The CalSPRA Extended Board convened on January 9, 2026, to finalize critical preparations for the upcoming annual conference and review organizational progress across several key initiatives. With 329 attendees already registered, the board emphasized that the registration window closes in late February. 

Discussion focused heavily on the diverse pre-session offerings—ranging from Media Mastery to Adobe Photoshop for Beginners—and the logistics of the Awards Gala. This year’s Gala will feature assigned seating and a revamped approach to special recognition awards, while judges work to finalize the remaining categories based on a standardized numerical scale.

Beyond the conference, various committee chairs provided rapid-fire updates on member resources and professional development. The Mentoring program celebrated its first successful match and the creation of a new training module, while the APR spring cohort was officially announced. Additionally, a new Ambassador Group is set to launch training to help recruit members and advocate for the school PR profession. The board also highlighted an AI research partnership with Project Tomorrow, which will soon launch a survey to understand how CalSPRA can best support members in navigating emerging technologies.

Financially, the organization remains in a healthy position, with Treasurer Rob Meszaros reporting steady cash flow across checking, savings, and money market accounts. Committee work continues in the legislative and scholarship sectors, with final materials for the scholarship program expected to be released shortly. The meeting, which efficiently covered five organizational goals, concluded at 1:13 P.M.