UO PRSSA’s Guide to Dining in PDX

Portland is known for it’s foodie scene and, lucky for you, this year’s PRSSA National Assembly is happening right in the middle of it! We put together a list of ten of our favorite Portland eateries so you will be sure to get a taste of the best that the Rose City has to offer, all within walking distance of the PRSSA National and PR PDX venues.

Barista
529 SW 3rd Ave #110
We know stopping at the nearby Starbucks is tempting, but Portland has so many great coffee shops that you’ll definitely want to stretch your legs a little bit to try something new. A local favorite, Barista is the perfect place to get your coffee fix.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters
128 SW 3rd Ave
What would a trip to Portland be without a visit to the city’s most renowned coffee company? If you’re attending our PR PDX event on Saturday, make sure to stop by Stumptown Coffee Roasters just a few blocks away.

Mother’s Bistro
212 SW Stark St
Mother’s Bistro is another local favorite known for its incredible breakfast offerings. The breakfast menu is served from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. so head there for an early breakfast prior to the National Assembly programming or even after PR PDX if you’re craving breakfast for lunch.

Café Yumm
SW 3rd and Morrison
If you’re looking for affordable options, you’ll definitely want to check out Café Yumm. Started in the University of Oregon’s hometown of Eugene, the unique Yumm Bowls served here are hard to describe, but delicious – trust us! This Eugene favorite comes highly recommended by the UO PRSSA chapter.

Veritable Quandary
1220 SW 1st Ave
Since it’s only a block away from the Marriott, I had to recommend my personal favorite brunch spot along the waterfront. It’s one of the more expensive options on this list, but well worth every penny.

Lúc Lác Vietnamese Kitchen
835 SW 2nd Ave
To get a sampling of the international cuisine Portland specializes in, head to Lúc Lác Vietnamese Kitchen just five blogs from the Marriott. Our vice president recommends their pho. Plus, it’s open till midnight – perfect if you’re looking for a late night meal!

Rock Bottom Brewery
206 SW Morrison St
Looking for a sample of Portland’s craft beer scene? Rock Bottom Brewery is just off the waterfront and offers a selection of craft beer brewed in-house and delicious food. This is also a great place to catch the Blazer game Friday night!

Portland City Grill
111 SW 5th Ave
Known for its spectacular views of the city from the 30th floor of the US Bancorp Tower, this is one Portland restaurant you won’t want to miss! Stop by for their affordable happy hour from 4-7 p.m. or after 9 p.m., make sure to order their Kung Pao calamari and enjoy the views!

Hot Lips Pizza
1909 SW 6th Ave
Hot Lips Pizza is another Portland favorite. The closest location to National Assembly is on the Portland State University campus, but it’s worth the trek if you’re craving great pizza!

Voodoo Doughnut
22 SW 3rd Ave
Last but not least, if the Portland classic Voodoo Doughnut is on your must-visit list, there’s a location not too far from the Turnbull Center, where our PR PDX activities are taking place.

To make exploring Portland as simple as possible, we’ve put together a map with all of the PRSSA National Assembly and PR PDX venues as well as the locations on our dining guide. Check it out below!

DSC_0093Hannah Osborn, Public Relations Director, is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. She manages all UO PRSSA social and digital media platforms. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.

National Leadership: Q&A with Ellie Boggs

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Boggs poses with the 2013-2014 PRSSA National Committee.
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UO PRSSA Exuective Board members Ellie Boggs and Callie Gisler attended the event in New Mexico in early April.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Say hello to a new “generation” of PRSSA leadership. The 2013 PRSSA National Assembly was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from April 4 to April 7. The event marks an important time for the organization, as delegates vote on bylaws and leadership for the coming school year. Current UO PRSSA chapter president Ellie Boggs was elected to serve as the National Vice President of Career Services for the 2013-2014 term. UO PRSSA is incredibly excited and proud for Boggs as she moves forward into her new role! Here is what she had to say about her new position and her thoughts on leadership: 

Q: What inspired you to apply for a position with the National Committee?
A: I first started thinking about applying to the National Committee during the National Assembly last year where I was the UO PRSSA delegate. The National Committee is a group of students who are so passionate about the PRSSA organization and the overarching ideas and plans that make the society run; I wanted to be a part of implementing those big plans. Leadership is also something that I enjoy immensely, so the decision to take the next step and apply for a national leadership position was an easy one.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish as the vice president of career services?
A: My No. 1 goal is to increase the number of PRSSA students who are given the opportunity to complete an internship. Every student deserves the chance to practice and improve their learned skills through internships, and serving as vice president of career services puts me in the position to help more PRSSA students get that practical experience.

Q: What is your definition of a successful leader?
A: I think a good leader is someone who knows how to listen, as well as act. Balancing these two qualities is essential but quite difficult. If the team you’re leading knows that you will listen and care about their concerns, they are more likely to work hard on your behalf. On the other hand, a good leader also should know when to take action and get things done.

Q: How do you think this experience will shape your future as a professional?
A: This is a really exciting position, because I get to interact with chapters and students, as well as businesses and professionals. Essentially this position is all about making connections in order to expand the PRSSA Internship Center, so it will help me develop the skills to interact on a professional level, instead of just a student level.

Q: Why is it important for students to seek out and apply for leadership positions while in college?
A: Leadership pushed me outside my comfort zone, and I’d venture to say it does that for most students. Learning to lead effectively takes practice and hard work. In your professional career, you most likely won’t have the opportunity to lead and manage people for several years, so learning to lead while in college will put you a step ahead.

Q: What advice do you have for other PRSSA members who might be interested in applying for a similar leadership position?
A: Start leading on a small level. Like I said before, learning how to lead effectively takes time and practice; it doesn’t happen overnight. Try seeking out a leadership position in your university or local PRSSA chapter. Then, once you’ve taken on several smaller leadership roles, you can begin researching leadership positions that allow you to take on larger responsibilities, such as the PRSSA National Committee. Be sure to do thorough research when applying to these positions. I prepared my application for several months before submitting it, and the time spent preparing was definitely paid off.

The Real World Benefits of PRSSA Membership

It’s that time of year again: PRSSA registration and dues time. In the spirit of the season, I’d like to take a moment to remind current and potential members about the wealth of benefits that PRSSA membership has to offer. PRSSA membership will allow you to develop professional skills, learn from current public relations professionals and create industry contacts while you’re still in college.

But don’t just take it from me. Learn from current account supervisors and public relations specialists from around the country what PRSSA did for them and what it can do for you.

“Without a doubt, PRSSA was the most valuable networking opportunity for me in college and the connections I made with professionals and fellow students remain to this day, ultimately leading to my first job in the field. This didn’t happen on its own, but rather through active involvement and a consistent presence at local, regional and national events throughout my collegiate career. Anyone studying public relations without joining PRSSA is doing themselves a disservice, and they may wind up answering questions from interviewers like me who really value what the organization does for students.”

Kevin Saghy, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist, Chicago Cubs.

“My PRSSA membership without a doubt is the most impactful decision I’ve made in my life. It has determined the city I live in, the friends I keep up with, the job I go to every day and even the woman I am going to marry. Professional development that PRSSA offers helps separate members from their peers. Most importantly, networking opportunities with industry practitioners, educators and other members will provide members with a mosaic of best practices to utilize and job leads to explore.”

Ryan McShane, Senior Account Executive, Taylor.

“PRSSA was the key to unlocking many doors for me during my time studying PR in school and onto the first few years on the job. PRSSA helped me to identify mentors, expand my network as well as land my first few internships, which eventually turned into a full time job at a PR agency. I strongly encourage students who are interested in working in the PR field to join PRSSA to get a head start on the competition and level the playing field when it comes to job searching.  When I interview potential intern candidates and I see that they actively participated in PRSSA, they jump to the top of the list.”

Joseph Tateoka, Account Supervisor, Corporate Technology, Edelman (Chicago).

“When you’re in college, the one thing you work toward is getting a job. PRSSA prepares you in college to get a job through personal and professional development at conferences, workshops, meetings and other fun activities. When you graduate college as a PRSSA member, you can transition in to PRSA anywhere you choose — this is the network you want to join to meet people in any area and the network you want to join to help get you a job.”

Lauren K. Gray, National President, PRSSA, 2012-2013

“Being an active member of PRSSA is the your gateway of opportunity to pursuing a career and landing a job in public relations. Given my participation on the Chapter and national level of PRSSA, I was able to secure my first job post-graduation through relationships I made with professionals while being a PRSSA member. My PRSSA membership, activities, involvement and accomplishments within the Society gave me a competitive advantage allowing me to stand out from other candidates. Paying your monthly dues is simply not enough to leverage all the benefits PRSSA membership offers. Taking advantage of every leadership opportunity within your Chapter and PRSSA national, attending local, regional and national events and staying engaged in your Chapter is the key to effectively landing your first job after graduation.”

Brandi Boatner, Digital Experience Manager, IBM.

“PRSSA has ensured me that this is the career I need to be in. With all of the opportunities i have come about through events, workshops, networking with industry leaders, etc., I was able to grasp specific knowledge and guidance within the specific path I wanted to take in the industry. PRSSA serves as a full service organization and always produces nothing but the best.”

–  Hilary Jurinak, National Vice President of Internships and Job Services, PRSSA.

Want to become a dues-paying PRSSA member? Shoot me an email (eboggs@uoregon.edu) to get the details.

Special thanks Kevin Saghy for inspiring me to write this post, and a big thank you to all those who shared their PRSSA experiences with me so that I could create the post.

11-300x217Post by Ellie Boggs, chapter president for the 2012-2013 school year. She is a senior at the UO studying public relations. You can reach Ellie at eboggs@uoregon.edu.