Dear Rashmi:
I thank you for initiating this debate. I have been thinking about this for a long time. Kindly bear with me for posting my frank views. But thought it is my responsibility to respond to your mail in the larger interest of the young pr professionals in India .
The answer to your question is very simple. They are not professionals. I know each one of these associations and how they are being run by oldies and government PRO babus! They create and manage such associations for their own benefit, you scratch my back and I will do the same to yours. The so called awards they give out falls under the revolving category - One Association guys give awards to Other Association office bearers and the other association guys return the favor. The end objective is to collect trophies from each other and flash it to the world that we are contributing to the development of profession.
They DO NOT represent the industry. I consider myself as part of Industry (In fact, my wife strongly believes that I am the Industry! - well here the meaning of industry could be hard work :)) leadership and I DONT see any value being added by them to me or my business. Why should I even bother about such associations. Each one of them are headed by people above 50s, working in government PR departments or in companies which are closest to government when it comes to bureaucracy.
I am on board of PRSI, PRCI and ABCI, no one has ever invited me to attend any meetings or there is no communication from any one of them to me on whatever they are doing and why and how? how can you expect them to reply to you or anybody who is looking for information/ membership.
Expecting them to have updated websites is a far fetched dream. These organizations are for the benefit of the few individuals who run it.
Please DO NOT believe that they represent Indian PR industry, which is much better than it is being portrayed by my colleagues on the group. I work in the business and I know who we are and what we do. We are as good as anybody in US or UK , just because they are there - they don't get a right to bitch about Indian businesses or Indian leadership. If they are so good, why they are in a mess while Indian businesses are booming. There are lots of pluses and minuses everywhere but just because there are few unprofessional people around, you shouldn't label the entire industry as unprofessional.
The best way to acquire knowledge is to find your own way and get in touch with people who knows much better than any of these associations do. You don't have to depend on such (un)Professional associations to advance in your career.
Well, all the best in your search for knowledge. My advice: Learn yourself and be 'Eklavya' who any day was better than Arjun.
Take care & all the best.
Tushar
Mumbai
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