communications at The Catholic Foundation.
Kate is pursuing a career in communications with an emphasis in public relations. “I sought to give her a great experience just like I had as a Pro-Am Day student participant in 1986 and 1987, and later as the co-chair of Pro-Am Day as a young professional,” says Bill, who also served on the PRSA Dallas chapter board in various roles, including president.
Pictured are Kate and Bill during Pro-Am Day at The Catholic Foundation offices.
You don’t have to wait until next year’s Pro-Am Day to mentor young communicators or host them in your workplace for job shadowing or internships. To get involved with PRSSA chapters throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and mentor student leaders at any time, view opportunities online and connect with the PRSA Dallas PRSSA Committee!
New Members
Please help us welcome our new and reinstated members:
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Amanda Brim, Lewisville Independent School
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Shelby Cohron, Catapult Health
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Kaley Consford, Edelman
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Kristen Freis, Allstate Insurance Company
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Kimberly Hazelwood, Texas State University, San Marcos
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Justice Henderson, Brinker International
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Kristina Humenseky, Choctaw Nation
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Marianne Ortiz, Three Box Strategic Communications
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Mary A. Rosenbleeth, Town of Addison
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Sean Tuffnell, Susan G. Komen
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Alexandra Twiss, RLG Consulting Engineers
Other News
Nonprofit resources available from Three Box Communications
Do you know a nonprofit with a great story to tell, but needs the resources to tell it? Three Box Strategic Communications wants to help! The agency is proud to launch their first-ever Three Box Impact program, where the agency team will donate one year of services to a DFW nonprofit to help elevate its mission and teach its team how to effectively leverage communications. Click here to learn more about the pro-bono program and invite a deserving organization to apply by Dec. 31.
DFW Communicators Job Bank
Looking for a job? Need to fill a position?
Check out the DFW Communicators Job Bank, a collaborative project providing a single source of news, jobs, events and freelance listings for all sponsoring organizations.
Recent postings:
Public Relations (Junior-Mid-Level)
Richards Partners Dallas, TX
Social Media and Content Specialist
Johnson & Sekin Dallas, TX
Coordinator, Web Services and Digital Content
Grand Prairie ISD Grand Prairie, TX
Marketing Storytelling Specialist
Big Thought Dallas, TX
Presbyterian Night Shelter Fort Worth, TX
Buckner International Dallas, TX
About PRSA Dallas
The Dallas Chapter of PRSA serves more than 400 practitioners of public relations in North Texas. The chapter was founded in 1950, just three years after the founding of the national society. The chapter provides members with a variety of professional networking opportunities and services, such as the Communicators Job Bank, a monthly newsletter, professional development programs, monthly luncheons, mentoring programs and college outreach programs.
Connect with us: www.prsadallas.org
Facebook: PRSA Dallas
LinkedIn: PRSA Dallas Chapter
Twitter: @prsadallas
Instagram: @PRSADallas
