Deadline approaching for communications contest
NYSUT in-service and retiree members who write, edit or design print and/or digital communications for their local are encouraged to enter their work in the NYSUT Communications Competition.
But you must hurry — the deadline is Jan. 6.
The annual competition honors union activists who are committed to keeping their members informed about union issues and how the union makes a difference in their lives. Members can enter their work in a number of categories, including best article about labor history, best graphic design, best creative writing, best photo, best column or blog and most user-friendly website, among others.
Two special award winners — one for in-service and one for retirees — will be selected by the judges for the Ted Bleecker Award for Excellence in Communications. Bleecker was the founding editor of NYSUT's newspaper.
An awards celebration and communications conference takes place Saturday, May 10, at NYSUT headquarters in Latham. For more details about the contest and to obtain and print entry forms, visit www.nysut.org and enter Communications Competition in the search field.
Prepare now for National History Day contest
New York students are encouraged to enter the state's research and T-shirt design contests to mark National History Day, which is celebrated April 28.
This year's theme is Rights and Responsibilities in History. Students must choose a historical topic related to the theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. New York students can also compete to design a state history day T-shirt.
The deadline to register for the New York NHD contest is March 27; paper, website and documentary entries are due April 7. Designs for the state T-shirt contest are due Jan. 10. For details, visit www.nyshistoryday.org/imagesuploads/2014TshirtContest.pdf.
Students who enter are eligible for several prizes, including the American Labor Studies Center (ALSC) Gold Medal Prize and $1,000 for the winning entry in the American Labor History category.
State entries may also be eligible for the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest held in June.
For information specific to New York state, contact coordinator Sarah Loveland, New York State Historical Association, at 607-547-1414, s.loveland@nysha.org, or visit www.nyshistoryday.org. For complete national contest rules and information, visit the NHD contest website at www.nhd.org/contest.htm.
UN conference set for Jan. 31
The Committee on Teaching about the United Nations will host its annual conference Jan. 31 at UN headquarters in New York City. This year's theme: Promoting peace through education. Confirmed speakers include UN representatives, a former girl-child soldier from Uganda, a teacher from the UN International School and others. Registration deadline is Jan. 17. For more info, visit www.teachun.org.