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We're glad you're considering membership in the Public Relations Council of Alabama. We are Alabama's largest organization of public relations practitioners and communicators. If you do any communications-related activities with a private business, government agency, public sector or nonprofit, we welcome you.
PRCA is the state's longest operating and largest group of public relations practitioners. Our statewide organization - more than 500 members in seven chapters - joins with members of sister organizations in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida to form the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF). All members of PRCA are automatically members of SPRF.
CHAPTER AFFILIATION
The Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) has seven local chapters: PRCA Birmingham (PRCA-B), PRCA East Alabama (PRCAEA), PRCA Mobile, PRCA Montgomery, PRCA North Alabama (NAPRCA), PRCA West Alabama (PRCAWA) and PRCA Wiregrass. You must identify with one of these chapters closest to you to be a member of PRCA or choose the Flexible Membership option.
Professional chapters also support the efforts of student chapters at colleges and universities in each area.
MEMBER BENEFITS
Being a member of PRCA offers many professional and personal benefits. Just a few include:
- Professional development through monthly chapter meetings, state workshops, annual state and regional conferences
- Monthly newsletter and association website highlighting local and state activities, members making news and industry trends
- Access to password-protected state PRCA online membership directory
- Professional work recognized through peer-reviewed chapter awards, PRCA Medallion Awards and SPRF Lantern Awards
- Individual leadership also recognized through the annual Professional Achievement Awards and Senior Practitioner designation
- Leadership at either the chapter or state level through various appointed committee positions or elected board positions
- Accreditation through a national program to recognize the best public relations practitioners in our profession, recognized by the APR designation
MEMBER TYPES
There are four PRCA membership categories. Members are automatically approved for membership while local chapter boards review membership applications to assess the criteria below:
Active membership is open to anyone who is a full-time public relations practitioner, or someone who is exercising full responsibility for his or her employer's public relations activities and spending at least 50% of work time performing communication duties. Active membership is also open to members of the academic community who provide instruction and/or engage in research in the field of public relations. Dues are $120 for new Active members ($105 + $15 app fee). East Alabama combines dues with meeting fees.
Sustaining membership is reserved for those who are currently and actively retired but were previously a full-time public relations practitioner. Dues are $25 for all Sustaining members (no app fee).
Student membership is open to any full-time college student interested in a career in public relations, communications or related major. Students must belong to their college or university chapter if one exists at that student’s academic institution, and they must become members through registering for membership on the PRCA site and notifying the college or university chapter of their membership. Students without a student chapter may join the local professional organization directly. Dues are $25 for Student members (no app fee) who join PRCA directly. Individual student chapters may also assess local activity fees.
Flexible membership is for those who wish to be a member but have no local chapter nearby. It is also available for those who can identify with a local chapter but who cannot regularly attend monthly meetings due to geography or work constraints. Find more details here
PRORATED MEMBERSHIP FEES
Membership in PRCA is based on a calendar year. New members pay the current dues rate plus the $15 app fee. All memberships end December 31 and must be renewed for the following year. Dues for Active and Associate members are prorated quarterly:
January-March 100%
April-June 75%
July-September 50%
If you join in the last quarter of any year, you pay the full rate and are current through December 31 of the following year.
Student and Sustaining membership are not prorated and are the same rate all year.
MONTHLY MEETING MEAL PACKAGES
Some chapters offer a prepaid package that allows you to prepay for monthly meetings and associated meals. In East Alabama, this is automatic for you.
MEMBERSHIP OWNERSHIP REMAINS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL
If you change jobs or move to another PRCA chapter, your membership moves with you. We encourage you to log into the system to update your profile with your new contact information and details when positions or jobs change.
QUESTIONS
If you have a question about membership or PRCA, you can contact us at [email protected]
