About CAST: Overview & History
The Communications Association of the Southern Tier was created in 2001 through the merger of:
- the Public Relations Society of the Southern Tier, which was established in 1970;
- the Binghamton Ad Club, which was organized in 1989;
- and the Southern Tier Club of Printing House Craftsmen, which was chartered in 1954 as a local club of the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen (IAPHC).
CAST provides opportunities for its members to learn, network and exchange ideas. Our annual Genesis awards program salutes outstanding communications work created by our members. Our scholarship program encourages the next generation of communications professionals.
Although CAST is a local organization, many of its members seek greater experience and also join national or international organizations. Examples include the Public Relations Society of America, the IAPHC – The Graphic Professionals Resource Network, the American Marketing Association, and professional organizations serving specific fields of employment, such as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. For those seeking greater depth at the local level, CAST encourages members to form Special Interest Groups. For example, the Graphics Special Interest Group, formed to exchange ideas about graphic design and Web page creation, continues to offer programs as they become available.