On behalf of PRSA Boston, I want to welcome everyone to an exciting year for our profession and our members. I am writing to give you a glimpse into what’s ahead, as I am incredibly enthused for 2015…and not just because I’ve finally been able to get through the first few days of a new year without completely blowing my resolutions.

First and foremost, we are building a strong lineup of programs featuring the expertise and experience of top Boston PR professionals, agencies, brand marketers and educators to discuss some of the most compelling topics and challenges facing our field today. Program number one for ’15 is on 1/15 as we shake up the Magic Eight Ball with “2015 PRedictions,” a look at some of the trends, tactics and technologies that may perhaps shape our industry in the coming months. I predict it will be an enlightening and entertaining evening, and we hope to see you there.

We continually update our calendar of networking opportunities and professional development webinars events on our website.  With a simple click you can tag your iCal, Google Cal or Outlook planner with seminars, networking, APR and mentoring opportunities geared to all career levels.  Do you have a topic you’d like to propose, a speaker we should know about or a venue you’d like to offer?  We want your feedback and we want to act on it, and there’s a handy link so you can let us know!

I’m particularly pleased that we will continue to foster connections and careers for those who are new to our field. Through our very active and energetic Young Professionals Network (YPN) and PRSSA chapters, we offer important resources such as education, mentoring and recognition specifically for those who have recently entered our Boston public relations community, or are working hard in school towards making PR their first professional endeavor upon graduation.

And, although we face arctic temps this week, Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to camp next month, meaning spring is just around the corner and with it one of the true highlights of our year, our annual Social Media Summit. This event is known for assembling communications innovators who are crushing social marketing for the region’s most respected brands and start-ups. Definitely plan to join us for a winning day as we bat around strategies and insight on how you too can use social channels and support communities more effectively and creatively to hit a home run for your own organization.

If anyone is looking to lend a hand — or arms and legs – we have opportunities for you to help shape future programming, membership programs, social events, publicity and more. It’s a wonderful way to contribute to the Boston PR community with some of the greatest people in our field, and have a lot of fun as well, so please feel free to send me an email if you are interested.

Finally, I also want to acknowledge how happy I am that so many folks from our 2014 Leadership will continue to give their time and their expertise to our organization in 2015, working alongside some terrific new members of the team. I won’t name everyone here, but trust me, they all put the “PR” in words like inspiring, impressive and superb. And I want to offer a special thank you to our past president, Julie Dennehy, for being such a magnificent leader for our chapter last year, and for always being a tremendous mentor, counselor, listener and friend.

I’m so honored to serve as PRSA Boston president, and I want to thank all of you for coming along for the ride this year. Here’s to a fun, fantastic and fulfilling ’15 for us all!