Fanglerland 2008 Stemple Awards Review

By Jeff Nordsman - 733 Words

The stock market’s winners in 2007 became losers on the first trading day of 2008 amid fears that the financial sector’s woes are spreading to the broader economy.

However, this did not discourage Thornberg & Forester top brass Phillip Vlanhout (left), Michael Forester, Jr. (center), and Carl Mattheson (right) from accepting the 2008 Fangerland Stemple Award for Honorship. Awards can be given by any person or institution, although the prestige of an award usually depends on the status of the awarder. Usually, awards are given by an organization of some sort, or by the office of an official within an organization or government. For instance, a special presidential citation (as given by the President of the United States) is a public announcement giving an official place of honor (e.g., President Ronald Reagan gave a special presidential citation in 1984 to the Disney Channel for its excellent children’s television programming.)

Phillip Vlanhout admits “It is a great honor to be recognized by one of the top organizations of our time, we are constantly pushing the envelope in new arenas. Arenas that have not been seen or heard.”

These are alarming words for such a delicate climate it will be interesting to see what the new year will harvest. JN