The Big Island Press Club has elected its 2012 board. Membership in Big Island Press Club is open to all on Hawaii Island who are involved in gathering, preparing, or managing the news. Associate members and general members are also welcome—anybody who wishes to support the goals of the Big Island Press Club.
President, Yisa Var (Big Island Weekly),
Vice President, Nancy Cook Lauer (West Hawaii Today),
Secretary, John Burnett (Hawaii Tribune-Herald),
Treasurer, Rod Thompson (Honolulu Star-Bulletin,retired),
Past President, Peter Sur (Hawaii Tribune-Herald).
Professional Director, Sherry Bracken (LAVA105-Mahalo Broadcasting and Hawaii Public Radio),
Professional Director, Bob Duerr (Hawaii Fishing News and Kappa Productions),
Associate Director, Ilihia Gionson (Hiehie Communications)
Open Director, Patsy Iwasaki (UHHilo).
The Big Island Press Club was founded in 1967. The Club’s purpose is to advance the profession of journalism, focus on keeping high journalistic standards, and provide a way for journalists to associate and discuss matters. The Club also wants to attract young people to the field of professional journalism, so through a nonprofit foundation, The BIPC Scholarship Foundation, it awards annual scholarships to those going to school to become journalists.
Although the BIPC has always had members from all around Hawaii Island, according to longtime member Hugh Clark, former Honolulu Advertiser and Hawaii Tribune-Herald reporter, this is the first time in 40 years that Big Island Press Club has had a director from West Hawaii. All directors other than Sherry Bracken work in East Hawaii.
