Virginia Professional Communicators

Important dates: Mark your calendar

Important dates: Mark your calendar

Monday, Feb. 1: Final deadline for entering for the VPC Communications Contest. Visit the NFPW website and enter the all-electronic 2016 professional communicators competition for statewide recognition and the chance to compete against pros in the national contest. The website provides complete instructions.

Members of Virginia Professional Communicators AND professional communicators who live or work in Virginia are eligible to enter. If you are not a member of VPC, and you win first place at the state level, you will be given the option to join VPC and NFPW so that your entry can move to the national level to be judged. Work published from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2015, is eligible for this year’s contest.

Monday, Feb. 8: Deadline for nominations for Communicator of Achievement. Get your detailed narrative about one of our outstanding VPC members to Martha Steger soon. Send bio and career achievements, as well as community contributions to Martha at steger4@verizon.net. Questions? Call 804-794-7724.

Monday, Feb. 29: Deadline for nominations for Newsmaker of the Year. Yes, it is early this year because the Fall Conference is being eliminated. The Spring Conference will become the Annual Conference, and the Newsmaker Award will be made at that event. You must provide a narrative justifying your nomination, along with clips of coverage or links to coverage. Names submitted without supporting information will not be considered. Please submit all information to Martha Steger, as well.

Monday, Feb. 29: Applications for Agnes Cooke Scholarship must be postmarked. Applicants must complete the online scholarship form as well as submit three samples of work, a resume and a letter of recommendation. Submit applications to Melodie Martin, 8203 Bronwood Road, Richmond, VA 23229.

April 14-15: Annual Conference in Winchester at the George Washington Inn. You will not want to miss this first-time annual conference! We’ve got some show-stopping events planned.