“The PRSA Cincinnati Volunteer Bank helped me serve a worthy cause
and add work samples to my portfolio.”
Tony Kruessel,
Cincinnati Chapter Member
VOLUNTEER
BANK
What
volunteer opportunities are available?
See our list of opportunities.
What is the volunteer bank?
The volunteer bank is a way to link members of our
chapter seeking opportunities to volunteer their PR
expertise with organizations needing a communications
professional.
Why do PRSA members volunteer?
Our members volunteer for a number of reasons. Some
need “maintenance points” to keep their
Accredited in Public Relations (APR) certification.
Others want to expand their skill sets and work portfolio
examples beyond their responsibilities at their paying
jobs. Some simply want to make new contacts in the
community.
What kinds of organizations use PRSA volunteers? To answer that, here are some examples of how PRSA
volunteers have helped organizations:
1. A university professor needed a panel of PR professionals
to serve as a “jury” to review and rate
students’ projects.
2. A trade group needed a PR professional to give a
presentation on the basics of media relations.
3. A non-profit community organization needed a team
of PR people to create a communications plan and handle
media relations for a special event.
What does the volunteer bank NOT do?
Please note that our members are volunteers. Most
of them have full-time paying jobs that are their
first
PR priority. Therefore, our members can best serve
you if your volunteer project is something they can
do in their free time or if it requires only a few
hours of workday time. In short, if the PR work you
need to have done is the kind you’d normally
hire someone for and pay them, the volunteer bank
may not be the appropriate resource for you.
How does the volunteer bank work?
Please complete our form so we have the basic information
about your need. Then, we’ll post your information
on the volunteer bank section of the Cincinnati PRSA
Web site. We’ll also contact members who’ve
asked to be notified about new opportunities. Note that we’re not a “recruitment firm”;
we cannot act as an intermediary, negotiating hours
or responsibilities between volunteers and volunteer
seekers. It’s up to the volunteer and volunteer
seekers to strike a deal on a project. The volunteer
bank is simply making an introduction.
How long does it take to get a volunteer?
It depends on a variety of factors, such as how busy
our members are and how closely their expertise/interests
match your need. There’s no safe estimation
of how long it can take to match you with a PR person.
How can I volunteer?
Contact the volunteer bank coordinator to add your
name to our list, and visit the Cincinnati PRSA Web
site periodically to see new opportunities.The contact
for the volunteer bank is Jeff Seal, APR, at jseal@allenjoseph.com.
