Feb. 6, 2006—The 19th annual Printing Week Dinner was held at La Maganette Restaurant in Manhattan on Jan. 17. More than 250 people from a range of industry associations and organizations came together to honor the best of the industry and celebrate the 78th anniversary of the Printing Week celebration, held the week of Ben Franklin's birthday each year.

In a proclamation recognizing International Printing Week, read to the assembled printers and executives, President George W. Bush said, "Freedom of speech is one of our Nation's founding principles and one of its most important legacies. For generations, printers like Benjamin Franklin have helped foster a culture of ingenuity, interaction, and imagination. Printers provide a medium for information and expression, and they communicate with people from all backgrounds and cultures."

The highlight of the evening was the Florence and Leo Joachim Award, given this year to Ken Englander, senior vice president, Central Lewmar Corp., Newark, N.J. With a career spanning 46 years, Mr. Englander joined the New Jersey chapter of the Printing House Craftsmen in 1964, where he has served on the board of governors, and has sat in all of the chairs, including serving as president of the organization for three terms.

The event was also a chance to honor the 2006 Joseph A. Fielder Fellowship Award winners. This year's recipients were: Richard Dolan, Advertising Production Club of New York; Florence Jackson, Association for Graphic Communications; Richard Skolnik, Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association of New York; Nicholas A. Vertucci, Metro New York Printing Ink Association; Roberta Hamilton, Mid-Hudson Graphic Arts Association; Len Vadala, New Jersey Chapter of Printing House Craftsmen; Lloyd Carr, New York Chapter of Printing House Craftsmen; David Luke, Partnership in Print Production; John Wallace, Printer's Supply Salesman's Guild of New York; and Patricia Crispino, Printing Teacher's Guild of New York.

"People often ask me what New York's Printing Week celebration is all about," said Vince DiPalma, co-chair for the evening, past president of the New York Chapter of Printing House Craftsmen, and past governor of the Second District of the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen. "We are here tonight for five reasons: first, to celebrate [our theme] 'Enlightening the World Through Print;' second, to celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday; third, to honor the memory of Florence and Leo Joachim; fourth, to honor the recipient of the Florence and Leo Joachim Award; and last, but by no means least, to pay tribute and honor to the men and women who donate their time, resources, and expertise to the clubs, guilds, and associations of our industry."