Betsy Plank APR The First Lady of Public

Betsy Plank, APR “The First Lady of Public Relations” 1924 -2010

Betsy Plank Documentary (4: 41) The Plank Center for Leadership in PR

About Betsy • A Pioneer in the field of PR • Executive Vice President Edelman • Director of public relations planning at AT&T • Director of External Affairs at Illinois Bell • Achieved top honors and many firsts for women • 1973 - President of Publicity Club of Chicago and PRSA • 1977 – First recipient of the Gold Anvil award • 1989 – First recipient of the Paul M. Lund public service award • 2001 – First recipient of the Patrick Jackson award for Distinguished service to PRSA • 2002 - Arthur W. Page Society’s Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award

Impact on PRSSA • Advocated for students and public relations education • 1967 - Established PRSSA • 1981 – Cofounded “Friends of PRSSA” now known as “Champions of PRSSA” • 1987 – Developed guidelines for the curriculum of Public Relations undergraduate degrees • 1989 – The PRSA foundation created the Betsy Plank Scholarship Endowment Fund • A mentor to countless PRSSA members and professionals

#BETSYDAY National Betsy Day is on April 2 nd The Plank Center for Leadership in PR is encouraging PRSSA chapters to participate in a contest. 1: Tweet a group selfie of members watching her documentary to @Plank. Center. PR with #Betsy. Day 2: Come up with a creative idea to promote Betsy Day Grand prize: Quarterly Skype sessions with Plank Center board of advisors & top professionals in PR Chapter recommendation on the PRSSA website Year-long chapter subscription to PRWEEK Each member receives six months online subscription to PRWeek Betsy Day 2015 Champion title (you can put this on your resume!) Submissions are due April 2 nd!

More information about Betsy Plank prssa. prsa. org plankcenter. ua. edu Facebook: Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations Twitter: @Plank. Center. PR You. Tube: The. Plank. Center