wfn.org | United Methodist communicators win awards from PR group

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 29, 1998  Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville,
Tenn.      {263}  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (UMNS) -- Four United Methodist communicators received
awards of excellence and another five won awards of merit April 24 in
the annual DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Communications Awards competition,
sponsored by the Religious Public Relations Council (RPRC).

The awards are given to active RPRC members who demonstrate excellence
in religious communications and public relations. Entries are judged on
overall quality, including elements such as concept, writing, design,
style, use of color, appropriateness of material, clarity of
communication, freshness, quality of reproduction, cost effectiveness,
and creative use of
resources.

In each of eight categories, entries are eligible for an award of merit
or an award of excellence.

United Methodists receiving awards of excellence were:

*	Alice Smith, Atlanta, executive director of the United Methodist
Communications Council of Georgia, in the "Writing for Periodicals"
category, for "Emory University and United Methodism: An Uneasy
Marriage";
	
*	Wilford V. Bane, Nashville, Tenn., a staff executive with United
Methodist Communications (UMCom), in the "Broadcast and Cable Audio and
Video" category for the weekly "News Odyssey" program for which he is
executive producer;
	
*	Bill Wolfe, Nashville, UMCom staff member, in the "Public
Relations and Advertising" category for radio spots "Move On ... to
Something Better";
	
*	Alan Griggs,  Nashville, UMCom staff member, for "The United
Methodist Church" television spots.

Receiving awards of merit  in the "Periodicals" category were:

*	Alma Graham, Christie House and Roger Sadler, New York, for New
World Outlook, magazine of the United Methodist General Board of Global
Ministries;
	
*	Lynne Bevan DeMichele, Indianapolis, for the statewide newspaper
Hoosier United Methodist News;
	
*	Nancye Willis, Nashville, UMCom staff member, for the newsletter
Transmitter.

The RPRC also elected a new president, Thomas R. May of New York,
executive director of the National Bible Association. UMCom staff member
Shirley Whipple Struchen of New York concluded two years as president of
the national organization. She will remain on the governing board as
immediate past president. Other United Methodists on the board are
Barbara Nissen, UMCom staff member from Nashville, and Tricia Schug,
director of communications for the Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences
with offices in Seattle.

A new name -- Religion Communicators Council -- was chosen for the
organization during business sessions. The council,  founded in 1929,
has about 550 members.  It is one of the primary organizations
cooperating to host the fourth, once-a-decade Religious Communications
Congress in Chicago in the year 2000.

In addition to the DeRose-Hinkhouse awards competition for members, the
council gives Wilbur Awards annually for exceptional work reflecting
religious values in the public arena. Winners included, in the category
of television comedy, "Home Improvement" for "Losing My Religion,"  Wind
Dancer Production group, in association with Touchstone Television;  and
in the category of television national news, ABC News' "World News
Tonight," for "Tornadoes -- Acts of God?",  Peggy Wehmeyer,
correspondent,  and Claudia Rader and Lisa Hampshire, producers.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/