Press Association Honors Communicators

The New York American Legion Press Association (NYALPA) honored communicators and elected officers July 20 during the Department Convention.

A special guest was Department Commander W. Michael Bowen, who joined NYALPA President Anne Harrington in presenting awards as Vice President Patrick Rourk announced the winners of the annual communications contest.

Editor Howard Heyel with Anne Harrington & Mike Bowen

The winners:

In the county/district publication category, Editor Howard Heyel and his Westchester Legionnaire took first place. Editor James Bojanowski and Erie County Legion's The Legion-Air won second place.

In the Auxiliary/SAL/40&8 category, NY Detachment SAL Editor J. Bruce Ruthven and The Liberty took first place honors.

In the small post category (15-150 members), Editor Anthony A. Bliss Jr. and The Locust Valley Legionnaire won first place honors while Editor Shirley Connolly took second place with Marne Post 270 newsletter.

In the mid-size post category (151-300 members), Editor Robert Santo took first place with his Greenlawn Bugle (Greenlawn Post 1244).

Dorolyn Perry won 1st place for editorial writing.

In the large post category (over 300 members), Editor Robert Stronach won first place for Utica Post 229's First Call. J. Bruce Ruthven took second place with The Bugle (Seeley B. Parish Post 457); Paul J. Steward took third place for Reveille (Hamburg Post 527).

Julie Harrison Kleszczewski won an honorable mention for Washington Square Courier (Washington Square Auxiliary Unit 1212).

Dorolyn Perry took first place honors for writing an op-ed article appearing in Post 1645 News.

In the web page category, Robert Stronach won a first place award for uticapost229.org.

Kevin Harrington (l) announces $6,000 donation.

During a business meeting, members approved a $9,000 budget for 2012-13, and Treasurer Mike Duggan reported that he signed up 10 new members so far during the convention, and another 50 renewed their memberships.

Secretary Kevin Harrington presented a $6,000 donation to Duggan for the NYALPA scholarship fund. The money was raised by Harrington's family and Melvin Roads Post 1231 in East Greenbush, and they decided that supporting the NYALPA annual scholarship was the practical way to go, he said.

Following the business meeting and awards, members elected officers for 2012-13.

NYALPA President Frank Peters

Frank Peters, outgoing Second District commander from Richmond County and a member of Gold Star Post 1365 on Staten Island, was elected president.

Then five vice presidents were elected: Patrick Rourk, Raymond Cook, Howard Heyel, Edward Mellincoat and Carl Griffith.

Kevin Harrington was re-elected secretary; Mike Duggan, treasurer, and Barbara Beebe, historian.

Anne Harrington and Dorolyn Perry were elected to three-year terms as directors.

Since Howard Heyel was elected a vice president, he stepped down as a director, and Lynda Pixley was elected to fulfill the remainder of his term, which expires in 2014.