Welcome to a New Year!
By Nickie Doria, Gainesville chapter president

Hello chapter members!  As you all know, September is the first month of our new year.  I am filled with excitement as I look, with you, toward a fantastic year ahead. 

First of all, I would like to recognize our outgoing Chapter President, Paul Ramey, APR.  During his year as chapter president, we made some great strides.  To prove that, I would like to point out, for the second consecutive year, the Gainesville Chapter won “Outstanding Chapter of the Year” at the FPRA Annual Conference in early August.  Cheers to Paul’s successes.  On behalf of the entire chapter, I wish him luck in his continued FPRA efforts and his nomination for the FPRA State Executive Committee as Vice President of Professional Development.  

It is such an honor to serve as the Gainesville Chapter president.  I have been a member of FPRA for four years and have taken the fast track to chapter leadership.  FPRA has been a fun and educational experience for me.  I have had the opportunity to become involved with several chapter activities, therefore broadening my professional horizon.  One of my goals as president is to ensure that FPRA serves the same purpose for you.
 
“Broadening Your Professional Horizon” is easy with involvement in FPRA.  To date, we have over 115 members including some of the top public relations practitioners in our area.  Every time you attend a chapter event, you have the opportunity to build professional and social relationships with your peers.  If you take the time to join a committee, help organize a special event, work towards accreditation or certification or enter the Image Awards, you are taking steps toward a brighter future.

Many of our board members will be looking for enthusiastic committee members over the next couple of months.  I strongly encourage you to sign up!  The level of involvement is up to you.  Choose a committee that will be fun and educational.  Perhaps you can find a committee task that involves an aspect of public relations you are not able to explore in your current job.

Remember, September is also the time to be thinking about membership renewal.  You should be receiving your renewal information from FPRA soon.  Please be sure to renew as soon as possible, and stay tuned for renewal incentives!

Based on feedback from you, our chapter board has many innovative and progressive plans for the upcoming year including a change in venue for our monthly luncheons, increased focus on APR and CPRC designations, new types of professional exercises for our monthly membership meetings, more social opportunities for networking…I could go on and on.  For more information, be sure to read your Weekly e-News Bulletins. 

Join me and our new Chapter Board as we look to this new year with enthusiasm and optimism.  I thank you for the opportunity to serve the Gainesville Chapter.

Warmest Regards,

Nickie Doria
FPRA Gainesville Chapter President
September 2006