Webster's defined Polaris as the star of the northern hemisphere toward which the axis of the earth points. Also known as the North Star, it is a guide for travelers to follow - a beacon of true north. Thus Polaris Awards are the guiding light of the public relations profession...a guide for others to follow and a beacon of true excellence.

The Polaris Awards and Annual Dinner is annual gala program recognizing the Inland Empire's most accomplished public relations professionals. It incorporates sound research, planning, execution, and evaluation. The Polaris Award represents the highest standards of performance in the public relations profession.

Awards are judged by Public Relations Society of America members from a different chapter. They are designed to recognize outstanding public relations achievements from the previous year.

The California Inland Empire Chapter presents two awards: the Polaris Award for superior achievement in public relations and Capella Award for achievement in public relations.

Do you have what it takes to win? Did you have an amazing PR Campaign? Did you develop an amazing web site and/or collateral pieces? Did you have a crisis and you saved the day thanks to your strategic communication skills? Do you have a media relations campaign you want to share? Did you launch a new product or service that deserves recognition.

The Annual Polaris Awards and Dinner will be held in October. Entry forms with categories, instructions, and other submission information will be mailed to practitioners who are on our PRSA-CIEC mailing lists. If you want to be included on our Polaris mailing list, and have not received information from us in the past, please send your request to awards@prsaie.org. 

If you want to volunteer to serve on the Polaris Awards and Recognition banquet committee for this year, or serve as a sponsor/advertiser at the event, please send an email query the Committe Chair at awards@prsaie.org.

Milestone dates for 2010 Polaris entries are:

 

July 21	Polaris Awards clinic: How to Prepare a Winning Entry (see Events tab this website for more information)
August 20	EARLY POLARIS ENTRY DEADLINE
September 1	POLARIS ENTRIES DUE
October 13	2010 Polaris Awards and Recognition Banquet

2010 PRSA CIEC Polaris Awards

Call for Entries

PRSA-CIEC is pleased to announce a Call for Entries for the 2010 Polaris Awards, our annual award program which recognizes the very best in strategic public relations programs and tactical execution in the Inland Empire.

Award categories are open to all public relations practitioners who work in San Bernardino and Riverside counties or who have completed work for Inland Empire-based clients.

Complete details including instructions on how to enter and judging categories are available here. The entry form can be downloaded here. 

Polaris Award Entry Fees

PRSA-CIEC/PRSSA Members

Early Bird Fee: $45 (discount of $15 on initial entry only. Must be received by August 20, 2010)

Late Entry: $60 (Must be received by September 1, 2010)

Non-members

Early Bird Fee: $60 (discount of $15 on initial entry only. Must be received by August 20, 2010)

Late Entry: $75 (Must be received by September 1, 2010)

Winners will be announced at the 2010 Polaris Awards on Wednesday, October 13 at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California. The evening gala will include a silent auction, Rising Star Scholarship recipients, PR Newcomer of the Year, PR Practitioner of the Year and announcement of Polaris and Capella award recipients.

NEW THIS YEAR! Nominations for PR Newcomer of the Year and PR Practitioner of the Year must be submitted by September 1, 2010 to awards@prsaie.org. The nomination form can be found here.

PR Newcomer of the Year

Eligible Recipients:

• Newer PRSA CIEC members in good standing
• Active in the public relations profession three years or less

PR Practitioner of the Year

Eligible Recipients:

• PRSA CIEC members in good standing
• Awarded to seasoned PR professionals

For additional information about the Polaris Awards, please contact Patricia Zurita, Polaris Awards Chair, at (909) 527-4011 or awards@prsaie.org