GreyStone Communicators Win National Awards

By Ashley Kramer, communications specialist

communicators were honored with seven awards, including three first place Awards of Excellence. This included recognition for Best External Newsletter, “The GreyStone Report,” edited by former employee Kizzy Howell; Best Newsletter Incorporated as a Part of Another Publication, “Member Matters,” edited by Vicki Harshbarger; and Best Special Publication for “Saving Energy Together With the Watt Family,” a comic coloring book.

            The department received two second place Awards of Merit for Best Annual Report to Members, “Together We Save: GreyStone Annual Report for 2009,” by Harshbarger, and Best Wild Card for “2010 GreyStone Annual Meeting of Members Press Package” by Howell.

            GreyStone won two third place Awards of Mention for Best Feature Story, “Paulding Couple Returns to Home Rebuilt After Flood,” by Ashley Kramer and Best Wild Card for “Save Energy and Money Annual Meeting T-Shirt” by Howell.

            GreyStone’s communications staff includes Vicki Harshbarger, Ashley Kramer, Amanda Busby, Trisha McBee and students Hannah Johnson, Charity Talbert and Virginia McLain.

            The annual Spotlight competition recognizes top-rated communications and marketing efforts by electric cooperatives. Participants competed with electric cooperatives of similar sizes in 19 categories. Faculty from the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill judged this year’s award recipients.

            “Spotlight winners should truly enjoy the accomplishment, knowing that experts in their field have judged their work rigorously and found it to be exemplary,” said Charlie McAlpin on behalf of the CREC and NRECA.

            The CREC seeks to advance the recognition, education and professionalism of electric cooperative communicators and their affiliated organizations. NRECA, the service organization representing the national interests of cooperative electric utilities, coordinates the Council’s activities.

GreyStone Power serves more than 103,000 members in portions of eight counties, including Paulding, Douglas, Fulton, Cobb, Carroll, Bartow, Fayette and Coweta counties. Learn more at www.greystonepower.com.