PRSA

PRSA

National Capital Chapter

November President’s Letter

As we enter the final stretch of 2025, I want to start this month’s message with a heartfelt thank you.

  • To our 700+ members—thank you for engaging, contributing, and trusting PRSA NCC to be your professional home. Your energy and expertise are what make this chapter so special, and helps us continue to be the largest PRSA chapter in the country.
  • To our 2025 Board of Directors and Committee Co-Chairs—thank you for your tireless leadership, creativity, and deep commitment to our chapter’s mission. You’ve shown up month after month to strengthen our programming, grow our membership, and support one another through both successes and challenges.
  • To our ICON 2025 Planning Committee and volunteers—you helped us host the PRSA community from across the country right here in D.C. in October, and you made the experience meaningful, seamless, and memorable. We earned rave reviews from attendees, especially our friends and colleagues from our NCC community who showed up—and showed out—at ICON this year.

What Else You Need to Know:

  • Join the Holiday Party & Hall of Fame Reception on Dec. 18: End the year in celebration with our signature networking and community event. Join us on Thursday, December 18 from 6–9 PM ET at the brand-new Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key’s Potomac Ballroom. We’ll honor and induct the 2025 National Capital Public Relations Hall of Fame honorees, celebrate our Chapter Volunteer Award winners, recognize newly accredited APRs, and welcome our 2026 Board of Directors and Officers. Tickets are still available — register before December 14! Ticket Prices: PRSA NCC Member, $50.00; Nonmember, $65.00; Retired PRSA Member/Hall of Fame Honorees, $25.00; Student, $25.00; Affiliate Organization Member, $50.00

  • Sponsor a Holiday Party Ticket (or More): It’s been a challenging year for many of our colleagues. One way we can help is by sponsoring tickets for fellow professionals experiencing job loss or financial hardship to join us for networking on December 18. If you have some extra resources, consider giving this gift of connection and networking this season. You can sponsor tickets through the event registration page. If you need assistance, contact info@prsancc.org.

  • Experiencing Hardship? Enter Our Free Holiday Party Ticket Drawing: We are all in this together. If you are experiencing financial hardship due to job loss or transition, apply for a sponsored ticket through our drawing. To enter, fill out this form. We will notify winners before Monday, December 15.

  • Meet the NCC Presidents at Final “Checking In” Virtual Office Hours on Dec. 8: We’re closing out the year with one final edition of our Checking In series! Drop in on Monday, December 8 from 12–1:30 p.m. ET to meet and connect with our NCC presidents. I’ll be joined by incoming 2026 Chapter President Dr. Tricia Hernandez and President-Elect Jennifer Strohm, MA, APR for an informal conversation about what’s ahead for NCC. Register and join us any time to ask questions, share ideas, or hear more about the transition into next year.

  • Final 2025 Member Coffee Meet-Up – Dec. 9 in Reston: This is a great opportunity for our Northern Virginia members to mix and network at our final in-person Member Coffee Meet Up of the year! Join me at the Tatte Bakery & Cafe in Reston Town Center on Tuesday, December 9 from 8–9 AM ET. Connect and reconnect with fellow members over coffee and community. Register here.

  • Welcome 2026 Chapter Leadership: Starting January 1, PRSA NCC will be led by 2026 President Tricia Hernandez, Ph.D., alongside an incredible group of Board members and Committee Chairs. I’m excited for what this new team will bring to our chapter. Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing more about their vision for 2026 in the coming weeks.

This has been a big year—for the profession, for the region, and for each of us as communicators. As we head into Thanksgiving, many of us may find that gratitude feels harder to summon this year. 

This year as we go around the table to share what we’re grateful for, I will be talking about you, this resilient community full of generosity, kindness and optimism. Through it all, I’ve seen the strength of this chapter shine: showing up for one another, building bridges, and leading and supporting each other with purpose and compassion.

I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving, if you observe. I hope to see you at our December events and share my gratitude in person.

Onward!

Crystal Borde

2025 NCC President