Chapter Updates

New Officers
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer

            The Winona State University chapter of the National Broadcasting Society will soon have new leadership after the annual election on Jan. 27.
            The chapter has an all-new executive board, with the exception of one remaining officer, Alyssa Franklin who will stay on board as treasurer.
            The new leadership will take over following the National Convention in New York City.
            The new officers vary between freshmen and juniors at Winona State, all with the same goal, to promote NBS and come together with their fellow broadcasters.
            Taking the rewarding task as President is Tasha Toombs, a freshman Mass Communications, Broadcasting major.
            Working alongside her as Vice President will be Olga Lezhepekova, also a freshman Mass Communications, Broadcasting major.
            Veteran members of the Winona chapter, Austin Melville and Kevin Dill are stepping up to the plate to take on officer positions. Melville, a junior Mass Communications, Broadcasting major will be chapter secretary. Dill, also a junior Mass Communications, Broadcasting major will take the role of chapter webmaster.
            Two newer members of NBS will also be taking on big roles. Megan McNulty, a junior Mass Communications, Broadcasting major will be in charge of all chapter communication as the public information officer.
            Matt Prink, a sophomore Mass Communications, Broadcasting major will serve as recruitment director, a very vital role in the chapter with the number of members graduating this spring.
“Being elected Vice President of the Winona chapter of the National Broadcasting Society was very unexpected,” said Lezhepekova, “but at the same time very exciting.”

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C.C. P.R. #57/2.09

Cell Phones for Soldiers Community Service Event
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer
           The Winona State University Chapter of The National Broadcasting Society collected and donated cell phones for an organization called Cell Phones for Soldiers as a community service project this past December 2008.
           Cell Phones for Soldiers is an organization that collects both working and non-working phones and sends them to ReCellular, a company which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.
            Three members of the chapter participated in this event including President, Samantha Gronlund; Public Information Officer, Claudia Cappiello and Co-Webmaster, Zachary Smith. The members publicized the collection drive on campus, and spoke with area businesses, including Sprint to receive donations.
            The collection drive was a great success, over 70 cell phones were donated to the cause.
            “It is a really great feeling that with our efforts, more than 60 soldiers were able to get an hour of phone time with their families,” said Samantha Gronlund, president.
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C.C. P.R. #56/1.09

Winona Chapter Works for a Better Christmas for All
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer

           The Winona State University chapter of the National Broadcasting Society is feeling the Christmas spirit this season, by participating in a community service project with Operation Christmas Child.
           Three members of the chapter participated in this endeavor, Samantha Gronlund, chapter president, Zachary Smith, co-webmaster and Claudia Cappiello, public information officer.
           Members chose to sponsor either a boy or girl, and between the age groups of two- four years old, five- nine years old or 10-14 years old. The three members took shoeboxes and filled them with toys and other fun gifts for those age groups.
           Operation Christmas Child was developed by an organization called Samaritans Purse, which provides relief to the world’s poor, sick and suffering for over 35 years. It is their mission to bring joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes.
           Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has packed, shipped and delivered more than 61 million shoeboxes across the globe.
           “It was such a great opportunity to help see that children across the world have a great Christmas, and to know that they will have something on Christmas to make them smile,” said Gronlund.

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C.C. P.R. #55/12.08

Winona Sweeps it Again At Regionals Third Year in a Row
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer

           The Winona State University Chapter of the National Broadcasting Society won Chapter of the Year along with prestigious society and electronic media awards at the Region Five convention in Omaha, NE on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008.
            The chapter won Region Five Chapter of the Year for the past three years, the number of years that Samantha Gronlund has been president. The Winona State Chapter also won the Most Improved Chapter award at the Convention. Under her presidency, the chapter also won National Chapter of the Year 2006-2007.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our chapter. Every year they surprise me and every year we improve in one way or another.” Said Gronlund. “It was great to get chapter of the year for the third time in a row.   It’s always a great feeling when your hard work pays off, and it has in so many ways!”
            Chantal Napert, vice president of the chapter took home the Student Member of the Year award for the 2007-2008 school year.
“I feel honored to be recognized as student member of the year,” said Napert, “it’s a great way to leave my last year knowing that I made an impression on not only the chapter but the region.”
            Winona State is known by many in the region and even nationally for its website. It has won many awards over the years, and the regional this year was no different. Amanda Farley and Zachary Smith, co-webmasters won for the Best NBS Website and Best Overall Website.
            Winona State wins many society awards every year, but until this convention, members did not submit many electronic media awards. This year the chapter came home with five awards in the electronic media category.
Napert, chapter vice-president received honorable mentions for regional video feature package and video news package, along with winning Student Member of the Year.
Alyssa Franklin, treasurer won first place for video news package, entitled: School Safety.
            Don Vieth, projects and events coordinator won Best Audio Sports Show.
            Annelie Schmittel, a member of NBS received an honorable mention for video news segment.
            As Region Five Chapter of the Year, the Winona State Chapter has yet another chance to win National Chapter of the Year at Nationals this March in New York, NY.

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C.C. P.R. #54/10.08

Election Night Volunteering
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer

            The Winona State University chapter of the National Broadcasting Society was invited to volunteer at Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC) in Winona, MN and KTTC News, in Rochester, MN on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.
            News stations are always in need of volunteers on Election Day to do a variety of tasks such as taking phone calls and phoning in results as the day progresses.
Members of NBS are always looking for opportunities like this to expand their Broadcasting experience. In fact, several members of NBS and the Winona State Broadcasting program currently work for HBC, taping sports games and doing a variety of other Broadcasting tasks as needed.
            HBC is also the cable service provider in Winona that airs Winona State’s student run news program, “News 24” on channel 24. News 24 is a program run entirely by the Broadcast Journalism class at Winona State. Several members of NBS are involved in this project, including Don Vieth, projects and events coordinator.
            “It is an amazing opportunity to be involved in the presidential election process as a student,” said Vieth, “especially because it only comes around every four years.”

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C.C. P.R. #53/10.08

Penny For Your Thoughts
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer

           The Winona State University chapter of the National Broadcasting Society is starting yet another community service project, this time proceeds will go towards the Tourettes Syndrome Foundation.
            The community service campaign is called Penny for Your Thoughts, a plan that was started by the NBS alumni, Rick Thiesse during his time at Winona State.
            Jars will be distributed to Winona community businesses, and people can put their loose change in. The money from the jars will be collected monthly and the proceeds will be sent to the Turrets Syndrome Foundation.
            “I always thought that the ‘Penny for Your Thoughts’ community service project was a great experience for Winona State, and an excellent foundation to donate to.” Said Rick Thiesse, Winona State NBS Alum.

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C.C. P.R. #52/10.08

Ready for Regional
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer

            The Winona State University Chapter of the National Broadcasting Society is getting ready to pack up, and send 12 members to the Region five convention in Omaha, NE.
The chapter is making the six-hour trek to Nebraska on Thursday, Oct. 23, in time to attend the events on Friday morning.
            Winona State is the current Region 5 chapter of the year and holds various other society awards such as Region five and national Student Member of the Year and Communication Coordinator of the Year. The chapter is well known for a great website as well.
            Now that the number of senior members is upwards of fifty, they have sent more electronic media submissions than they have in years.
            “I am so excited to see the number of submissions we have this year,” said Zach Smith, co-webmaster, “and to see the turnout this next week at the convention!”

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C.C. P.R. #51/10.08

Highway Cleanup
Claudia Cappiello
Public Information Officer

            The National Broadcasting Society participated in its bi-annual cleanup of Highway 61 in Winona, Minn on Sunday, Sept. 28.
            Both officers and members woke up early on a Sunday morning to beautify Winona. The chapter picked up lots of trash, but had fun in doing so.
           “I have always thought that the ‘highway clean-up’ project is worthwhile and good for the community,” said Samantha Gronlund, chapter president, “It brings the chapter together and keeps the NBS name in the public eye.”

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C.C. P.R. #50/10.08