January Birthdays

1/1, Noelle Poore, Corporate

1/2, Amber Frushon, Delaware State News
1/3, Cathy DiMaio, Delaware State News
1/4, Tavaris Johnson, Valley Newspapers
1/5, Stephanie Thomas, Valley Newspapers
1/7, Philip Bisesi, Valley Newspapers
1/7, Jan-Dhu McKinney, North Valley
1/8, Tyrell Sullivan, Delaware Printing Co
1/11, Eleanor LaPrade, Delaware State News
1/13, Yvonne Kirksey, Delaware State News
1/14, Jasper Purnell, Delaware Printing Co
1/16, Maryam Noroozipuya, Delaware Printing Co
1/16, David Rehkamp, Delaware Printing Co
1/18, Frank Dias, West Valley
1/18, Cathy Koyanagi, Salisbury
1/18, Sandra Stokes, The Banner
1/19, Duane Clark, West Valley
1/19, Matthew Trently, Delaware Printing Co
1/22, Donny Jacobs, Valley Newspapers
1/24, Vernon Bailey, Delaware Printing Co
1/25, Benjamin Cruz, Valley Newspapers
1/25, Sharon Harvey, Delaware State News
1/25, Jorge Medina-Serna, Valley Newspapers

Talent Abounds at DSN Over the Holidays

As we all know, we (in the media) work with many talented people.  But, at the holidays you frequently get to see some talents from your coworkers that go beyond their day-to-day work. 

For example, if you work in the Dover office, you probably enjoyed the baking talents of Editor Karen White.  For one of the office’s many Christmas lunches she brought in a chocolate cake, topped with poinsettia-decorated red velvet cupcakes and surrounded by tree-topped almond pistachio cupcakes, too!  Yummy!

For this same Christmas lunch, Community Advertising Consultant Vicki Rosado also impressed us with her culinary skills by making empanadas. If you spent too much time asking, “What’s an empanada?” or “What’s in it?” then you probably didn’t get to enjoy this savory hand pie.  Sigh!

Graphic Artist Sue Short, who shows off her artistic talents every day in the pages of the Delaware State News, reminded us this holiday season that you don’t need a computer to create beautiful artwork.  Her painting of a barred owl featured on her Christmas card is truly special.  Beautiful!

And, the talent in Dover continues to shine… If you were fortunate enough to venture into downtown Dover on the evening of December 4 to join in the Capital Holiday Celebration then you witnessed this talent first hand.  A dozen of the finest vocalists from our office competed in a carol “sing-off” competing against the local Chamber of Commerce and the local government officials among others.  The INI group repeated their much loved version of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” to the screaming requests of their fans.  The tempo this year was upbeat, jazzy and loud… just what the holidays needed!  Although the group was told this wasn’t a competition… they followed the lead of CEO Ed Dulin who sees everything as a competition and really gave their all for this exclusive performance.  In addition to Ed and his wife Ann, the expert carolers included Delaware State News publisher Tom Byrd and his wife Pam, Delaware Printing Company General Manager Tom Bugbee and wife Sherrill, DSN VP of Advertising Development Tonda Parks and husband Joe, News Support Specialist Tim Spong, Ad Managers Cyndi Eldred and Katrina Sullivan and Promotions Manager Heather Cregar.  As this feisty and festive group sang, the crowd sprang to their feet to dance and sing along.

 

And… just as Ed had suspected… a few days after the event, Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen presented the group with a “Best Vocal Group” trophy.  The pressure is on for 2015!  Be sure to watch for your opportunity to help us win the trophy again!

 

This is just a small sample of the talent that surrounds us each day.  Hope you get to see some of your local talent first hand in 2015!

The True Meaning of Christmas

I would like to give a very BIG Thank You to all the people of the DSN/DPC family that so graciously donated to our Toys for Tots drive this year held at Big Lots. We were able to fill over 2-1/2 truckloads of toys and received many cash donations. The Marine  Reserves Toys for Tots was committed to 1005 families and 200 more were on the list. Any toy or money donation no matter how small can help make just one child have a Merry Christmas and again I can’t thank everyone enough who continues to help support us every year. See you again next year.

Thank You

Toni Hewes
Delaware Printing Company

 

EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Nominations sought

It's that time again to recognize those persons who have proven their excellence in helping Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA fulfill its mission to the communities we serve. Employees are invited to nominate coworkers for the annual Excellence awards. These awards honor persons and teams whose practice of our core values have moved Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA closer to its goal of publishing purposeful newspapers. In the past, honorees have come from every facet of our operation - advertising, distribution, production, administration and news. They have been team leaders and team members, new employees and veterans. Their common quality is that each has been a model of excellence.

 Nominations may be made by any employee. A nomination form is available at http://www.newszap.com/excellenceawards/nominationform.html. All submissions should be made using this form.  Deadline for nominations is Friday, February 13.

A list of previous winners can be found at Excellence Awards link at Press Lines and can be a useful reference tool when preparing a nomination since previous winners cannot win more than once in the same category. Winners will be announced in late March or early April.

Below is the list of traditional categories for these awards.  However, this year we will allow employees to submit new categories they feel may also be appropriate in keeping up with our changing industry.  For example, suggestion might to create an award for "Digital Transformation," to recognize a leader in improving our web sites and helping to build a larger online audience for newszap.com.

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Purposeful newspapers: This person or team has excelled in furthering Independent's key Value - to publish purposeful newspapers that encourage and support meaningful community involvement, and that provide citizens with knowledge they need to make rational decisions about public issues.

Commitment: Recognizes service above and beyond daily expectations because of deep commitment to our mission/ journalistic values.

Self-management: Recognizes the person whose acceptance of personal responsibility for his or her own success and that of Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA is a model and inspiration to others.

Learning: Recognizes the person who has successfully committed to continuous learning and growth, especially in ways that enable he or she to help advance the mission of Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA.

Courtesy, ethical standards: Recognizes the person or team that excels in courtesy to customers and co-workers, and whose high ethical standards match those needed to achieve INI’s key values.

Teamwork: Recognizes the person who has achieved excellence in team building or a team that has achieved the coherence and esprit that has enabled it to produce outstanding results for the company's success, for maintaining pleasant and safe working conditions, and for recognizing fellow staffers who are upholding the company's values and contributing to its success.

Leadership/ shared leadership: Recognizes the individual regardless of position whose leadership has inspired or led others. This person demonstrates that at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA, we prosper through self-empowerment rather than supervision. Team leaders also may be recognized for having practiced a shared leadership that has empowered others.

Results: This award demonstrates how the practice of Independent's values results in outstanding journalism, sales, productivity enhancements, safety improvement or other business objectives that make Independent a stronger company and a better place in which to work, and in turn, improve our communities.

Jim Miller Award: The award honors the writer or editor whose work displays the spirit, color, warmth and human touch of the late Jim Miller.