During the general membership meeting on Thursday of conference, long time IWPA member Lily Vension (in wheelchair) surprised us all, She was recognized with a 45 Year Milestone. Lily was a reporter, feature writer, and lecturer who began her career at the Lerner newspapers (now Skyline) in 1963. A career highlight was participating in Dr. Martin Luther King's march, after which she wrote an award-wining article, "The Dust of Alabama is on My Shoes Tonight." Her series of articles to convert golf land into a public park, garnered a national award and a plaque from the governor, just two of the many such awards she has been honored with on the state and national level.

Elizabeth Brackett was the Keynote Speaker during the Saturday, August 28 breakfast meeting. Brackett currently serves as correspondent and substitute host for WTTW 11's flagship nightly public affairs program "Chicago Tonight." During her tenure, she has covered presidential, mayoral and gubernatorial races, Chicago financial exchanges, the Chicago Bulls and genetic research.
In the spring of 2009 her book Pay to Play: How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption into a National Sideshow. Brackett discussed the process of writing the book while the Blagojevich case made headlines and captivated the attention of the nation.

Val Ensalaco was selected the 2010 COA from IWPA. She was honored at the Friday night COA Banquet. Here, Val is pictured along with her husband Ernie.