The Morgue: News Archives

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2011

WPCI awards contest winners, inducts new officers

Woman's Press Club of Indiana honored contest winners and welcomed new officers at its meeting May 21 in Indianapolis.

Installed as officers were: Elizabeth Granger, president; Angie Satterfield, vice president; Gene Slaymaker, treasurer; and Marion Garmel, secretary.

Twelve members won first place awards and will compete with other entries from around the nation in the National Federation of Press Women's communications contest. Ann Allen won the Honeycomb Award for the most points garnered for all her entries.

Allen also is the club's 2011 Communicator of Achievement, an award given to a member who makes achievements in her area of communications. She will compete with other clubs' nominees for the national award at the NFPW conference.

WPCI's highest honor went to longtime member Margaret Nelson, recipient of the Kate Milner Rabb award, which honors a member who has made great contributions to the efforts of the club. For many years, Nelson oversaw the prison writing contest, as well as other contributions.

The club recognized several members for achieving notable years of membership: Virginia O'Hair, South Bend, 50 years; Donna Marlene Fitz, Freetown, 35 years; Vivian Sade, Churubusco, 15 years; and Rebecca Manley, Corbin, Ky., 10 years.

• See a complete list of winners.

14 high schoolers win at national level

Indiana high school journalists have won awards at the national level, the National Federation of Press Women announced recently. The group will present awards at its national conference in Omaha in September.

Students who placed first in the Woman's Press Club of Indiana contest earlier this year competed at the national level.

Indiana winners are:

• Laura Peng, Carmel High School, Carmel, first in double truck layout.
• Sara Rogers, Carmel High School, second in opinion, "Believing in allegiance: Why to honor every veteran this year."
• Yameen Hameed, Carmel High School, Carmel, second, single page layout.
• Lucas Sweitzer and Wes Keown, Southport High School, Indianapolis, second in graphics, "Culinary Destinations."
• Henry Zhu, Carmel High School, third in features, "Home Sweet Home."
• Marianna Cooper, Carmel High School, Carmel, third in video news story, "Small Business on Main Street."
• Greg Price and Sam Mirpoorian, Lawrence Central High School, Indianapolis, third for video feature story, "The Yo-Yo Man."
• Clayton Leslie, Southport High School, Indianapolis, third in video sports story, "Athletic Access."
• Elisabeth Bell, R. Nelson Snider High School, Fort Wayne, third in columns, "The elderly annex Facebook," "Hovering mom needs to land," "Mom driving drives her crazy."
• Jack Leibovitz, Lawrence Central High School, Indianapolis, third in feature photo, "Season 'marches' on: Sophomore Marcus Berry digs deep as he performs the second movement, Oblivion, on his bass clarinet."
• Cally Frazier, Greenwood Community High School, Greenwood, honorable mention in reviews.
• Claire Gallman, Greenwood Community High School, Greenwood, honorable mention in environment, "Project: Atrazine."

Earlier this year, nearly 50 students at Indiana high schools won awards for their work as part of the Woman's Press Club of Indiana High School Journalism Contest. See a list of all the winners and read judges' comments about their work at this page.

WPCI updates bylaws, taps into social media

Woman's Press Club members updated bylaws and learned tips and tricks of social networking during their March 19 meeting at member Tara Puckey's home.

The group's proposed bylaws were adopted in order to be more in line with the National Federation of Press Women's bylaws and to reduce the number of officers. Now, the club will have only the offices of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Also, rules regarding student members were expanded.

After a business meeting and lunch, Tara Puckey and Gena Asher led the group in looking at ways to better use social media professionally and personally. Other members added their own suggestions to the conversation, and a few members took advantage of the available assistance and signed up for accounts that afternoon.

Join WPCI on Facebook by searching Woman's Press Club of Indiana, and follow the club on Twitter at wpcindiana. Also, check out Puckey's 50 Sites in 50 Minutes to explore more social media sites. (Note: This site is password protected; use your WPCI member password.)

The next meeting is May 21, when WPCI initiates officers and awards communication contest winners. Get the scoop on the meeting on the Events page.

Kleinhenz' contribute $1,000

WPCI president Julie Slaymaker reports that Dr. Chris and Marge Kleinhenz have contributed $1,000 to the WPCI Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz Scholarship. Dr. Chris Kleinhenz is her son.

The $500 scholarship is for mature Indiana women interested in upgrading their skills in order to re-enter the journalism job market or upgrade positions in that field.

Woman's Press Club of Indiana is a charter member of the National Federation of Press Women, and Kleinhenz was elected to national office at the 1937 founding meeting in Chicago. (Then-WPCI president Vera Hall also was elected at that time.)

WPCI's most recent recipients of the scholarship were Pam Robinson and Kendal Miller.

• Read about the Kleinhenz and other WPCI scholarships on the Scholarships and Grants page.

2010

Annual auction raises funds

Members attending the fall meeting and annual auction raised money for the Education Fund and celebrated the fall season with a buffet lunch Nov. 20 at the home of member Marion Garmel.

During the meeting, they discussed several upcoming deadlines and events:

• The deadline for dues is Dec. 31, 2010. Pay online at the National Federation of Press Women website, which now requires individual registration. Here's what to do first:
  • Log onto the NFPW setup page and complete the information.
  • Log onto the dues page at NFPW and complete the info. If you are not comfortable doing this online, you may print out the form, complete it and send it to NFPW. All directions are at the bottom of that form.
  
  
• Your dues must be paid to compete in the 2011 Communications Contest. The deadline for entries is Jan. 10, 2011. Download all forms and check out the categories and requirements on our Contests page. Questions? Contact WPCI contest director Jackie Davis by e-mail at davisja63@hotmail.com.


• Also in March, we'll elect a slate of officers. If you'd like to serve or would like to suggest a potential officer, e-mail Gena Asher, a member of the nominating committee, no later than Feb. 1.


• Marion Garmel is taking nominations for the Kate Milner Rabb and Communicator of Achievement nominees. Please e-mail your nominations to her at mgarmel@earthlink.net no later than March 1.


• Members will discuss changes to bylaws at the March 19 meeting. Please bring your directories to the meeting. Keep track of all meetings, times and locations on the Events page

Puckey re-elected to SPJ

Member Tara Puckey was re-elected to her post as campus representative for Society of Professional Journalists at the organization's recent conference in Las Vegas.

Puckey garnered the majority of votes to keep her position as one of two national campus representatives. She is a journalism student at IUPUI and an active member of WPCI and NFPW.

WPCI tours Titanic exhibit

The fall meeting featured a group tour of the Titanic exhibit at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Meeting and refreshments followed at the Slaymaker home, where members reviewed the Chicago national conference news and made plans for the Nov. 20 meeting, which features the annual education fund auction. Stay tuned to the Events page for details.

Members attend NFPW in Chicago, bring home hardware

Nine WPCI members attended the National Federation of Press Women conference in Chicago in August to network with members, learn from other pros at workshops and collect their national awards.

At the Aug. 27 banquet, WPCI first vice president Elizabeth Granger was named co-first runner up in the Communicator of Achievement competition, and 10 other members won other honors during an Aug. 28 ceremony (see a full listing below).

Read all the details in this special report, including a list of winners.

Calendar sales support Education Fund

The calendar features photos from winners' home counties, such as this shot from the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

The all-new Woman's Press Club of Indiana high school journalism calendars are available now by mail order and, in addition to giving you a photo-filled 2010-2011 calendar, they also provide a unique way to celebrate WPCI's high school winners and sales support the Education Fund, which provides scholarships.

First vice president Elizabeth Granger designed and produced the calendars, which run from June 2010 to December 2011. They feature photos of notable sights from each high school winners' home counties.

Calendars are $16 each with shipping. If you order three to six calendars, price is $14 each. More than seven calendars, price is $12 each.

• Download the form here.

Annual contest luncheon honors members

WPCI members and guests applauded members and scholarship recipients during the annual communications contest luncheon May 15 in Vevay, Ind.

Top honors went to Marion Garmel and Tara Puckey, co-winners the Kate Milner Rabb Award, WPCI's highest honor given to a member who achieves professional excellent and exceptional service to the organization.

Elizabeth Granger won the Communicator of Achievement Award, and she will compete with other communicators during the National Federation of Press Women's conference in August.

WPCI sponsors scholarships each year at $500 each. Kendal Miller and Pam Robinson each won a Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz scholarship, named in honor of the 45-year-member of Woman's Press Club of Indiana who served the organization as president, historian and Bulletin editor before her death in 1977.

Puckey, an IUPUI journalism student and freelancer, won the Hortense Myers scholarship. Former UPI statehouse reporter Myers is remembered by her colleagues on the beat and in the journalism classroom as a fair but relentless reporter who sought the truth in every story she pursued.

• See a complete list of winners.

Plan now for NFPW conference

The National Federation of Press Women national conference is Aug. 26-28 in Chicago, a lucky location for WPCI.

This conference has special significance for two reasons. One is that the first annual meeting of the National Federation of Presswomen took place May 6, 1937, at the Chicago Woman's Club.

The second is that at the meeting, two Woman's Press Club of Indiana members were elected to the newly-formed NFPW: Vera Hall as vice president and Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz as secretary.

Plan now to take advantage of early bird savings. All the details are on the NFPW conference Web site.

Annual awards luncheon May 15

Celebrate with the communications contest winners, scholarship winners and other honorees at the annual luncheon and awards celebration May 15 at the Schenck Mansion in Vevay, Ind.

The day begins at 11 a.m. with a business meeting followed by buffet lunch that includes barbeque and picnic foods. After lunch, WPCI hands out awards from the communications contest, scholarships to student journalists and recognizes the Communicator of Achievement and Rabb Award winners.

All the details, including how to RSVP, are on the Events page. Send in your check and reservation no later than May 8!

Scholarship deadlines April 20

Do you know a college journalism student or adult woman looking to upgrade her journalism skills? Invite them to apply for one of our two scholarships. All details are on these downloadable Word documents:

• The Hortense P. Myers Memorial Journalism Scholarship is for qualified Indiana college students.
• The Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz Memorial Scholarship is for a mature Indiana woman looking to upgrade skills to re-enter the journalism job market.

Awards are made at the banquet in May. Check out the Scholarships and Grants page for more info.

WPCI awards high school journalist honors

More than 70 high school journalists won awards in the Woman's Press Club of Indiana 2010 high school contest, contest director Elizabeth Granger announced.

Those students who won first place awards will compete at the national level during the National Federation of Press Women's conference in Chicago in August.

See a list of all the Indiana winners.

Improve skills, network:
Development meeting features advice

WPCI's professional development meeting March 20 at Oliver Winery in Bloomington featured members and guests offering advice on career survival and development.

Keeping up with skills and networking were the two chief suggestions for surviving an economic downturn as a communicator or teacher. (See Resources for a list of tips.)

Members also heard a treasurer's report. The Kleinhenz family recently made a donation to the Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz scholarship fund.

The group also welcomed new or returning members Mary Sue Best, Pam Robinson, Kendal Miller, Judith Karst, David Penticuff and Jan Eberle.

Secretary Marion Garmel reminded members to send notice of their achievements and awards to historian Jackie Davis for inclusion in the bio archives, which are part of the Indiana Historical Society. Treasurer Gene Slaymaker added that the club will need this kind of information to properly celebrate WPCI's 100th anniversary in 2013.

High school contest deadline Feb. 22

The deadline to enter the Woman's Press Club of Indiana contest for high school journalists is early this year: Feb. 22.

All materials are on the Contests page.

First place winners compete at the national level during the National Federation of Press Women conference. Last year, six Indiana high school students placed at the national level.

2009

Club mourns Lilian Carmer's death

Longtime member Lilian Carmer of the North Vernon Plain Dealer-Sun died Dec. 20. She was 73.

Carmer, assistant editor of the Jennings County newspaper, spent more than 52 years there, specializing in government reporting. She rarely was without her camera.

A contender for the Honeycomb Award for many years, Carmer was the WPCI Communicator of Achievement nominee this year.

Read Carmer's obituary and editor Bryce Mayer's reflections on Carmer.

Auction draws over $1,000 for scholarships

WPCI's annual auction Nov. 14 raised more than $1,000 for the Education Fund and will support scholarships and professional development.

Members bid on (and "won") items ranging from a West Baden Hotel package worth several hundred dollars to antique glassware and unique works of art to theater tickets and holiday ceramics. The bidding was hot and heavy for many of these items, with auctioneer/member Fred Granger spurring the bidders to heights neither they, nor their pocketbooks, had quite imagined. The total: $1,088.

The group also conducted a business meeting before the auction and pitch-in luncheon. A few highlights:

• Materials for the upcoming communications contest are available (details on the Contests page).
• Members who have names of prospective members should send them to third vice president Jackie Davis, who will send an invitation to those people.
• Sweatshirts still are available for $29 plus shipping.
• The high school communications contest is underway and coordinator Elizabeth Granger will need more judges as the contest now has 17 categories, three more than last year. The deadline is earlier, too.
• Ann Colbert told the group about her upcoming plans to give a presentation on gender issues in the reporting of the Nobel prizes at University of Oxford (U.K.) in December.

WPCI members sent a flurry of e-mails after the day's events to thank hosts Gene and Julie Slaymaker and (in some cases) to gloat over their winning bids.

The next regular meeting is in March, tentatively set for Bloomington.

Oct. 17 meeting features updates, talk on military journalism

Reports on members' activities, club programs and plans for upcoming fundraisers were on the docket at the Oct. 17 meeting of Woman's Press Club of Indiana, held at the Loon Lake Lodge restaurant in Indianapolis.

President Julie Slaymaker led the meeting, which included a recap of the National Federation of Press Women conference activities and presentation of new member directories. Also, Margaret Nelson reported on the Prison Writing Contest, which garnered 170 entries this year. Judging is underway.

Member Tara Puckey delivered the program with a description of her recent participation in a military program designed to acquaint journalists with military training, from boot camp to a school for new majors. Sponsored by the McCormick Foundation and Kansas University, "Bridging the Gap" takes journalists to Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. Leonard Wood for the embed experience.

The club also discussed fundraisers, beginning with the upcoming auction at the Nov. 14 meeting that supports the Education Fund, which provides scholarships. Members already are gathering items and asking for gifts from organizations, including the West Baden Hotel.

Members also purchased sweatshirts, emblazoned with "Press Women Make Headlines", the proceeds of which also support the Education Fund. Plans are afoot to take this sales campaign to a national level.

Get the scoop on the meeting at the Events page.

WPCI members collect honors at national conference

Several WPCI members won awards at the National Federation of Press Women's national conference in San Antonio Sept. 10-12.

WPCI President Julie Slaymaker, one of the delegates who attended the conference, won a first place for a personality profile of 500 words or fewer.

Other Indiana winners were Ann Allen, first for feature story, magazine; Stephanie Taylor Ferriell, first places for page layout and editorial, and honorable mention for news reporting; Elizabeth Granger, first place for faculty adviser of student publications, honorable mentions for feature story and special articles, and third place for photography; Donna Penticuff, first for newsletter and third places for Web site development and audiovisuals.

Also winning were Lilian Carmer, third for photography; and Jackie Sheckler Finch, seconds in special articles (health, home) and third in special articles, travel.

At the conference, Julie Slaymaker also was named Northeast Quadrant Director for NFPW.

NFPW hosts a silent auction throughout the weekend, which netted $4,000 this year for the Education Fund. The highest-grossing item was the French Lick Resort Hotel weekend package arranged by WPCI's Elizabeth Granger. Hoosier members fought for the prize, with Gene Slaymaker outbidding Donna Penticuff for the package.

NFPW elects new officers, hosts workshops

Delegates from Woman's Press Club of Indiana joined other affiliates in electing new offers for the National Federation of Press Women. They are Cynthia Price, president; Lorrie Potter, first vice president; Teri Ehresman, second vice president; Val Ensalaco, treasurer; and Carol Clark, secretary.

Former NFPW and WPCI president Donna Penticuff remains director of the finance committee. She attended the conference with her daughter.

Indiana delegates were WPCI president Julie Slaymaker, secretary Marion Garmel, treasurer Gene Slaymaker and Ann Colbert.

Also attending were former NFPW treasurer and current WPCI contest director Jackie Davis and her daughter, Katie Davis, former WPCI treasurer.

Garmel reports that conference workshops concentrated on social networking and blogging in a time of falling newspapers and other mainstream media.

Speakers included the columnist Heloise, who talked about her mother, the founder of the syndicated column, Hints from Heloise, who started the column as a way to help officers' wives.

The keynote speaker at the luncheon honoring high school students was Sophie Eve D'Arcy, co-founder of Kids Speaking Up, a group that combats apathy among K-12 students.

NFPW's 2010 conference is Aug. 26-28 in Chicago. For more information, visit the NFPW Web site.

Barothy panelist at author's fair

Member Mary Anne Barothy, author of Day at a Time: An Indiana Girl's Sentimental Journey about her work with Doris Day, was a panelist at the Indiana Authors Fair Sept. 26 at the Indianapolis-Marion County Central Library. The Writers Center of Indianapolis presented the panel.

Rosswurm's news Web site making headway

Former WPCI president Vivian Sade Rosswurm continues to mark new ground with her Buscovoice.comnews Web site, which now is a partner with a national Web site, Examiner.com. Buscovoice garners thousands of hits per week as it covers area news and competes with traditional media.

Anyone who thinks news coverage is dead should talk to Viv about ways to move good old solid reporting to new media.

700 Club interviews Scoggan

WPCI member Nita Scoggan and her husband, Bill, were featured on a recent 700 Club TV report on Alzheimer's. The news crew interviewed the couple about his battle with the disease.

The piece aired Sept. 23, but you still can see the story at the CBC Web site.

You also can find out about Scoggan's documentary, available on DVD, at her Web site, www.NitaScoggan.com.

WPCI welcomes new members

WPCI has two new members, Emily Metzgar of Indiana University and Fred Granger, freelance photojournalist and husband of member Elizabeth Granger.

Metzgar is an assistant professor at Indiana University's School of Journalism. Learn more about her at EmilyMetzgar.com

Fred Granger is no stranger to WPCI members as he often has assisted us during meetings. His membership briefly was held up when his application materials were sent to Illinois instead of Indiana. We're glad we got him back!

Puckey is SPJ national college rep

WPCI member Tara Puckey, a journalism student at IUPUI, is one of two Society of Professional Journalists student members to win the office of campus representative.

SPJ delegates voted on this office Aug. 29 during the SPJ national convention in Indianapolis.

Puckey and two other candidates delivered three-minute speeches in which they explained their goals if elected. Puckey talked about her desire to raise SPJ's profile with college students, especially at IUPUI, where she hopes to jumpstart a student chapter.

Puckey has been a member of WPCI for about a year and in that time, has contributed by using her graphics skills to update documents and brochures for the group.

Six high schoolers win national honors

Six Hoosier high school journalists have captured national honors in the 2009 high school journalism competition sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women.

Winners are:

• Anton Barnett, Warren Central High School, first place in reviews;
• Stephanie Hodgin, Carmel High School, second place in single-page layout;
• Peyge Wolfe, Muncie Central High School, second place in news writing;
• Samantha Peterman, Muncie Central High School, third place in sports photography;
• Lauren Kreigh, Lawrence North High School, honorable mention in feature photography;
• Cody Wopshall, Muncie Central High School, honorable mention in column writing.

All six are being invited to the student luncheon at the NFPW national convention in San Antonio in September.

To qualify for the national competition, each had captured a first place at the state level through the Woman’s Press Club of Indiana's contest earlier this year.

Delegates, attendees set for NFPW

Woman's Press Club of Indiana is sending president Julie Slaymaker, secretaries Ann Colbert and Marion Garmel and treasurer Gene Slaymaker as voting delegates to the National Federation of Press Women conference in September. Jackie Davis and Katie Davis also will attend.

The conference, Sept. 10-12 in San Antonio, features workshops, keynote speakers and other events. This is an election year, so the Indiana delegates will be casting their votes for NFPW officers.

Attendees will report on their experiences at the next WPCI meeting Oct. 17.

WPCI awards highest honors, contest winners

At the May 16 annual awards luncheon in Vevay, Woman's Press Club of Indiana announced its two top honors as well as the winners of the 2009 communications contest, and awarded its two scholarships.

Carmer is Communicator of Achievement

Lilian Carmer is WPCI nominee for Communicator of Achievement, the highest award given by the National Federation of Press Women. It recognizes a member who has demonstrated outstanding journalistic achievement, service to the community and to the organization. Carmer will compete with nominees from other state affiliates at the national convention in September in San Antonio, Texas.

Carmer is an award-winning columnist and photographer for the North Vernon Plain Dealer and Sun in Jennings County, where she started work in 1958 as a bookkeeper. Today she is assistant editor of both papers, which still are published separately though with the same staff.

Her specialties are the courts and the police, but she also writes features, historical articles and human-interest stories. In 1969, she began her popular column, "Covering the Courthouse," a full page weekly in the North Vernon Sun. Her commitment to open access and freedom of information resulted in her receiving the Key to the Courthouse in 2008, and winning the 2008 Charlie Biggs Commitment to Community Award from the Hoosier State Press Association.

Read all about Carmer at the Plain Dealer-Sun.com.

Slaymaker wins Rabb Award

Current WPCI president Julie Slaymaker is the recipient of the Kate Milner Rabb Award, WPCI's highest honor given to a member who achieves professional excellent and exceptional service to the organization.

Slaymaker is a freelance magazine writer who has worked in the Indianapolis newsgathering, radio and public relations arena since the 1960s. She currently writes profiles for such magazines as Indianapolis Woman, Indiana Super Lawyers, Indianapolis Monthly, and various alumni magazines.

She is the only person to be twice elected president of Woman's Press Club and become a two-time winner of the Rabb Award (she won the award in 1991). She is a two-time WPCI nominee for the National Federation of Press Women's Communicator of Achievement Award. She also is a past president of the Indiana Professional Chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists.

She and her husband, Gene Slaymaker, are co-owners of Slaymaker Associates. They recently became the first recipients of the IndyPro SPJ Award for Service to Journalism in recognition of their more than 20 years of administering the SPJ communications contest. The award will be presented annually in their name. Slaymaker has been WPCI treasurer for the past year and will again serve as president for the 2009-11 term.

WPCI awards two scholarships

Also at the meeting, WPCI presented its two scholarships. May Lee Johnson of South Bend won the Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz scholarship, named in honor of Kleinhenz, a 45-year-member of Woman's Press Club of Indiana who served the organization as president, historian and Bulletin editor before her death in 1977. This year, Kleinhenz's son, Chris, and his wife attended the meeting to see the presentation of the scholarship.

WPCI student member Tara Puckey received the Hortense Myers scholarship, named in honor of the former UPI statehouse reporter and WPCI member.

Other meeting news:

The Honeycomb winner this year is Elizabeth Granger. This award goes to the member who nets the most points in the communications contest. Points are based on numbers of winning entries. (See a full list of winners.)

New officers also were inducted. They are:

• Julie Slaymaker, president
• Elizabeth Granger, first vice president
• Gena Asher, second vice president
• Jackie Davis, third vice president
• Ann Colbert, recording secretary
• Marion Garmel, corresponding secretary
• Gene Slaymaker, treasurer

WPCI announces high school winners

The work of 14 Indiana high school students will compete at the national level in this year's National Federation of Press Women student competition.

First place winners of the Woman's Press Club of Indiana high school contest go on to the national level. First vice president and contest organizer Elizabeth Granger announced winners in May.

A total of 53 students earned first, second, third and honorable mention awards in categories from writing and photography to graphics and layout.

NFPW will announce the winners at its conference in San Antonio September.

For a complete list and judges' comments, check out this link.

'Best of the Best' calendar features high school winners

Get a jump on planning for fall and 2010 by purchasing a 14-month calendar featuring Indiana scenes.

The featured locations represent the home counties of each of the first place winners in the WPCI high school contest.

Order by mail using this form (PDF format). Pricing starts at $12 each if you order one or two. Consider buying them as gifts and save: Buy three to six and pay only $10.50 each. Buy seven or more and the price drops to $9 each.

Questions? Contact Granger by e-mail.

SPJ honors Slaymakers with award in their names

The IndyPro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists established a new annual award in honor Gene and Julie Slaymaker during the group's annual awards banquet April 24.

The "Julie and Gene Slaymaker Service to Journalism Award" will be given each year in honor of their 20 years of administering the SPJ contest.

This was a surprise to the couple, who weren't able to attend the banquet this year due to the passing of Julie's father. Perhaps it is improper to send congratulations along with condolences (or vice versa?), but WPCI members will take that chance.

WPCI elects new officers

Woman's Press Club of Indiana nominated officers at the March 21 professional development meeting at Lawrence Central High School,Indianapolis.

Officers are:

• Julie Slaymaker, president
• Elizabeth Granger, first vice president
• Gena Asher, second vice president
• Jackie Davis, third vice president
• Ann Colbert, recording secretary
• Marion Garmel, corresponding secretary
• Gene Slaymaker, treasurer

During the workshop portion of the meeting, Ball State University journalism instructor John Strauss talked about convergence and the future of newspapers. He said journalism is storytelling, and by keeping that in mind, journalists should not be afraid of using the latest tools to tell those stories.

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Kleinhenz donates $1,000

Speaking of scholarships, treasurer Julie Slaymaker reports that Christopher Kleinhenz recently donated $1,000 to the Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz scholarship, administered by Woman's Press Club of Indiana, which bears his mother's name.

The scholarship, awarded in May, is for mature Indiana women desiring to upgrade their skills in order to re-enter the journalism job market or to upgrade positions in that field. This award is in memory of Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz, a 45-year-member of Woman's Press Club of Indiana who served the organization as president, historian and Bulletin editor before her death in 1977.

Kleinhenz and his wife, Margaret, live in Madison, Wis., but hope to be on hand when the donation formally is presented.

March meeting features convergence workshop

If you feel you're in the dark on topics like Web 2.0, crowdsourcing or the blogosphere, put the March 21 WPCI meeting on your calendar.

The professional development session will feature John Strauss of Ball State University and a workshop on "convergence," that blending of new media journalists are hearing so much about.

The meeting starts at 11 a.m. at Lawrence Central High School, 7300 E. 56th St., Indianapolis (directions). After a hearty lunch once again catered by Fred Granger, the workshop gets down to business.

If you plan to attend, contact third vice president Elizabeth Granger by March 18 to RSVP.

Cost is $10, checks payable to WPCI. As always, members may bring guests, including those curious about membership in WPCI.

Want to make a weekend of it? Check out tourism possibilities at Indy.org and Indiana State Tourism.

Carmer wins top HSPA award

Woman's Press Club member and North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun staffer Lilian Carmer won the Charlie Biggs Commitment to Community Award at the 42nd annual Hoosier State Press Association Foundation's annual awards ceremony Dec. 6 in Indianapolis.

Carmer, the assistant editor of the Plain Dealer & Sun, celebrated her 50th anniversary with the newspaper earlier this year. Carmer's main news beats are the courthouse and police, but she has covered everything from human interest features to farm news during her half century with the county's two newspapers.

She has championed governmental transparency and accountability through her reporting and writing, many times warning officials of potential Open Door Law violations, thus avoiding infringements on the public's right to know.

"The Charlie" award is named for Charlie Biggs, former publisher of The Hope Star-Journal, who died in 2003. Carmer and Biggs were friends as well as professional colleagues who conversed often on community and journalistic issues before his death.

Carmer has won numerous HSPA, Woman's Press Club of Indiana and National Federation of Press Women awards over the years.

Read the full story at the Plain Dealer & Sun Web site.

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2008

November meeting nets $832 for education

The WPCI November meeting earned $832.50 for the group's education fund, which sponsors grants and scholarships.

Members sought and brought items for the annual auction. These included:

• A night for two, including two spa services, at the West Baden Hotel in French Lick, Ind.;
• Tickets to plays and productions at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, American Cabaret Theatre and Indianapolis Civic Theatre in Indianapolis;
• Items ready for gift-giving, such as boxes of greeting and note cards, candles and picture frames;
• Member Margaret Nelson's macaroons and cookies, which included her State Fair Blue Ribbon-winning recipes tucked under the plates. (Bidding went very high for these delicacies!)

Officers also gave their reports. Contest director Jackie Davis stressed that contest entries must be received by Jan. 5, 2009, a firm deadline in order to get first place winners on to the National Federation of Press Women contest. All materials to enter the contest are on the Contests page.

Granger is Teacher of the Year

The Indiana High School Press Association named WPCI's third vice president Elizabeth Granger the 2008 Indiana High School Journalism Teacher of the Year at its state convention Oct. 17.

Granger teaches English and journalism at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, where she also advises the student newspaper, the Cub Reporter. As a further nod to Granger's influence on her students and staff, IHSPA named the Cub a 2008 Hoosier Star, designating it the best high school newspaper in the state in the large-population high school category.

Granger also is a freelance writer, winning several awards for her travel writing. She is WPCI's high school contest coordinator and plans the organization's four meetings each year.

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Six members win national awards

Members Donna Penticuff, Gena Asher and Marion Garmel attended the National Federation of Press Women conference in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Sept. 11-14. They attended workshops on a host of topics, from podcasting and blogging to using digital cameras, and enjoyed dinners and luncheons with members from affiliates around the country.

Six WPCI members are winners in the annual National Federation of Press Women contest:

• Jackie Scheckler Finch won a first place, special articles, arts and entertainment; and second place, section/supplement edited by entrant.
• Becky Manley won second place, special articles, science, ecology, environment or energy.
• Donna Penticuff won first place, annual report, external; second place, billboards; and third place, non-profit Web site edited by entrant.
• Gena Asher won second place, Web site development and creation, for-profit organization; and third place, Web site development and creation, nonprofit organization. She was WPCI Communicator of Achievement and was recognized with 16 other COAs from other affiliates during a special ceremony Sept. 12.
• Elizabeth Granger won second place, faculty adviser of student publications.
• Mary Ann Barothy won second place, non-fiction book, general.

High school students win at NFPW

Six high school students who were winners in the Woman's Press Club of Indiana state contest went on to win honors at the national level. At a special luncheon during the NFPW conference, high school winners were announced.

• Kristine Morgan, Southport High School, honorable mention in opinion.
• Jacklyn Chen, Carmel High School, third place in columns.
• Ashley Elson, Carmel High School, third place in sports photo.
• Michael Bush, Southport High School, third place in cartooning.
• Jeanette Wall, Center Grove High School, honorable mention in reviews.
• Meredith Dover, Lawrence North High School, second place in double-truck layout.

12 net awards in annual contest

A dozen members snagged more than 60 awards at the annual WPCI communications contest luncheon May 17 in Indianapolis.

Gena Asher won Communicator of Achievement and Marion Garmel was named Kate Milner Rabb Award winner.

Jackie Sheckler Finch had the most points based on awards to be named sweepstakes winner.

For a full list of winners and their honors, check out the 2008 winners page.

WPCI awards scholarships

During the annual awards luncheon, WPCI also presented two scholarships.

Ball State University student Ellen Gilmer, Indianapolis, came out on top of the competition for this year's Hortense Myers award, a $500 scholarship. Gilmer maintained a 3.87 grade point average at Ball State University while serving as features writer for the Ball State Daily News and contributor to the student-run magazine, Expo Magazine.

Gilmer also was selected to participate in a NewsLink Immersion Program in which she produces stories for publication in print, web and broadcast. She is an intern-reporter and photographer for Current in Carmel and Westfield; an assistant editor for the International Journal of Social Education in Muncie; and writer-photographer for the Franklin Township Online News.

Angie Satterfield, Vevay is the winner of the $500 Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz scholarship given to a woman over 30 years of age who desires to upgrade her skills to seek a better job in the field of journalism or to re-enter the journalism job market.

Satterfield coordinates tourism promotion for Switzerland County in Vevay, overseeing the operations of four retail stores with arts, crafts and agricultural products produced by county residents. She is active in her community with youth, historical, architectural and public service groups. With an elementary education major, she has completed some distance education courses from Ball State in Muncie and some computer classes from Ivy Tech in Madison. She wishes to take journalism and public relations classes to enhance her skills for her present and future work.

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WPCI awards high school winners

WPCI's annual high school contest awarded 56 honors to high school students and publications in March, 2008.

First place winners compete at the national level at the National Federation of Press Women conference in September. Indiana first place winners were:

• Matt Spears, Warren Central High School, Indianapolis: Editorial
• Kristine Morgan, Southport High School, Indianapolis: Opinion
• Nicole Burts, Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis: News
• Abby Large, Southport High School, Indianapolis: Feature
• Zach Bucholtz, Munster High School, Munster: Sports
• Jaclyn Chen, Carmel High School, Carmel: Columns
• Michael Bush, Southport High School, Indianapolis: Cartoon
• Ashley Elson, Carmel High School, Carmel: Sports photo
• Allie Renkert, Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis: Feature photo
• Jeanette Wall, Center Grove High School, Greenwood: Reviews
• Nick Reasoner, Warren Central High School, Indianapolis: Graphics
• Shannon Veerkamp, Greenwood Community High School, Greenwood: Single page layout
• Meredith Dover, Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis: Double truck layout
• Mary Queisser, Carmel High School, Carmel: Environment

For a full list of winners, check out this page.

March meeting addresses finances, copyright

WPCI met March 22 at Lawrence North High School for the spring education and business meeting.

Newly-appointed treasurer Julie Slaymaker brought members up to date on financial matters and second vice-president Gena Asher led a discussion on copyright and ethical use in the digital age.

The members enjoyed a soup and salad lunch provided by third vice-president Elizabeth Granger and her husband, Fred.

President Becky Manley, who could not attend, sent an e-mail reminding members to make their nominations for Communicator of Achievement and the Kate Milner Rabb award as soon as possible.

The next meeting will be the annual awards luncheon May 17.

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2007

Fall meeting features annual auction

(November 2007) WPCI met Nov. 17 at the Slaymaker home in Indianapolis and conducted the annual auction to raise funds for the Education Fund, which provides scholarships.

During the meeting, members discussed ways to build up the general fund. They also discussed the upcoming communications contest, and contest director Jackie Davis reminded members of the rules and regulations, including how to fill out the envelopes.

After lunch, interim vice president Vivian Rosswurm auctioned the many items members brought for the fundraiser, including an autographed Pacers jersey, tickets to a variety of Indianapolis theater events and other items perfect for gift-giving.

The next meeting is March 15.

Monty shares advice on freelancing

WPCI member Julie Slaymaker appreciated writer Lisa Monty's article, "Freelance doesn't have to mean being paid late," so much that she asked Monty's permission to publish it on the WPCI Web site. Monty generously agreed, and many thanks. Access the article here.

Four high schoolers win at NFPW

Four WPCI high school communications contest winners went on to win awards at the National Federation of Press Women contest:

• Veronica Delgado, Munster High School, Munster, won a first in sports photography;
• Cza Cza Castillo and Amy Karch, Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis, won third place in reviews;
• Abby Large, Southport High School, Indianapolis, won an honorable mention in opinion writing;
• Joe Slabaugh, Muncie Central High School, Muncie, won an honorable mention in news writing.

Members discuss finances, contest

WPCI met Oct. 6 at the Cushing Manor Inn Bed & Breakfast in South Bend to discuss finances and upcoming programs and goals.

For finances, the club will focus on beefing up the operating fund, while the education fund appears to be healthy. The group also hopes to publicize the contest as well as attract new members.

Historian Jackie Davis reminded members to submit their materials to her to update bio files.

The next meeting is Nov. 17 and includes an auction, proceeds of which benefit the education fund.

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Seven attend national conference

Seven WPCI members attended the National Federation of Press Women conference in Richmond, Va., Sept. 20-22 and returned with fresh ideas and information to pass along to other members.

Donna Penticuff, Gena Asher, Jacquelyn Davis, Katie Davies, Marion Garmel, Vivian Sade-Rosswurm and Julie Slaymaker joined over 200 members from affiliates around the nation to hear about ways to get more members involved in the First Amendment Network, recruit new members and retain current ones, and encourage professional development.

Members heard professionals share advice and media trends in at least a dozen small workshops. General meetings featured speakers such as the mayor of Richmond, governor of Virginia and best-selling author Adriana Trigiani. Members also heard a guest panel talk about the development and promotion of activities surrounding the 400th anniversary of the settlement of nearby Jamestown.

This year marks NFPW's 70th anniversary, so in addition to workshops, members were treated to several "birthday" events, including a revue of fashions through the ages, featuring WPCI member Julie Slaymaker, and several presentations about inspirational NFPW members through the group's history.

Indiana members also hosted a table representing WPCI's history since its founding in 1913. The display included a scrapbook, clippings and memorabilia.

NFPW also supports an online feature of the National Women's History Museum. "Women on a Deadline" is an interactive feature that describes women journalists and their accomplishments.

New president Marsha Schuler encouraged members to get involved in FAN, an NFPW program that connects members with their local legislators to promote First Amendment issues. NFPW now has a link on Facebook to keep FAN supporters apprised of the latest news.

WPCI members made their own news at the conference. Jackie Davis was the WPCI entrant for the Communicator of Achievement award, which was won by Peggyann Hutchinson of Oregon. At the awards banquet, Gena Asher won two firsts and an honorable mention; Elizabeth Granger won one first and one second place award; Lillian Carmer won first and second place awards; Donna Penticuff won a second place award; and Elise Sims won a third place award.

Check the NFPW Web site for a complete wrap-up of national conference events.

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Scholarship, award winners celebrate at annual luncheon

(June 2007) Members of Woman's Press Club of Indiana celebrated communications awards and honored scholarship winners at the annual awards luncheon at Palais Royal in Centerville, Ind.

The college scholarship winner, Katie Mastin, a Ball State University junior, won the Hortense Myers Scholarship of $500. Katherine Newkirk, a journalism graduate student at Indiana University, won the $500 Louise Eleanor Ross Kleinhenz award for older women returning or starting journalism studies.

Mastin attended the ceremony with her mother, Amy Mastin, who is news editor at the New Castle Courier-Times. Newkirk did not attend.

In member honors, historian and National Federation of Press Women treasurer Jackie Davis, Indianapolis, won the Communicator of Achievement award and will compete for honors at the national level in September.

Gena Asher, Bloomington, was named the Kate Milner Rabb Award winner this year.

In the communications contest, Lilian H. Carmer, Dupont, received eight first place and five second place awards to win the 2007 Honeycomb Award. The Honeycomb was the title of a 1969 autobiography by author/reporter Adela Rogers St. Johns. See a full list of communications contest winners here.

Two members reported other honors. Margaret Nelson completed her studies in the ecclesial lay ministry program of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. She was honored in a special ceremony May 17.

Lawrence Central High School journalism adviser and WPCI third vice president Elizabeth Granger won the Superintendent's Award from the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indianapolis in recognition of her winning first place for advising student publications from the National Federation of Press Women for two consecutive years. She won the WPCI award for advising student publications at the May 19 ceremony as well.

The group also honored these members for reaching milestone years of service: Judith Karst, Culver, 20 years; Elaine Bell, Warsaw, 30 years; Janet Eberle, McCordsville, 35 years; Jane Ford, Indianapolis, 45 years; and (pictured) Joan Bey, Indianapolis, 55 years.

WPCI installs new officers

(June 2007) WPCI also installed new officers at the May 19 meeting, with several retaining their posts.

Officers for the 2007-2009 year are:

• Elizabeth Manley, president
• Vivian Rosswurm, acting vice president
• Gena Asher, second vice president
• Elizabeth Granger, third vice president
• Katie Davis, treasurer
• Marion Garmel, secretary
• Jackie Davis, historian

High schoolers net WPCI awards

(June 2007) WPCI awarded 49 prizes to high school students around the state for their work in reporting, design, photography, editorial writing and reviews. WPCI member Elizabeth Granger, who oversees the high school contest, said the club had 142 entries from high school journalists around Indiana.

The high school contest supports efforts of young journalists and recognizes their best work.

• See the list of 2007 high school winners and read judges' comments on their work.

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The fine print:

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URL: http://www.wpcindiana.org

Updated January 2012

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