President’s Message June, 2022

by Bob Duthaler

JAG Honors One of Its Own and Another Who Promotes JAG

One of my favorite times during the year is our annual JAG/Eastern Video Expo and Conference.  This year was no exception.  In fact, there was something even a little more special about this year, as it was the first time we have gathered in person since 2019.  This year we gathered for our Trade Show, Banquet and JAG Awards on Wednesday, May 25th at the Crowne Plaza in Edison, NJ.

As part of our annual conference, we get to give out the following awards:  JAG Legislator of the Year, JAG Municipal Excellence and JAG Recognition Award.  These are based on nominations from the membership, brought forward to the Leadership Committee and final vote by the Executive Board.  Everyone who was nominated, and all those who were voted to receive the awards, all demonstrated their commitment to PEG and the JAG organization.  I urge you to read the article from the Legislation Committee on our Legislator of the Year Award recipient.  I have the privilege to tell you about our other two awards recipients.

Dave Ambrosy

There are so many of our JAG Members that do so much for the organization.  They go out of their way to promote the organization, participate in membership activities and meetings, or serve on committees.  To single out a member to receive this award out of all the active members is no easy task.  However, this year it seemed to be a rather simple choice.  The person selected as our JAG Recognition Award winner has been an integral part of this organization from the very beginning.  His station was one of the very first JAG Member Stations and where our very first President came from.  He took on an active role in JAG from the beginning, from membership meetings, production support over the years, working on the conference committee and even playing at one of our Banquet Dinners with his band and eventually was an executive board member for many years.  Although he stepped down from the board this year, he continued to participate in JAG events, meetings, and committees.  If you haven’t guessed it already, I am talking about Dave Ambrosy.  The plaque reads:  For your years of dedication to JAG as a committee and board member. Your insights have helped pave a strong foundation for future leaders.  JAG is what we are today due to your hard work and commitment.

Jean-Guy Lauture

As an organization, it is always a special thing when we can recognize and award a person who is not necessarily part of our organization, but who fully understands what we do and stand for and then go out of their way to help not only to support our organization, but also promote it as well.  This year we were lucky to have that in this year’s Municipal Excellence Award.  This individual not only supported their local access channel in the township they worked for, but in their role as a NJGMIS-Government Management Information Sciences- President Elect, took it upon himself to alert other IT professionals in other municipalities about all the things his PEG Station was doing in Bloomfield, along with what the JAG organization does as well.  Jean-Guy Lauture, who serves as the Director of Information Technology and Assistant Township Administrator for Bloomfield New Jersey was our selection for Municipal Excellence Award.  The plaque reads: In recognition of your efforts in demonstrating the value of community media as a communication tool for townships.  We are grateful for your continued support. Both winners were present at our Awards Banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Edison and received their award.  Past JAG President Lee Beckerman had the privilege to give the JAG Recognition Award to Dave Ambrosy and I was lucky enough to give the Municipal Excellence Award to Jean-Guy Lauture.  Both award recipients were recorded during our event and will be available shortly for our members to re-watch or watch for the first time.  Congratulations to all our award winners and a special thanks for what they did to help promote JAG.