FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEMPSTEAD, NY — Cartoonist Joel Pett is the recipient of this year's "Ink Bottle Award" from the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

The award was announced Saturday, Nov. 4, during the closing banquet of the AAEC's convention at Hofstra University in Hemstead, NY. The Ink Bottle is given annually to an individual who promotes and stimulates interest in the art of editorial cartooning, and encourages an ever closer association among all cartoonists.

AAEC President Ann Telnaes chose to give Pett the award "for his continuing participation and steadfast support for threatened cartoonists throughout the world as president of the Cartoonists Rights Network International, his years of service to the AAEC both as president and convention host, and his commitment to the value and importance of local editorial cartooning."

Pett was notified of the news via text, as he forgot to mention to anyone he was leaving the convention a day early.