Bagby, Dorman Named
Top Co-op Communicators


Editor’s note: portions of this article are
reprinted from CCA News, and were
contributed by Paul Wesslund of the
Kentucky Association of Electric
Cooperatives and Marian Douglas of Flint
Energies.


ark Bagby, director of communications for the Calcot cotton cooperative in Bakersfield, Calif., is the 2009 recipient of the Klinefelter Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) for individuals who have helped to “further the cooperative system and spirit and raise the standards of cooperative communications.” He was cited for helping his co-op excel and for helping CCA to grow into the use of electronic media and other member services.

Sarah Dorman, communications specialist for West Central in Ralston, Iowa, received CCA’s top honor for a young co-op communicator, the Graznak Award. She was praised for her creative approach to cooperative communications and her selfless dedication to CCA and to helping other co-op communicators. The awards were presented during CCA’s annual Communications Institute in Kansas City, Mo., in June.

In presenting Bagby the award, Paul Wesslund, last year’s recipient and vice president for communications at the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, cited letters from colleagues who called Bagby “a strong leader; a person with a sharp mind and quick wit; a writer with keen critical/analytical thinking skills and a gifted speaker.”

The award winner was repeatedly praised by nominators for his ability to learn new subjects quickly as well as a willingness to spend the time sharing that knowledge with others.

In his work with the cotton marketing co-op, Bagby has communicated through wrenching changes in the industry. At Calcot he’s also responsible for media relations, logo design, publications production, communications planning, script writing, desktop publishing and maintaining websites. Bagby, who went to work for Calcot in 1993, is also in charge of meeting planning, speechwriting, conducting tours and serving as co-op spokesperson. Bagby has placed stories on ABC News and the Los Angeles Times, coordinated visits by U.S. presidential candidates and has hosted visits by foreign dignitaries.

Inspired by Twain
Bagby is also a Mark Twain enthusiast. He does presentations — in full Twain costume and makeup — in which he interprets the great writer and storyteller, who once said: “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” A philosophy Bagby seems to have embraced.

He recently added to his Twain credentials by winning the “I am the next Mark Twain” writing contest, sponsored by Borders Books and HarperStudio, for the conclusion he wrote to an unfinished Twain essay: “Conversations with Satan.” Bagby’s effort topped 100 entries as the most fitting ending to Twain’s satirical piece, and he performed a reading of his winning essay at his local Borders Books store.

After college and a newspaper job in Oklahoma, Bagby gained photography and business experience in New Mexico and Arizona. He then spent four years as the public information specialist for the Kern High School District in Bakersfield before joining Calcot.

Along the way, he has also helped CCA become what it is today: an organization of 350 cooperative communications professionals dedicated to raising the standards of their profession, and thereby strengthening the nation’s cooperative business sector. He’s been a key adviser in establishing the electronic and Internet presence of the association.

Bagby has served on the CCA board and as the association’s president. He was inducted as one of the inaugural group of applicants into the Master Cooperative Communicator program. CCA instituted the Klinefelter Award in 1959 as a memorial to cooperative communications pioneer H.E. Klinefelter, a charter member of the organization.

Creativity key for Dorman
Dorman was cited for her creativity and attention to detail. “She sees the big picture and can translate it for her stakeholders,” said award presenter Marian Douglas of Flint Energies, the 2008 Graznak Award winner. Dorman was also saluted for being a “professional, class act” who helps to inspire others.

The Graznak Award is presented by CCA annually to a communicator under age 36 who “symbolizes accomplishments, contributions, competence and promise as a young cooperative communicator.”

Dorman, who earned a BA degree in mass communications/professional management from the University of Wisconsin–Superior, has been with West Central for eight years. She is responsible for overseeing public relations, advertising and both internal and external communications.

Jeff Stroburg, CEO of West Central, said: “Sarah has played a key role in our communication efforts with our membership and business partners. She clearly understands marketing and communications and works hard to deliver our message to cooperative members and customers.”

Among the major recognitions Dorman has won are CCA’s Publication of the Year awards in both 2006 and 2007 for the annual reports she produced for West Central. Prior to joining West Central, she had never prepared an annual report or organized an annual membership meeting.

A member of CCA since 2001, she is chair of the 2010 Institute planning committee. She chaired the Programs and Projects section of the CCA Communications Contest for five years.

Dorman has also served as chair and assistant chair of the Sponsorship Committee, as well as North Central Region representative.

Incorporated in 1933, West Central is a full service, farmer-owned cooperative and one of the 20 largest grain companies in the United States.

CCA created the Graznak Award in 1977 to honor the memory of Michael Graznak, an outstanding CCA member who died at age 51 of a heart attack while on field assignment for his cooperative, Farmland Industries.

Jordan wins pair of top
contest awards
A record 817 entries in the CCA Co-op Communications Contest were judged by panels of experts in four overall categories: writing, photography, publications and programs/special projects. The top award winners were: “Rural Cooperatives” magazine received two awards, both in the writing contest. Editor Dan Campbell won second place for feature writing for “Charting a New Course,” about a fishing cooperative in Maine, while Assistant Editor Stephen Thompson won third place for news writing for “So Far, So Good,” about a potato cooperative.

Brian Delgado of Land O’ Lakes Inc. was chosen as CCA president, succeeding Lisa Moorhouse of CHS Inc. Anita Travis of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives is the new vice president, Allison Morgan of Tennessee Farmers Cooperative is secretary and Amber Dumont of Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative is treasurer.

For more information about CCA,
visit: www.communicators.coop.







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