In September 2023, PPRS members voted to increase membership dues to address rising meeting costs and other challenges. The vote was amended to include a provision for reviewing the bylaws to establish a Young Professionals membership category.
As part of this process, the 2024 Executive Team conducted a strategic review of the bylaws to identify other potential improvements that would modernize the organization and address its current challenges to help chart a sustainable path moving forward. These proposed changes were shared with the Professional Standards Committee for feedback, in line with bylaw provisions. The changes were presented at the PPRS membership meeting on Jan. 30, 2025.
As a PPRS member, you can review and vote on the proposed changes.
A virtual meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, for the purpose of gathering comments and feedback from current PPRS members. Register for this meeting here.
You can also email comments to PPRSHBG@gmail.com.
Feedback is due by Feb. 21, 2025.
A vote will occur at the Feb. 27, 2025, meeting, which is required by the current version of the bylaws. Only current PPRS members in good standing are eligible to vote, so please make sure your membership dues are paid.
A copy of the proposed changes can be found here.
An overview of the proposed changes follows.
- Further defines the definition of “public relations”. For purposes of membership in the Society, practitioners can be engaged in public relations or communications or a professional who regularly engages in activities to inform, educate, or influence and other roles deemed qualified by the Nominating and Professional Standards Committee.
- Creates a Young Professionals Membership level with a reduced dues structure set forth by the Executive Committee each year.
- Creates a Student Membership level with a reduced dues structure set forth by the Executive Committee each year.
- Creates an Emeritus Membership level for retired members. No membership fees will be assessed for Emeritus members.
- Enables a member who has lapsed for less than four years to be readmitted, provided the individual is practicing in the field as defined in Section 1 of the bylaws.
- Merges the former Nominating Committee and former Professional Standards Committee into the Nominating and Professional Standards Committee.
- Allows for electronic voting to conduct membership business.
- Corrects grammar and other language for consistency.
Thank you for sharing your feedback on the proposed bylaw changes and for being a valuable part of this process.
Sincerely,
Rachel Edwards, PPRS President
Leslie Gervasio, PPRS Secretary