2021 Year in Review. There is No “Normal,” but WMPRSA Rolls with It
A message from WMPRSA 2021 President Kim Skeltis, APR
What a year.
This was supposed to be when life got “back to normal,” yet it’s been anything but that. In fact, our entire 2021 at WMPRSA operated in the virtual space. Never would I have imagined that during my year as president, I would not see one WMPRSA member in person.
Despite these strange times, 2021 still was an incredible year for WMPRSA. Our board and committees entered 2021 with a renewed sense of purpose to bring you a jam-packed year of offerings. Leave it to PR pros if you want to witness adaptability and creativity! We switched to exclusively online programming. We added new mentoring opportunities. We even held a virtual awards event.
And you showed up. You joined committees, attended events, submitted award-winning work, and mentored students. For that, we are so grateful.
Here are a few 2021 highlights that make me most proud of our board and chapter:
Hosted seven programs, including national speakers Greg Rokisky, social media manager of PFLAG; and Brandi Boatner, manager of digital & advocacy communications for IBM – attracting 271 participants in total, including 30 PRSSA students!
Convened spring and fall cohort gatherings that drew a collective 55 pros across three career levels. (These are amazing – you’ll want to join one if you haven’t already.)
Created our first virtual PRoof Awards program, with 73 applicants, 39 award recipients and 92 attendees (plus multiple watch parties!).
Strengthened our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, developing a DEIA chapter statement, creating a standing committee and strategic plan, hosting an annual DEI Discussion event, plus sharing DEI content on a dedicated web page. We also raised $1,000 toward our DEI student fund grant.
Mentored more college students through two new programs: Third Thursdays and Mentor Match. Four Third Thursdays attracted 28 students and 12 pros, and our first Mentor Match semester featured 13 pro-student pairings and three pro-pro pairings. Both programs resume in 2022 – be a mentor or join a Third Thursday!
Enhanced communications, including a redesigned website and more robust blog to keep you informed.
This also is a time of goodbyes, as four board members’ terms end this month – Karen Kirchenbauer, APR; Ashley Lee; Dave Murray; and Amanda St. Pierre, APR. Thank you to this exceptional group of leaders for their service. We also said goodbye last month to a PR legend, mentor and longtime PRSA member – Kelly Rossman McKinney, APR, Fellow PRSA – who passed away after a long battle with cancer. As her business partner, John Truscott said, “ . . . Kelly became one of Michigan’s best-known, highly-respected and most-accomplished communications experts. There never has been and never will be another Kelly Rossman-McKinney.” No truer words.
I’d like to close on a high note as we look to 2022. First, we welcome a powerhouse group of five WMPRSA members to our board in January, which will be adeptly led by incoming president Andria Romkema of The Right Place, including:
Jeff Couzens, APR, Trace3
Lina Lintemuth, Development Counsellors International
Delaney MacKenzie, BlackTruck Media + Marketing
Sara Strohschein, Karen Campbell Media
Christine VanTimmeren, DDM Marketing & Communications
Second, we are already planning for a strong 2022, with events starting as early as Jan. 20 on government relations (watch your emails and our website for details). With that, we offer many ways for YOU to get involved in WMPRSA in 2022! Join a committee to roll up your sleeves beside other PR pros. Mentor a student or fellow pro. Sponsor an event. Or join a cohort group. Contact me to discuss how and where to plug into WMPRSA.
As we approach another year with a raging global pandemic, I know this to be true – PR pros are adaptable, strong and creative. We all worked hard this year, messaging for our organizations, managing crises, and advising executives how to communicate during COVID. We did phenomenal work, and we were tested in ways we never expected – both at the office and the kitchen table. I’m so honored to be in this profession with all of you serving our West Michigan organizations.
Thank you for entrusting me to be your president in 2021. I can’t wait to see you again – hopefully in person in 2022!
Gratefully,
Kim Skeltis, APR
2021 WMPRSA President