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Celebrating APR Month With Ask the APR

April is APR Month — but APR Month has nothing to do with Annual Percentage Rates. A second, less recognized, definition for APR is Accreditation in Public Relations. In the world of communication professionals, Accreditation in…
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A Message From Our President – April 2021

April is a time for renewal. It’s hard not to feel the extra spring in your step when the sun is shining, birds are singing and plants and flowers begin to bloom. It’s also the perfect time to look into renewing your commitment to your…
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President Spotlight: Stefanie Macfarlane, APR

While we never could have imagined what 2020 would hold for the world, even in times of uncertainty, staying bright can light the way for yourself and those around you— a vision Stefanie Macfarlane, APR shares and lives every day. The…
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President’s Letter – March 2021

As we turn the page of our calendars from February to March, we also turn our focus to Women’s History Month. The national month-long celebration began in 1987 and shines a light on the extraordinary contributions of the American women who…
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President’s Letter: February 2021

“The way to right wrongs is turn the light of truth upon them.”~Ida B. Wells-Barnett I love this quote from Ida B. Wells-Barnett. A woman ahead of her time, Wells-Barnett was a journalist, activist and researcher who fought against…

PRSA Orlando Member PRofile: Lisa Lochridge, APR

It’s not every day your PR efforts catch the attention of and inspire action from the President of the United States—but it’s not a surprising feat if you talk to the colleagues of seasoned public relations pro Lisa Lochridge.  Known…

PRSA Orlando ICON 2021 Kicks Off

The PRSA Orlando Planning Team for PRSA’s 2021 International Conference (ICON) (also known as Team Mouse) kicked off its work during a well attended virtual meeting in late January. The volunteer team will be helping to organize ICON…
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2021 PRSA Orlando Hardship Fund

Thanks to the generous support of our donors at the PRSA Gives Back Virtual Holiday Mixer, we were able to reinstate/renew four members! We have enough remaining in the PRSA Orlando Hardship Fund to renew/reinstate two additional members.…
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President’s Letter: January 2021

Happy 2021! It’s finally here! Every New Year is filled with anticipation and hope, but never in recent memory has a year held so much expectation and promise. There certainly is a lot of pressure on 2021 to be a great year. And then, six…

PRSA Orlando Holiday Recipes

There’s no place like home this holiday season! Spice up your celebrations with our leadership team's favorite recipes of the season. 4-Ingredient Samoas:  You definitely deserve a cookie, so don’t miss this delicious recipe from our…
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Thank You for a Trailblazing Year; Get Ready for ICON 2021 in Orlando

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson That was my high school class motto. It resonated with me then (just a “few” years ago) as I set out into the “real…

Don’t Forget the “B” in D&I Efforts

By: Tory Moore, PRSA Orlando VP, Administration  Brené  Brown, a renowned professor at the University of Houston and New York Times bestselling author, reminds leaders that diversity and inclusion should consider adding an additional…
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2020 PRSA Orlando Hardship Fund Program

UPDATE: Thank you for supporting the PRSA Hardship Fund! Because of your support our chapter was able to reinstate or renew four PRSA Orlando memberships. Applications are now closed for this program. ____________________ The PRSA Orlando…

Getting to Know 2020 PRSA Orlando/Frank R. Stansberry Scholarship Recipient, Candice Joseph

Thanks to an endowment from PRSA Orlando, students majoring in public relations at the University of Central Florida have the opportunity to receive additional funding to assist their journey within the industry with the PRSA Orlando/Frank R.…
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‘A Year to Forget or A Year to Learn?’ As We Faced Global Pandemic, Social Unrest, Misinformation, Disinformation, Presidential Election

We all know 2020 has certainly been anything but normal, and many of us are ready to put it behind us and move on. But, as one speaker asked at this year’s PRSA ICON, “Strategic Communications: Navigating A World Disrupted” held virtually…
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Register Now: November is Member Appreciation Month

November is Member Appreciation Month - REGISTER NOW toRECHARGE Your Mind, Body & Spirit! Recharge Your Mind: Improve Your Marketability PanelFriday, Nov. 6 at 12 noonSharpen your personal brand with our interactive panel of experts…
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A Time of Turbulence, Transition and Transformation

While there are still three months remaining in 2020 (I mean, who can’t wait for this year to be over?), let’s hope the turbulence, challenges and difficult conversations serve as the foundation of change for a better tomorrow. …
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Takeaways From Adweek’s Hispanic & Latin American Summit

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair Last month Adweek brought together 12 marketing leaders from global brands together for the inaugural Hispanic & Latin American Summit, where they discussed…

How To Create A Diverse & Inclusive Internship Program In Your Workplace

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair Building a diverse and inclusive company culture in the workplace has become a primary focus for many organizations, especially over the past year. Whether you’re…
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September Marks Change, Ethics and Philanthropy

“Ahhh, Labor Day is upon us. Schools are back in full swing. We are reflecting on our summer vacations and travels. We are enjoying sports and the arts.” Well, that would have been remarks for a normal September — in a normal year.…

How To Create An Equitable Workplace For Older Workers

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair Nearly 2 out of 3 workers ages 45 and older have seen or experienced age discrimination on the job, according to results of a wide-ranging AARP workplace survey.…

How Limbitless Solutions Empowers Children & Champions Accessibility

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair “Inclusive design doesn't mean you're designing one thing for all people. You're designing a diversity of ways to participate so that everyone has a sense of…

Tips For Making Social Media Content Accessible To The Blind; Visually Impaired

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair Last month marked 30 years since a major milestone in our nation’s history - the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law by President George…
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Despite Adversity, Camaraderie, Caring and Commitment Still Constant

While there still remains so much uncertainty in the world about the ongoing pandemic, reopening schools and returning to some form of normalcy, one thing for certain that hasn’t changed is our fellow PRSA members who, despite adversity,…

PRSA Unveils D&I Strategy, Outlines Steps To Building Diverse Organization

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair In the wake of George Floyd’s death, we have seen a national outcry and protests against racism, injustice and police brutality occur worldwide, calling for…
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Mid-Year Brings Virtual Membership Mixer, PD Sessions

It’s hard to believe it’s July already. On one hand, where has the time gone? On the other, many of you are probably already over 2020, right? It has definitely been an interesting year for all of us, but hopefully, it has challenged…
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The Lowercase Black is a Color, Not a Person: New AP Stylebook Changes You Should Know Right Now

By Alyssa List, PRSA Orlando VP, Finance The AP Stylebook made notable changes in its latest edition, updating its guidance on a number of relevant topics like race, gender-neutral language, and terms related to the coronavirus pandemic.   One…

The City of Orlando Leads The Way in LGBTQ+ Inclusion

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair Last year was a banner year for the LGBTQ+ community in the city of Orlando and throughout Central Florida. Not only did Orlando receive a perfect score on the…

President’s Letter: June 2020

Pandemic, Protests and Public Relations As a global pandemic continues to impact us and we begin to show some  signs of recovery, we have yet to recover from what divides us. We have seen peaceful protests and calls for change,…

Key Takeaways From Adweek’s Diversity & Inclusion Summit

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair Adweek’s inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Summit, brought thirteen chief marketing officers and brand leaders from top global organizations together for a…

Afternoon Coffee Break Idea Swap Recap

We held our second "Coffee Break Idea Swap" on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. We had nearly 20 members on the virtual meeting and discussed a variety of topics. Here's a summary of what was covered. Media Relations  Question: What advice…

The Importance Of Translating & Transcreating Your Marketing Campaigns

By: Veronica Figueroa Fernandez, PRSA Orlando Diversity & Inclusion Chair We live in a globalized society, and while it feels like we are all interconnected, it is easy to forget that cultures and traditions vary from place to place.…

Resources for COVID-19

As COVID-19 presents new challenges for communication professionals, we have compiled a collection of local and national resources to assist during this time. This collection includes online learning tools, informative research and communications…
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Member Spotlight: Chelsea Eagle

Name: Chelsea Eagle Current position: Senior Manager, Communications at Walt Disney World Public Affairs Hometown: I grew up in a military family, so I’m “from” all over! Alma mater/degree: Florida State University – Bachelor…
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A Letter from the President | January 2023

From the President's Desk A message from Laura Lord-Blackwell, APR Hello 2023 and PRSA Orlando, Happy New Year! I am honored to serve as your 2023 PRSA Orlando Chapter president alongside a talented board of directors that are dedicated…
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A Letter from the President | December 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR It’s hard to believe we are just two weeks away from the new year. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be hard to take a moment to reflect, but oh what…
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A Letter from the President | November 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR Before I jump into chapter business, is it okay if we all take a collective deep breath? Our community has gone through so much these past few weeks, but time and again,…
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A Letter from the President | September 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR More than 70 years ago, PRSA developed its first official code of ethics. The Code not only serves as a guide for ethical practices but reminds us that we have an obligation…
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A Letter from the President | August 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR Welcome back, PRSA Orlando! I hope you’ve had a restful and productive summer, because we are more than ready to bring back opportunities for you to learn, network and grow: Friday,…
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A Letter from the President | June 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR It’s hard to believe we’re already in June. This month, we’re proud to partner with our friends at FPRA Orlando for Central Florida’s Media Mashup 2022, a half-day…
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A Letter from the President | May 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR Pixie dust, blueberries, and celebratory APR cupcakes. Before the summer heat completely takes over, we found a number of ways to take advantage of the spring season! First,…
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A Letter from the President | April 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR Though it is something we celebrate and honor year round, April is APR month! The Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential is our profession’s only national…
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A Letter from the President | March 2022

From the President's Desk A message from Wendy J. Roundtree, APR Just a few short months ago, our board came together for our annual retreat and one of the first questions we tackled was “why should someone join PRSA Orlando?” And…