The revelation on this website earlier this week that the Council of PR Firms had $822,842 in cash/savings as of Dec. 31, 2008 and the Arthur W. Page Society had $581,688 has shocked PR pros both in New York and across the country. The total is $1,404,530.
PR pros, including some who are out of work, say the tax free status of both organizations should force them to work in behalf of the entire PR industry and not just their members.
Council of PR Firms and Arthur W. Page Society share space at 317 Madison Ave. |
Both organizations could easily fund a midtown information center open to members, non-members and reporters, they say.
New York PR pros are especially miffed because they lost their association midtown south library and meeting place in 2004 when NANA (PRSA) moved its headquarters from Irving place to downtown (33 Maiden Lane).
For decades NANA h.q. had been at 845 Third Ave. at 51st St. The Third Avenue office had an extensive library that was open to non-members as well as members. NANA's Maiden lane offices does not have a library. It operates a webinar/seminar business that has a few free offerings.
The NANA Assembly in 1986-87 voted twice to move h.q. out of New York to save money but the board and staff fought the move.
In apparent retaliation, the board permanently killed the spring Assembly which has morphed into a June "Leadership Rally" for chapter presidents-elect.
Could Host PR Groups
A midtown information center could host a number of PR groups including the Black PR Society of New York, which now meets at Burson-Marsteller at 19th St.
Other groups that could use a meeting place include the Publicity Club of New York, which once held weekly meetings, and the New York chapter of NANA.
The chapter usually meets in the offices of midtown PR firms but some PR firm CEOs do not like their employees meeting in a competitor's office.
"There should be a neutral place in midtown for PR groups to meet," said an agency CEO.
Cripps/Nicholson Get $491,182
Tom Nicholson, Kathy Cripps |
Kathy Cripps, president of CPRF, was paid $277,020 in salary in 2008, plus $16,965 in benefits, while Tom Nicholson, Page executive director, received $180,000 in salary and $17,207 in benefits for a total of $491,182.
"The overpaid Cripps could spend a good part of her time as a librarian, helping both CPRF members and non-members, which is what she is supposed to be doing anyway," said a senior New York PR pro.
VP Matt Shaw of the CPRF ($117,350 compensation) could likewise be occupied as would Nicholson, said the PR pro. |