NYALPA Voice (Spring 2018 Issue)
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The Voice New York American Legion Press Association Volume 20, Issue 1 www.NYALPA.org & www.nylegion.org Winter/Spring 2018 CALL FOR ENTRIES IN NYALPA CONTEST The New York recognize excellence submit their pub- ing. They may also American Legion or achievement in lications, websites, nominate someone Press Association is public relations and social media, edi- for Public Relations holding its annual journalism. Legion torials, scrapbooks Person of the Year. communications Family members and visual art for Deadline is April 15. competition to are encouraged to the awards judg- Details on PAGE 5. NYALPA SCHOLAR NYALPA HONORS EDITORS, OTHERS Taylor Blake won the 2017 NYALPA The New York youth scholar- American Legion ship. Page 3. Press Association (NYALPA) honored its award-winning news- letter editors, writers, and webmasters at its annual luncheon held in conjunction with the Department of PAUL STEWARD JAMES BOJANOWSKI DOROLYN PERRY New York Convention First Place winner for First Place winner for First Place winner for last July. PAGE 4 post publication county publication editorial writing NYALPA ELECTS OFFICERS FOR 2017-2018 NEW YORK’S Dorothy Button Leads Press Association LEADING CANDIDATE Dorothy Button, ment Commander’s Re-elected as secre- adjutant of Ashford aide. She has been a tary was Kevin Har- NYALPA Member Gary Schacher Memorial Post 1576 NYALPA member for rington of Castleton. is the leading in West Valley, is the about four years. Re-elected as trea- candidate for new president of the ELECTED as vice surer was Executive department com- New York American presidents were:: Carl Director Lynda Pixley mander for 2018- Legion Press Associa- Griffiths of Munns- of Ransomville. 209. He served in tion (NYALPA). She ville; Howard Heyel of Elected to three-year the U.S. Navy in was elected at the Rye; Dave Lockhart of terms on the board DOROTHY BUTTON the Persian Gulf NYALPA luncheon Corinth; Toba A. La- of directors were Bill and then with the held in July at the De- and past Cattaraugus Crown of the Bronx; Baker of West Sand Seabees in Iraq. partment Convention. County commander, and Patrick R. Rourk Lake and Susan Koch Page 3. She is past 8th District and is a Depart- of Norwood. of Copenhagen. Winter/Spring 2018 1 NYALPA EXEC. DIR. NYALPA PRESIDENT LYNDA PIXLEY DOROTHY BUTTON Don’t miss out: Submit your work I would like to encourage NYALPA members to enter I would like to encourage everyone who publishes a our annual communications contest -- or encourage their post, county, or district newsletter to consider submit- posts, units, squadrons, chapters to enter. ting the publication for judging in our annual com- Also, our newly revamped scholarship program now munications contest. We also have categories for social makes available a $1,000 scholarship to a college-bound media and visual media. A friendly reminder, mem- youth and a $1,000 scholarship to a veteran. So please bership dues are due. Applications are on both the check it out. NYALPA and Departmet of New York websites. Both the contest and schoilarship forms are in this newsletter. NYALPA OFFICERS The press association was very visible at the Mid- PRESIDENT Winter Conference, participating in the PR sessions and Dorothy Button [email protected] 716-353-0588 PO Box 143 West Valley, NY 14171 staffing a membership booth. We were busy signing up new members and taking membership renewals. SECRETARY Kevin Harrington [email protected] 518-423-3314 We will have our annual awards liuncheon during the 1467 Bame Rd Castleton, NY 12033-9654 Department Convention in Rochester in July. Please EXEC. DIRECTOR & TREASURER think about attending. Join us as we honor outstanding Lynda A. Pixley [email protected] 716-478-5569 communicators and elect officers for 2018-2019. The 2966 Ridge Rd Ransomville, NY 14131-9724 luncheon will be on Friday of the Convention. Hope to HISTORIAN see you there! Kevin Harrington (see above) NYALPA WELCOMES NEW EDITOR VICE PRESIDENTS Carl Griffith Dave Lockhart Tim Van Patten II, a 24-year member of the Sons of the Howard Heyel Patrick R. Rourk American Legion (SAL), is the new editor of the NYALPA Toba A. LaCrown Voice. NYALPA Executive Director DIRECTORS Lynda Pixley introduced him during Anne Harrington (2018) Frank Peters (2019) the press association meeting im- Dorolyn Perry (2018) Bill Baker (2020) mediately following the Mid-Winter Rich Calbo (2019) Susan Koch (2020) Conference in January. He assumes the APPOINTED OFFICES editor’s mantle with the next issue. FINANCE CHAIR NOMINATIONS Tim is a detachment vice com- Joseph Porempski Anne Harrington mander, has served as an historian CHAPLAIN SCHOLARSHIP at the district and detachment levels, Robert Conway Dorothy Button, Shirley and expects to become national SAL MEMBERSHIP Conley, Priscilla Imburgia, historian with the election of SAL Lynda Pixley FACEBOOK national commander candidate Greg SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Bill Baker “Doc” Gibbs (a past New York Detachment commander). Richard Calbo WEBMASTER He is involved in photojournalism, has an associate’s degree JUDGE ADVOCATE Kevin Harrington as a medical assistant, is an EMT, works as a stage hand Charles Mills and teaches high school theater. Tim hails from Swormville PUBLIC RELATIONS (Amherst), NY, and is member of Squadron 1472 (Erie Robert Stronach County, 8th District). He is the son of Past Department Commander Tim Van Patten. 2 NYALPA Voice SCHACHER IS CANDIDATE FOR DEPARTMENT COMMANDER NYALPA Member Served in Iraq with Seabees NYALPA member Gary Schacher of Cobleskill (Schoharie County) is the leading candidate to be- come the next commander of the Department of New York. A member of Timothy Murphy Post 248, Schacher enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1980 and served in the NYALPA officers Kevin and Anne Harrington joined Gary Schacher (2nd from right) and his wife, Persian Gulf region before Laurie (left). at the leading candidate’s hospitality suite during the Mid-Winter Conference at being released from active the Desmond Hotel. duty and joining the Naval Reserves. As a reservist, service. Schacher received Information Technology was Department Member- he served with a Weapons a number of commenda- and Investigative Applica- ship chairman. He is also Station Unit and a Mobile tion medals and Battle “E” tion Support units. He involved in the Sons of the Inshore Undersea Warfare ribbons. managed the State Police IT American Legion and the Unit before transferring to Schacher begain working Support Center from 2002 Legion Riders. the Navy Seabees in 1990. for New York State in 1984 to 2012 and was honored as In 2017, he was inducted He was promoted to chief in various state agencies. A the state IT Manager of the into the State Senate Veter- petty officer in 1996 and re- graduate of SUNY Co- Year in 2012. ans’ Hall of Fame. called to active duty in 2003 bleskill with an associate’s A Legion member Schacher, a native of Suf- and 2004 for Operation degree in computer sci- for more than 26 years, fern, NY, lived in Rockland Iraqi Freedom, serving with ence, Schacher was named Schacher has served in County until marrying the Seabees in Fallujah. student of the year in 1998. leadership capacities from his wife, Laurie. They live He retired from the Navy Since 1999 he has worked the post to Department in Cobleskill where they in 2006 with 26 years of for NY State Police in the levels, and most recently raised their two daughters. SCHOLARSHIP MEMBERS SERVE WINNER NYALPA President ON NATIONAL Dorothy Button presents ASSOCIATION Taylor Blake with an oversized check repre- Several NYALPA members are senting the $1,000 NY- officers in the National American ALPA Youth Scholarship. Legion Press Association (NALPA). The presentation took Patrick Rourk is executive director. place at St. Bonaventure University where Taylor Kevin Harrington is Area 1 vice is in her freshman year. president. Taylor was salutatorian Robert Stronach`is Area 1 director. of her 2017 graduating Joseph Porempski is finance of- class at Cuba-Rushford ficer. High School. Charles G. Mills is judge advo- Photo by Lynda Pixley. cate. Winter/Spring 2018 3 AWARDS HIGHLIGHT 2017 NYALPA LUNCHEON The New York American Legion Press Association Post Publications (151 to 300 members) (NYALPA) honored its award-winning newsletter editors, First Place: Greenlawn Bugle, Greenlawn American Le- writers, and webmasters at its annual luncheon held in gion Post 1244, Robert Santo, editor conjunction with the Department of New York Conven- tion last July. Post Publications: (over 300 members) NYALPA Executive Director Lynda Pixley announced First Place: Reveille, Hamburg Post 527, Paul Steward, editor. the winners in the 2017 Best Paper & Communication 2nd Place: The Bugle, B. Parish Post 457, Barb Kesel, editor. Contest. Here are the winners by category: Websites (Am. Legion: Post/County/District/Department) County/District Publications First Place: merrickpost1282.org, Richard M. Ambrosino, First Place: Erie County American Legion’s The Legion- webmaster. Air. The editor is James Bojanowski. Editorial Post Publications (15 to 150 members) First Place: Home at Last - Editorial in Post 1645 News - First Place: American Legion Marne Post 270 Newsletter, Dorolyn Perry, Editor. Shirley Connolly, editor. Second Place: The Bugle, Merrick Post 1280, Richard M. Miscellaneous Ambrosino, editor First Place: Sons of The American Legion Radio, Squad- ron 135, Kenneth G. Kraetzer, director. LEADERSHIP OPENINGS AT NATIONAL LEVEL by Kevin Harrington Sutton, 5377 Durfee Road, & Communication Division Fiscal Officer NYALPA secretary and Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Or and Convention Division. General duties of the NA- NALPA vice president email mark@michiganlegion. ■ Manages the member- LPA fiscal officer include: Current NALPA Ex- org, or call (248) 390-5481. ship database and cards. ■ Uses bank statements and ecutive Director Pat Rourk Please copy Lynda Pixley, ■ Implements sound fis- debit/credit logs to provide (NY) and Finance Officer NYALPA Executive Direc- cal policy.