Yesterday (24 May) was a great day for me. After picking up Julie from her place, we went to Fitz's South County for the Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC) Communications Contest Celebration.
I was among ten MPC members who entered this contest, which honored communications work done in 2024. A team of judges evaluated each entry and awarded a place (First, Second, Third, or Honorable Mention), along with making constructive comments about each entry.
After soft drinks and hors d'oeuves, MPC co-president Janice Denham announced the contest results. She recognized each contestant, going in order of number of entries per person (least to most). For each contestant, Denham told of their entries, where they placed, and briefly what the judges thought of those entries.
Denham came to me announced that all six of my entries earned an award. I knew in advance that two of them took First Place, and now I knew which ones. One was the press release announcing last year's Gateway Chapter International Plastic Modelers' Society (IPMS) Invitational. The judges lauded it for presenting information in a clear and concise manner. My other First Place went to the IPMS Gateway Facebook page, which I manage. The judges' comments praised the good quality of photos, the ease of navigating the site, the organization of the galleries, and the impressive page engagement figures.
These and the other First Place winning entries from MPC are eligible for the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest. Those results will be announced at the NFPW's Conference this September in Golden, Colorado.
My Editor's Notebook column in the IPMS Gateway newsletter, The Arch Scaler News, earned Second Place. The judges really liked the conversational tone and its positive call to action for members, along with information about upcoming activities. The newsletter itself received Third Place, the judges liking the plentiful good information in it. They did suggest I economize where I can, using fewer but larger photos and keeping out unnecessary words.
I also took Third for my second blog post about last year's IPMS/USA National Convention. The judges thought my writing held up well but wanted more details on the sessions I attended there. Finally, my account of last year's NFPW Conference in St. Louis, which appeared in the newsletter NFPW Agenda, earned an Honorable Mention. The judges liked my "play by play" of the conference.
After the awards were presented and the last congratulations shared, our celebration ended. I asked Julie to take photos of me with the certificates I earned, and she did.
Julie enjoyed being at the celebration and chatting with the other attendees. She was my guest two years ago at this event. After we left Fitz's, I drove Julie home and we parted with a hug and kiss.
After dropping Julie off, I ran off some IPMS Gateway Regional Contest flyers and dropped them off at three hobby shops--Mark Twain Hobby Center, Schaefer's Hobby Shop, and Checkered Flag Hobby Country--before coming home.
Later.
Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:
Missouri Professional Communicators: Missouri NFPW affiliate | Missouri Professional Communicators | Clayton
Fitz's South County: South County | Fitz's Root Beer
IPMS Gateway Chapter: IPMS Gateway Chapter
IPMS/USA: IPMS/USA | IPMS/USA Home Page
National Federation of Press Women: Home
