Hi Fellow APRs!

This year we’ve been successful in reviving our Accreditation program, and will have brought five candidates through the process in 2014, four from our chapter and one from our RI neighbor, Southeastern New England PRSA. This would not have been possible without the thoughtful participation of our APRs who supported these candidates as panelists for their Readiness Reviews: Beverly Ann Bonner*, Kirk Hazlett*, Susan Schumacher, Joan Schneider, Henry Stimpson, Steve Quigley, Beth Bryant, Barry Wangler*, Bernadine Cassell, and super ‘hostess with the mostess’ Jackie Lustig*. Thank you all so much, especially for those who served on more than one Readiness Review Panel (*)! And to those among our APRs who declined and thus missed out on the fun, we to see you next year!

Before Boston’s candidates stepped into their Readiness Review, they attended a terrific APR Boot Camp that was created and presented for us by top leadership from the Yankee Chapter: Jane Law, Mary Ellen Hettinger and Rosemarie Rung. They showed us all the way, offered to critique Questionnaires and were encouraging throughout. We are very grateful.

At the front end, our Board approved the country’s most aggressive incentive subsidy in this, the 50th anniversary of the Accreditation credential. On the conference calls with other chapters’ Accreditation chairs from across the country, our program stood tallest. We announced it at our Kick-Off APR Appreciation Breakfast on St. Patrick’s Day, which brought a nice group of APRs together in Burlington, wearin’ their green. Each left having rekindled collegial connections, registering their plans to participate in more chapter and APR group activities, and holding a new APR pin! A great morning.

In 2015, we will apply the lessons of this year, including a structured schedule to self-propel our Accreditation preparation program forward. Look for a posted Spring and Fall readiness and testing calendar on our new website and a call for our APRs to reserve your date as a panelist. And we will continue to look for ways to engage this important constituency, our fellow APRs, for which we hope you will contribute your ideas and participate fully. See you at the Annual Meeting… at which we hope to announce the first round of newly confirmed APRs! The floor is yours…

Respectfully with thanks,

Loring Barnes, APR
PRSA Boston, Accreditation Chair 2013-14