Winter 2011 www.nebraskapresswomen.org NPW NEWSeLETTER Geery-Zink presented COA at NPW awards luncheon by Bette Pore Stephanie Geery-Zink, a two-term past president of Nebraska Press Women, was honored September 8 as 2011 Nebraska Press Women Communicator of Achievement. The award was presented as part of the NPW Anniversary Awards Luncheon, marking the 65th anniver- Mary Pat Hoag Mary Pat Martha Stoddard presents Stephanie Geery-Zink with the 2011 Nebraska sary of NPW, prior to the beginning Press Women Communicator of Achievement award during the NPW of the National Federation of Press Anniversary Awards Luncheon September 8 in Council Bluffs. continued on page 11 Hahn honored at NFPW conference by Bette Pore Terri Hahn, Nebraska Press Women 2010 Communicator of Achievement, was honored September 9 as the runner-up for 2011 Communicator of Achievement at the National Federation of Press Women Communications Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Hahn was one of 12 nominees from across the country for the high- est honor bestowed by NFPW. The

2011 Communicator of Achievement Potter Lori continued on page 10 Runner-up Terri Hahn (right) with National COA from Delaware. Winter 2011 1 President’s Column WOW! It all went off without a hitch! reminded us that laughing is good for The Nebraska pre-tour that Lori our health. Potter planned so meticulously had Sessions were interesting, accom- Press Women from many states learn- modations were comfortable, meals ing about some of Nebraska’s treasures, were great, the silent auction was fun, from Willa Cather’s Red Cloud to Barb the authors’ book tables were good, Batie’s coffee in the cornfield and the the live auction with Julie Burney was steak fry at Sallie Atkins’ ranch in the amazing, and camaraderie abounded. Sandhills. Friday night, we joined in Terri The day tours that Sherry Thompson Hahn’s excitement as she was and Carla Chance planned and guided named runner-up to the NFPW as well as an extra tour that Cheryl Communicator of Achievement! The Alberts-Irwin’s husband, Russ, guided last time NPW had a member so hon- all added to the NFPW pre-conference ored was in 1996 when Lori Potter was festivities. named runner-up. The NPW Anniversary Awards Saturday night saw numerous NPW luncheon was a huge success with 57 Ruth Brown members walk across the stage to people attending, including NFPW receive their national awards in the President Cynthia Price and NFPW start of the NFPW conference as the NFPW Professional Communications VPs Teri Ehresman and Lori Potter. business meeting was gaveled to order. Contest. Marian and Harold (Andy) Andersen We couldn’t wait to cast our ballots for A follow-up survey found that 75% were present as NPW VP Bette our own Lori Potter to be president of respondents rated the overall con- Pore inducted the first class into the of the National Federation of Press ference experience as excellent while Marian Andersen Nebraska Women Women and to bestow on her an ar- the other 25% rated it good. Journalists’ Hall of Fame. rangement of Sandhills grasses and WOW! And it all went off without Inductees Deanna Sands, Bev artificial flowers that we brought back a hitch, thanks in large part to the Pollack and Lynne Grasz attended from the dinner at the Atkins ranch. NFPW Conference Committee of with family and friends. Deceased in- Lori is the second Nebraskan to be NPW’s Stephanie Geery-Zink and ductee Marj Marlette was represented elected national president; Velma Price Sherry Thompson as well as Iowa Press by her husband Ralph and daughter of Newman Grove was elected national Women Marsha and Julie Hoffman. Jeanne; Bess Furman Armstrong was president in 1955 after serving as represented by her daughter, Ruth national VP. Armstrong, and her nephew, Ed Furman; and Wilma Crumley was rep- The reception at the Durham resented by daughters Liz Varvel and Museum was a hit with conference Stacy Trapp. participants who enjoyed the ambi- ance of the beautiful art deco building Gwen Lindberg brought husband as well as the delicious food, Nebraska Dick and sons Greg and Mike to wit- wines and entertainment by Joan ness her being honored for 50 years of Burney and daughter Juli. continuous membership in NPW and NFPW. Sue Fitzgerald even came from Conference keynote speakers, who Georgia to see everyone. were all from Nebraska, were excel- lent. Pulitzer Prize winner Matt Waite Stephanie Geery-Zink’s husband, explained how he and others created Roger, appeared just as Martha Politifact.com on a whim and a shoe- Stoddard announced Stephanie string, learning every step of the way; Lori Potter of Kearney, our newly as NPW’s 2011 Communicator of international best selling author Alex elected NFPW president, shows Achievement. It was all very exciting! Kava told how her thrillers went un- off an arrangement of Sandhills As soon as the luncheon was over, published until she changed her name grasses to include little blue stem, NPW members hurried to the official from Sharon to Alex; and Juli Burney indian grass, iron weed, and wheat. 2 NPW NEWSeLETTER Berens Inducted UNL profs into NPA’s win award Hall of Fame Sue Burzynski Bullard and Michelle Hassler won a third place award in NPW member Charlyne Berens, the Teaching News Terrifically in the associate dean of the UNL 21st Century competition, held by the College of Journalism and Mass News Division of the Association for Communications, added another Education in Journalism and Mass female face to the Nebraska Press Communication. Association’s Hall of Fame when she The award recognized an assignment was inducted on Friday, Oct. 28, at the they use in a multimedia reporting NPA’s fall convention in Lincoln. class at the University of Nebraska- Berens taught junior high English Lincoln. The assignment combines before she and her husband, Dennis, traditional journalism values—what became co-publishers of the Seward makes a good story—with 21st century County Independent. After 14 years tools. Students, who will need to learn as editor and reporter, she joined the to tell stories in multiple platforms UNL journalism faculty in 1990 and Charlyne Berens to succeed in today’s world, learn to earned her master’s and doctorate de- develop story ideas with different me- grees in political science from UNL. curriculum to prepare students for the diums in mind. They become comfort- The author of two political biogra- new multi-media journalism world. able with newer tools like RSS readers, phies and two books about Nebraska’s She served the college as interim dean Twitter and blogging systems and see Legislature, Berens has taught classes in 2009–10 and was named associate the possibilities they offer in helping in reporting, editing, mass media and dean in 2010. the reporting process. They essentially online publications. She developed a Berens was honored with UNL’s learn to crowdsource their ideas by freshman honors seminar on the First College Award for Distinguished posting them publicly for review. All Amendment and taught the course Teaching in 2002 and was named of these skills will be useful to them in for more than a decade. She was a Outstanding Educator of the Year for internships or jobs. department chair for almost 10 years 2005-06 by the Association of Students The award was announced at the and helped lead the college to adopt a of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AEJMC meeting in St. Louis in August. Contest deadline January 9 Hall of Fame Start preparing entries ready for viewing It’s not too early to start get- entries, find judges, print cer- The Marian Andersen Nebraska ting your entries together for the tificates, etc. This year NPW will Women Journalists’ Hall of Fame Professional Communications exchange entries with Kansas is ready for viewing. Signage was Contest. The deadline to postmark Press Women. secured and photos were hung in early October. If you are in Lincoln, entries is Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. NPW members who work at stop at Andersen Hall, 16th and Q The fee is $7 for the first entry and colleges and universities should Streets, go to second floor and look $4 for each additional entry. let their students know about at the wall across the hall from Rick Contest categories, entry forms the Student Communications Alloway’s office (near KRNU studio). and rules may be found at http:// Contest. The student contest cat- nebraskapresswomen.org/?page_ egories are at the end of the list This is a far more prominent loca- id=115. Entries should be sent to for the professional contest. Entry tion than that of the Nebraska Press Barb Micek, Box 203, Fullerton, forms, fees and deadlines are the Association Hall of Fame which is NE 68638. same as those for the professional in the lecture hall in the basement, or the Nebraska Broadcasters Hal of A group of Lincoln Press contest, but the students must be Fame which is in a distance learning Women will help Barb sort members to participate. classroom. Winter 2011 3 Potter’s Wheel by Lori Potter Kearney Hub, Sept. 16, 2011 I laughed on Labor Day as folks my age behaved like schoolchildren. They climbed into tractors and a combine parked at Don and Barb Batie’s farm northeast of Lexington. They grinned for photos taken of them pretending to drive. A North Carolinian who was al- lowed to start the combine—still in park and with a farmer in the jump seat—excitedly talked about the experience for days. I thought I had planned an interest- ing central Nebraska prairie tour for 22 professional communicators as part of Potter Lori the 2011 National Federation of Press Barbara Micek of Fullerton, left, helps serve freshly baked rolls and coffee Women Conference in Council Bluffs. at Don and Barb Batie’s farm near Lexington during the “Coffee in the But I still worried. Cornfield” stop on Labor Day morning. Tour participants enjoyed climbing into the cabs of tractors and a combine parked in the Baties’ yard. Nebraska isn’t a destination for most travelers, unless they come to Illinois, Virginia and North Carolina Would they see Nebraska as flat, see family, friends or sandhill cranes. are in places with forests, mountains, bland and empty? Our guests from Alaska, Oregon, beaches, cities and other destination New Mexico, Colorado, Louisiana, The answer, no, was clear at our features. first stops on September 4 at the Great Platte River Road Archway and Rowe Sanctuary. As journalists, our guests saw stories and photos all around them. I watched them embrace our prairie history, culture and landscape. The national media pays little atten- tion to Great Plains stories. When they do, they usually focus on the wrong story. Some pre-tour travelers had rural roots, but few had ever learned about modern agriculture from family farmers and ranchers. The Virginians were particularly interested in their native daughter, au- thor Willa Cather, who was transplant- ed to Red Cloud as a child. Loneliness and homesickness contributed to her initial dislike of the wild, empty Lori Potter Lori Nebraska prairie. Participants in the NPW Nebraska Prairie Pre-tour over Labor Day weekend sit inside an earth lodge built by members of the Arikara and Pawnee “… by the end of the first autumn, nations at the Great Platte River Road Archway near Kearney. Archway that shaggy grass country had gripped Cultural Education Director Ronnie O’Brien talked about the lodge and me with a passion I have never been efforts to grow Pawnee corn in the Platte Valley to restock seed supplies. able to shake,” Cather wrote. 4 NPW NEWSeLETTER Our 2011 “pioneers” walked Cather’s prairie and absorbed stories about sav- ing ancient varieties of Pawnee corn, the day-to-day lives of farmers and ranchers, and the gift of hospitality to World War II service members given by North Platte Canteen volunteers. In her September 7 blog, NFPW President Cynthia Price of Virginia listed “did you know” rhetorical questions concerning things she had learned about farming, sandhill cranes and pioneer history. As we left Al and Sallie Atkins’ ranch north of Halsey on Labor Day evening, full from a steak supper and amazed by the evening light bathing the Sandhills, the tour trail bosses (Mary Pat Finn- Hoag of Norfolk, Barbara Micek of

Fullerton and me) invited our guests to Potter Lori enter a creative writing contest. North Platte Canteen They submitted a poem, descrip- tion or novel- or news-style lead of about 30 words. As we left Red Cloud I love what all the wordsmiths wrote presented to his view, but a creative on September 6, Mary Pat, Barb and I about the Nebraska prairie. writer can do his best only with what selected our three favorites. Barb read One Virginian wrote that “the sand- lies within the range and character of them aloud and the tour group select- hills unspool.” It made me see them in his deepest sympathies.” ed first place on a 7-6-6 vote. All three a different way, as if God took a rolled- writers won prizes. up carpet, shook it and let it flow unevenly over north-central Nebraska. The winning entry from Oregon ended with: “Lithe grass rippling across the sandhills into memories.” A haiku writer said, “Wind whispers to me.” Our Alaska guest wrote about sand burrs that tried to “pin me to their home, but I move on.” Our guests received Nebraska- themed welcome gifts at a Hub- sponsored supper at the Museum of Nebraska Art on September 4. Their good-bye gifts on September 6 were copies of “The Road Home,” a soft- cover photo book published in 1995 by NEBRASKAland Magazine. Lori Potter Lori Lori Potter Lori Mary Pat Finn-Hoag of Norfolk I told them they now have an No visit to Nebraska would be makes a quick telephone call in extended family in Nebraska, so they complete without a trip to the front of the Starke Round Barn must visit us again. I know they took Sandhills. The Nebraska pre-tour near Red Cloud prior to a pre-tour pieces of the Nebraska prairie home stop at Al and Sallie Atkins’ ranch lunch featuring corn chowder, with them. Their words tell me so. north of Halsey included a steak fresh tomatoes, hush puppies and As Cather said, “A reporter can write supper and visit to a pasture and homemade ice cream. equally well about everything that is hay meadow. Winter 2011 5 Nebraska Prairie Creative Writings Nebraska in Motion by Katherine Keniston, Oregon Long train rolling through a miracle town. Brown deer bounding up a sunset slope. Lithe grass rippling across the sand- hills into memories.

by Cathy Jett, Virginia Looking out the window, The sandhills unspool In undulating waves of grass and grain Yielding a bounty to feed nations.

Sandhills haiku Potter Lori NFPW members couldn’t wait to get off of the bus to photograph the by Cynthia Price, Virginia evening light on the Sandhills north of Halsey at Al and Sallie Atkins’ Rolling hills of sand ranch on Labor Day. Awash in prairie grasses Wind whispers to me Alliteration Nebraska Sandhills by Kathy Cordova, New Mexico by Francine Crutchfield, Virginia The Sounds of Nebraska Pictures of Pawnee corn in the paper Cornstalks waving by Pamela Stallsmith, Virginia Coffee in the cornfield. Beyond the paving, Trains whistling Music and munchies at the museum. Nature’s craving Trucks whirling Steak supper in the Sandhills. Land for saving. Leaves rustling Famous people’s places. Sunlight blazing, Friends laughing. Beans in the barn. Ranchers gazing Purely priceless! The sounds of Nebraska echo across Cattle grazing. the vast beauty of the prairie. by Marsha Shuler, Louisiana Thanks we’re raising— Simply amazing! Pawnee Corn The gently rolling hills break the flat by Francine Crutchfield, Virginia farmland. by Pat Richardson, Alaska The grassy knolls get more pro- Remnants existing in Indian lore, The Sandhills don’t look like sand nounced as we travel. Rescued and planted from days of yore. to me, except a the wind-carved Harvest preserved for future store, They are sandhills—a surprise to this blowouts. Native grasses cover the Returned to its people forevermore. beach goer more accustomed to barren hills with grayish green fuzz. Sand sand dunes occasionally punctuated burrs try to pin me to their home, by Louise Seals, Virginia with sheafs of seawheat instead of cattle. but I move on. Pursing your passion exacts a price, by Carol Kreis, New Mexico by Glennis McNeal, Oregon from enduring the extremes of Winds wind through haunting Mother Nature to putting the needs Over the sandhills the grasses still spaciousness where restless Angus of your farm first. stir. graze. Is it worth it? Winds, like the ranchers, persist and endure. Turkey vultures glide over soft, Oh yes, according to two Nebraska The Sandhills real beauty? Its lasting grassy hills and long, lonely roads. families who shared their agriculture allure? Calmness belies tenacity and stami- ups and downs with visiting commu- True land-love commitment. na of ranchers who plant their roots nicators on, appropriately, Labor Day. It sticks like a burr. within the starkness of the Sandhills. 6 NPW NEWSeLETTER …Watching the sun sink behind the with a plastic knife. Not a dollar store What they said… green hills as cows and calves moved plastic knife, I grant you, but garden beyond the big, round hay bales, low- variety picnic-grade cutlery did the job. Several participants in the Nebraska ing and murmuring, left an image that Prairie Pre-Tour shared their impres- Red Cloud will remain imprinted in my mind as We strolled the prairie to get insights sions of our great state in blogs, columns long as I live. and reports to their affiliates. into its vastness and silence. We also Surprises along the trail got more sandburs to pry out of our Here’s a taste of what they said. In a week of meandering Nebraska clothing. and nearby Council Bluffs, Iowa, I was NFPW President Cynthia Price of We ate at the Stake round barn… As forever surprised that such a simple Virginia— cook and tour guide, owner Liz Rasser landscape with only a comparative provided fresh cuisine from area gar- Although the NFPW conference is a handful of people in it could hide so dens, and then took us through the great time for professional learning, many pleasant surprises. (He described massive 100-year-old barn, held together some of the best knowledge is gained the Great Platte River Road Archway, without nails or pegs of any kind. during the pre-tours and post-tours. Rowe Sanctuary and Museum of Why? Because the people organizing Nebraska Art.) the tours are from the state and know Lincoln County Museum’s North the best sources to go to. Platte Canteen Thanks again So when we learned about the This place is not the Smithsonian. Pawnee and the efforts to bring back But when you listen to their story, and to these their native corn, we heard directly stand in front of that huge old-fash- from Ronnie O’Brien, director of ioned coffee urn and gaze at the old conference cultural education for the Great Platte photos of those smiling people, keep a River Road Archway. tissue or two handy. sponsors And when we learned about the Nebraska Press Women want crops of Nebraska and irrigation, we Glennis McNeal of Oregon, a three-part report to her affiliate— to thank the following sponsors heard directly from Don and Barb once again for their support of the Batie of Lexington, NE, who not only Coffee in the cornfield National Federation of Press Women shared their knowledge, but allowed a The NFPW tour group stood in a Conference September 8–10 in bunch of press women to climb around cornfield wolfing down cinnamon rolls Omaha/Council Bluffs: on their combines and tractors and of- baked that morning by Nebraska Press Bronze Sponsors fered them coffee in the cornfields. Woman Barb Batie. She used a recipe Council Bluffs Convention and handed down from her grandmother. Visitors Bureau Paul Sullivan of Virginia, freelance We sucked down coffee perked from Harrah’s Council Bluffs Armchair Adventures columnist at beans her daughter sells as a marching Nebraskaland Foundation Fredericksburg.com— band fund-raiser. Every aspect of farm- Nebraska Lottery On farming ing is a family affair. Omaha World-Herald How do so few people farm so many Barb, who just won first place for Woodmen of the World hundreds of acres with so little help? her sauerkraut at the Nebraska State Workshop Sponsors Technology, clever planning and Fair, worries she’ll never shuck the title Nebraska Lottery endless hours hanging in there. “Sauerkraut Queen.” University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Journalism & Mass Sandhills ranch Sandhills ranch Communications At Al and Sallie Atkins’ AL Ranch, Cattle country background music Friends Sponsors accompanied their narratives, as heart- not only did we glimpse the realities Great Western Bank broken calves, newly weaned, bawled of raising 600 head of beef cattle with James Arthur Vineyard constantly. “They are missing their three—count ‘em, three—people, we Nebraska Broadcasters Association mommies,” Al explained. rounded out the day with the very Nebraska Corn Board best steak cookout available anyplace, Al’s detailed explanation of the artifi- Nebraska Ethanol Board period. I’d put that corn-fed Sandhills cial insemination process was cut short Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation beef up against any other. by the arrival of Nebraska steaks hot Nebraska Press Association and But for me, the really big eye-opener off the barbeque. Food trumps sex talk Nebraska Press Advertisers Services was the Nebraska Sandhills themselves when steaks are so tender you cut them Nebraska Rural Radio Association

Winter 2011 7 Burneys run laughter relay at Durham by Barb Bierman Batie OMAHA – With the classic art deco surroundings and train era nostal- gia hanging heavy in the air at the Durham Museum, it was only fitting that National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) members be en- tertained with some classic standup comedy during the Communicator of Achievement reception on Thursday, September 8. Nebraska’s own mother-daughter duo of Joan and Juli Burney took to the stage for a tag team presentation. Mother Joan went first and recapped Lori Potter Lori Juli and Joan Burney added fun and laughter to the opening reception her association with NFPW and of the 2011 NFPW Conference hosted by the Nebraska and Iowa affiliates Nebraska Press Women. She also at the Durham Museum, which is the old Union Pacific Railroad Museum shared some tidbits learned along in Omaha. the way as a columnist and writer and lessons learned during her years as a motivational humorist. She also expressed thanks to all who had sup- ported her during her recovery from a traumatic brain injury sustained in a fall following a speaking engagement nearly three years ago. “They always teased me that I wasn’t quite there all the time. Well, now I have an excuse,” quipped Burney. Juli followed after receiving some good-natured ribbing in the introduc- tion done by her mother. The only girl in her family, she gleans material for her presentations from experiences shared growing up with five brothers. As she travels frequently for her speaking engagements, designed to improve people’s lives through effective use of communication tools, she has learned a lot about human nature and how to deal with stressful situations. Juli shared one story in particular Lori Potter Lori that started with a woman stressed From left, NPW President Ruth Brown of Lincoln-Johnson Lake, Gwen out about a snowstorm induced travel Lindberg of West Point and Joan Burney of Hartington enjoy the 2011 delay. The woman was ranting at the NFPW Conference opening reception festivities September 7 at Omaha’s Durham Museum continued on page 9 8 NPW NEWSeLETTER Get Down to Writing workshop Website Panel held at NFPW conference workshop by Mary Pat Finn-Hoag These helpful websites were shared While many of us spend hours hun- But what if the words don’t come? during the Website Panel work- kered over a keyboard for our work, “Writer’s block is a naysayer in our shop at the NFPW Conference: it’s important to take time for personal heads,” Damon said. “Tell the ‘warrior’ socialmediaexaminer.com writing, according to Paula Damon. inside to be quiet. Stay out of the way,” “I must write,” said the director of letting the words flow. hubspot.com marketing and communications at Damon then led the workshop marketingprofs.com Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, participants through a writing exercise, socialmediainformer.com Iowa. She presented a “Get Down asking them to pen one happy memory to Writing” workshop at the 2011 from their childhood. “We’re putting smartbrief.com National Federation of Press Women ourselves on paper,” she told the group. Conference in Council Bluffs. animoto.com (create videos, as She offered several bits of advice: well as still photos to videos) But penning one’s thoughts is not • Take time. Take a break to develop always easy. “Easy reading is damned your writing style. Take heart. hard writing,” she said in quoting • Get your personal critic to be novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. quiet. Write. Critique later. Damon recommends devoting at • Adopt a special writing place. least one hour per week or 10 minutes • Write a letter. Go on Facebook. per day to personal writing. “I have to “Whatever you aspire to write, set a continued from page 8 have that protected time,” she said. deadline,” said Damon, who establishes But what to write? “Writers are deadlines for herself, even on vacation. Burneys add humor always on the lookout for stories,” said “One draft every day I’m away,” she said. airline clerks when Juli saw an op- Damon, adding that she looks to other Damon then issued this challenge: portunity to diffuse the situation with writers for inspiration and also listens “On your mark, get set, go write!” humor. After several exchanges the “to the story within.” Following her workshop, Damon woman visibly began to calm down Stories abound in everyday experi- conducted a book signing of her col- and commented, “I guess I’m not the ences and in life, Damon said. Take lection of short non-fiction stories brightest crayon in the box. That’s what time to document these stories; write titled “Look. Don’t Look.” Her weekly we say at work.” down your thoughts, she said. column “My Story. Your Story.” appears To which Burney responded, “Well, “Take heart,” she said. “That’s the in the Vermillion (S.D.) Plain Talk and where do you work?” way we roll. Pay attention to what’s on the Carroll (Iowa) Daily Times Herald. “Crayola,” was the woman’s response. our minds and in our hearts.” As the airline clerks dissolved in Note from Marian Andersen laughter behind the checkin parti- September 9, 2011 tion, the exchange ended with the two Dear Ruth, women becoming friends, and they Many thanks for a wonderful event yesterday. I was so impressed with the Nebraska continue to share the humor they find Press Women and the warm feeling among the members. in their travels. I was privileged to have known three of the honorees—Deanna, Bev and Wilma— The Burneys continued their laughter and felt that all six were very deserving. relay throughout the convention, with And I love my new clock (battery included)! I hope it will help to make Andy and Joan once again providing the introduc- me more punctual! tion for Juli’s noon luncheon keynote I am very honored to be named in connection with the Journalism Hall of Fame, on Saturday, September 10, using the and I look forward to being involved with the event in the future. theme, “Those Who Laugh Last.” My very best, They wrapped up their humor with Marian Juli assisting as auctioneer at the Editor’s Note: The mantle clock was engraved: Marian Andersen, In Appreciation of Education Fund Live Auction at the Your Support, Nebraska Press Women. closing banquet. Winter 2011 9 continued from page 1 NFPW honors Hahn Gifts that give twice As you think gifts this year, think gifts is Beth Miller, a reporter for The that give twice. Delaware News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware. When you purchase a t-shirt or a set of notecards with Marianne Beel Hahn is features editor of The photos or a copy of her book, “Sand in Grand Island Independent, having My Shoes,” you not only have a great worked there since 1993. She edits gift for birthdays, Christmas, host- and designs a weekly food section, esses, speakers, or any other use, you weekly lifestyle, entertainment and also honor the memory of a long-time business pages and daily community NPW friend and you contribute to news pages, for which she has earned building an NPW scholarship that will multiple honors in the NPW and help students yet unknown to us. NFPW Communications Contest. Not only are these all great gifts for

She is a 17-year member of NPW Nebraskans, they’re also great gifts for Hoag Mary Pat and a 21-year member of NFPW. people who have moved elsewhere and Judy Nelson displays the gift items She has served as NPW president, need a reminder of home, and those for sale at the NFPW conference. vice president, historian, newsletter who have been here and should take purchase they did. Of an order of 50, editor and on the President’s Advisory a lasting reminder of Nebraska away only 18 remain, so order now for the Board. She is currently NPW publicity with them. sizes you need. With these, a person director. NPW t-shirts feature the popular Beel can literally slip into Nebraska! From 1989 to 1993, Hahn was news photo of horses by a Sandhills fence as Sizes available are: four mediums; editor at the Dodge City Daily Globe in a storm moves in upon them. T-shirts nine larges; one extra-large; two 2-Xs Dodge City, Kan. While there, she served pre-ordered by those at the spring con- and two 3-Xs. They’re Hanes Beefy as president of the Dodge City Media vention in Halsey were delivered at the Ts and sell for $20 each. They also Pros, a local affiliate of Kansas Press National Federation of Press Women can be delivered to you if you’ll be Women, and on the board of KPW. convention in Council Bluffs. at the board meeting in Lincoln on The last Nebraska Press Women T-shirts also were available there November 19, or you can make ar- member to be runner-up for for NFPW attendees to purchase, and rangements to pick them up when Communicator of Achievement was you’re in Lincoln. Lori Potter. Joan Burney of NPW The same is true for orders and/or was Communicator of Achievement April 14 pickup of Marianne Beel’s book, “Sand in 1993. convention in My Shoes,” which sells for $15, and Beel photo notecards that sell for $10 at Peru per pack of eight (two cards of each of Board meets four different photos per pack). They Mark your calendars now for the are great gifts, and a wonderful intro- November 19 NPW Spring Convention, which will duction to Sandhills life for those who be Saturday, April 14, at Peru State haven’t had the privilege of living there. in Lincoln College with new member Regan Anson coordinating it. Regan is director of To purchase the above items, con- The NPW board of directors will marketing and communications there. tact Judy Nelson at [email protected] meet on Saturday, November 19, or 1301 N. 78th, Lincoln, NE 68505, in Andersen Hall room 120 at the Because Peru does not have a motel, phone 402-464-7830. Judy will be glad UNL College of Journalism & Mass NPW members will be staying at the to mail orders, too—please plan to add Communications in Lincoln. Best Western in Nebraska City where $5 per item to cover postage and mail- The Finance Committee, composed a block of rooms has been reserved for ing if you would like an order mailed of Sherry Thompson, Lori Potter, Friday and Saturday nights. The NPW to you. Stephanie Geery-Zink and Ruth board will meet Friday night, April 13, When you need gifts, remember the Brown, will meet at 9:30 a.m., with the at the motel. gifts from NPW that give twice. And full board meeting beginning at 10:30 You will hear more about this in the don’t forget—you deserve a present, a.m. Visitors are welcome. next newsletter. too! Order yours today. 10 NPW NEWSeLETTER continued from page 1 NPW awards luncheon Women Communications Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Martha Stoddard, NPW COA direc- tor, announced the winner of this year’s award, chosen by past COA recipients. Geery-Zink, of Lincoln, is the com- munications director for the Center for People in Need, a Lincoln nonprofit organization that provides comprehen- sive services and opportunities to help people pull themselves out of poverty. Geery-Zink, in the words of one supporter, “has done so very much for NPW and rightly deserves this recog- Mary Pat Hoag Mary Pat nition.” She served as NPW president Marian and Harold (Andy) Andersen were present at the NPW awards from 2004 through 2008. She previous- luncheon for the first group of inductees into the Marian Andersen ly held the positions of vice president Nebraska Women Journalists’ Hall of Fame. and secretary. While holding other offices, she filled in as treasurer and helped put out the newsletter. The hall of fame, which will be honored at the NFPW conference displayed in Andersen Hall at the with a 50-year Milestone Membership Most recently, she led planning for University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was Award. the 2011 NFPW convention. She was a formed to recognize the working Nebraska co-chairwoman for the event, A retired West Point News co- women journalists who, through tal- publisher, Lindberg was named NPW which was jointly sponsored by Nebraska ent, initiative, intelligence and stamina, and Iowa Press Women affiliates. Communicator of Achievement in have made a difference for the profes- 1996. Most recently, she served as Before her present job, Geery-Zink sion, for their communities and for NPW historian in 2010. worked for Swanson Russell, a Lincoln those who follow in their footsteps. marketing and communications agency. Honored this year were Bess She also has done freelance writing, was Furman Armstrong, Dr. Wilma a reporter at the Beatrice Sun from 1995 Crumley, Lynne M. Grasz, Marjorie through 2002 and was a reporter and Marlette, Beverly Pollock and photographer at the Derby, Kan., Daily Deanna J. Sands. Reporter from 1991 through 1995. Grasz, Pollock and Sands attended A graduate of Lincoln Southeast High the luncheon along with family School, Geery-Zink earned a bachelor’s members and friends. The families of degree in anthropology and political Armstrong, Crumley and Marlette also science at the University of Nebraska- were represented. Lincoln in 1987 and took graduate coursework in anthropology from The hall of fame is sponsored by and Wichita State University in Kansas. named for Marian Andersen of Omaha, a graduate of the College of Journalism Geery-Zink serves on her church and Mass Communication at UNL. board and planning committee. She has been a Girl Scout leader and delegate to Nominations will be accepted again the Girl Scouts’ national convention. in January for induction of more women into the hall of fame at NPW’s Hoag Mary Pat The program for the awards lun- spring convention. NPW president Ruth Brown pins cheon also included induction of six a corsage on Gwen Lindberg Another reason for NPW to hold women as the inaugural class of the who was recognized at the NPW Marian Andersen Nebraska Women the awards luncheon was to recog- awards luncheon for 50 years of Journalists Hall of Fame. nize Gwen Lindberg, who was to be membership in NPW and NFPW. Winter 2011 11 Authority on Afghanistan speaks at NFPW conference New by Cheryl Alberts Irwin NPW

A leading authority on Afghanistan of State’s senior political affairs officer Member described his history with that country on the United Nation’s Peacekeeping to members of the National Federation Mission to Afghanistan. He has testi- Vicki Jedlicka of Press Women convention Sept. 8-10 fied before the U.S. Senate Foreign publications and media assistant, in Council Bluffs. Relations Committee on many topics UNL Extension Lancaster County, 444 Cherrycreek Rd., Ste. A, Thomas E. Gouttierre, dean of related to Afghanistan, U.S.-Pakistani Lincoln, NE 68528, 402-441-6759, International Studies and Programs relations, international terrorism [email protected]; home: 1234 and director of the Center for Afghan and human rights issues. Grants and S. 25th Rd., Cortland, NE 68331, Studies at the University of Nebraska contracts he helped obtain have helped 402-798-7468, vjedlicka@wind- at Omaha, also expressed hope for the deliver education and textbooks to stream.net. war-torn nation. Afghan children. Gouttierre said when he heard about The son of an Ohio baker, the second plane crashing into the World Gouttierre gave more than 2,000 Trade Center on 9/11, he knew imme- presentations and interviews about diately Osama bin Laden was behind it. Afghanistan and al-Qaida in the first On that day, al-Qaida hijackers, trained 10 months following 9/11. in camps located in Afghanistan, took Despite Afghanistan’s war-torn NFPW honors over four U.S. jetliners: two aimed at history, Gouttierre said young the World Trade Center and one at the people who have been targets for ex- seven Omaha Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in a tremist groups now may have reason field in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 lives to hope as they aspire and focus on high school were lost. more positive outcomes. Gouttierre had worked as a Peace Among the languages Gouttierre students Corps volunteer, a Fulbright Fellow speaks are Persian dialects of In the last newsletter we reported and executive director of the Fulbright Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan. that Nebraska had no winners this Foundation for nearly a decade in According to his biography, year in the NFPW High School Afghanistan beginning in the 1960s. Gouttierre has authored textbooks Communications Contest. However, During that time he coached the on the Dari (Afghan Persian) lan- we were happy to learn at the NFPW Afghan National Basketball team. guage and was project director conference that seven Nebraska high His many international roles in- for the 23,000-word Dari-English school students—all from Omaha— clude serving as the U.S. Department dictionary. received national awards. Winning second place awards were Kathleen Gerber of Marian High School for double truck layout, Jane Rock of Westside High School for video feature story, and Madison Mapes of Westside High School for video sports story. Receiving honorable mentions were Samantha Juster of Westside High School for editorial, Liz Berigan of Marian High School for sports story, Daniel Kemp of Westside High School for reviews, and Anne Sundell of Westside High School for

Mary Pat Hoag Mary Pat video news story. Several dozen NPW members attended the NPFW conference. Congratulations to all these students. 12 NPW NEWSeLETTER Membership strong; good time to add members Membership in Nebraska Press Women stands at 74 with 26 of those being state only, 46 both NPW Calendar state and national, and two student November 19 members. - 9:30 a.m. Finance Committee meeting; 10:30 a.m. Board meeting at UNL’s Andersen Hall, 16th & Q St., Lincoln The newest member is Vicki December 31 - Deadline to pay dues for 2012 if you want to enter the Jedlicka, publications and me- contest dia assistant, UNL Extension, January 9 Lancaster County. Welcome, Vicki. - Deadline to postmark contest entries April 14 - Spring convention at Peru State College This is a great time to encour- age others to join the organiza- tion. Joining now means that the new members get credit for the rest of this year and for all NPW News of next year, which puts them in good position to enter the Rita Brhel communications contest. Rita, a freelance writer from Fairfield, Neb., gave birth to her third child, a son, at 10:24 a.m. on September 5, 2011, after 25 hours of natural, unmedi- Renewing members need to pay cated labor via a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). Nathan Michael dues by December 31 to enter the weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce and measured 20 inches long. Rita found the contest. State dues currently is $25 birth experience to be intense but very satisfying. Her husband Mike and for professionals, $12.50 for retired doula Rebecca Clark, of Dannebrog, attended the birth at Mary Lanning and students, but on January 1, it Memorial Hospital in Hastings. Nathan is doing well and was welcomed increases to $30 for professionals home by big sisters, Rachel (5) and Emily (4). and $15 for retired and students— Amber Medina another good reason to pay on or I want to thank all of the kind ladies before December 31. State dues (and gentlemen) of NPW for your may be sent to NPW treasurer warm wishes during the past year. My Sherry Thompson, 5415 S. 174th face has been missing from the last Ave., Omaha, NE 68135 or may be few conventions; since I began the paid online at http://nebraskapress year green from morning sickness, women.org/?page_id=210. the month of May found me already way too large to sleep in a Halsey Combined state and national cabin and I was nursing a newborn dues is $94 for professionals, $35 in September. My world has changed, for retired, and $30 for students. with my new daughter now at the Marisol Grace Medina was born Combined dues may be mailed to center of it. As a new mom at the birth August 23, 2011. NFPW Membership Dept., PO Box of my daughter, I had never felt such 34798, Alexandria, VA 22334-0798 great joy and equally great fear in all my life. Suddenly, Carlos and I were the or may be paid online at https:// guardians of a beautiful, precious, miraculous little life. “Just the two of us” secure.shopisgtech.com/nfpw/renew_ had become three. Marisol Grace turned 2 months-old this week. And we membership_app.cfm. hang on her every dribbly coo, marvel at each crooked little smile and drive, white-knuckled, at the top speed of 30 mph.

Winter 2011 13