March 2023 
Letter from the President
I hope your 2023 is off to a great start! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of PRSA Buffalo Niagara. Joining this organization as a communications student 11 years ago was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only has it brought me invaluable professional experiences, but it has introduced me to all of you. I’m incredibly thankful for our devoted chapter leadership and dedicated members, and I’m very optimistic about all we have to look forward to this year.
I want to take this moment to thank Marcene Robinson for all he accomplished as president in 2022. His unwavering support of our chapter and our community made us a stronger and more thoughtful organization.
At the Annual Meeting in 2022, I spoke about our chapter’s need for reinvigorated engagement and urged attendees to get more involved when and how they can. I’m happy to share that we’re already off to a great start. The Programming Committee, led by board newcomer Darra Kubera, hosted our first event of the year. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Marcene led a well-attended virtual roundtable discussion about PR Love Languages. Attendees learned about each of the five languages, took a quiz to determine their workplace love language (mine is words of affirmation – so brace yourself for some shoutouts!) and discussed how to respect one another’s preferences.
Next up: Media Speed Networking. We invite you to join us on March 30 at FOS of CannonDesign to get reacquainted with or introduce yourself to some media members at one of our chapter’s longtime favorite programs. Learn more and register on our website. In the coming weeks, we will be sharing details about our April membership happy hour. I’d like to thank Membership Director Antonia Carter-Redding for her commitment to our chapter’s recruitment and retention efforts. We hope to see you there!
We also ask that you save the date for the 2023 PRSA Northeast District Conference, which will be Friday, Nov. 3, at St. John Fisher College in Rochester. More information to come.
The May C. Randazzo Scholarship is now accepting applications. Please share the scholarship details with a student who you believe may benefit from this award. Applications are due April 30. Thank you to Scholarship Chair Corinne Seifert for leading this effort.
Our Diversity Committee, led by Diversity Chair and returning board member Sara Green, continues to explore and promote conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion that advance both our profession and society. Members can download PRSA’s diversity toolkit and learn more about our chapter’s DEI efforts on our website.
I’d also like to thank our new Publicity Director Kent Olden, along with the rest of our dedicated publicity committee, for their hard work promoting our chapter and its many initiatives.
And lastly, I want to once again encourage you to consider joining a committee or getting involved where you can. Our chapter’s strength comes from its members, and we need your participation, engagement and support to continue to be successful.
Thank you for all that you do for our chapter,
Grace Gerass
Scholarship Opportunities
The 2023 May C. Randazzo Scholarship – valued at $2,000 – is now open for applications! To be eligible for this scholarship, candidates are required to:
- Attend a college or university in the geographical area served by the PRSA Buffalo Niagara Chapter
- Have a declared major in the field of communications
- Complete an online application form, and submit a letter of recommendation.
Complete details can be found on the PRSA Buffalo Niagara website.
Applications are due April 30. We encourage you to share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested. Apply here.
Sponsorship
Provide value and recognition to our members! Our membership expects quality programming, networking opportunities and public relations support. Our sponsors help us meet this expectation, while having their name and messages in front of the best communications professionals in the region. To help support the future generation of PR practitioners, a portion of your scholarship will be allocated to the PRSA May C. Randazzo Scholarship Fund.
Interested? Click here to see the various sponsorship options available. For more info, contact Marcene Robinson at [email protected].
NE District Conference Update
Save the date: the 2023 PRSA NE District 2023 Conference will be on Nov. 3, 2023! Plans are underway for an in-person event at St. John Fisher University in Rochester.
Member Spotlight
Emily L. Ciraolo
Communications Manager
Cisco CX Strategic Program & Change Management Team
Fun fact about yourself
I’ve seen every Fast and Furious movie on the big screen, and the upcoming 10th movie will be no different!
Why did you decide to go into the PR/communications field?
It’s your typical comms tale as old as time: I liked to write.
My junior year of high school, I fell in love with St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication and decided that was the place for me. I knew I didn’t want to be a reporter, but I wanted a strong writing foundation that could springboard me into any comms role.
Years in PRSA/current involvement
Somewhere between 12 and 13 years. Throughout this time, I volunteered on the Excals Committee, chaired the Scholarship/Sponsorship Committee, and currently serve as the Assembly Delegate.
What has been your favorite moment of your public relations/communications career thus far?
I can’t think of a particular moment, but I always LOVE connecting with current St. Bonaventure students and paying forward what other Bona alums did for me.
Which three people (dead or alive) would you like to have a dinner party with and why?
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Cher. Is an explanation really needed?
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Emily Dickinson. The story of her life has fascinated me ever since I was a young (not-so-budding) poet.
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Mary Burnett Talbert. She was a civil rights and anti-lynching activist, suffragist, preservationist, international human rights proponent, and educator who spent the second half of her life in Buffalo where she accomplished so much.
I think a common theme among these women is that they all live(d) the way they wanted and not the way society deemed appropriate.
Who/what inspires you in your daily life and/or career?
My grandmother passed away one year ago. She profoundly impacted my life, and I carry with her with me always. You can read more here.
Share a Shout Out!
Do you have great news to share? Did you get a promotion or change jobs? Did your team win an award, or did you win recognition for volunteer efforts? Let us know! Share your great news with us, so we can consider featuring it here in the PRSA Buffalo/Niagara newsletter or on social media.
