Chapter of Distinction Awards

Click here to learn more about entering the Chapter of Distinction Awards. Jarrod Ravencraft will be coordinating the contest.

2011 Chapter of Distinction Award Winners

The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) announced its Chapter of the Year  Oct. 3, at its annual conference in Point Clear, Ala.

For the third-consecutive year, SPRF’s Mobile Chapter was awarded the Jamie Palmer Award recognizing the region’s top chapter. Winners of individual categories of the Chapter of Distinction Awards were honored as well.  Those honored were:

  • Accreditation -  North Alabama
  • Chapter Management – North Alabama and Mobile (tie)
  • Communications – Mobile
  • Membership – North Alabama
  • Programs – PRAM Central
  • Projects – Mobile
  • Public Relations Education – Mobile
  • Public Service – Mobile

A History of the Chapter of Distinction Awards
2009 marked the inaugural year for SPRF’s  Chapter of Distinction Awards. The Federation established the awards program to promote continuous improvement in the function, outreach, and benefits to members and communities stemming from the activities of its member chapters.  This annual competition encourages member organizations to evaluate yearly their own activities as well as plan ahead to make measurable progress in these areas.

At the annual conference, SPRF will give awards to the top three chapters in eight individual achievement categories and recognize its top overall chapter with the Jamie Palmer Award. The individual who led the top overall chapter during the awards’ eligibility period will be named the SPRF President of the Year.  Categories are:

  • Accreditation
  • Chapter management
  • Communication
  • Membership
  • Programs
  • Projects
  • Public relations education
  • Public service

Jamie Palmer
Jamie Palmer, APR, is a longtime member of SPRF who has lived in all four member states. She continues to support the Federation.  A generous financial gift to SPRF made this awards program and other professional improvement activities possible.

Palmer was in the charter group of Senior Practitioners in 1990 and served as the SPRF president in 1991.  In 1995, she received SPRF’s highest individual honor, the Professional Achievement Award.  She is a founding member of SPRF’s Senior Leadership Council. It is also believed Palmer has also attended more SPRF Conferences than anyone else.

She attended LSU before completing her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. She earned a master’s degree in advertising and public relations from the University of Alabama and joined the faculty there as an adjunct instructor teaching PR writing, management and campaigns.

Palmer’s career includes working in public relations for a blood bank, dental association, insurance company, and aerospace technology manufacturer. She has also been a copy editor for a textbook publisher, managing editor of a weekly features magazine, and partner in an advertising and public relations agency. She has provided PR counsel to ad agencies and other private clients and continues to consult in the political arena.

Jamie Palmer Award Winners:

  • 2011 – PRCA Mobile / Leslie Schraeder, President
  • 2010 – PRCA Mobile / Leslie Schraeder, President
  • 2009 – PRCA Mobile / Susan Rak-Blanchard, President