The WGTA Website and Newsletter have won many awards and numerous accolades.

2010 - 2011 School Year

Newsletter Wins Award of Merit in the NYSUT Journalism Contest
April 28, 2011

Ellen Miller (CMS), Editor of The MemberShip, won a NYSUT Award of Merit in the Best Feature Story category (Class III) for her article entitled, "West Genesee music teachers: a class act," which was printed in the March/April, 2010 WGTA newsletter. To read her award winning article you can download a copy here.

2009 - 2010

Website Wins National AFT Award
May 10, 2010

The WGTA was recently notified that our website won a First Place Award for its class in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network. This is the 11th national win in 12 years for the website!

Website Wins Award of Merit in the NYSUT Journalism Contest
February 13, 2010

The WGTA was recently notified that the website won an Award of Merit for its class in the NYSUT Journalism Competition sponsored by the New York State United Teachers. This is the 6th award in 7 years for the website! Lynn Davis (CMS Retired) is the Webmaster.

2008 - 2009

Website Wins 2nd Place in the American Federation of Teachers Competition
May 18, 2009

The WGTA was notified that the website won a Second Place Award for its class in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network. This is the 10th award in 11 years for the website! Lynn Davis (CMS Retired) is the Webmaster.

Website Wins State Award
March 11, 2009

The union was also notified that the WGTA website won a NYSUT First Award for Best Website in Class III. Class III is comprised of locals with 300 - 650 members. The award will be presented at the NYSUT Representative Assembly in Buffalo, NY. This is the fifth time in six years that the website has won a NYSUT First Award. Please click here to view our award.

2007 - 2008

Website Takes 2nd Place in National AFT Contest

The WGTA was recently notified that the website won a Second Place Award for its class in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network. This is the 9th award in 10 years for the website!

2006 - 2007

Website Wins National Award

The WGTA was recently notified that the website won a First Place Award for its class in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network. This is the 8th win in 9 years for the website!

Website Wins State Award

The union was also notified that the WGTA website won a NYSUT First Award for Best Website in Class III. The award was presented at the NYSUT Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C. This is the fourth year in a row that the website has won a NYSUT First Award. Lynn Davis (CMS) is the Webmaster. To view our award please click here.

According to the notification letter we received from Lance Howard, Editor, New York Teacher, "We are delighted to inform you that your entry is a winner in the 2007 NYSUT - New York Teacher Journalism Competition! The judges' panel noted a trend toward more entries, including an upsurge in retiree entries this year. this makes your award more meritorious."

2005 - 2006

National Award Won by WGTA Website

On June 13, 2006 the WGTA was notified that our website won the 1st Place Award in the American Federation of Teachers Communication Network (AFTCN) annual journalism competition. This is the 7th year that the website has won the national title in the last 8 years of competition.

WGTA Website Wins 2006 NYSUT Award

The WGTA was recently notified that our website won the 2006 NYSUT - New York Teacher Journalism Competition. This is the third year in a row that the website has won the award. According to Deb Ward, NYSUT Director of Publications, Web and Video, and Lance Howland, Editor of the New York Teacher, the judges panel noted a trend toward more entries, including an upsurge in retiree entries this year. This makes your award even more meritorious." The award will be presented at NYSUT Representative Assembly on May 6th. Lynn Davis, CMS, is the Webmaster. To see our website awards - click here.

2004 - 2005

Website Wins National AFT Award

The WGTA was recently notified that the website won a First Place Award for it class in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Association. This is the 6th win in 7 years for the website!

Lynn Davis (CMS) and Dee Moore (High School) are the web masters.

Website Wins 2005 NYSUT Journalism Competition!

The WGTA website was a winner in the 2005 NYSUT - New York Teacher Journalism Competition. According to the letter we received, "The judges' panel noted the professional quality of many entries, as well as an increase in entries from higher ed and School Related Professionals. This makes your award even more significant." The award ceremony will be held April 7, 2005, at the NYSUT Representative Assembly.

2003 - 2004

The MemberShip wins New York Teacher Journalism Contest

The WGTA newsletter, The MemberShip, won a NYSUT journalism "First Award" for the 3 part article titled "Elder Care" written by Lynn Davis (CMS). According to the NYSUT notification letter, "All the judges remarked on the unusually high quality of this years entries, making your achievement even more noteworthy." The award was presented to the WGTA on March 27th at the NYSUT Representative Assembly at the New York Hilton. A copy of the article can be viewed by clicking here, a copy of he award and a photo of President Cost accepting the award can be viewed by clicking here.

The WGTA website also won an "Award of Merit" in the NYSUT Journalism Competition. A copy of that award can also be viewed on the website. The web master is Lynn Davis, CMS. View our award -- Click here.

Website Wins National AFT Competition

One June 4, 2004, the WGTA received E-mail from Sandy Herbert, the American Federation of Teachers Communication Association (AFTCA) Contest Coordinator informing us of the following:

“The judges have done their work, the results have been tabulated, and the AFT Communications Association is delighted to inform you that entries submitted by your union have won … Best website – 1st Place.”

This is the fifth win in six years for the website. The website also was a winner in this year’s NYSUT Journalism Contest. The WGTA website was completely overhauled and updated this year – using some of the latest technology available. Lynn Davis (CMS) is the web master.

Website Wins 2002 AFTCA Newsletter and Banner Ads Award

The WGTA received an award as the 2002 New York State winner for submitting the most AFT PLUS newsletter and banner ads in 2002. The award was presented to Lynn Davis, web master and newsletter editor, by the American Federation of Teachers Communication Association. The Award was presented at the July, 2003, AFTCA Convention.

Website Wins 2002 AFTCA Award
FOURTH Year in a Row Winning Top Honors

"CONGRATULATIONS...YOUR UNION IS A WINNER:The judges have done their work, the results have been tabulated, and the AFT Communications Association is delighted to inform you that entries submitted by your union have won in the following category: Best website - 1st Place."

From Gail Purkey, AFTCA Secretary and Sandy Herbert, AFTCA Contest Coordinator.

Picture of Lynn Davis receiving the AFTCA award - Click Here.

An E-mail was received from Ken Kurzweil, the President of the Bedford Teachers Association in Westchester, NY, congratulating the WGTA on their website and asking permission to link to certain pages on the site. Permission was granted. (February, 2002)

WGTA Website Wins $250

3rd Place Winner in 2001 Union Plus Program Promotion

In December, 2001, the WGTA website won a Third Place Award for Best Union Plus Promotion on a website in the 2001 Union Plus Promotion Contest. Last year the website won second place and an award for $500.00.From Union Privilege:Dear President Ridgeway:"Congratulations! Your Local won the Best Union Plus Program Promotion on a website in the 2001 union Plus Promotion Contest."As a third Place winner, we are pleased to enclose this check in the amount of $250 and a certificate.

"Again, congratulations and thank you for keeping your members informed about your AFT Union Plus programs."

A website can be used as both a communications / public relations tool and as a member service. A quality website will effectively do both. The best website will be easy to maneuver, graphically interesting, and provide valuable information to union members and site visitors. Judges will evaluate usability, content and design."

WGTA Website Wins 2nd Place Award

$500 Prize and Certificate

In December, 2000, the WGTA website won a Second Place Award for best use of a union website for promoting Union Plus Programs in the Union Privilege Annual Promotion Contest.View our Second Place Award From Union Privilege: "Congratulations! Your Local won Best Use of a Union website for Promoting Union Plus Programs in the 2000 Union Privilege Annual Promotion Contest. the winners were announced at our Annual Editor's Luncheon on Tuesday, December 5, 2000."As a Second Place winner, we are pleased to enclose this check in the amount of $500 and a certificate."We hope that you will continue to frequently promote your union's AFT Plus programs. and don't forget - keep us on your mailing list.

"Again, congratulations and thank you for keeping your members informed about your AFT Plus programs."

View our AFTCA 2000 Award First Place Award for Best website - Class IV, from the American Federation of Teachers Communications Association, AFL-CIO, awarded July 1, 2000.From AFTCA:"Best website

A website can be used as both a communications / public relations tool and as a member service. A quality website will effectively do both. The best website will be easy to maneuver, graphically interesting, and provide valuable information to union members and site visitors. Judges will evaluate usability, content and design."

View our AFTCA 1999 Award

First Place Award for Best website - Class IV, from the American Federation of Teachers Communications Association, AFL-CIO, awarded July 7, 1999.

The WGTA website is a NYSUT MODEL website."The WGTA leaves no cyberstone unturned: news, union history, contact info, and links for teachers, parents and students. "

New York State United Teachers website

NYSUT Website Coordinator

"Your site's looking great. It's really been an inspiration to some of the locals participating in our web development workshops."

Syrahoo.com