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Press Club Elects New Board Members, Officers at Annual Meeting

The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis held its 48th Annual Meeting recently at the University Club. Returning as president after four years as Chairman of the Board is Robert A. Cohn, publisher emeritus of the St. Louis Jewish Light; new Board Chairperson is Jeane N. Jae, former president and Communications Director of the Humane Society of Missouri. Continuing officers are: vice president Alice Handelman, second vice president Brian Flinchpaugh, third vice president Sue Killenberg McGinn, and treasurer Karen Zarky.

New board members elected were: Judy Kaplan, a travel writer for the Ladue News, and Alonzo Byrd, Director of Communications for Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Five board members were reelected: Brian Flinchpaugh, PR Director of the United Way, Sue Killenberg McGinn Director of Communications for Washington University; Verna Smith, Editor and Communications Director of OASIS; Barbara Washington,Vice President for Communications for the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and Robert Cohn.

Receiving awards at the meeting were executive director Marge Polcyn, who received the Press Club’s highest honor: the Catfish Award for Excellence in Communications; and Frank Absher and Karen Zarky, who received President’s Awards for outstanding contributions to the Press Club. Absher helped found the Media Archives at the St. Louis Public Library and has continued to volunteer at the Library. Karen Zarky has donated her graphic skills in layout and design over the years for the publication of the Club’s newsletter.

Pictures from the event:

Marge Polcyn, who received the Press Club’s highest honor: the Catfish Award for Excellence in Communications; and Frank Absher, who received the President’s Award for outstanding contributions to the Press Club.
The Executive Board (from left): Brian Flinchpaugh, 2nd VP; Alice Handelman, 1st VP; Jeane Jae, new Chairperson of the Board; Bob Cohn, new President; Marge Polsyn, Executive Director; and Sue McGinn, 3rd VP; (not present, Karen Zarkey, Treasurer.)
Past President Jeane Jae passes the gavel to 2005 President Bob Cohn.