November President’s PRoclaimer Message
By FPRA Orlando President Valerie Moses, MBA
It’s never a bad time to practice gratitude, but with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I find myself reflecting more than ever on what I’m thankful for. Here in FPRA, there are countless reasons to be grateful – from learning new skills at our monthly programs to meeting your mentor to indulging in the Chocolate Break at our Annual Conference (and yes, “Chocolate Break” is actually listed on the agenda).
As President, I’m especially thankful for everything that the Orlando Area Chapter has planned for the year and the sense of community that we continue to build. In October, we hosted a mixer event for returning, new and prospective members at Broken Strings Brewery, where more than 40 communications professionals and students joined together to learn about FPRA and get to know one another while supporting a local business. It was incredible to see that sense of belonging continue to bloom within the chapter, and I was thrilled to see that several attendees decided to join FPRA shortly afterward.
What else can we be grateful for in the coming weeks? This is what I’m most looking forward to right now:
Welcoming our new members. Did you know that our chapter already has 17 new members? We are so proud to bring in members from such a variety of industries and perspectives, including public safety, education, hospitality, healthcare and more. Our members are what make us who we are as an organization, and we look forward to walking alongside them throughout their FPRA journeys.
Supporting student scholarships through Giving Tuesday. This year, we will once again raise funds during Giving Tuesday to benefit Quotes, the student chapter of FPRA Orlando at UCF. Your donations are instrumental for our next generation of communicators and will support student-to-professional scholarships, Annual Conference registration costs, our Intern of the Year Award and more. Keep an eye on your inbox for more information to come!
Ringing in the holiday season. December is an eventful month for our chapter as we host our first virtual event of the board year, which will focus on a well-loved brand that has received a lot of buzz in recent months. (Stay tuned for an announcement coming soon!) We’ll also gather for some holiday cheer with a member dinner. Last year, a few of our members shared their holiday traditions on our social media channels. We’d love to know how you and your loved ones plan to celebrate, too!
What FPRA traditions and programs are you most grateful for? I’d love to hear from you!
Thank you for all that you do to advance the public relations profession in our community and to make FPRA Orlando the amazing chapter it is today. Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!
Valerie Moses