Chapter Leaders Love Quick Start

Are you on the fence about attending the Quick Start pre-conference program at the 2010 PRSA Western District Conference? Here's what some past attendees had to say about their experiences as past programs:

When I first started volunteering with PRSA in 2006, I had no plans to seek a leadership position. For me, it was simply a privilege to be asked to help with a committee. The 2008 Quick Start program put me on right track to assume leadership roles in the chapter as well as my job. As a result, I’ve had the opportunity serve as chapter president and have been promoted to a new position at work overseeing alumni chapters and clubs, hundreds of volunteers, and building new and exciting ways to engage the university’s target audiences.
Amy Bouchard Brooks, President, PRSA-Las Vegas Valley Chapter


The Quick Start program … [was] an invaluable experience in planning to assume the presidency of our chapter this year. Not only did I get to meet and network with a lot of the other chapter leaders, we also shared our stories of success and failure, the challenges our individual chapters are going through in the current economy, and creative ideas of how we’re addressing the changing needs/demands of the public relations professional. It helped me realize that while Hawaii may be the most isolated PRSA chapter on Earth, there are things we are doing well and areas where we could improve. I also learned a lot about the role of the Western District and the resources it provides to help our chapter succeed. Attending the Quick Start really put things into perspective and enabled me to plan better for 2010. I highly recommend it to everyone moving into a leadership role.
Nathan Kam, President, PRSA-Hawaii Chapter

If you missed the agenda, here it is.


Dessert and beverages will be provided. Please register by Friday, April 23 to save your spot, but don’t delay – space is limited.


Note: This is a separate pre-conference session with a registration fee of $35 per person and registration is handled separately from conference registration. When you register for the conference, be sure to add Quick Start to your cart. If you've already registered for the conference, you can go back to the registration system and register for Quick Start only.

Don't miss the Western District Quick Start Program

Are you a committee chair, chapter leader, or just thinking about taking a more active role with the country’s largest PR association? Then don’t miss this great learning and networking opportunity.

National Board Member Bob Frause, APR, PRSA Fellow, is coming to Palm Springs specifically for this Quick Start program. You'll learn about how to make the most out of your experience for your chapter and your career.

Here’s a brief look at the program we have planned:

Welcome, introductions, and orientation to the Western District with Nancy Syzdek, APR, Western District Chair

We're Here to Help: PRSA National Overview and Resources with Candice Bellittera, PRSA National Chapter/District Relationship Manager

Chapter Strategic Planning with Lisa Cutter (past Colorado Chapter president and Western District Chair-elect) and Jane Dvorak, APR (past Colorado Chapter president and former Western District Chair)

Keeping your Chapter in the Black: Finding New Revenue Streams and Financial Management Strategies with Denis Wolcott, former Western District Chair and Nancy Syzdek, APR

PRSA Leadership Lab with Bob Frause, APR, Fellow PRSA, PRSA National Board Member from the North Pacific District

About our speakers:
Nancy Syzdek, APR, is the current chair of PRSA’s Western District. No stranger to PRSA leadership, she’s served in more than a dozen regional and chapter roles. As much as she loves her PRSA work, she has to pay the bills. She’s currently in charge of corporate communications for defense contractor, JT3 LLC in Las Vegas and juggles freelance writing projects after her kids go to bed.

Candice Bellittera is in her third year as the Chapter/District Relationship Manager at PRSA National in New York City. With more than 100 U.S.-based chapters and 10 districts, she’s seen, heard, and helped with nearly every chapter management and leadership issue there is to have.

Lisa Cutter is the chair-elect of the Western District. A former Colorado Chapter president, Lisa has nearly 20 years of PRSA experience to share. For the last 12 years, Lisa has run her own independent practice, Cutter Communications where she focuses on strategic and crisis communications for external and internal audiences; media and community relations; creative partnerships; positioning and messaging.

Jane Dvorak, APR, is a former Western District Chair and Colorado Chapter President. She has also served as a National Delegate At-Large. Her charismatic charm and fabulous sense of humor has driven her success as a one-woman PR force majeure with her independent practice, JKD & Company, where she helps clients with strategic planning, media relations, special events Web site coordination, and more.

Denis Wolcott, APR is a past Western District Chair, past president of PRSA's Los Angeles chapter chapter and last year was co-chair of PRSA’s financially successful International Conference. . With more than 15 years of successful public- and private-sector campaigns under his belt, he started his own company in the midst of his Western District tenure. He specializes in issues such as water, energy, real estate, local and statewide community outreach, coalition building, crisis communications, financial and investor relations, social media, and green/carbon footprint/sustainable initiatives.

Bob Frause, APR, PRSA Fellow, is new to PRSA National’s Board of Directors this year, but he’s no stranger to leadership in the association. He’s been an active leader in the Puget Sound Chapter as well as several other leadership roles, including the 2008 Chairman of the College of Fellows, and Chairman of Board of Ethics and Professional Standards, a role he maintained for 10 years.

Dessert and beverages will be provided. Please register by Friday, April 23 to save your spot, but don’t delay – space is limited.

Note: This is a separate pre-conference session with a registration fee of $35 per person and registration is handled separately from conference registration. When you register for the conference, be sure to add Quick Start to your cart. If you've already registered for the conference, you can go back to the registration system and register for Quick Start only.

Western District Conference Early Bird Registration Extended to March 18

In order to allow more folks to take advantage of the discounted pricing on this outstanding program, we've extended the early registration deadline to March 18, 2010.

Don't miss out on a great lineup of speakers and the best regional networking opportunity that PRSA has to offer.

Register online today.
Conference Admission (Before March 18):

• $185.00 PRSA and PRSSA Member (Early Bird Rate)
• $225.00 Non-Member (Early Bird Rate)

Conference Admission (After March 18):

• $225.00 PRSA and PRSSA Member
• $255.00 Non-Member

Conference Hotel Rate at the Riviera Resort & Spa:$169.00 per night (rate valid through March 28, 2010) Upgraded Room and Great Views! Hotel Rate Promo Code: Public Relations Society of America