Receiving 2023 Honors from MPC

Saturday morning (13 May), I drove to Julie's house in Florissant to pick her up to take us to Mike Duffy's Pub and Grill in Kirkwood. We were there to attend the Missouri Professional Communicaitons (MPC) gathering for presentation of the 2023 Communications Contest awards for work MPC members performed in 2022. 

There were eight of us there--Julie was the only guest--and we had soft drinks and appetizers as we socialized early in the program. Then, MPC co-president Janice Denham announced the contest results. Most of the members present, plus two who could not make it, received awards for their work.

When my name came up, Denham said that I had really taken to heart the judges' comments from my submissions in previous years. I had won three First Place awards and one Second Place for my four 2022 submissions. One of my Firsts was for editing The Arch Scaler News, member newsletter of the Gateway Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society (IPMS). The judges cited the consistency with styling job titles, phone numbers, dates, and times, as well as the close-up photos and the clean and clear layout. This entry was in Editing for Print or Online Publications; newsletter/other publication--nonprofit, government or educational.

The next First Place award was for running IPMS/Gateway's Facebook page, in the category of Web and Social Media: Social Media Presence; nonprofit, government or educational. The judges liked the good use of photos and the clear and informative writing.

The final First Place winner was for my press release announcing IPMS/Gateway's 2022 Invitational contest. This was entered under Information for the Media: News or Feature Release; single release. The judges mentioned that it received two very prominent placements and that it was clear and basic.

Additionally, this blog earned Second Place under Web and Social Media: Blog, personal. I submitted the post Grand Day in South St. Louis from last August. The judges liked the basic blog post, but wished I could pump up the writing.

My three First Place winners are eligible for awards from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) at its National Communication Contest. (MPC is a state affiliate of NFPW.) Those awards will be announced at the conclusion of NFPW's Communications Conference late in June in Cincinnati. They asked me this past week for my photo, which I sent them, as at least one of my entries may be a winner. That would be nice. (By the way, St. Louis hosts next year's NPFW Communications Conference.)

Denham then had a lucky number type drawing for a cloth book bag from the St. Louis Artists' Guild, and I had the lucky number. A nice added gift for the day. 

After the gathering broke up, I asked Julie to take my picture with the First Place awards, and she did.

I was most proud of my efforts, as you might expect, and very happy to receive these awards and the judges' comments, which I plan to take to heart in my work this year. Also, I was happy for my MPC colleagues with the honors they received for their work. Julie enjoyed the gathering and chatted with Denham and the other attendees.

After this gathering, I drove Julie back to her house, as she had an appointment that afternoon. We kissed and hugged, promising to see each other again soon.

On my way home, I stopped by Oberweis Dairy in Oakville for an ice cream cone, as a celebration for my awards, then drove to Schnucks in Oakville to shop for Mother's Day. I got a box of six cupcakes, a greeting card, and a gift card for Bob Evans Restaurants. After paying for my purchases, I waited inside as it was pouring rain. After the rain lightened up, I walked to my car and drove home.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:

Mike Duffy's Bar and Grill, Kirkwood:  Kirkwood | Mike Duffy's Pub & Grill (mikeduffys.com)

Missouri Professional Communicators: Missouri NFPW affiliate | Missouri Professional Communicators | Clayton (moprocommunicators.org)

IPMS/Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter (google.com)

National Federation of Press Women: Home (nfpw.org)

St. Louis Artists' Guild: St. Louis Artists' Guild (stlouisartistsguild.org)

Oberweis Dairy: Oberweis Dairy

Schnucks: Home | Schnucks

Bob Evans: Bob Evans | Breakfast Near Me Delivery | Breakfast Restaurants

2023 Mardi Gras with Julie

Midday yesterday (18 February), yours truly drove to Julie's house in Florissant. We had lunch featuring jambalaya and king cake for dessert. It was very nice.

After watching much of a Serie A match on TV (Inter vs Udinese), I drove us towards Soulard for the Mardi Gras celebration. After driving around for about 30 minutes and unable to find a parking spot amid the large crowds present, we parked at the garage just west of Busch Stadium and walked towards Soulard. Julie and I came across large crowds along Broadway near Soulard Farmers Market. 

We soon found a food stand, where we got a shish kabob, a funnel cake, and a cup of lemonade. Julie and I shared these items as we stood and looking upon the throng in the streets. We then walked up Broadway and Julie asked a firefighter about the evening parade that we had come for. He told her that parade is Tuesday night, not Saturday night. (There had been a daytime parade earlier that Saturday.) Disappointed, Julie and I walked back to the garage and returned to her home. 

We watched an animated film, "Turning Red," that was streamed on her TV. It was a fun movie to watch with an uplifting message about self-acceptance. Thus, Julie and I made the most of our day even with the original Mardi Gras plans upset.

The next morning, we had breakfast of bacon and donuts, plus cafe au lait. It was most delicious and a great beginning of the day. I left Julie's house late that morning, as Julie was getting ready for a friend's party. I headed home, stopping by Target to get some undershirts and Schnucks to get today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, with its special St. Louis CITY SC preview section. The season begins this Saturday. I can't wait.

 

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

Serie A: Lega Serie A | Home

Soulard Mardi Gras: Contact Us | Soulard Mardi Gras 2023 | St. Louis, MO (stlmardigras.org)

Target: Target : Expect More. Pay Less.

Schnucks: Home | Schnucks

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Breaking News | | Read St. Louis, MO and Missouri breaking news. Get latest news, events and information on Missouri sports, weather, entertainment and lifestyles. (stltoday.com)

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

Christmas 2021

Entering this past week, I didn't feel much Christmas spirit. Uncertainty about the future and my present situation had me feeling low. A few friends tried to cheer me up. We'll see how that goes.

Last Tuesday night (21 December), I went to the monthly IPMS/Gateway meeting at the Affton Elks Lodge. We had voting for next year's club officers and for this year's Stroup Award (Member of the Year). I was reelected President by acclamation, as no one else was nominated for the post. I am happy to serve another year as club president. The Stroup Award will be presented at next month's meeting. I am one of the three nominees for that honor.

We also had a buffet dinner, with entrees from Smokee Mo's BBQ and sides provided by club officers. (I brought some cupcakes from Schnucks.) We also had the annual Recognition Contest, in which we had to guess the war movie from the theme music. I got 20 of 23 correct for the best score of the night and earned a $10 gift card from Schaefer's Hobby Shop.

Finally, we had the big kit raffle, in which all members had a chance to win a model kit. With my winning ticket, I selected a kit of the German battleship Tirpitz.

After the rental branch closed early on Christmas Eve (24 December), I drove to Super Smoker's BBQ in Affton to pick up a Christmas Eve dinner my brother Doug ordered for my mom and me. It was delicious, featuring sliced turkey, green beans, and potatoes. 

Up the next morning, my mom and I went to the Christmas tree set up in our living room to open some presents. I bought mom a pair of slippers, which she greatly appreciated. I received from mom and my brother Rick several books, including five from Rick's employer, the History Press. I also received a book I ordered from the National Museum of the United States Air Force's gift shop about the XB-35 and YB-49 flying wing bombers, and a large book with maps of key battles over the centuries.

Midday today, I was at Olympia Athletics & Events Centre in St. Charles to referee St. Louis Youth Soccer Association (SLYSA) futsal matches. These three matches were with under 9 boys' teams, and I worked them solo. I had not refereed futsal in about two years and was concerned I would be rusty, but fortunately all the matches went well. I hope to work some more futsal matches in the season, which runs until early February.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:

IPMS/Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter (google.com)

Affton Elks Lodge 2635: Elks.org :: Lodge #2635 Contact Us

Smokee Mo's BBQ: Smokee Mo's St Louis BBQ Restaurant - Best Meat & Vegan BBQ (smokeemosstlouisbbq.com)

Schnucks: Home | Schnucks

Schaefer's Hobby Shop: Schaefer's Hobby Shop - Arts, Crafts, Beads, & R/C | Schaefers (schaeferhobby.com)

Super Smokers BBQ: BBQ + Cajun | Affton St. Louis | Super Smokers’ Newest Location

The History Press-Arcadia Publishing: The History Press (arcadiapublishing.com)

The Air Force Museum Store: The Air Force Museum Store Air Force Museum Store

Olympia Athletics & Events Centre: Olympia Athletics Events

St. Louis Youth Soccer Association: Home - St Louis Youth Soccer (slysa.org)

Witnessing "The Caper in Aisle 6"

This past Wednesday night (26 June), I did a volunteer stint with Circus Flora (https://circusflora.org/) in the Grand Center Arts District (http://www.grandcenter.org/) of midtown St. Louis. This was my last scheduled shift of four this season for the show "The Caper in Aisle 6," and it was the first of the full show before a paying audience.

After helping clean some of the seats before the audience arrived, I helped welcome the audience and directed them to their seats. We had a very good crowd that night--at least 4/5 full. "The Caper in Aisle 6" involved people who could fly, anchovies, and Schnuck Markets (https://nourish.schnucks.com/).

With Yo-Yo the Narrator (Cecil MacKinnon) guiding us all, there were the Nemean Sisters performing an aerial act, then the acrobatics of Circus Harmony's St. Louis Archers (https://circusharmony.org/) took the stage. Matthew Morgan and Mooky Cornish played the manager and the grocery employer during the show. Rounding out Act I were the trained dogs and pigs of the HotDiggity Dog Show, and the high wire artistry of the Flying Wallendas (http://wallenda.com/index.html).

Trio Bellissimo showed off its contortion and hand balancing skills just before the intermission, then after the break Kellin the clown impressed us with his juggling skills.

The Daring Horseman demonstrated great trick horse riding skill, including flipping from one horse's back to another while in motion, and leaping off the horse through a flaming hoop.

Morgan and Cornish kept the story running along, and Cornish pulled a few audience members on stage for a brief show number. This was followed by the teeterboard act Duo Ikai. While that act was going on, I and the other volunteers got our instructions on helping make sure the safety nets were in place for the final act, the Flying Royals on the flying trapeze (https://www.facebook.com/TheFlyingRoyals/). I was stationed near one of the tie down points for the net, to make sure nobody from the audience gets tripped by it.

After that, the show ended with the ring crew, band, and company being recognized by Yo-Yo. I then helped make sure the audience got out of their seats and filed out of the Big Top in good order. I then helped pick up trash for a few minutes before checking out of the tent and heading home--happy to have done my bit in making Circus Flora a success and that the audience enjoyed being there.

"The Caper in Aisle 6" ends tomorrow (Sunday) night. Catch it if you can. You won't be disappointed.

Later.

Helping Out at Circus Flora

Once again this year, I am volunteering for Circus Flora (https://circusflora.org/) in Midtown St. Louis' Grand Center Arts District (http://www.grandcenter.org/). This year's show is "The Caper in Aisle 6," which involves an element giving people the ability to fly and Schnucks Supermarkets (https://nourish.schnucks.com/).

I first helped out this year on 5 June--the night before the show opened--joining with others to clean the seats and get the Big Top interior ready for opening night. The rehearsal show took place that night, so I was able to get a sense of the acts on the program this year and how they would all tie together.

The next two Wednesdays (12 and 19 June), I volunteered at the morning shows for children, which were only half as long and with fewer acts as the regular show during the evenings. For these, I helped make sure the seats were cleaned and acted as an usher. The show on the 12th had a power outage about one third of the way in, and we had to help improvise some lighting for the stage until the power came back up later in the show. Fortunately, the show went on.

Last night (23 June), after the early evening show, I joined with other show volunteers at their annual party. We sat for a group photo, and received words of thanks for helping out so far this year. Then, we entered the ring for a buffet dinner, featuring fried chicken from Hodaks (http://hodaks.com/). It was a most tasty meal, and we were joined by many of the performers. I had to leave fairly early, due to having to get up early today for a busy day at work. Still, this was a good reward for all our hard work for the circus.

Later.