I cherish friendships made through the Press Club. It's been a special part of my life since my first meeting at It's About Thyme in Media, when a belly dancer performed (hey, it's a form of communication, right?!).

Being membership chair, treasurer, vice president and president gave me a unique perspective on the club and the importance of its many dedicated members. My memories are many, but one that stands out is the relief (and gratitude!) felt when we reached one of our goals: the full endowment of the Crist Memorial Scholarship at DCCC.

- Bette Alburger

It was a cold, snowy afternoon. NBC News anchor Steve Levy was the speaker. -
I pulled on my boots, grabbed my press kit, and hustled off to the Press Club luncheon.
Steve was bright, entertaining, and friendly. I approached him afterward telling him about my online directory with thousands of listings for plus size people. He was fascinated. He connected me with the NBC news team and within the week the story about my directory was aired worldwide on all the NBC affiliates, MSNBC, and CNN! I got over 200,000 hits to my site that week. Thanks Press Club! 

- Kelly Bliss

Great people especially those who are no longer with us - Bob Finucane, club president, Daily Times columnist, who, with Joe Biscontini wrote and performed in the club's memorable musical Off White Christmas ... Charlie Crist, storyteller par excellence ... the versatile John Ferguson, bagpiper, all around nice guy who starred as Santa Claus in the musical ... and the valiant Donna Derby, who lost her battle with lymphoma.

In addition to Bob, Joe and John there have been other outstanding presidents - Bette Alburger, Joan Gallagher, Naomi Zaslow and Barbara Ormsby, who will remembered more for the outstanding speakers she has obtained for our meetings.

I'm already over the word limit but how can I leave out lifetime members honorary

- Dottie Reynolds and Bert Hodge

As a young person in the communications field, the Press Club has had a positive impact on my career. I have gained numerous contacts and have met some great people.

The speakers at the luncheons have been very informative. Some of my favorites over the past few years have been Dave Frankel, Lynne Abraham and F. Lee Bailey.

The speaker that has affected me the most was Debra Puglisi Sharp. After hearing her and Marjorie Preston speak at a luncheon, I read their book Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence. It is a book that has stayed with me ever since. They are both two amazing women.

- Danielle Deady

During the five years I've been a member of Delaware County Press Club I've met many diverse, interesting, and memorable people, have heard fascinating and inspirational speakers, and have grown both personally and professionally.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, I wish to thank the club's founders, its board and its members (past and present), and all of those who realize the value, importance, and impact of our club as we embark on a new path toward our Golden Anniversary!

- Peg DeGrassa

To me, the Press Club is the "communication lifeline" of Delaware County. I'm able to openly discuss and keep members updated on issues affecting persons with disabilities in a professional and social atmosphere, promoting a better understanding of the subject to the community.

One of my favorite experiences was sitting with Tug McGraw, when he was there as a panelist for a Hi-Q contest. He shared his vision for a book he was planning to write.

I'm also grateful to the club for permitting me to submit my writings and actually win first place in one of the categories in the annual writing contest.

The spelling bees are also great! I remember Patti Mengers monitoring one of the events dressed as a nun.

I have made countless friends, and the speakers have always been very informative and diversified; e.g. F. Lee Bailey, Larry Kane, Sally Starr, Hurricane Schwartz, Phil Heron, to name a few.

- Edna Escher-Gaston

Was that really Curt Weldon in a bellboy outfit in Off- White Christmas?

Did Harry Kalas really sing The Notre Dame Fight Song, unbidden, quietly into his microphone while a Celebrity Jeopardy panelist?

Was there an "unknown celebrity" wearing a bag over his head for our Spelling Bee?

Yes, all this and more really happened during the famous Bob Finucane years. And when we roasted our legendary leader, all the men wore yellow ties in tribute to one of his notable columns. Truly, one of a kind and a mentor I will never forget.

- Joan Gallagher

When I retired from my Manhattan PR job and moved to Delaware County in 1992, it was great that I could soon join the Delco Press Club and quickly get to know many of the fine communications pros of the area and feel right at home with many new friends. In addition, our club meetings and speakers have helped me stay in touch with the area and profession.

The Press Club has been central to my career - and to my development as a communications professional - since its founding the year after I graduated from college. From the beginning, I was welcomed as a fresh-faced kid by many of the seasoned veterans whose names grace these pages, and I was treated as a peer.

As we've grown as an organization, I recognize and appreciate the profound impact those folks have had on me.

It's more than professional relationships that keep the Press Club close to my heart. I've also met people over the years who've become some of my closest friends in the world, and I am a better person for having been part of this wonderful family of ours.

- Ron Hill

The Press Club is an organization for people who love the written word - whether they publish words, edit them, promote with them, inform, educate or entertain with them.

It's been a joy to share time, talents and ideas with others who know what it's like to make beautiful music out of a few rough "notes!" I've gotten great story ideas over a roast turkey lunch - and have enjoyed great speakers, with nary a turkey among them! My favorite speaker was F. Lee Bailey ¨who showed us that lawyers love words, too!"

- Barbara Lehman

John Ferguson' and we became fascinated with a mystery writer named Nevada Barr who set her mystery stories in various national parks. We were drawn to these stories because we had visited a number of these parks and we knew the areas she was writing about. So every time a new Nevada Barr book came out either John or we would bring the new book in (after reading it) and pass it along to the other. This went on for a number of years and not only cemented a solid friendship but resulted in our having read probably every book Nevada Barr

- Marge and Art Miller

The Delaware County Press Club has been a lifeline for hundreds of area newspaper and PR people for the past 25 years. It has brought us all together to enjoy each other's company, make lasting friends, commiserate, complain, laugh, learn, and be inspired by the speakers and activities made available to everyone through the club.

Being involved with the Press Club since the beginning has been a highlight of my career as an editor. It's comforting to know that whenever a member needs information, help, or advice, there's always a fellow club member available.

Thanks and congratulations to the Delaware County Press Club. May it "live long and prosper."

- Christina Parker

The Delaware County Press Club has been valuable to me on several levels. The networking opportunities, the knowledge each speaker shares with the club members, and the little voice that says, "if you are in Press Club, you know you have made it as a PR person!" It's kind of like a comedian who finally gets to be on the Jay Leno show - once you expose yourself, you have made an impression."

- Roger Ricker

Thanks to the Delaware County Press Club, I have gained friends, a couple of new clients, probably some weight (who can resist those desserts that are put right in front of your face while the featured guest is speaking?), and insights into how to do things better. I've loved hearing reporters and authors share their experiences and stories, enjoyed the games and raffles, and been honored to occasionally win the writing contests. The wit and wisdom of the Press Club has been an important part of my professional life.

- Jennifer Reynolds

The Press Club has enabled me to get to know other people who also write for a living and/or work in similar fields. I don't know where else I would have met so many nice people, and all in one place.

- Pat Schwartz

I remember one of the first meetings of what would become the Delaware County Press Club, in a small restaurant. It brought together a variety of honest, open, hard-working and innovative people, whose work was words, and whose object was to involve people in similar fields.

We all knew or had been part of the Philadelphia Press Club, and wondered If we could make it happen. We worked, we tried, and we did.

Being among the founders and working with Bette Alburger, Barbara Ormsby, Joe Biscontmi and Bob Finucane, Barbara Zippi, Chris Parker, Ron Hill, and many others, was a joy.

The Press Club can be proud of the success and fun of fund-raisers, the caliber and growth of the membership, Communications Day, with county schools sending interested students to hear wonderful speakers and discussion leaders, the Newsletter, the luncheons, and the continuing strength and growth of the organization.

Happy Anniversary and many, many more!

- Naomi Zaslow

There was one special moment in time that helped the name recognition in Delaware County of Barbara Zippi, Artemis Productions in the community. lt came through the concept of volunteerism.

I owe it to the late Bob Finucane, former president of the Press Club. I spent only a small amount of time in this man's magnetism but when he welcomed me into his sphere, he made me feel like a star, especially when he mentioned me in his popular column.

Bob opened the door to my office on Route 252 during the early years of the business and wanted my help. I couldn't image how I could be of help to this well-known and respected newspaperman.
His request -could I take the monthly reservation phone calls for the luncheon? Not wasting a minute, said yes if he would write to "call Artemis Productions." We could handle that request (it was when we all had more office support personnel, days before fax machines and cell phones. Our big thing was the copier! Imagine that.

Month after month, my company name appeared in every news release from the press club for luncheons, workshops, events, everything! Bob Finucane and the Press Club helped establish my company name. So, when opportunity knocks, make sure you answer the door and step through!

- Barbara Ann Zippi