A message from the executive director

I hope everyone had a great Easter with chocolate bunnies and peeps galore. For me this means we have begun the annual summer dash. County and district conventions, elections and then department conventions. How many of our communicators out there - meaning you - have made arrangements to make a pitch to your post, county, district or department about the National Press Association? This is the time to be planning and implementing what you are going to be doing next year in the communications arena!

Membership: Yes, I need to address this again and keep on addressing it. We have many new members this year, and thank you for joining. We also need to recognize those who have come back into the fold. As previously stated, we have started a number of new initiatives and more are in the offing. For example, National Marketing, Media and Communications Division staff members have just finished several great videos for us that are available. Go take a look. These videos and other resources for NALPA members are on www.legion.org/nalpa/resources. Our LinkedIn moderator is using them and they should be available through Facebook soon. Many more improvements and innovations are coming down the pipeline and members will need to be in good standing to be able to access these new resources. Former members who have not renewed will miss out!

Print and media contest: This is the second and final call for entries to the 2016 contest. The rules and entry blank are again in this issue and also available for download from www.legion.org/nalpa/resources. As usual, you must be a current – paid up – member in order to submit an entry. I have already received three entries as of March 25. Remember entries must be received in the Executive Director’s Office or Social Media Category Manager’s mailbox no later than May 31. Addresses are in the rules on the facing page. Just so you all know – we use three judges for each segment of the contest and they need the time to consider all the entries and complete their responsibilities. This process must be finished by July 15 in order to create the awards in time for the National Convention NALPA Awards Luncheon.

Awards luncheon: looks like it will be a much more favorable venue this year for our awards luncheon. First of all, it is a sit-down luncheon with two entrées to select from. Tickets will be about $10 cheaper – never thought I’d see the day of a retreat in prices! However, we are still working the issue. The reservation blank will be in the next issue of the newsletter along with entrée selection choices and picks. Reservations will be required. Once again this year, the hotel is requiring the meal count a full week before the luncheon. That drives reservations to be cut off a full week before the luncheon – and that will include names, selections and payments in the office by that time.

Annual meeting: We'll do things a little differently at the annual meeting at national convention this year. The executive meeting will go from 9-9:45 a.m. Sunday. At 10 a.m., there will be a work session on the Constitution and Bylaws for anyone interested in attending. The actual annual meeting will run from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.