Persistence Pays: NPW gets bid

Nebraska Press Women was successful in its bid for the 2011 national convention, which NPW will co-host with Iowa Press Women. Persistence pays. NPW bid for the convention in 2006 as a way to celebrate the group's 60th anniversary. When the bid was turned down, the group tried to get the 2010 national convention, but lost it to Chicago. Hosting the convention in 2011 will provide an opportunity for NPW to celebrate its 65th year as an affiliate of the NFPW.

President's Advisory Board Elects Officers

Two Kearney Hub reporters were elected to leadership positions on the NPW President's Advisory Council at the group's first meeting on Saturday, Jan. 17, in Grand Island. Sara Giboney was chosen to chair the group, and Betsy Friedrich was elected secretary. President Ruth Brown appointed the council to generate new ideas for the organization. Other members are Terri Hahn, Grand Island Independent feature editor; Glennis Nagel, UNK marketing director; Mary Pat Finn-Hoag, Norfolk Daily News ag editor; and Rita Brhel, Sutton freelance writer.

Board of Directors Appointed

The following recently-appointed Board of Directors will serve a two-year term:
Professional communications contest: Bette Pore (Grand Island Independent),
with Barb Micek (Nance County Journal, Fullerton);
High school communications contest: Mary Pierce (Keith County News, Ogallala);
Communicator of Achievement: Cheryl Alberts Irwin (UNL IANR);
Historian: Gwen Lindberg (retired publisher, West Point), taking over in June 2010;
Legislative/ First Amendment: Diane Wetzel (North Platte Telegraph);
Membership: Jan Thompson (UNK lecturer); send ideas for new members to thompsonjl@unk.edu
Member Services: Lori Potter (Kearney Hub);
Newsletter: Andrea Cranford (UNL Alumni Assn.), taking over in January;
Parliamentarian: Judy Nelson (UNL IANR);
Publicity: Doreen Pfost (Rainwater Basin, Kearney);
Scholarship: Barb Batie (Lexington freelancer), taking over in January;
Past president/ 2011 NFPW convention: Stephanie Geery-Zink (Swanson-Russell, Lincoln).

Also on the board are officers elected in October 2008 for two-year terms. They are:
President, Ruth Brown, Lexington, University of Nebraska journalism professor;
Vice president, Emily Springer McCreery, sports editor for the North Platte Telegraph;
Secretary: Lyn Messersmith, freelance writer from Alliance;
Treasurer: Sherry Thompson, freelance writer and editor from Omaha.