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A Message From Our President – June 2021

Summer is upon us and with it brings the season of graduations, weddings, vacations and travel. All of the things we’ve been wishing and hoping to do again. As I write from 38,997 feet—on my way to Michigan to visit family and celebrate my niece’s high school graduation—I’ll admit I teared up a bit watching the Delta welcome message saying we will never take traveling for granted again! While I know it’s not true—that at some point we will all return to the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it’s important to savor the things we once took for granted. Like hugs, visiting family members, dining out, and networking with our PRSA friends. 

This summer, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to attend one of our PRSA Around Town Member Meetups. These small, in-person networking events are meant to be a stepping stone to getting back together in person, something we are hoping to do this fall. There should be an event coming to your side of town, soon, so check the PRSA Orlando website and watch your inbox for your invitation. Our Annual Media Mashup event with FPRA Orlando continues this week and if you haven’t registered, there’s still time. The final program commemorates the fifth anniversary of the tragic Pulse Nightclub shooting on Thursday, June 17. We’ll hear from onePULSE Foundation in honor of those we lost, get an update on the Pulse Museum and learn key takeaways of the foundations campaign, “Outlove Hate.” 

With Pride Month in full swing, we recognize that much progress has been made since the Stonewall Riots, but that we still have a long way to go in the fight for equal rights and inclusion of all. PRSA Orlando has long worked to ensure the diversity of our chapter and create a welcoming environment. From our student outreach to create a more diverse field of professionals to our Diversity, Dinner and Dialogue where we listen to those voices of the often underrepresented. 

In addition, PRSA launched Voices4Everyone this year. One of the pillars is the importance of using our voices in bringing about change and leading essential conversations on diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism. If you haven’t checked out the site, I encourage you to do so today.

While we will take a break from our monthly program in July, we will be hosting a virtual Idea Swap on July 21. Registration for this event will be open later this week! Watch for an invitation coming soon. 

Keep shining!

Stefanie Macfarlane, APR
PRSA Orlando Regional Chapter President