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November
2004
BCA News
In
this issue:
1.
Editor's Notes
2. Deadline News
3. Meet the VP
4. 2005 BCA Workshop Preview
5. Grapevine
6. New Members
7. Positions Available
Editor's
Notes
Wow, can it really be the middle of November? The fall has
passed quickly. I trust you and yours are preparing for a
blessed holiday season. No doubt some of you have experienced
life-altering events this year that will make the holidays
difficult. I hope you will feel God's peace and the support
of loved ones and friends during these days.
On a lighter
note, in late summer our BCA president Jan Kelley "challenged"
officers to a contest for who could enlist his or her committee
before the deadline. Ele Clay, missions vice president, won.
She received a clock that runs backwards! Visit http://store.yahoo.com/opg/mixedclock.html
to see it. Of the prize, Ele says, "I recommend this
clock for any organization working through project deadlines,
reorganization, transition, and undue stress. When you look
to the clock for the time, you quickly learn that time is
whatever you want it to be. Using that clock as a measure,
no one can challenge you. I love it."
Blessings
to you all,
Tanya Dawson
Deadline
News
Do you know a Communications Student? Our association continues
to help students train for careers in religious communications
through its scholarship programs. BCA will award three scholarships
next spring for the 2005-2006 academic year. The deadline
for application is Friday, December 3, 2004.
A scholarship
for $1,000 will be awarded to an undergraduate student and
one $500 scholarship to a graduate student in the name of
Al Shackleford and Dan Martin. The $1,000 Alan Compton/Bob
Stanley Minority and International Scholarship is given to
an undergraduate student of minority ethnic or international
origin.
Applicants
must have at least a 2.5 GPA and have vocational aspirations
in religious communications. Funds may be used for tuition,
books, housing or food and will be forwarded to the institution
in which the student is enrolled no later than August 1, 2005.
Students may request an application by contacting Keith Beene,
BCA administrative coordinator, at (615) 904-0152 or by email
at bca.office@comcast.net.
LifeWay
Movie Contest:If you produce digital movies, then there
is a new opportunity for you. Submissions for the 2005 Short
Film Awards are due December 1, 2004.. Send your digital film
(up to 3 minutes) in one of four categories: Plan of Salvation,
Faith, Hope or Love. Multiple entries are welcome. Numerous
cool prizes, and finalists will be voted upon by visitors
to the site. There is nothing to pay -- entry fees are covered
by a sponsorship from eMediaLINK.
Our
President-Elect
Joe Westbury was elected president-elect at the April 2004
BCA workshop. Joe has served as managing editor of Georgia
Baptists' The Christian Index since August 2003. Prior to
assuming that role he had served for five years as associate
editor of the paper. Westbury, a career journalist with the
Southern Baptist Convention for 30 years, has served in a
variety of writing positions since he graduated from Union
University in 1974. He served twice as public relations director
for his alma mater, as well as serving as a religion editor
and news reporter for The Jackson Sun newspaper in Jackson,
Tenn. He also served as editor of World Mission Journal published
by the former Brotherhood Commission in Memphis and as associate
director of the news department of the former Home Mission
Board. Westbury later served as associate editor of MissionsUSA,the
flagship magazine for the Atlanta-based agency. Prior to joining
The Index he produced missions education materials for the
HMB as well as for the North American Mission Board. He has
traveled to 40 states and eight nations as he covered stories
on Southern Baptist career missionaries and volunteers. He
is a native of Orlando, Fla. Westbury and his wife, Jan, are
parents of two young daughters--Charlotte and Elena. They
live in Lilburn and are members of Mountain Park First Baptist
Church in Stone Mountain.
2005
Spring Workshop
Mark your calendar for next year's workshop. Here are a few
details.
2005
BCA Annual Workshop oo Denver, Colorado
Westin Tabor Center oo Downtown Denver oo April 20-23
- Opening Reception on Wednesday Evening
- Workshops & Keynote Speakers on Thursday
- Business Session & Workshops on Friday Morning
- Field Trip to Focus on the Family and the Flying W Chuckwagon
on Friday Afternoon and Evening
- Free Time on Saturday for Sightseeing
- Awards Banquet on Saturday Evening
Detailed registration information will be mailed in early
January. For the latest information, visit the BCA website
at www.baptistcommunicators.org
History
Items Wanted
Any member who has memorabilia related to BCA that needs to
be preserved is requested to mail (or make contact with) to
Charles Richardson, historian, Box 16212, Hardin-Simmons University,
Abilene, TX 79698. Current or Lifetime members are invited
to share any special memory of our organization. Much has
been done in the past, but time marches forward with history
in the making.
Welcome,
New Members!
Jennifer Byrd is assistant director of public relations
at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. Contact
Jennifer at byrdj@obu.edu.
Bill
Dixon is studying digital communications at Union University
in Jackson, Tenn. Contact Bill at tnwhiz@aol.com.
Courtney
Navey is the photo editor at Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary. Contact Courtney at cnavey@sebts.edu.
Tom
Snethen works as the director of affiliate relations for
FamilyNet. Contact Tom at tsnethen@familynet.com.
Brett
McArdle works as Marketing Strategist for Woman's Missionary
Union in Birmingham, Ala. Contact him at bmcardle@wmu.org,
Marc
Brooks is a graphic designer at Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary. You may reach him at mbrooks@sebts.edu.
Lisa
Hessel is serving as a public relations manager at Missouri
Baptist University in St. Louis. Contact Lisa at hessel@mobap.edu
Martha
Morrow is the marketing director at Houston Baptist University.
Contact Martha at mmorrow@hbu.edu.
Tony
Sharpe is a electronic media specialist with the South
Carolina Baptist Convention. Contact him at tonysharpe@scbaptist.org
Nicole
Swanson works as a communications assistant for Pleasant
Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo. Contact Nicole at nicole@pleasantvalley.org
Lisa
Watson is the assistant to the editor with the Arkansas
Baptist News. Contact her at lisa@arkansasbaptist.org
Grapevine
Scott Goggins, formerly with the Woman's Missionary
Union for more than 10 years, is now communications specialist
with St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham. You can reach Scott
at (205) 939-7282 or sgoggins@stv.org.
Terri
Lackey, formerly with LifeWay Christian Resources for
19 years, is now managing editor of Lutheran Woman Today,
the women's magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, which is headquartered near O'Hare Airport. She and
her husband, Bob, moved to Chicago in late July where he serves
the (Episcopal) Church of Transfiguration, Palos Park, as
curate under the Lilly Foundation's "Making Excellent
Disciples" program.
Charles
Richardson, director of media relations at Hardin-Simmons
University, Abilene, Texas, received a Medal of Service Award
from Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas during its
homecoming on Oct. 16. Charles, who serves as BCA historian,
graduated from HPU in 1958 and from HSU with a master's degree
in 1971. He is in his 30th year as news officer at HSU.
Jeff
Root is now the Dean of the School of Humanities at Ouachita
Baptist University.
Lifetime-Member
News
Compiled by Keith Beene, BCA administrator
JAY
and JACKIE DURHAM are now living in Dacula, Ga. Jay, a
lifetime member and past president (1965-66) who retired from
the Home Mission Board, said he and Jackie are enjoying visits
with their four children and seven grandchildren. Contact
Jay at jandjd@bellsouth.net or (678) 714-2158.
ROY
JENNINGS is serving his second term on the Tennessee Baptist
Convention¹s Executive Board and it's communications
committee. Jennings is a lifetime member who served at the
association president from 1975-76. He worked for both the
Brotherhood Commission and Baptist Memorial Health Care Systems.
Contact Roy at hroyjennings@hotmail.com or (901) 754-3457.
GOMER
LESCH, formerly with the Baptist Sunday School Board,
is working part-time helping market a local retirement village
in Bowling Green, Ky. Gomer was president of the association
from 1963-64. Contact Gomer at g.lesch@att.net or (270) 782-3055.
STANTON
NASH sends news of the birth of his great-granddaughter
Ellen Joy Chesney on June 10, 2004. Nash, 89, is a lifetime
member and past president (1976-77) who worked for both Golden
Gate and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminaries. Contact
Stanton at shnash@aol.com or (817) 236-1160.
ORVILLE
SCOTT, formerly with the Baptist General Convention of
Texas, writes he's enjoying his retirement after moving back
to the country. Orville keeps busy helping his son grow fruit
trees and teaching a weekly Sunday school class at FBC, Canton.
Contact Orville at scott@grandsaline.com or (903) 829-5003.
LEONARD
and NITA WEDEL celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary
on May 26, 2004. Wedel retired from the Baptist Sunday School
Board in 1973 and is the association¹s only living charter
member. Contact Leonard at (615) 370-3376.
Lifetime
member FARRELL BLANKENSHIP writes he served as interim
pastor for nine months last year. He and his wife are also
appearing in commercials and as movie extras. So far the couple
has appeared in Runaway Jury and My Dog Skip. Contact Farrell
at (601) 924-2106 or at farrelljoann@aol.com.
Since
retiring from the Baptist General Convention of Texas, DAN
MARTIN has been ministering as a chaplain for Trinity
Hospice-Castle Peak which serves patients in Cleburne, Weatherford,
Granbury, Fort Worth and Glen Rose, Texas. Contact Dan at
(817) 613-8562 or codaco@hyperusa.com.
THOMAS
BRANNON writes that he is enjoying retirement in South
Carolina. Brannon, who retired from the Baptist General Convention
of Texas after 23 years, has moved back to the same house
he and his wife left to go to Texas. Contact Tom at (803)
771-6625 or at tsb0312@aol.com.
JOHN
BLOSKAS, a retiree from the SBC Annuity Board, works part-time
doing publicity work for the North Texas PC Users Group. John
and his wife live in Frisco and enjoy being near their four
grandchildren. The three oldest are triplets. The couple is
already busy planning their 50th wedding anniversary which
will be February 7, 2005. Contact John at (972) 335-4184 or
at jbloskas@sbcglobal.net.
WILMER
C. FIELDS sent news of his recent visit to China, Tebet,
Vietnam and Hong Kong. He and his wife, LaWanna, spent 33
days touring SE Asia. Wilmer wrote that Vietnam was his 134th
county to visit. Contact Wilmer at (615) 356-5316 or wilcfields@comcast.net.
Positions
Available
The Editor Search Committee of the Louisiana Baptist Message
invites recommendations for the position of editor. Send letters
of recommendation and/or resumes to: Editor Search Committee,
c/o Nathan Luce, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309.
The Baptist
General Convention of Texas is seeking a Director of Convention
& Meeting Planning. This person is responsible for coordinating
the planning of the annual BGCT convention, managing hotel
contracts, banquets, facility and transportation needs of
BGCT sponsored events. A minimum of 5 years of meeting planning
experience is required, plus a strong knowledge of the hospitality
industry, promotion of events and Baptist polity. Contact
becky.bridges@bgct.org for details and a job description.
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