2026 MPC Communications Honors

Yesterday morning (20 May), I came to Janice Denham's house in Kirkwood to pick up my Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC) 2026 Communications Contest awards. Den ham is co-president of MPC. The awards were presented one week before, but I was unable to attend the awards luncheon due to a St. Louis CITY SC match early that afternoon.

All five items I submitted for the contest were winners. I earned two First Place awards, and one each of Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention. One of the Firsts was for editing The Arch Scaler News, the monthly member newsletter of the Gateway Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society (IPMS) in St. Louis. I submitted the October 2025 issue for consideration here.

One of the MPC judges commented on that submission: "One of the best organized newsletters I've seen/ The news is clear to read, and the array of model photos is easy to browse through. The meeting's minutes are long, but they are presented in an organized way." 

The other First Place award I received was for writing and distributing the press release for last September's Gateway Regional Model Contest and Vendor Fair in Affton. For this category, I submitted a statement of purpose for the release and some screenshots of websites where the release appeared along with the release itself. The judge wrote about my entry: "The writing is clear, concise and informative. There is nothing wrong with that!" The judge suggested leading with what this contest was about and perhaps showing the range of competitions to help readers envision the event. 

A build article I wrote for The Arch Scaler News earned Second Place in its category. "'Vengeance' of an Old Kit: Building Frog's 1:72 Vultee Vengeance Mk. II" ran late last year. The contest judge remarked: "Author narrated their experience of building this model wonderfully, and explained the kit very well. I found it interesting even though I'm not a model builder The photos complemented the narrative nicely, too."

Placing Third was another article I wrote: "Trumpeter's 1:72 F-8II 'Finback'-B." This ran in the Asian Air Arms Special Interest Group Newsletter. The judge wrote of this entry: "Well-written article with great background and detail. Photos also compliment the article well throughout." The judge did suggest that I could talk more about how I came across this model, why I built it, and how it was selected. The judge though that I might draw more readers in by adding this content to the article's lead.

Finally, the Honorable Mention was for my blog post "Trivia Night, Museum Tour, and Soccer Refereeing: My Weekend," which I posted here about a year ago. Of this entry, the judge wrote: "Writing is clear and photos help enliven the various scenes." The judge thought I should relate the day's events with what they mean to me or how they connect to the wider world.  That person thought that by digging deeper into my emotions that I will have a blog that can resonate with more readers.

Overall, the judges' comments were fair on all five entries. Having such constructive criticism to go with these awards has been a help to me in the years since I started entering this contest. Certainly, the awards look good on my wall and on the Awards section of my Linkedin profile.

Those two First Place awards are now eligible for honors from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW), ofn which MPC is an affiliate. The NFPW's Communications Contest awards will be announced at its National Workshop this September in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

Missouri Professional Communicators: Missouri NFPW affiliate | Missouri Professional Communicators | Clayton

Gateway Chapter IPMS: IPMS Gateway Chapter

Asian Air Arms Special Interest Group: Home | asianairarms

National Federation of Press Women: Home

Scale Models in Springfield; Flowers and Recognition at Church

Early Saturday morning (16 May), I drove to Marion Morris' house in Maplewood. There, I got into Morris' minivan with Jim Triola and David Thomas to begin traveling to Springfield, Missouri. We of IPMS Gateway were going to MOSS CON, the annual contest and vendor fair presented to IPMS Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists. 

Along the way, we picked up Randy Kleeschulte and continued on our journey., stopping in St. James for breakfast at McDonald's. After about three and a half hours of travel, our party arrived at the Arc of the Ozarks facility in Springfield, where MOSS CON took place. Six other Gateway members traveled separately to the show.

After paying our admission and registration fees, we made our way to the contest area. I brought three models--two aircraft and a ship--to enter. After placing the models on the contest tables, I started to make my way around the room, talking with people I knew, purchasing some raffle tickets, and browsing among the contest models and vendors.

I had my camera with me to take pictures of the contest models and general show scenes for Gateway's Facebook page. I bought several kits and a paint brush holder from vendors and won two kits in the raffle.

Midday, I and several other attendees volunteered to judge contest entries. This contest used the Gold-Silver-Bronze system, in which each model in a category was judged by its own merits instead of in competition with other entries in the category. A model could receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or no award, and there were no limits to the number of such awards that could be given out. I helped judge automotive models and it worked out well at my end. The judges placed comments with each entry of what was good and bad about it and what award, if any, it earned. Neither of my three contest entries received any awards.

Seven of my Gateway mates won awards in the contest, so I was proud of them. I made sure to highlight their winning models on the club's social media. Overall, the contest drew 313 entries from 82 modelers.

Late that afternoon, I joined with Morris' group to pack up our things and leave for home. We stopped in St. Robert for dinner at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers before dropping off Kleeschulte and then returning to Maplewood. I got my items out of the minivan and put them in my car before driving home. It was quite a fine day.

The next morning had me at Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel for Sunday service. Julie Rodriguez and Joan Burke joined me for the service, which featured the annual Flower Communion--a tradition in Unitarian Universalism. Julie brought some flowers, so she gave Joan and I a flower each from the bouquet. At the appointed time, parishioners brought the flowers up to the front of the sanctuary and placed them in glass vases. There were several vases filled with flowers that day.

After this communion, the church recognized its new members from the past year. The 32 new members--including me, who joined in February--came to the front of the sanctuary to be recognized. Each of us received a copy of the book Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies. It was great to see this recognition given by the congregation to its newest members.

After the service, there was lunch in Adams Hall. This was followed by Eliot's annual Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary. The meeting approved three new members of the Board of Trustees and three new members of the Nominating Committee. We also discussed the proposed budget and other church matters.

Julie and Joan had to leave before the meeting ended, as Julie was seeing her son Dave and granddaughter that afternoon. I left church after the meeting to go home. After starting to post photos from MOSS CON onto IPMS Gateway's Instagram and Facebook, I bought groceries from Walmart.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

IPMS Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter

IPMS Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists: Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists scale modeling | Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists

The Arc of the Ozarks: The Arc of the Ozarks: Serving People with Disabilities in Missouri

Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel: Home

Catching Up After Over Two Months Away from Here

After over two months since my last post here, I finally got myself to sit down and post up here for you all.

On 14 March, I attended the Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC) meeting at the St. Lois Artists' Guild. Patty Prewitt, who had been freed and given clemency in 2024 for the murder of her husband 40 years before, spoke about keeping up hope while in prison through writing. I bought a copy of her 2025 book Trying to Catch Lightning in a Jar: Letter from Prison, which she signed for me. It was quite an interesting program.

In March, I got in touch with a financial advisor from Thrivent, who had reached out to me via LinkedIn. We have met via Zoom and received some recommendations from her regarding my investments. She also set me up with a colleague who does Money Canvas, a three-week online program on budgeting. The second session is this coming week.

On 17 April, I joined Julie, Joan, and few others at a table for Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel's Trivia Night at the Crestwood Community Center. The questions had to do with water and what creatures live there. Out table ended up in the middle of the pack, it was all good fun.

Speaking of Eliot, I served as a greeter on consecutive Sundays (19 and 26 April) for the 11:15 am service. This involves passing out orders of service, getting questionnaires to first-time visitors, collecting and totaling offerings, and helping keep the sanctuary in good order. I really enjoy this volunteering and look forward to doing more in the coming months.

Work has been going well. We have the usual turnover of staff as they move up and on, but business has been good. Last month, I participated in a corporate focus group with other automotive detailers from the St. Louis area, which was most informative and helpful to the group staff.

CITY SC has stumbled through the start of the season. They aren't doing very well, but as a supporter, I must keep hope. Julie has usually gone with me to the home matches as Energizer Park, proceeded by the St. Louligans Street Party at Schlafly Tap Room. We've also gone to away match watch parties at 2nd Shift Brewing. (There's one tonight.) For the latter, Julie has lately been bringing her dog Molly along. 

Julie and I get together just about once a week for dinner, a CITY match, or something else. Our relationship is still going strong.

Matters with scale modeling in general and IPMS Gateway in particular have been fine. I have lately been splitting workbench time among three models: 1:200 scale Artemis I rocket (sister to Artemis II that recently flew four astronauts to the moon and back), a 1:350 heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (given to me by a fellow Gateway member for our club's "buddy build" this year), and a 1:48 F-111A I have rescued from my "shelf of doom."

One week ago (2 May), I worked a morning volunteer shift with the Greater St. Louis Book Fair, a charity used book sale held at the Greensfelder Recreation Complex. I started out straightening the stacks of books as they got moved around on the tables. Later, I helped collect books left in bins by each row of tables for them to be restacked on the appropriate tables.

The next day, I staffed a table for IPMS Gateway at the Midwest Model Vehicle Association Spring Model Car Show at Kirkwood Community Center. I gave out flyers for our club and answered questions visitors had about us.

Things around the house are going well. I have to do some slight repairs as necessary, but overall, the place is holding up well.

Later.

Links to Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

Missouri Professional Communicators: Missouri NFPW affiliate | Missouri Professional Communicators | Clayton

Thrivent: Why Thrivent | Thrivent

Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel: Home

Crestwood Community Center: Crestwood Community Center | Crestwood, MO

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC

St. Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer

Greater St. Louis Book Fair: Greater St. Louis Book Fair

Greensfelder Recreation Complex: Greensfelder Recreation Complex Ice Rink - St. Louis County Website

IPMS Gateway Chapter: IPMS Gateway Chapter

Midwest Model Vehicle Association: IPMS Gateway Chapter - MMVA Page

IPMS Gateway Regional 2025

Early yesterday morning (13 September), I drove to Affton Elks Lodge #2635, where IPMS Gateway Chapter was holding its 19th annual Gateway to the West Invitational. This year's event also served as the 2025 IPMS/USA Region 14 Contest.

Reaching the Elks lodge just before 7:00 a.m., I helped with completing the show's set up. The tables were put in place the day before, so it was a matter of helping vendors find their assigned tables and getting our admission, registration, contest, and raffle tables ready. Donuts and coffee were available for volunteers and vendors.

I manned the admission table, near the entrance, where attendees would pay for admission and for contest registration. Each attendees received a wristband (white for volunteers, green for vendors, red for attendees). Randy Kleeschulte joined me at admission to help with collecting money and making change, as well as asking attendees how they found out about the show and where they came from. The survey questions help with promotion efforts.

There was quite a crowd waiting to get in when the show officially opened at 9:00 a.m. Randy and I processed the attendees as efficiently as possible. There were long lines at the contest registration tables, as we had many contest entries.

Once things calmed down, I was able to register my six contest models. These included one I finished the night before, a 1:72 scale He 162A from a Frog kit issued in 1972. This made it eligible for the show's Special Category "The Golden Age: 1975." In celebration of IPMS Gateway's 50th anniversary this year, the category was open to any kit that was available in 1975.

I also entered three models in Military (Bren Gun Carrier, BMW R75 with Sidecar, and 6-Pounder Anti-Tank Gun) and two in Ships (Hatsuharu and HMS Repulse). The three Military entries were also eligible for the Special Category.

Everyone was having a great time, the vendors and raffle were doing good business, and I enjoyed seeing people I have not seen in person for months. At 11:00 a.m., the call was made for contest judges. I was among those who volunteered, and we each got a meal voucher from the Elks Lodge. I had a bowl of chili and a soda for lunch before judging started at noon.

I was put on a team to judge figures and basic kit build (also called out of the box). The three judges--Dave Roeder, Julian Durham, and I--efficiently judged the entries and recorded the top three models in each category we judged. We also made picks for the best in the respective classes.

Julie stopped by as judging was wrapping up. (She was at an event at Eliott Unitarian Universalist Chapel earlier that day.) We chatted briefly, then she left for home. 

Judging was done by around 2:30 p.m. and the category awards were placed by the respective entries. I didn't win anything, but that's fine. The competition was strong in the categories I entered.

The Raffle Grand Prizes were drawn and presented, then the major awards were handed out. After Mark Twain Hobby Club presented a special award in memory of a club member who died earlier this year, the Best of Class awards were presented. Following these, the Special Award and Best of Show awards were handed out.

We had a terrific show that day. By my count, we had 184 paid attendees, not counting volunteers and vendors. There were 23 vendors on 42 tables. The model contest had 399 entries from 89 entrants. This is believed to be an IPMS Gateway show record.

After packing my models and other things in my car, I helped with other volunteers to clean up the hall and put the tables and chairs back to their normal places. We got this done by around 3:30 p.m., after which I went home.

Around 90 minutes later, I picked up Julie and we went to 2nd Shift Brewing for the St. Louligans watch party for St. Louis CITY SC's match at CF Montreal. We had a good time, especially as CITY won 2-0. Yes, this was a great Saturday for Julie and me.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

Affton Elks Lodge #2635: Lodge #2635 Welcome

IPMS Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter

IPMS/USA: IPMS/USA | IPMS/USA Home Page

2nd Shift Brewing: 2nd Shift Brewing

St. Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC

This Weekend: Show Me Space Sci-Fi and Pride St. Louis

Yesterday morning (28 June), my IPMS/Gateway mates Scott Wadyko and Bill Wagner picked me up at home and we drove to Bonne Terre, Missouri. That was the town hosting Show Me Space Sci-Fi, a conference hosted by The Space Museum and Grissom Center. The museum asked Gateway to run a science-fiction (sci-fi) model contest, and we agreed. Our club had seven members attending the event.

I joined with Regina Morris to staff the model registration desk. (Regina's husband, Marion Morris, ran the contest.) This was the first time Show Me Space had a model contest, and it went well. This contest drew 33 entries from 8 attendees. This included me with a Roswell UFO that I built some years ago with Soviet markings. It was for Gateway's Same Kit Contest back then.

This event also had displays of science-fiction movie and TV robots and props. Several cosplayers were also in attendance. There were also tours of the museum. The contest judging in the early afternoon went smoothly and quickly.

The scene then shifted to the Civic Auditorium at Bonne Terre City Hall, which was a few blocks from the Grissom Center. Earl Mullins, the museum's director, served as master of ceremonies. Three speakers followed, beginning with former astronaut Dr. Tom Jones, who spoke of his own and his colleagues' experiences on Space Shuttle Missions, which he compiled for his book "Space Shuttle Stories."

The other two speakers were Dan Monroe, host of the YouTube channel Movies, Music & Monsters, which looked at sci-fi movies and TV from the 1950s to the 1980s. Last to speak was Lancer Winkel, professor of digital animation at Missouri Western State University, who spoke on The Allure of Space & Science Fiction," explaining how sci-fi stories and spaceflight have influenced human outlooks on their present and future.

After Mullins presented awards to the top cosplayers, Marion Morris announced the contest results. Awards were presented to the top three models in each category, plus three special awards (Best of Show, People's Choice, and Curator's Choice) were announced. Overall, it was a fun time and a nice way for Gateway to reach out to the sci-fi modeling audience.

Late this morning, I was in downtown St. Louis for the annual Pride STL Parade. I joined with other Enterprise Mobility workers--mostly from corporate headquarters in Clayton--in showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. I chatted with a few colleagues I knew and helped with decorating a stakebed truck that would be in the parade.

We stepped off around 12:30 p.m., going west on Market Street from 10th Street to 15th Street. It was not as hot as it has been in past Pridefest parades, so that was most welcome after the excessive heat we had in this area last week. 

After the parade, I helped make sure the supplies were reloaded into a box truck. Noticing St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page nearby, I introduced myself to him and we chatted briefly. It was my first time meeting Dr. Page. Then, I walked back east to the Stadium West Garage, where I parked my car, and headed home.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

IPMS Gateway Chapter: IPMS Gateway Chapter

The Space Museum and Grissom Center: The Space Museum and Grissom Center

Dr. Tom Jones: TOM JONES – ASTRONAUT SPEAKER

Dan Monroe: Dan Monroe | Movies, Music & Monsters | Sci-Fi, Hollywood Props & Pop Culture

Lance Winkel: Lance Winkel

Pride St. Louis: Pride St. Louis

Enterprise Mobility: Introducing Enterprise Mobility

2024 Communications Honors from Missouri Professional Communicators

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

Easter Weekend 2025

It was a wet weekend here. Lots of rain this past week and into yesterday morning (19 April). I stayed at home during the day, working on a ship model for next month's IPMS/Gateway meeting. It's the Hatsuharu, a Japanese destroyer of World War II. I received this 1:700 scale kit at the March Gateway meeting from a donation of ship kits to the club. The Modeler of the Year Contest in May will have the Special Category of "Free Shipping" for models from this stash. I did major painting of the Hatsuharu with assembly of components (such a gun turrets, superstructure, and exhaust stacks) to come.

Late that afternoon, I drove into Downtown West St. Louis for St. Louis CITY SC's match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. I began by attending the St. Louligans party at Schlafly Tap Room. (Due to the weather, it was held indoors.) Julie did not go with me, as she was helping her roommate Joan celebrate her birthday.

I mingled with the fellow St. Louligans, drank some Schlafly beer (including tasting three of their newer brews), and watching the start of the St Louis Blues' playoff game on TV.

About one hour before kickoff, it was time to assemble for the march into Energizer Park for the match. The St. Louis City Punks and STL Santos came to the corner to join the St. Louligans and Fleur de Noise for sone chanting before we marched.

After marching around Energizer Park, we entered the stadium and found our places in the Supporter Section in the North End. Some minutes before the match, former University of Missouri football quarterback Brady Cook delivered the kickoff ball before he walked over to our section to wave a banner and pound the big drum.

The match pitted CITY, which was 12th in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer, against the Western Conference leading Whitecaps. The home side kept things close and seemed to have taken the lead in the first half; however, it was overturned after Video Assistant Referee review on an offside.

 

The match ended in a scoreless draw; a disappointment in that an apparent winning goal was denied, but happy that CITY kept a clean sheet against such a good team as Vancouver had.

After relaxing at home this morning, I went to Julie and Joan's apartment for Easter dinner. Several of Joan's relatives were also there and it was a nice dinner featuring ham. After the meal, we got into conversation until mid-afternoon when we all decided to all it a day. It's back to work in the morning for me.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:

IPMS Gateway Chapter: IPMS Gateway Chapter

Schlafly Tap Room: Schlafly

St. Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC

Energizer Park: Energizer Park | St. Louis CITY SC

Major League Soccer: MLSsoccer.com - The Official Site of Major League Soccer