I just renewed my PRSA national and local memberships at a cost of $300 per annum. I've heard a lot of bitching in the PR world about the 'high cost' of membership, but I don't feel that way. Lots of other professional organizations charge way more to be a member in good standing, and people pay, specifically to get the imprimatur of the organization as one of their professional credentials.
Even though it was momentarily painful to pay my dues (you gotta pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues, 'cause you know it don't come easy), it was a no-brainer. I'm on the PRSA Silicon Valley chapter board, and have made a lot of valuable industry connections in my nearly two years of involvement. And it has paid off in my bottom line as well, as I have had several new business leads come through this channel.
That's for me. What's in it for you? If you don't get super involved with your chapter, is there really anything in it for the average professional? This is an important question at this time, because it's during downturns that people stop paying for things like association memberships, and once gone, they rarely come back.
PRSA pushes its professional development opportunities, networking and adherence to industry standards as some of the reasons for being involved, but my guess is that most of the top PR pros in the industry are not, in fact, dues-paying members of PRSA, and that it matters not a wit to their practice or professional standing.
So -- what's in it for you? Are you a member? And if so, why?
Hi Jon,
ReplyDeleteIt's always rewarding when a PRSA member takes the time to reflect on the value they receive from taking part in our organization.
I was a PRSA member for about 10 years, before joining the PRSA staff in August of 2008. Speaking purely from my earlier perspective, PRSA was most valuable to me in the following ways:
Education. Programs delivered on the national and local levels, whether "Meet the Media" or writing or measurement seminars, helped me develop and hone important professional skills that continue to serve me well even today.
Networking. The people that I met through PRSA have been incredible resources to me over the years. They've helped me navigate thorny client and staff management issues, referred new business leads and helped me find new jobs. They have been mentors, friends, supporters and confidants, and I can say that I've shared a lot of laughs – and even shed a few tears – with many of them.
Leadership. Being an involved PRSA member means doing things like joining national committees, serving on the executive committees for professional interest sections or local Chapters and Districts, and speaking at national and Section conferences. These are all terrific ways to develop and refine your leadership skills; plus, they all look great on your resume.
Information: PRSA has always been a trusted resource for me when trying to obtain industry data, trends and benchmarks. The Professional Resource Center, Silver Anvil database and Public Relations Strategist were all invaluable sources for me at various times in my career. I can honestly say that database of Silver Anvil-winning programs contributed greatly to the winning entries I've written during my career.
The greatest value I received, however, is the aggregate of all these things; professional development, if you will. It's not just about learning new skills, or meeting new people, or acquiring new information, but how all those things (along with the imprimatur of the world's largest association of public relations professionals) helped me to be a better, happier, more successful professional.
I hope your readers find my personal experiences of interest. We also have two recent blog posts on this topic, for anyone who would like more information; they can be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/dh3dfw and http://tinyurl.com/cum52q.
Thanks again for taking the time to post your views on the value of PRSA membership.
Cheers,
Arthur Yann
Arthur Yann is vice president of public relations for PRSA.
Thanks for the comment, Arthur. Good modeling of blogger relations for PR pros out there.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was fairly active in PRSSA during my college days, paying association dues on an entry-level PR salary is almost comical. I never joined and managed to find my own free networking events to replace whatever my PRSA membership promised.
ReplyDeleteNow with a few years under my belt, I just don't feel like a PRSA membership offers anything that I can't manage to fill on my own. It could just be a regional thing, because you can't throw a rock in Boston without finding a new group of really smart PR and marketing folks to connect with and share career advice and industry tips with.
I will still likely attend a few local PRSA events each year, but I've never had a second thought about not writing out that annual dues check.