PenPoints newsletter

Member News

. Congratulations to Tracey Ahrens, whose second children’s book What If the Moon, which she wrote and illustrated, will be published in February 2008. Guardian Angel Publishing also published her first book Cloud Jumpers, which was illustrated by Eugene Ruble of St. Louis. You can view an abstract of this book at http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/cloudjumpers.htm

Tracey writes, “Thanks for all your support.”

Congratulations to Kimberley Mathisen, now managing editor at the Crown Point (IN) Star.

Condolences to the friends and family of Verneeta Gowens, who passed away on Dec. 31, 2007, at age 94, an IWPA member since 1961. She was from South Holland and was employed by the Star-Tribune from 1963-78. She won more than 50 writing awards and was IWPA’s Communicator of Achievement in 1974. She won the top award in the NFPW contest, winning the coveted Sweepstakes award in 1976. IWPA has lost a true professional and a good friend.

Welcome to IWPA’s newest members:

• April Albrecht learned about IWPA from President Suzanne Hanney. She is a writer and also works as a litigation support specialist at the Chicago law firm Kirkland & Ellis, LLP.

• Jeff Bolson is a public relations/marketing student at Bradley in Peoria. He’s from Pekin. Thanks to Prof. Margaret Young for sending one of her students our way.

• Olivia Cobiskey lives in Dixon and writes for the Sauk Valley Newspapers in Sterling as a features reporter. She learned of IWPA through Suzanne’s message on the Association of Women Journalists’ (AWJ) listserv.

• Deborah Donovan writes for the Daily Herald based in Arlington Heights and she lives in Oak Park. Her managing editor, Madeleine Doubek, recommended she join and enter her work in this year’s Communications Contest.

• Meghan Fahy is a graduate student at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She found IWPA on the Internet.

• Amelia Flood covers St. Charles for The Kane County Chronicle. She lives in Geneva.

• Ashley Keyser is also a student and is a junior, majoring in journalism and gender studies at Northwestern in Evanston. Suzanne Hanney suggested she join and enter her StreetWise article on youth homelessness in the contest. She is from Naperville and from Philadelphia before that.

• Diane Laux is a communications consultant in Elmhurst. Another new member Betsy Storm told her about IWPA.

• Amy Lillard is a freelance writer in Chicago. Check out her Web site at www.amylillard.com

• Lisa Nelson is a freelance writer from LaGrange, who is entering her work in this year’s contest.

• Maija Rothenberg is president of Balagot Communications in Chicago. Thanks to Jane Ranshaw for referring her to IWPA.

• Betsy Storm is president of Top Drawer Communications in Chicago.

• Anna Marie Kukec Tomczyk is also a writer for the Daily Herald, focusing on business and technology. She lives in Elk Grove Village.

• Aileen Vertiz lives in Chicago and works at HR Solutions as Associate Marketing Project Manager. Aileen visited our fall meetings and decided to join.

Remember, NFPW’s membership promotion “4 for Free.” If you recruit four new members during 2008, your 2009 national dues of $53 are free. So you have 11 more months to earn your free membership.

Communication Contest Update

By Ann Heinrichs, Contest Chair

We have received more than 120 entries in the communications contest, submitted by 34 members. In addition, we are welcoming at least 10 new members to IWPA. As expected, the Print Media categories were the most popular, accounting for more than half the entries. The Web Writing and

PR/Promotion/Publicity categories saw heavy traffic as well. We have a great lineup of judges, and we look forward to celebrating the winners at the May 17 awards luncheon.

                 IN THIS ISSUE:

FOUNDED IN 1885

February, 2008 PenPoints ................  Page 1

Networking Can Be Intimidating ....   Page 2

Legal Aspects Of Writing .................   Page  3

Member News / Contest Update ...    Page  5

IWPA Programs Student Contest ..   Page  6

Back to PenPoints | Back to IWPA