DURING TIMES LIKE THESE, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO SKIP INVESTING IN YOUR CAREER. Join thousands of communications professionals in beautiful San Diego for the PRSA 2009 International Conference, November 7–10 where you will greet old friends and make new ones while learning how to thrive in a challenging economy. Immerse yourself in four jam-packed days of 80+ Professional Development sessions on the hottest communications topics, including social media, crisis communications, branding and sustainability (http://www.prsa.org/ic2009/program.html). Be a part of the conference that will rejuvenate your career and organization and give you the knowledge you’ll need to take control of your professional future.

DON'T MISS THIS YEAR'S ENGAGING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS. Influential, outspoken and fearless, ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, is founder and driving force behind The Huffington Post, one of the most successful and powerful news and opinion sites; author of 12 books; and co-host of “Left, Right & Center,” public radio’s popular political roundtable. Her unbridled ambition, political views and honesty have combined to make her a major player in the world of new media. Join us as she explores the connection between politics and public affairs, and the impact it has on the future of the public relations profession.

Get the inside track on how worldwide events influence today’s economic environment and how they affect you from TODD BUCCHOLZ, former White House director of economic policy, regular commentator on American Public Media’s “Marketplace,” past managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund and critically acclaimed author of “Market Shock,” “New Ideas from Dead Economists,” “From Here To Economy” and “Bringing the Jobs Home.”

Is traditional media falling apart before our eyes, and more importantly, are we prepared to pick up the pieces? BOB GARFIELD, columnist, critic, essayist, pundit, international lecturer and broadcast personality, explores this topic in his latest book, "The Chaos Scenario." Join us as Bob Garfield shares his unique communications insights and strategies, along with his signature wit, during Tuesday's Keynote Luncheon presented in collaboration with the PRSA College of Fellows.

SAVE NOW ON THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT YOU'LL MAKE ALL YEAR — WITH DISCOUNTS ON YOUR REGISTRATION, AIRFARE, AND HOTEL STAY. (http://www.prsa.org/ic2009/register.html) We’ve recently cut our PRSA member and nonmember rates for additional savings. Package 1 PRSA Member Saver Rate: $995 / Package 1 Nonmember Saver Rate: $1,295. Rather not pay all at once? You can now split the cost of your registration fee into three equal installments. To make it easier to get to San Diego, we’ve arranged for discounts on room rates at our Conference hotel, the San Diego Hotel & Marina, and airfare on Delta.

MAKE YOURSELF INDISPENSABLE. Discover bottom-line boosting strategies, best practices and real-world advice that you can put to use immediately — with measurable results. Keep ahead of the competition with the latest social media and sustainability/green marketing strategies. Choose sessions from four tracks focusing on innovative strategies, effective tactics and techniques, specialization and practice areas, and the business/management case for public relations. You’ll learn:

• STRATEGIES & VALUE PROPOSITIONS for getting the most out of your campaigns.
• SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES (trust and reputation protection, staff development, corporate social responsibility and social media strategies).
• HOW TO TAKE CONTROL of your critical business functions (crisis communications, brand identity, sales generation, issues management and shifts in behavior and perception).
• HOW TO POSITION YOUR ORGANIZATION for the best results (integrated marketing communications, risk management and stakeholder engagement).
• KEY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS (ethics, leadership, collaboration, networking and influence).

Download our Conference brochure (PDF) -- http://www.prsa.org/ic2009/BrochureDownload

REGISTER TODAY AT http://www.prsa.org/ic2009.register.html

Join the PRSA 2009 communities on: Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=88389124813 Twitter -- http://twitter.com/prsasandiego09 -- hashtag #prsa09 Flickr -- http://www.flickr.com/groups/1099619@N25 -- tag related photos/videos with "prsa09"

For more information, visit the PRSA 2009 International Conference at http://www.prsa.org/ic2009