ELCA NEWS SERVICE April 2, 2009 Lutheran Communicators Win 2009 Derose-Hinkhouse Awards 09-078-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) honored several Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) communicators March 27 at its annual DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards program in Boston. The Women of the ELCA video "Created in the Image of God: A Community of Women" earned a Best of Class distinction, as well as an Award of Excellence, for non-broadcast audio and video. Mary La Plante, director for marketing, Women of the ELCA, produced the video. RCC recognized communicators for outstanding communication projects in 10 general classes; Best of Class is the top honor in each class. RCC is an international interfaith association of religion communicators in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial awards are given annually to active RCC members who demonstrate excellence in religion communication and public relations. The awards are named in honor of the late Victor DeRose and the late Paul M. Hinkhouse, leading lithographers in New York and longtime friends of RCC. RCC gives Awards of Excellence in several categories within each class. Other awards, such as Certificates of Merit and honorable mentions, are also presented. Staff of ELCA Communication Services received seven Awards of Excellence: + Writing; Newspaper or Magazine News, Series: Melissa Ramirez Cooper, "ELCA Leaders Express Concern Over Impact of Immigration Raids, Visit Immigration Detention Centers" + Non-broadcast Audio and Video; Video, Promotional/Informational, under 15 minutes: Brett Nelson, "After the Floods" + Broadcast and Cable Audio and Video; Radio Program or Series: Susan Greeley and Barbara Berry-Bailey, Grace Matters: "Tim Wise -- Insulating Your Attic" + Broadcast and Cable Audio and Video; Broadcast/Cable TV National Program: Ava Martin, "Native Nations: Standing Together for Civil Rights" + Public Relations/Advertising Campaign; Advertising Campaign: Kristi S. Bangert, "Hope" and "Dignity" television spots + Internet Communication; Web site: Paul Edison-Swift, Kristin Koskinen, Tracie Watkins, David Scott, Len Mason, Ben McDonald Coltvet, www.ELCA.org redevelopment + Internet Communication; Miscellaneous: Frank Imhoff, John Brooks, Melissa Ramirez Cooper, "News Coverage: Women of the ELCA Triennial" Tim Frakes, Tim Frakes Productions, won an Award of Excellence in video, documentary/educational for "Peace Not Walls," a program he produced for the ELCA. Jeanean Merkel, Lutheran Services in America, won an Award of Excellence in public relations materials for the annual report, "The Power of One." Staff of Lutheran World Relief (LWR) won six Awards of Excellence: + Periodicals; National Newsletter: Daniel Lee, "TOTO To Others, Through Others: LWR's Quarterly Newsletter" + Public Relations Materials; Annual Report: Emily Sollie, 2007 LWR Annual Report + Public Relations Materials; Special Issue Publication: Daniel Lee, Nikki Massie, Erik Piisila, "Fill the Bowl" + Graphic Design, Art and Photography; Design, Publication Cover: Erik Piisila, "Fill the Bowl" + Graphic Design, Art and Photography; DVD Cover/Packaging: Erik Piisila, "Justice, Dignity and Peace" + Non-broadcast Audio and Video; Video, Documenentary/Educational, under 15 minutes: Emily Sollie, Daniel Lee, Erik Piisila, "From Bean to Bar: The LWR Chocolate Project" Two of the eight ELCA seminaries took home Awards of Excellence: + Public Relations Materials; Annual Report: James Walker, "2008 Annual Report of Donors," Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia + Graphic Design, Art and Photography; Logo/branding development: The Rev. John Spangler, Katy Giebenhain, Seminary Ridge Press logo, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Gettysburg, Pa. Members of two of the ELCA's 10,448 congregations won Awards of Excellence: + Periodicals, Single Issue; Magazine, Local or Regional: Micholyn Fajen, "For Good" -- Fall/Winter 2008, St. John Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa + Public Relations/Advertising Campaign; Integrated Marketing Campaign: Sharon Chapman, Kay Champagne, Mark Sullivan, Kari Daelke, "Martin Marty Event at King of Glory," King of Glory Lutheran Church, Dallas --- The complete list of DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Award winners is at http://tinyurl.com/cy2ufa on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog