From the President's Desk: Choosing Volunteerism, a Commitment to Ourselves and Our Profession
Volunteerism has always been a big part of my life. For the last six years, I’ve been a regular volunteer preparing meals at a local Ronald McDonald House Charities for families with children hospitalized at a nearby medical facility. I do this because I have the ability to help others where possible. When families are going through some of the most difficult times in their lives, a little bit of kindness can feel like a lifeline for parents returning to their child’s hospital bedside.
Around that same time, I also started to regularly volunteer with PRSA Chicago, learning from and working alongside then-board member, Taylor Trovillion, to help bring the chapter’s educational events to life. I volunteered because I have been grateful for the different opportunities made available to me throughout my career. I continue to do this because I know what it was like to experience different starts and stops but, despite where I might be in my career, the chapter and the colleagues I have met along the way have remained invaluable and I choose to pay that forward.
I bring this up because April is a big month full of recognitions, including National Volunteer Month. I am grateful for our fellow colleagues who have stepped up, answered the call to serve this chapter as board members, as mentors, and as committee volunteers. Much of what we do at PRSA Chicago would not be possible without our chapter partners who collaborate with us on meaningful conversations and help make the educational and networking events available to our members throughout the year. Also, equally importantly, PRSA Chicago is a volunteer-driven organization, with a working board of directors who serve as chairs or co-chairs of various committees. They and our committee volunteers help bring together all the texture and depth of what you see and feel with each touch point with the chapter.
Our chapter is a community of professionals with a wide range of experience. Paying it forward by volunteering can help better ensure that not only our colleagues succeed, but that we also help build up and strengthen our industry in the Chicago area. Will you also commit to paying it forward with us?
For the public relations world, April also is national Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) month. Our industry is a competitive one and two of PRSA Chicago’s longtime volunteers—Edward M. Bury, APR, MA and Joyce Loftstrom, MS, APR, Fellow PRSA—are choosing to pay it forward by sharing how we could advance the public relations profession by completing the APR credential and pursuing the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows designation. Edward and Joyce are graciously hosting a FREE webinar on Thursday, April 25 to help give communicators, public relations practitioners, and marketing professionals an even greater edge for those interested in making a commitment to ourselves and our profession.
Earlier this month, during the State of DEI and Communications event held at Edelman’s offices, panelist and former PRSA Chicago board member Joseph Tateoka said, “kindness matters, and it begins with us.”
In honor of National Volunteer Month and every month, whether you decide to choose volunteerism or smaller, short-term acts of service for your community or PRSA Chicago, I hope you also choose kindness.
Yours in service,
Kayee Ip
2024 Chapter President
PRSA Chicago
Kayee welcomes communication from PRSA Chicago members. Write to her at [email protected].
