Congratulations to Bill Jones, publisher of Moneysaver Advertising Inc. in Bolivar, NY and recipient of the 2009 Publisher of the Year award presented at our annual Publisher's Conference in October.

Karen Sawicz, Publisher of the Lake Country Pennysaver in Albion & 2008 recipient of the FCPNY Publisher of the Year Award presented this year's award.

"As the 2003 and 2008 recipient of the Free Community Papers of New York Publisher of the year award I have the distinct pleasure and honor to present the award to this year's winner. We are fortunate in this association to have so many potential winners of this prestigious award and I can tell you that it complicates the process for those of us who participate in the selection."

"However, this year's recipient is one that stood out in the selection process and who has been a deserving candidate for many years. We are so fortunate to have an individual with this person's dedication working with FCPNY. Knowing him and his commitment to this industry, it is not unusual to see him at every one of our association meetings as well as every national association meeting throughout the year."

"In addition he has held various leadership positions through the course of many years
including the post of president in 1987/88 and 2003/2004. That's right, he was President in 1988 and is notably the longest sitting member of our FCPNY board of directors - more than 25 years. His input in these positions has helped the organization be successful and prosperous not only during 2009 but for many, many years."

She continues, "Tonight's recipient is currently FCPNY's representative on the PaperChain board of directors and he sits on that organization's very active marketing committee."

"During his second term as president he experienced some rather difficult medical issues and yet he never missed a meeting and according to our former Executive Director, Mary Gaughan, he always took her calls no matter what."

"In addition to his activities for FCPNY our recipient is active in his community in many capacities and he served in the U.S. Army Reserve attaining the rank of captain. After earning an MBA from Syracuse University, he began working with his parents in 1971 while waiting for active duty orders for the Infantry Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA. He purchased the papers that his parents started more than 50 years ago in 1980."

Bill and his wife, Debbie, have two children - Jennifer and Jeff & two grandchildren, 3 ½ year old Emily and 8 month old Matthew.

Congratulations Bill and thank you for all that you do for FCPNY and the community paper industry.