To submit your name to be approved by our nominating committee to be included on the ballot as a candidate, fill out this form by Wed., May 16.

The following board positions are open:

• President (one-year)
• President-Elect (two-year term, serving as a president during the 2013-14 year)
• Vice President (one-year)
• Secretary (one-year)
• Treasurer (one-year)
• In addition, the board is seeking candidates for a few board seats.*

Elected candidates will join returning board members for the next year that begins in August and runs through June, 2013.

Qualifications: All candidates must be current SPJ members at the time of the election (join SPJ here). Board members and officers must be able to regularly attend the chapter’s monthly board in Seattle. Candidates must be paid members of the editorial media industry as full-time of part-time employees, contributors, advisers, educators, consultants, free-lancers, business owners or in other roles.

Term: The 2012-13 board term begins in late August and will run through the board’s final monthly meeting in June. The board typically does not meet or conduct programming in December and July.

Election Process: Once the application process deadline passes, the current board of directors will assemble the ballot of candidates and distribute it electronically to all current chapter members. Returned ballots will be counted and verified by a non-board member/candidate. Results will be posted by August.

Successful candidates: Successful candidates will contribute to the board’s work by regularly attending programs and events; helping to develop initiatives that benefit members; recruiting volunteers and raising funds in support of a variety of chapter activities; provide financial oversight of the chapter’s budget; sit on chapter committees and provide quality governance of chapter resources and activities.

How to become a candidate: Click on this link to complete the election form and become a candidate. Candidates cannot be nominated; they must apply themselves.

If you have any questions about the election process or whether you qualify as a candidate, please contact Western Washington Pro Chapter President Clay Holtzman at Clay.Holtzman@gmail.com or by telephone at (206) 794-7441.

*The chapter’s bylaws call for 11 members — five officers, five professional members and one past-president.

About the Western Washington Pro Chapter: The local chapter is one of the largest and most well-respected chapters in the SPJ network and is a two-time recipient of the SPJ Chapter of the Year award. With about 175 members, the chapter is home to some of the most innovative journalism in the country. The chapter focuses on supporting its members with quality training and programming; recognizing the finest examples of published work; strengthening local journalism efforts and rights through collaboration and leadership; and supporting journalism education with scholarships.

Tracy Record

The Western Washington Pro Chapter of SPJ is proud to announce that Tracy Record, founder, editor and publisher of the West Seattle Blog, is the 2012 recipient of its June A. Almquist Award celebrating distinguished service in journalism.

Please join the chapter and its members in celebrating Record’s accomplishments at the Northwest Excellence in Journalism banquet May 19 at the downtown Renaissance Seattle Hotel (Buy your tickets now!).

Launched in 2005, the West Seattle Blog is one of the most well read and well respected community-collaborative news sites in the country. Prior to the site’s launch, Record spent two years in radio news reporting and 21 years in TV news production and management in Colorado, Las Vegas, San Diego (where she earned three regional Emmy awards) and here in Seattle. She worked eight years at KOMO and six at KCPQ before she left her job to commit herself full time to building the business and community around West Seattle Blog.

With an unshakeable respect for the enduring values of journalism, a demonstrated ability to innovate where few have and a deep respect for her readers — whom she considers partners — Record is a rare force in modern journalism and a model for many.

Tracy Record reporting from the field in West Seattle (Photo: Christopher Boffoli)

“It is a very humbling honor to receive something like this at this point in my career, as I don’t believe I am anywhere near ‘done’ yet,” Record wrote via email. “I hope that after I’ve worked at least another 20 or 30 years, I will still in retrospect have merited having been lauded for ‘distinguished service to journalism.’”

SPJ’s June Anderson Almquist Award, named after the trailblazing Seattle Times reporter, is awarded once a per year to a regional journalist who has demonstrated distinguished service to the craft and values of journalism.

“I have always had a guiding word, and that would be ‘right.’ As in – do the right thing. As in – get it right. The facts, the spelling, the meaning of what you are reporting,” Record wrote. “In addition to those principles, always be curious. As long as you keep wondering why, who, how, when, etc., you will have stories to tell.

“And last but not least – don’t ever lose the burning desire to be of service.”

Due in large part to its inclusive, collaborative relationship with readers, Record’s West Seattle Blog has earned a number of accolades in its seven years, including the prestigious Online News Association’s national award for Community Collaboration in 2010 and the Municipal League of King County’s 2012 Government News Reporting of the Year award, among many other local honors.

Congratulations, Tracy!

Madison Ballroom

Tickets are now available to the SPJ NW Excellence in Journalism Awards Banquet on Saturday, May 19. Buy your tickets now to take advantage of early bird pricing (early bird rate ends May 9)

Doors to the banquet will open at 6 pm at the Seattle Renaissance Hotel (use discount code “K6Y” when you book a room for the night and save 15%) and the dinner and program will begin at 7 pm. The evening’s award ceremony will be hosted by our guest emcees Linda Thomas of KIRO 97.3 FM and Mark Wright of KING 5 Television.

In addition to celebrating the region’s award-winning journalism of the last year, you can also support SPJ’s scholarship fund by purchasing items at our silent auction, by bringing a small monetary donation or by submitting an item for the auction.

We’ll see you on Saturday May 19 – Buy your tickets today!

Madison Ballroom

Save the date! On Saturday, May 19, the Western Washington Pro Chapter will host our annual awards banquet for the Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest at the Seattle Renaissance Hotel.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and dinner will begin at 7 p.m. The emcees for the evening will be Linda Thomas of KIRO 97.3 FM and Mark Wright of KING 5 Television.

The banquet will be held at the Renaissance’s Madison Ballroom. Dinner will include a chef’s choice salad, entree choice of grilled Northwest salmon, Columbia Valley pinot gris chicken breast or sweet potato ravioli with goat cheese and tomato-basil sauce and a chef’s choice desert. Coffee and tea will be included.

Attendees can mingle for drinks at a cash bar before dinner in the ballroom’s foyer and bid on great items in our annual silent auction benefitting the chapter’s student scholarship program. (Want to make a gift to the auction and support the chapter’s scholarship program? Tell us what you would like to donate and we will pick it up!)

After the dinner and program concludes, attendees are welcome to mingle at the Renaissance’s RView bar on the 28th floor or stay the evening in the hotel and receive a discount. Parking at the hotel’s garage for the evening is $12.

Tickets for the annual banquet will go on sale soon on Brown Paper Tickets. The early bird rate is $57.75 and $68.25 for late-comers.

Questions? Email the chapter at spjwash@gmail.com.

Our chapter is looking for experienced media professionals to evaluate contest entries from a variety of media fields in a variety of categories. If you have two to four hours to spare in the next month or so, you can judge entries from SPJ chapters around the country (those chapters are in turn judging our region’s contest entries). Please submit your Name, Email address, Current job, type of Media you work in (radio, online), and the expertise you have (photography, editorial writing, breaking news, etc.) and we will pair you up with some entries, directions and a deadline.

SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION TO BE A JUDGE NOW.

We try and give judges at least two weeks notice, and we ask that you have at least two years of experience in your field.

If you have any questions, please email us at spjwash@gmail.com.

Thank you for giving back to journalism!

SPJ's three 2011 SPJ scholarship award recipients, with their names up on the centerfield scoreboard at Safeco Field.

If you’ve ever benefited from a scholarship, here is your chance to pay it forward.

SPJ is collecting items that it will auction for student scholarships at the chapter’s annual awards banquet on May 19.

If you have sports tickets, works of art, bottles of wine, professional services, gift certificate – or even a cash donation* – please consider donating it to the chapter’s silent auction. All auction proceeds benefit the chapter’s scholarship fund, which makes awards worth $2,000 to Washington state journalism students.

Please register your donation with the chapter online and its volunteers will arrange for a pick up at a time and location that is convenient for you.

Register your student scholarship auction donation here.

Thank you for your support and please stay tuned for details on the 2012 Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards Banquet May 19 in Seattle.

*If you want to contribute cash, you can mail your payment to SPJ Western Washington, PO Box 28805 Seattle, WA 98118.  Donations to the chapter are not tax deductible.

Local winners were honored at the Region 10 SPJ Spring Conference at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., over the weekend. SPJ’s Region 10 includes colleges from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The nationwide contest received more than 4,000 entries across SPJ’s 12 regions.

First-place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging. National winners will be announced in late April.

See the full list of winners from Region 10 listed below. For additional information on the Mark of Excellence awards, contact Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at lrochester@spj.org.
Four-year colleges

Breaking News Photography
• First Place: Gunshot – by Nick Gast, University of Montana
• Second Place: Fire destroys waterfront homes on Swinomish land – by Benjamin Woodard, Western Washington University
• Third Place: Fighting back – by Nichole Williamson, Central Washington University

Feature Photography
• First Place: Cosmopolitan cowboy – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University
• Second Place: Parkour: the world is a playground – by Erin Nash, Western Washington University
• Third Place: Acid tide – by Lauren Owens, Western Washington University

General News Photography
• First Place: Take Back the Night – by Theodore Charles, Pacific Lutheran University
• Second Place: New pledges jump into brotherhood – by Vinay Bikkina, Oregon State University
• Third Place: After air combat, a few precious weeks home – by Benjamin Woodard, Western Washington University

Photo Illustration
• First Place: Smashing good time – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University
• Second Place: Strategic sleuth – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University
• Third Place: Journey to the center – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University

Sports Photography
• First Place: Northwest Collegiate Climbing Challenge – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University
• Second Place: Ski to Sea kayak finish – by Jordan Stead, Western Washington University
• Third Place: Home ‘sweet’ home – by Zack Berlat, Gonzaga University

Best Student Magazine
• First Place: The Planet, Western Washington University
• Second Place: Ethos, University of Oregon
• Third Place: No award*

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
• First Place: Stuck in dignity – by Deborah Bloom, University of Oregon
• Second Place: Beyond the high: A fight against disease, stigma and jail – by Benjamin Woodard, Western Washington University
• Third Place: HIV+ – by Cody Newton, University of Oregon

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
• First Place: The Daily Barometer, Oregon State University
• Second Place: The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University
• Third Place: No award*

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• First Place: The Western Front, Western Washington University
• Second Place: The Whitworthian, Whitworth University
• Third Place: The Falcon, Seattle Pacific University

Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: President Hopoi impeached – by Kristin Pugmire, Oregon State University
• Second Place: Western student leaves Egypt amidst protests – by Brianna Gibbs, Western Washington University
• Third Place: Files expose new details on UI murder – by Rochelle Adams, Kaitlin Gillespie, Stephanie Schendel and Anna Marum, Washington State University

Editorial Writing
• First Place: Caitlin Yilek, University of Portland
• Second Place: Al Jacobs, University of Washington Seattle
• Third Place: No award*

Feature Writing
• First Place: The girl I killed – by Billie Loewen, University of Montana
• Second Place: Failure & fortune on the frontier – by Lily Rabil, University of Montana
• Third Place: Student airman uses Skype to attend class – by Heather Bryant, University of Alaska Fairbanks

General Column Writing
• First Place: John Gats and Tony DiTommaso, Gonzaga University
• Second Place: Dylan Hoff, Washington State University
• Third Place: Gavin Mathis, Washington State University

General News Reporting
• First Place: Ride along with the party bus – by Caleb Hutton and Colin Diltz, Western Washington University
• Second Place: Death with Dignity Act may face amendment – by Evan Marczynski, Western Washington University
• Third Place: Haven – by Melissa Steffan, Seattle Pacific University

In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Pipeline safety vs. property rights – by Benjamin Woodard, Western Washington University
• Second Place: Pride and poison – by Heidi Groover, University of Montana
• Third Place: Students struggle with tuition hikes – by Rochelle Adams and Scott Shigeoka, Washington State University

Sports Column Writing
• First Place: Jesse Severson, Oregon State University
• Second Place: Grady Garrett, Oregon State University
• Third Place: Ryan Burnett, Brett Gleason and Adam Lewis, Washington State University

Sports Writing
• First Place: Please stand and remove your hats… – by Matt Snyder, Gonzaga University
• Second Place: Born to play – by Grady Garrett, Oregon State University
• Third Place: Sports struggle for equality and balance – by Matthew Carstens, Central Washington University

Best Affiliated Web Site
• First Place: The Argonaut (www.uiargonaut.com), University of Idaho
• Second Place: The Sun Star (www.uafsunstar.com), University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Third Place: No award*

Best Independent Online Student Publication
• First Place: Native land, natural resources, University of Montana
• Second Place: No award*
• Third Place: No award*

Online Feature Reporting
• First Place: Undammed: the Elwha River story – by Lauren Owens and Heather Shupe, Western Washington University
• Second Place: WSU student recalls the horrors of Libyan prison – by Kirsty Whitmore, Washington State University
• Third Place: Life really begins in the Geneva underground – by Jack Sorensen, Pacific Lutheran University

Online In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: In rural Northwest, the high cost of war – by Hannah Van Ree and Justin Runquist, Washington State University
• Second Place: Havoc in the herd: Extended coverage – by Kelsey Gobroski, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Third Place: The Mast staff responds to publication of profanity imbroglio – by The Mooring Mast Staff, Pacific Lutheran University

Online News Reporting
• First Place: Libyan conflict threatens aid for graduate students – by Kirsty Whitmore, Washington State University
• Second Place: Universities struggle with federal crime reporting – by Scott Shigeoka and Rachel Webber, Washington State University
• Third Place: Undammed: the Elwha River story – by Heather Shupe and Lauren Owens, Washington State University

Online Sports Reporting
• First Place: Heading taking a lot of blame as concussions increase in soccer – by Byron Edelman, Washington State University
• Second Place: Social media monitoring of athletes on the rise – by Ryan Burnett, Washington State University
• Third Place: Dodgeball ducks, dips and dives at PLU – by Judah Heimlich, Pacific Lutheran University

Radio Feature Reporting
• First Place: Inner musings – by Adrienne Ellsworth, University of Montana
• Second Place: Mother of mercy – by Bethany Jo Denton, Western Washington University
• Third Place: Placentophagy – by Jeff Emtman, Western Washington University

Radio In-depth Reporting
• First Place: Profiles in diversity – by Adrienne Ellsworth, Clark Hodges and Steele Williams, University of Montana
• Second Place: Bellingham Boo’s – by Bethany Jo Denton, Western Washington University
• Third Place: No award*

Television Feature Reporting
• First Place: A tough transition – by Katherine Kettering and Dizhi Gi, University of Montana
• Second Place: Undie run – by Emily Foster and Matt DeBray, University of Montana
• Third Place: Horse treadmill – by Abby Acone and Christina Jones, Washington State University

Television In-depth Reporting
• First Place: Overexposed: The cost of compassion – by Elizabeth Herzfeldt-Kamprath, Katie Scaff and Hailey Rile, Pacific Lutheran University
• Second Place: Connecting the (406) – by University of Montana Documentary Unit, University of Montana
• Third Place: No award*

Television General News Reporting
• First Place: One long route – by Gillette Vaira, University of Montana
• Second Place: Pine beetle – by Scott Ranf and Faith Cronin, University of Montana
• Third Place: Coal trains – by Scott Ranf and Stephanie Hanson, University of Montana

Television Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Bicycle-bus accident – by Abby Acone and Gabrielle Lewis, Washington State University
• Second Place: No award*
• Third Place: No award*

Television Feature Photography
• First Place: Pumpkins fly through the air at Punkin’ Chunkin’ Contest – by Bernie Riggs and Emily Foster, University of Montana
• Second Place: Horse treadmill – by Abby Acone and Christina Jones, Washington State University
• Third Place: Big Sky Brain Project – by Emily Foster and Brad Peers, University of Montana

Television News Photography
• First Place: UM Grad Student brings lasting global connection to Missoula – by Bernie Riggs and Annemiek Wilson, University of Montana
• Second Place: No award*
• Third Place: No award*

Television Sports Photography
• First Place: 2nd Annual Treasure State Shred Fest – by Maegan Simmons, University of Montana
• Second Place: Belegarth Medieval Combat – by Bernie Riggs, University of Montana
• Third Place: UM soccer – by Brad Peers and Emily Foster, University of Montana

Two-year and community colleges

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• First Place: The Sentinel, North Idaho College
• Second Place: The Broadside, Central Oregon Community College
• Third Place: The Communicator, Spokane Falls Community College

Editorial Writing
• First Place: Noura Alfadl-Andreasson, North Idaho College
• Second Place: No award*
• Third Place: No award*

Feature Photography
• First Place: Parkour – by Catherine Mullaney, North Idaho College
• Second Place: Faust photos – by Nick Jacquot, North Idaho College
• Third Place: No award*

Feature Writing
• First Place: Learning lessons through heritage – by Kaye Thornbrugh, North Idaho College
• Second Place: Veteran’s Day: Alan Moorhouse profile – by Alyssa Wilder, Central Oregon Community College
• Third Place: Time to sing a new song – by Viola Ware, Peninsula College

General News Photography
• First Place: Occupy Spokane – by Gabe Green, North Idaho College
• Second Place: No award*
• Third Place: No award*

Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: Hoops heaven! – by Ryan Hueter, Peninsula College
• Second Place: ASCOCC potentially shut down – by Tobey Veenstra, Central Oregon Community College
• Third Place: No award*

Editorial Cartooning
• First Place: Tobey Veenstra, Central Oregon Community College
• Second Place: Shane Wellner, North Idaho College
• Third Place: No award*

General News Reporting
• First Place: Idaho gun bill articles – by Tala Wood, North Idaho College
• Second Place: Students experience poverty – by Connor DeVries, North Idaho College
• Third Place: Peabody-Award winner speaks at NIC – by Joyce Hargrove and Kaye Thornbrugh, North Idaho College

In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: $27,000: Is It a fair use of your student fees? – by Tobey Veenstra, Central Oregon Community College
• Second Place: Elwha articles – by Jameson Hawn and Ryan Hueter, Peninsula College
• Third Place: Campus security – by Kirsteen Wolf, Central Oregon Community College

Sports Photography
• First Place: Rail jam wipeout – by Derek Oldham, Central Oregon Community College
• Second Place: Wrestling flip – by Ethan Schlussler, North Idaho College
• Third Place: No award*

Sports Writing
• First Place: Sigmar Field unveiled – by Ryan Hueter, Peninsula College
• Second Place: Cheer squad wins national title – by Eric Rivera, North Idaho College
• Third Place: The NBA lockout and a case for a return to Seattle basketball – by Tim Foss, Jr., Edmonds Community College

This Wednesday, March 21, join the conversation by tweeting #JoinSPJ and tell us and your followers why you are a member of the nation’s largest and oldest journalism organization. And if you know someone who should be an SPJ member, forward them to our membership page: http://www.spj.org/join.asp

Follow the Western Washington Pro Chapter on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SPJWash

Follow the Society of Professional Journalists on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/spj_tweets

SPJ members can attend a pre-conference, members-only reception on Friday, March 30.

For more details and conference registration, visit here: http://blogs.spjnetwork.org/region10/?page_id=468