Syracuse.com - Figura wins three NYS Outdoors Writers Association Excellence in Craft Writing awards

[HuntingNY-News]

I won awards for my stories on Bill and Linda Greczyn, a walleye fishing couple, a column on my dad's old deer rifle and a magazine piece about the DEC's South Otselic fish hatchery where tiger muskies are raised. The group also voted to hold its annual spring meeting next year in Cortland County.

Katie Figura photo

The following is an edited press release from the New York State Outdoors Writers Association.

Caroga Lake, Fulton County, N.Y.—The New York State Outdoor Writers Association presented the winners of its annual writing and photography recognition program with carved duck decoy first-place awards, and second- and third-place cash awards at the annual banquet of the organization at the Nick Stoner Inn in Caroga Lake, N.Y on Saturday evening, Oct. 15.

David Figura, The Post-Standard's Outdoors Editor who sits on the organization's board of directors, won three awards:

- Second, in the newspaper feature category, for his story, "Hooked for Life" about Linda and Bill Greczyn, of Tully, who fish together on the competitive walleye circuit.

- Second, for newspaper column for "Memories of Dad and His Deerslayer," a piece about inheriting his father's Ithaca Deerslayer shotgun.

- Third, for magazine feature category for his story, "Where They Grow the Big Ones," a piece about the DEC's South Otselic fish hatchery, where tiger muskies are raised. This article appeared in Central New York Sport magazine, which is published by the newspaper.

Figura won $125 for his efforts.

The organization of 100 active members—professional communicators—and several dozen supporting members from the outdoor and travel industry—gathered in Fulton County Oct. 13-16 for its annual conference. The Excellence in Craft writing competition and Janice Keesler Memorial Photo Contest, co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited and The Sportsman Channel, were judged by respected professionals from outside the organization.

“Our judges commented on the professionalism of the entries,” said Leon Archer, chair and administrator of the Excellence in Craft program.

The photo competition was administered by Bridget Keesler, daughter of the namesake of the photo competition, who played a major role in initiating and administering the photo awards program in its earliest days. Bridget Keesler was awarded honorary membership in NYSOWA for her work on behalf of the contest and the organization at the NYSOWA’s annual meeting.

“I am pleased to help preserve the name and memory of my mother,” Keesler said, “and I am grateful for this honor from the New York State Outdoor Writers Association.”

First-place winners in the writing competition for articles published in 2010 were:

- Newspaper Feature—Mike Lynch, Saranac, for “Bear Bandits Meets His Match,” in the Oct. 9-10 Adirondack Daily Enterprise;

- Magazine Feature—Charles Witek III, West Babylon, for “Heritage of the Adirondacks,” in the Feb. 2010 On The Water;

- Magazine Column—Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson, for “Flies to Take to Heaven,” in Aug.-Sept. 2010 Fish Alaska Magazine;

- Newspaper Column—Leo Maloney, Sherrill, for “Early Grouse Season Is an Autumn Treat,” in Sept. 17, 2010, Oneida Daily Dispatch;

- Online Publication—Leon Archer, Fulton, for “Since When?” in Sept. 4, 2010, Valleynewsonline.com.

In the photo competition, first-place winners were:

- Hunting and Fishing—Zeno Hromin, Westbury;

- Outdoor Scenic—Zeno Hromin; Outdoor Recreation—Dan Ladd, West Fort Ann; Published Photograph—Chris Kenyon, Wolcott; and Wildlife, Chris Kenyon.

The organization's board of directors met during the conference and voted to hold the "Spring Safari," where writers gather and sample the outdoor offerings of an area and write about it, in Cortland County. The fall conference will be held in Niagara Falls.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog