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Upcoming Events12-12-2013
PRSA Miami Holiday SoireePRSA Miami's holiday event this year will have a European flair, hosted in the garden front of Angelique Euro Cafe on Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. |
Welcome to PRSA Miami
With more than 200 members, the PRSA Miami chapter has grown to become the pre-eminent public relations organization in Miami-Dade County and has always enjoyed an outstanding reputation in the PRSA world for the strength of its chapter management and the quality of its programs. PRSA Miami offers members the opportunity to learn, network, develop leadership skills, and advance professionally in an atmosphere of good comradeship.
PRSA Miami has a membership that is more diverse than any other PRSA chapter. Our approach to building a membership base that reflects the composition of our community has won the chapter PRSA national diversity awards and inspired creation of PRSA's national diversity toolkit.
We invite you to become an active member of our chapter and learn more about joining, our events and leadership opportunities. If you are interested in joining a committee, please contact Sandra Fine, APR, President at President@prsamiami.org.
Member Spotlight
Gerald Schwartz
President, Gerald Schwartz Agency
64-year member of PRSA (1949)
Gerald Schwartz was honored at the PRSA Miami Chapter’s Ev Clay Scholarship Awards Luncheon on October 4, 2013, for more than six decades as a member in good standing. Mr. Schwartz is a legend among political campaign advisers in South Florida. As campaign consultant in Miami-Dade County’s game of judicial musical chairs, he called the shots for more than a 100 races during his career.
Mr. Schwartz, a native of Aventura, is active in pro-Israel organizations and has served as president of the American Zionist Federation of South Florida, among many other related organizations.
He is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Public Relations, Who’s Who in World Jewry, Who’s Who in Israel and Who’s Who in Finance and Industry. He is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and of Investigative Reporters and Editors.
He is a graduate of the University of Miami and North Carolina State University, with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and journalism. At the age 80, he returned to school and earned a master’s of science in business degree in journalism from Florida International University.
Gerald Schwartz spoke with Rosemary Ravinal about his storied career:
1. Tell us a about your childhood.
I was born in the Bronx, New York, and moved to Miami with my parents when I was almost seven. I started school at Shenandoah Elementary and was such a good student that I skipped several grades.
2. What was your educational background?
I started college at the University of Miami in June 1943, just shy of my 16th birthday. Soon afterwards, I enlisted in the army and was sent to North Carolina State, where I studied electrical engineering. After the war, I resumed my studies at the University of Miami and graduated with a bachelor’s in mathematics in 1949. I later earned a degree in journalism, and many years later a master’s in business journalism and mass communication from Florida International University.
3. Did you always know that you wanted to work in public relations?
I always wanted to be in journalism. But at the end of 1945, I was in the U.S. Army of Occupation in Germany and took on the job of publicity director of the Third U.S. Army and later the U.S. Constabulary. I was discharged as a sergeant and became a war department civilian with the rank of major with the same position.
4. If you had not gone into public relations, what would you have done instead?
Instead of public relations, I would have remained in journalism. I worked as a sports writer at the Miami Herald from 1942 to 1944 when I enlisted in the Army. When I returned home in 1947, I tried to rejoin the Herald, but was offered a much lower salary than I was making in Europe, so I resumed public relations work in 1949 and joined the American and Florida Public Relations Associations, as they were known at that time.
5. Besides PRSA, in what other organizations do you participate?
I have been president of the Civic League of Miami Beach, was president of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, and president of the American Zionist Federation of Florida, and other organizations supporting Israel. I also belong to the Miami International Press Club.
6. What was the most exciting assignment you had in the business?
My most exciting jobs in public relations were running successful campaigns for governor of Nebraska, mayors of Miami beach, and more than 90 judicial campaigns.
7. What were your biggest challenges and disappointments?
The biggest challenge has been to succeed as husband, son, father and grandfather. My biggest disappointment has been losing political campaigns for president.
8. What is your proudest professional achievement?
I was honored by being included in Who’s Who in America for the past 13 years.
9. How has the profession changed since you became a practitioner, and where is it headed?
Public relations has become more recognized as a function of management and as a major component of successful management overall. The industry will continue to grow in professionalism, recognition and organization, and its low cost and great success when compared with paid advertising is [increasingly evident].
10. What are the best and worst pieces of advice you ever received?
Do not try to do too much at the same time. And, to get over-involved in a political campaign.
11. Any tips for PRSSA members and emerging professionals?
Study at least one foreign language and at least one [specialty] in science or mathematics.
12. How do you want to be remembered professionally?
For my successful career in political public relations.
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Member Spotlight
Gerald Schwartz
President, Gerald Schwartz Agency
64-year member of PRSA (1949)
Gerald Schwartz was honored at the PRSA Miami Chapter’s Ev Clay Scholarship Awards Luncheon on October 4, 2013, for more than six decades as a member in good standing. Mr. Schwartz is a legend among political campaign advisers in South Florida. As campaign consultant in Miami-Dade County’s game of judicial musical chairs, he called the shots for more than a 100 races during his career.
Mr. Schwartz, a native of Aventura, is active in pro-Israel organizations and has served as president of the American Zionist Federation of South Florida, among many other related organizations.
He is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Public Relations, Who’s Who in World Jewry, Who’s Who in Israel and Who’s Who in Finance and Industry. He is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and of Investigative Reporters and Editors.
He is a graduate of the University of Miami and North Carolina State University, with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and journalism. At the age 80, he returned to school and earned a master’s of science in business degree in journalism from Florida International University.
Gerald Schwartz spoke with Rosemary Ravinal about his storied career:
1. Tell us a about your childhood.
I was born in the Bronx, New York, and moved to Miami with my parents when I was almost seven. I started school at Shenandoah Elementary and was such a good student that I skipped several grades.
2. What was your educational background?
I started college at the University of Miami in June 1943, just shy of my 16th birthday. Soon afterwards, I enlisted in the army and was sent to North Carolina State, where I studied electrical engineering. After the war, I resumed my studies at the University of Miami and graduated with a bachelor’s in mathematics in 1949. I later earned a degree in journalism, and many years later a master’s in business journalism and mass communication from Florida International University.
3. Did you always know that you wanted to work in public relations?
I always wanted to be in journalism. But at the end of 1945, I was in the U.S. Army of Occupation in Germany and took on the job of publicity director of the Third U.S. Army and later the U.S. Constabulary. I was discharged as a sergeant and became a war department civilian with the rank of major with the same position.
4. If you had not gone into public relations, what would you have done instead?
Instead of public relations, I would have remained in journalism. I worked as a sports writer at the Miami Herald from 1942 to 1944 when I enlisted in the Army. When I returned home in 1947, I tried to rejoin the Herald, but was offered a much lower salary than I was making in Europe, so I resumed public relations work in 1949 and joined the American and Florida Public Relations Associations, as they were known at that time.
5. Besides PRSA, in what other organizations do you participate?
I have been president of the Civic League of Miami Beach, was president of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, and president of the American Zionist Federation of Florida, and other organizations supporting Israel. I also belong to the Miami International Press Club.
6. What was the most exciting assignment you had in the business?
My most exciting jobs in public relations were running successful campaigns for governor of Nebraska, mayors of Miami beach, and more than 90 judicial campaigns.
7. What were your biggest challenges and disappointments?
The biggest challenge has been to succeed as husband, son, father and grandfather. My biggest disappointment has been losing political campaigns for president.
8. What is your proudest professional achievement?
I was honored by being included in Who’s Who in America for the past 13 years.
9. How has the profession changed since you became a practitioner, and where is it headed?
Public relations has become more recognized as a function of management and as a major component of successful management overall. The industry will continue to grow in professionalism, recognition and organization, and its low cost and great success when compared with paid advertising is [increasingly evident].
10. What are the best and worst pieces of advice you ever received?
Do not try to do too much at the same time. And, to get over-involved in a political campaign.
11. Any tips for PRSSA members and emerging professionals?
Study at least one foreign language and at least one [specialty] in science or mathematics.
12. How do you want to be remembered professionally?
For my successful career in political public relations.
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