??A letter from 2025 PRCA North Alabama President Adam Kelley!
I joined the PRCA back in 1999. After working in college athletic communications, I took on a new role at Children’s of Alabama, which was then simply known as Children’s Hospital. A coworker invited me to a luncheon held by the Birmingham PRCA chapter at a restaurant located in an old house called “The Veranda” (now demolished in the name of progress), which has since gone out of business.
I remember meeting several new people, many of whom remain friends, and hearing about professional development opportunities, including something called “APR,” which, at the time, I thought stood for “annual percentage rate.” As a first-time guest, I was also pleased to enjoy a free lunch, and I was hooked.
Fast-forward to March 2022, when my family and I moved to Huntsville after spending 25 years in Birmingham. Although the distance is only about 100 miles on a map, the move represented a significant change in our lives—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I knew I needed to find a community, so I made it a point to attend as many chapter meetings as possible. I quickly felt a connection to my new home in North Alabama.
I truly appreciate our local chapter. My favorite aspect of NAPRCA is the special people who are part of it. I have lost count of the times colleagues have offered their advice or shared words of encouragement during an issue or event we've hosted at HudsonAlpha. In all sincerity, becoming a part of NAPRCA was the first time I felt truly connected here.
In the almost three years since my membership began, I have met several people whom I now call friends. I have continued to use the meetings as opportunities for professional development and have been fortunate enough to serve others by volunteering on the local board.
If you are reading this, it means you are a member of our chapter. I challenge all of us to consider potential new members and invite someone to join us at one of our chapter meetings this year. Our meetings offer excellent networking opportunities, informative speakers, professional development, and chances to serve others.
I hope to see you at our next meeting on February 12th—don’t forget to bring a friend!
- Adam Kelley, APR, 2025 NAPRCA President
??Register now for our Feb. 12 meeting: A panel on sports public relations!
- Member: https://lnkd.in/e4Uubb7Z
- Guest: https://lnkd.in/eRBvSk3M
- Student: https://lnkd.in/e-CjgPGm
