Charbonneau receives Berny Krug Award, accepts post in Afghanistan

Melissa Charbonneau, who is stepping down as chair of the National Press Club’s Speakers Committee to take a job as a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Army in Kabul, Afghanistan, leaves Washington with the Club's highest honor for service to the NPC _ the Berny Krug Award.

“One of the most difficult things about taking this job besides leaving my family is leaving the Press Club,” Charbonneau told the Wire

NPC President Mark Hamrick tapped Charbonneau as the Club’s outstanding volunteer for 2011 at an NPC Speakers Luncheon featuring TMZ.com's Harvey Levin on Oct. 24.

“Those of you who have worked with Melissa or know her from around the Club know that she is super competent and unusually kind and that is precisely the example of altruism that the Berny Krug Award was intended to honor,” Hamrick told the audience at the luncheon.

Charbonneau “helped to return the Speakers luncheon venue to the one that attracts top-notch newsmakers and for that and so much more, I am very thankful,” Hamrick added.

In addition to chairing the Speakers Committee, Charbonneau also chaired this year’s 5-K race that “was an absolute success,” Hamrick said.

Charbonneau admitted that it has been a lot of work to chair both committees. “I don’t think I knew what I was getting into this year but it has been a lot of fun. I wouldn’t give it up for anything,” she said.

The NPC staff is “the best in town,” Charbonneau said. “They do the hardest work and make it happen.”

Charbonneau’s favorite memory was the NPC Newsmaker with then Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and George Clooney on April 27, 2006. The event was held as a press conference rather than a luncheon to accommodate Clooney’s schedule, she said. Clooney had just returned from Darfur. Obama and former Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) were sponsoring legislation on the Darfur crisis.

“I had not seen that kind of response from the media and Press Club members,” Charbonneau said.

Charbonneau leaves early next month for Camp Atterbury, Ind., and then spend 13 months in Kabul working with the general in charge of logistics and support. She hopes to set up an NPC satellite chapter and perhaps hold a satellite event from Kabul. “That is my goal for next year if we can work it out,” she said.

Former NPC President Rick Dunham sponsored Charbonneau when she joined the club in 2004. She almost immediately joined the Speakers Committee. She served for two years as vice chair under Angela Greiling Keane. Greiling Kean has agreed to take over as Speakers chair for the rest of the year to prepare the committee for 2012, Charbonneau said. Greiling Keane also serves as the Club’s membership secretary.

“This came up so suddenly. I didn’t have time to prepare anyone,” Charbonneau said.

Hamrick said there will be two Berny Krug award winners for 2011. The other will be announced later. In addition to presenting Charbonneau with the Berny Krug award, Hamrick also gave her a photo of her with Natalie Cole from the Oct. 19 luncheon.