Last evening friends and colleagues gathered here in Chicago for a tribute to Betsy Plank. It was a true celebration of her life and while she would have modestly requested the accolades be kept to a minimum, she would have loved the stories, smiles and remembered tales of her adventures through Public Relations.
Betsy was a true pioneer, a word that's frequently over-used and tossed about casually.
One of the first big female names in Public Relations, she was fearless in her quest to make the field more professional, championing most especially the students who wish to make Public Relations their chosen profession.
I first met Betsy at a PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) Conference, where she literally button-holed me and took me to a Champions of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) event. The students buzzed about her like bees in a hive. Clearly, they adored her. Why? Because they knew she genuinely cared about them. She mentored them, individually and collectively. She doted on them like a proud parent. She beamed at their success and soothed them in times of challenge.
Betsy, as one speaker noted last night, was small in stature, but had a lot of moxie. Fearless, formidable and strong, she could work a room or make things happen better than anybody I've met at PRSA functions. Ethics was her hallmark. She wasn't afraid to stand up to those with whom she disagreed and she didn't suffer fools easily.
If she was your friend (and countless people last night were lucky enough to wear that name proudly) she would defend you to the end.
I felt honored to attend last night's remembrance of one of the most kind and successful among us in Public Relations.
Betsy's Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations has helped make my two-week internship in Chicago possible. For the Center and for Betsy, I will always be grateful.
No comments:
Post a Comment