April 2024 Gleanings
Register now for Scholarship Dinner, plus other club news
We love giving out scholarships to deserving students! Now's the time to sign up for our annual scholarship dinner, set for May 9 at Luquins in Hilo.
Read on for more. Plus recapping a fun author event, and we're already planning our Torch of Light luncheon with this year's winner, retired Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Daniel Foley. Save the date -- December 14.
And, don't forget to renew your membership and pay your dues! Have news to share? Just email Gleanings editor Nancy Cook Lauer at nclauer@gmail.com for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
Next Meeting: Saturday, May 11, 11:30am – 1pm. via Zoom. Email President Michael Phillips at phillips@weatherboy.com for link.
Scholarship Dinner to feature Chad Blair
The Big Island Press Club Scholarship Foundation will honor its 2024 scholarship winners on Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. at Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant in Hilo. This dinner event will feature guest speakers Honolulu Civil Beat journalists Kevin Dayton and Chad Blair.
Civil Beat, the 13-year-old local digital news platform, was started by philanthropist Pierre Omidyar, founder of PayPal. Civil Beat has emerged as a key news source in the islands.
Dayton, a Big Island based investigative journalist, will introduce Honolulu based Civil Beat Editor Blair who will speak on the state of the media and our news gathering future.
Enjoy some of the island’s finest Mexican food, while getting acquainted with student scholarship winners who have demonstrated a passion for story telling and are seeking media-related professions.
This year’s Big Island Press Club Scholarship Foundation awards are a record amount. This increase is thanks to generous donors who participated in our 2023 Torch of Light auction.
Tickets must be purchased by May 5 or while supplies last.
Get your tickets at https://www.bigislandpressclub.org/collect/description/412278-f-2024-scholarship-awards-dinner
Tom Peek Newsmaker a big hit
BIPC's Newsmaker featuring Tom Peek, author of two Big Island-based books, including his latest, "Mauna Kea," attracted a crowd of book lovers, BIPC members and those interested in the fate of telescopes on Mauna Kea.
Peek is a natural storyteller, and he captivated the crowd with his readings and answers to the multitude of questions thrown his way. Signing his books took us beyond the scheduled end to this event.
The addition of Hilo's own Basically Books bookstore selections added to the event.
This one was the first Newsmaker event in a long time -- if ever -- held at the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus. As far as town and gown events, this one was a hit!
BIPC sponsored several team members for Ke Kalahea, the UHH student newspaper, including scholarship winner Lichen Forster and also our sponsored intern David Mayser.
2024 Big Island Press Club Board
Please feel free to contact any board members with your suggestions, or if you wish to volunteer!
President: Michael Phillips, meteorologist & earth science news reporter
mphillips@weatherboy.com
Vice President: Tiffany Edwards Hunt, former journalist, middle school teacher
<newswoman@mac.com>
Treasurer: Bob Duerr, filmmaker and journalist, Hawaii Fishing News <surf77@me.com>
Secretary: Nancy Cook Lauer, retired journalist, blogger www.allhawaiinews.com
<nclauer@gmail.com>
Director: Ross Wilson, PR, Current Events <rossw@current-events.com>
Director: Royelen Lee Boykie, retired digital strategist and fundraiser
<Royelen@bigislandpressclub.org>
Director: Patsy Iwasaki, professor, University of Hawaii-Hilo
<piwasaki@hawaii.edu>
Director: Jim Wilson, retired publisher, Hawaii Tribune-Herald <wilson1012@twc.com>
Immediate Past President: John Burnett, journalist, Tribune-Herald <jburnett@hawaiitribuneherald.
com>
