I’m proud to have been given the opportunity to serve as your president for the last four years. I first attended Press Club events almost twenty years ago, which led to my joining the Club a few years later. Since then, my passion for the Club has grown and its members have become dear friends.
The experience has been rewarding and I have many wonderful people to thank for all that we’ve accomplished:
· Thank you, Dave Sibley, Theresa Agostinelli, Lisa Roberts Cadorette, Bishop Leonard Carroll, Marguerite DeGrassa, Pam Mariani, Diane McNitt, Marty Milligan, and Joe Morinelli. This enthusiastic Executive Board and Board of Directors donated their time and talents to guarantee the successful execution of club initiatives. Their effective decision making was done in the best interest of the Club and its members.
· Thanks, Lisa Roberts Cadorette, Anne Neborak, and Marianne Kirby Rhodes, for taking on the role of committee chairs and overseeing committee procedures.
· Thanks to our Club members for their dedication to the Club and support of our Annual Award in Communications Excellence.
· And thanks to our past presidents for their guidance, encouragement, and for keeping the Club vibrant and respected since its founding in 1979.
When I began my presidency in 2020, I put forth my vision for the Club and laid out some goals. With the help of the Board, we have:
· redesigned the website
· pivoted to virtual events, panels, and Happy Hours during the pandemic
· provided consistent branding
· expanded our social media reach and added a LinkedIn page
· set up credit card processing for payments at the door for events
Over the past four years, our community outreach has included:
· sponsoring a book drive donating books to K through 8 students in the South East Delco and William Penn school districts
· making financial donations to numerous charities including Philabundance as part of the Preston & Steve Camp Out for Hunger
· judging an essay writing contest with Hilltop Prep School to encourage young people to use words in a creative way
· adding Happy Hour get-togethers for evening networking opportunities
· hosting luncheons and behind-the-scenes tours in the local communities
· awarding thousands of dollars in financial support and endowed scholarships to local communications students in higher education
Recapping this past season, we had many accomplishments and presented some fantastic programming that included:
Kicking off the 2023-2024 season with a luncheon at State Street Pub with former Philadelphia Flyer and hockey analyst, Chris Therien.
Joining local artist, graphic designer, and author George Rothacker for a Happy Hour and Gallery Tour at his art gallery.
Saluting veterans and others who served in the military at a luncheon catered by Cedar Creek Catering at the Media VFW Post 3460 with George Roach, photojournalist with FOX 29 News, and Master Sergeant in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.
Our annual Holiday Luncheon and Raffle at Fava Ristorante Italiano featuring celebrity biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli and live entertainment by Tommy Cono.
Getting social at 2SP Brewing Company with a Young Professionals Happy Hour to kick off the new year.
Our annual Lunar New Year Luncheon at Margaret Kuo’s Kitchen with FOX 29’s “Good Day Philadelphia” weather anchor Sue Serio, and former FOX 29 sports anchor Bill Vargus.
Hosting a panel discussion on “The Role of Ethnic Media” at the Springhaven Club with the Italian-American Herald, Hellenic News, Philadelphia Tribune, Irish Star US, and Impacto Media which was moderated by Peg DeGrassa, senior editor, Delco News Network.
Arranging an exclusive Members-Only Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Historic Lansdowne Theater.
Hosting a luncheon with Susan Noles, a “The Golden Bachelor” alum, at Luigi and Giovanni’s Café at Ellis Preserve.
Celebrating the conclusion of a successful season and paying tribute to Barbara Ormsby, a founder of the Delaware County Press Club, on her retirement after 64 years of covering local news, at a Happy Hour event at the Crystal Room at The Media Theatre.
In addition to events and networking, the Press Club was proud to support education in communications with our 2024 endowed scholarships:
Jack and Florence Steck Memorial Scholarship
Robert Finucane Memorial Scholarship
Edward Berman Memorial Scholarship
Charles Crist Memorial Scholarship
In addition to these endowments, we were pleased to announce that our Annual Award in Communications Excellence recipient for 2024 was Neumann University. Funded with proceeds from the Holiday Gift Basket Raffle and other Club events, the award totaled $1,500. This award rotates among seven universities in Delaware County. At our End-of-Season Happy Hour, we announced the renaming of the Annual Award to the “Barbara Ormsby Award for Communications Excellence.”
I hope when you look back on this year, as well as the past four years, you’ll remember them fondly as times when we rose to the occasion to keep the Club moving forward throughout the COVID pandemic and remained a leader in the industry by engaging working communications professionals, developing industry-related programming that appealed to current and new members, and supported young communicators.
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your president and I look forward to serving as immediate past president.
Andrea DiFabio
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