May President’s PRoclaimer Message
By Ali Beemer, APR, FPRA Orlando President
April showers bring May flowers, right? I can tell — FPRA Orlando is blooming with opportunity for our members this month and beyond!
FPRA’s 83rd Annual Conference returns to Orlando on Aug. 7-10 at The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes. I hope you will join me in welcoming FPRA members and friends from around the state to our hometown. This year’s conference program features an incredible lineup of speakers with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including Orlando’s own Carolyn Maue and Cynthia Velasco. Our chapter also is proud to offer our members two annual conference scholarships covering the full cost of registration ($875). Apply by June 3 to be considered.
And time is running out to submit your entries for FPRA’s Golden Image Awards celebration, Cosmic PR: Accelerating Excellence in Public Relations — the extended deadline is this Friday, May 13 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
On the horizon for our local chapter is our first in-person Central Florida Media Mashup event (in partnership with PRSA Orlando) since 2019, so mark your calendars for Thursday, June 16. Plus, we have some fantastic programming ahead as we round out Q2 of 2022 — stay tuned!
Outside of our organization, May marks the beginning of some very important observances. The two I’d like to highlight are Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I found this article from NPR on the story behind this celebration an insightful read — discussing its history and this year’s theme. Join me in commemorating our Asian and Pacific American PR colleagues who have continued to enrich our profession through their important contributions.
And for Mental Health Awareness Month, this is a personal observance for me as someone who has struggled with mental health in the past. For those who have also struggled, please know that you are not alone and by speaking about your struggles, it may help others overcome theirs. Even though COVID-19 restrictions have eased in our community, many of us have dealt with the aftermath of what the pandemic brought to our personal and professional lives regarding declining mental health. Take care of yourself, check in on your loved ones and ask for support if you need it. As always, your FPRA Orlando friends and colleagues are here if you need anything.
Thank you for your continued support of our chapter endeavors.
