The American Advertising Federation (AAF) Palm Springs - Desert Cities held its Annual Meeting and June Mixer on Tuesday, June 15, installing their 2010-2011Board of Directors and announcing the recipient of their annual school grant. The event took place at The Falls Prime Steakhouse in Palm Springs.

A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winner of Desert AdFed’s2010 School Grant Program, in which $10,000 was awarded to Desert Hot Springs High School in support of its advertising and design students' educational programs.

In his remarks at the event, Desert AdFed Board President Tim O’Bayley of O’Bayley Communications told the crowd, “This is one of my favorite things we do all year: the presentation of our $10K grant to a local school. In the past, we gave scholarships toindividual students. In 2008 we gave $2,500 to three individuals. Last year we gave $7,500 to fund a local school’s programs relating to advertising and media studies. This has been a good year for our organization, and we’re proud to be able to contribute $10,000 today to a very deserving local school to support future advertising professionals. This grant is made possible by the success of our annual Advertising Auction.”

Stewart Weiner, Chairman of the Grant Committee, announced the winner and presented the check for $10,000. Desert Hot Springs High School’s Sue Emery and Greg Andrade were present to receive the grant on behalf of their students. The funds will be used to further the education of students at DHSHS. Weiner said, “With school budgets being slashed, this is welcome news for the school and its students who are preparing for careers in communications, advertising, andmarketing.”

The membership of the organization voted in new board members at the event, re-electing Tim O’Bayley for another term and returning him to the office of President for one more year, and electing Andy Brakebill of Coachella Valley Printing Group and Stephanie Greene of Furino Greene Advertising to two-year terms as board members.

In addition to the newly elected members, the 2010-2011 board consists of Krisann Bacon of Time Warner Cable, Scott Burch of Scott Burch Design, Therese Everett-Kerley of Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa & Spa Resort Casino, Ethan Kaminsky of Kaminsky Productions, Virginia Nelson of Desert Radio Group, Jeff Shotwell of Imagine It! Media, Dayna Smith of The Desert Sun, and Stewart Weiner of Season in the Sun Magazine.

The Palm Springs club’s immediate Past President Bill Houck of Lamar Advertising was recently elected to the position of District Governor, and former President Gale Stuart of Center Attractions was elected Lieutenant Governor at the regional level of AAF.

American Advertising Federation is a network of more than 40,000 professionals in 200 clubs nationwide. The mission of AAF Palm Springs • Desert Cities (aka DesertAdFed) is to enhance the advertising profession through fellowship, education, community service, and public awareness… basically to create strong connections in the advertising, marketing and design communities, as well as to encourage collaboration and the promotion of advertising itself.