One of our first client’s of the semester, Austin Heinrich, came to PRS in need of sponsorship and help. He was doing an internship with the Rhode Island Public Interest Group and needed help to accomplish a protest. Heinrich was involved with the campaign called Textbook Rebellion and wanted to protest about the cost of college textbooks. The Textbook Rebellion is a campaign that raises awareness to help make textbooks affordable and accessible. On Tuesday September 27, we went out into the quad from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help Heinrich protest. His goal was to obtain 500 students’ names, signed on petitions. It was an overall success. There was also a cardboard thermometer sent up on the quad where students could write how much money they spent on textbooks during the semester. A story about the protest was posted in The Good 5 Cent Cigar, the following day.

I helped out Heinrich during the protest on the quad. First, I made sure I was informed about Textbook Rebellion and knew what the organization was about. Carrying around petition papers, I urged students walking on the quad to sign them. When approaching them, I discussed the high cost of textbooks and what Textbook Rebellion is doing about this problem. I also handed out flyers that contained the website for Textbook Rebellion so that students would be able to find out more information about the campaign. The greatest feeling was when I had someone sign the last petition paper and that I had been able to help Heinrich accomplish his goal. The best tactics I found for having people sign the petition was either targeting my friends or targeting a group of people walking together and talking to them about the cause all at once. Overall, this was a great way for PRS to start the year.

We later had the Bookstore put out a sign showing their support for Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group! That was a really great accomplishment.

Written by: Courtney Afonso, Junior general member

In the first few weeks at the club we watched presentations on how to make a resume, and where to get internships. Also I learned about the importance of social media, and how many jobs in the future are going to depend on social media. To promote the importance of social media, PRS is holding the Social Media Social on November 29^th. Helping plan the Social Media Social has been a great experience. I have been involved in all the planning from the advertising, getting food, decorations and finding speakers for the event. I have seen all of the ups and downs of planning such a large event, and the realities of being in the public relations field. I am really excited to see how the event goes!

I really like PRS because the events we do and what we learn can all be related into the real word. I am excited to see how the club continues to grow, and how I can continue to help out! I really like public relations, and I am considering public relations as a possible major or minor!

Written by: Laura Graffitti, Freshmen general member

The 193 Coffee House has been brewing up sales with help from us! The Public Relations Society. With great effort from all those who participated, it has been reported that new faces have been seen exiting “room 193″ (in the union) with refreshing products like their new “Smores Hot Coco”. With great flavors, products of equal trade and biodegradable technology, there is no reason why the coffee house shouldn’t have an abundance of coffee-goers. URI’s PRS not only helped raise sales for our student staffed coffee house in the Union, but also breast cancer awareness! How did we do this? We held a booth in the Memorial Union this October with an exciting contest for the chance to win a free coffee cup that could be used at the coffee house. Also with every entry, you got a coupon redeemable for one free coffee!  All this with simply any donation amount over one dollar. Well, the pocket change of URI students was collected as we gathered a $45 donation for breast cancer research and a spread of new clients for our friends down the hall in room 193!

193 Coffee House Open 8am to 10pm in the Student Memorial Union!
Like them on Facebook or follow them on twitter @193coffeehouse

Written By: Jesse Girard, General Member/Campus Crew All Star, @JesseGir

At the meeting, Executive Board members introduced themselves and explained why they love PRS so much! Everyone in attendance introduced themselves as well and watched the annual digital scrapbook. We looked at our year at a glance, which highlighted each of the events we will be hosting and attending throughout the year. There are plenty of ways to get involved in PRS… so if you couldn’t make the meeting, come next week (Monday, September 19th at 5pm in Room 308 in the Memorial Union) or be sure to stay in contact with us by using the information posted above!

As always, The Public Relations Society is committed to a public relations education that transcends classroom learning, providing networking connections and professional developments opportunities for each of its valued members! Stay Bright, PRSers!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the URI PRS table at First Night! We hope you join us on Monday, September 12 at 5:00pm in Memorial Union Room 308! BE BRIGHT and join PRS; your source for resume building, interview skills, marketing and business tips, social media practice, public relations strategies, and professional development!

10. I get personal attention: Right now my office (in PR anyway) consists of my boss, me and one other intern. It’s super small and can get very quiet, but it means my boss is very accessible for questions. I’m the kind of person that loves small classes, so this is the perfect learning environment for me.

9. It’s the perfect mix of traditional PR and Event Planning: Lifestyle/Hospitality PR is built on event planning. I’m really on the fence on if I want to focus on one over the other, so the fact that I get a taste of both is awesome.

8. I get to network with amazing people: I meet marketing directors, people who have my dream jobs and I occasionally go to events with celebrities! A few weeks ago I was at an event hosted by Solange Knowles, and Adrian Bailon (Cheetah Girls, Cheetah Sistahhhhs) and Shanae Grimes (90210, Degrassi) were there! I’ve also emailed journalists from places like the Huffington Post.

7. I’ve been on Guest of a Guest (guestofaguest.com) (twice!): Only accelerating my life dream of becoming Samantha Jones!

6. I get to work with people around the world: It’s not uncommon for me to have an email thread with someone from France, Chile or Argentina (where our clients are based) going at any given time. I also hang out with French people all the time. Everyone loves somebody French?!

5. I’m learning not only about the PR industry, but about the wine industry, which just makes me seem super cultured.

4. I’m becoming a human thesaurus and maturing my writing skills.

3. I get to people watch glamorous, fashionable New Yorkers!

2. I have to drink wine.

1. I never do the same thing every day and I always have something to look forward to. I’m not a coffee intern, I do substantial work. And although it might not always come in an avalanche, I know that I’m contributing to my company and that’s a great feeling!

What’s your internship like? What are your favorite parts? If you don’t have one, do you have a dream internship?

If you’re a career-oriented student at the University of Rhode Island, be sure to check out Public Relations Society in the fall!

New 2011-2012 PRS Executive Board!

Past PRS Executive Board!

PRS Mini-Conference Speakers & Panelists

Mini-Conference Speakers & PRS Executive Board