So often, awards for career accomplishments are delayed into the latter stages of our careers, which can be discouraging for those of us who like the glory in addition to the hard work. But luckily, one professional organization has created a designation that allows professional PR women the chance to be recognized for career accomplishments.

The Washington Women in PR (famous for their PR Woman of the Year Award) are looking to honor the area’s up and coming public relations professionals this spring with a new distinction: the Emerging Leaders Award.This new award is a special designation for those women who have already made a significant impact on the industry and highlights their potential to contribute to the industry for many years to come, making them truly emerging leaders. WWPR will honor three outstanding young women, ages 21-35, in the Washington, D.C. metro area who have excelled in public relations and related fields.

The application deadline is April 30.

Let’s face it: awards and speaking opportunities can easily raise your profile and get you as a PR professional added visibilty. Visibility can set the services of your firm apart to potential clients, or accelerate your career.

For those of you looking to take your career to another level this year or next, maybe it’s time to apply for an award from PRSA. If you’ve got a stellar campaign or project you worked on in the past year, check out the Bronze Anvil Award. If you don’t have an Anvil-worthy project, not to worry. PRSA has a great opportunity for practitioners with deep subject matter expertise to present at the upcoming international conference in Washington, DC this October. If you’re a social media guru or knower of all things crisis comm, why not put together a proposal to present? The deadline has been extended.

Public Relations Society of America October International Conference Presentations-February 23

Due to severe weather conditions in many parts of the United States, PRSA has extended the Call for Presentations deadline to February 23.

Showcase your strategies, theories, ideas, research and results at the most dynamic gathering of public relations professionals in the world! This is your opportunity to share your expertise and network with thousands of Conference attendees while enhancing your leadership profile in the public relations community. Join us in Washington, D.C., October 16-19, 2010, and experience the excitement, the power, the people and the places of a true capital city. Combine that with the best professional development, influential speakers and networking opportunities, and you’ll be “Powering PRogress.”

PRSA is seeking expert speakers. Are you a public relations or marketing communications professional, educator or expert in a related field — CMO, CEO, CFO, economist, social scientist, futurist, management consultant, journalist, blogger, technologist or editor? Are you a specialist in social media, public affairs, sustainability, design, or research and measurement?

Public Relations Society of America Bronze Anvil Awards-March 12

From the PRSA Web Site:

Recognizing Tactical Excellence

PRSA’s Bronze Anvil Awards annually recognize outstanding public relations tactics — the individual items or components that contribute to the success of an overall program or campaign. These tactics — whether a media relations program, Web site, annual report, podcast, blog or use of social media or word-of-mouth — are the hardworking parts of any public relations program.

Now in their 40th year, the Bronze Anvil Awards celebrate the “best of the best” in public relations tactics, reflecting their growing scope, creativity and importance in strategic public relations. Learn how you can gain industry recognition by entering and winning a PRSA Bronze Anvil Award.