OCT. 20, 2007 SPOKANE, WA.
by NASW Secretary Peggy Girshman
Convened at 5:41 p.m. by Robert Lee Hotz, president, who started by saying: "I'm not one to bury the lede." He then announced that Diane McGurgan will be retiring in June 2009 and called it a "sad but wonderful moment." He talked of Diane as "the heart, the soul, the memory, the sharp tongue and the all-embracing warm hug of this organization." Following an extended standing ovation, Lee announced that, effective January 2008, Tinsley Davis will become Executive Director and Diane will become Senior Executive Consultant, ensuring a smooth transition. He added: "We have all year to think of the right words and gestures to say 'thank you' to Diane."
Vice-President Mariette DiChristina announced that we have a new co-chair of the Internet Committee. Board member Terry Devitt of the University of Wisconsin will join Kelli Whitlock Burton.
There were 11 student travel fellowships given to the NASW meeting this year — a record — and almost as many travel fellowships for freelance members. Fellows filed reports on each workshop session, and they are being posted online.
On the Web site front, Cybrarian Russell Clemings reported that the freelance market database, named "Words' Worth," debuted in March and that member databases were merged and activated in July. Unfortunately, we need to move our e-mail and listserv functions again as our existing provider, IRE/NICAR, will no longer provide e-mail service. We've contracted with another company. The change should be seamless and we will have increased reliability of service and storage space. Once we have completed the move, we will put out the long-overdue revisions of the listserv policies and procedures.
Esteemed treasurer Nancy Shute reports that "We're solvent, on track to close out 2007 close to the budget already printed in ScienceWriters." She made particular mention of the fact that the workshops are subsidized by NASW money, by $75 to 100 per person. This is an important part of the NASW mission.
Big round of applause for Robin Marantz Henig, who is now "NASW impresario," having organized two years of Science Cabarets to kick off the meeting. She is now a victim of her own success and promises to outdo herself next year. She requests that folks who have "hidden talents" — singing, playing an instrument, comedy, mime, etc. — get in touch with her for next year's festivities at Stanford.
Workshop Committee: Tinsley and Mariette thanked the 12 workshop committee members and 19 volunteer session organizers, who created the day's 12 sessions plus the all-day grizzly bear field trip and Science Cabaret. The 2007 meeting drew approximately 320 attendees, from the U.S. and beyond.
Lynne Friedmann on ScienceWriters: The ideas are flowing from the membership, and now she is working on the next three newsletters all at once, allowing more thematic issues.
Education committee: Jeff Grabmeier reports that our 2007 mentoring program at AAAS was record-breaking, with 38 mentor/mentee matchups. AAAS gave travel stipends to 10 undergrads selected by NASW. He encouraged folks to apply for 2008. The deadline is mid-December. The internship fair drew 49 student participants and 15 recruiters representing 16 employers, success we hope to build on. Rob Irion now co-chair of the Education Committee. Beginning next year, NASW will begin managing the science-writer program database currently maintained by Sharon Dunwoody and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It's available now on our site via a link. In that same vein, Rob is going to update the Web site list of internship programs.
Freelance Committee: Dan Ferber reports that the major project this year was the Words' Worth database. We have 179 entries and folks are encouraged to contribute more. Richard Robinson will take over from Dan as the chair of the Freelance Committee.
Former President Deborah Blum, our representative to the World Federation of Science Journalists, discussed our efforts to join with science-writing organizations around the world as developed nations pair up with developing ones. We're partnering with the Arab Science Journalists Association, which represents 15 out of 22 Arab nations. Together NASW and CASW subsidized five of their board members to join our meeting. We are hoping this is just the beginning of a mutual learning experience. Meanwhile, NASW member and Australian Niall Byrne, encouraged members to plan to attend the next World Conference of Science Journalists in London in 2009.
Science-in-Society awards: Bob Finn encourages entering by Jan. 31, 2008, for work published or broadcast in 2007, and says there's "lots of opportunity for volunteering." He needs at least 15 volunteer judges and is seeking a co-chair as well. While we're considering other ways to formulate the categories, for this year, books, print and electronic media will stand. Lee reminded the group that SIS rewards a unique kind of reporting and is an important guidestar for us all.
CASW: Program Director Paul Raeburn noted that 257 people registered — quite amazing for this farther-away location and that the four-day schedule is "working out great," as reflected in the attendance.
New Business: Steve Miller proposed that NASW sponsor some workshops geared to the new science writer at the AAAS meeting, starting in 2009, in coordination with the education committee. He would be willing to organize a committee. Lee responded that with our new "clarified" relationship with the AAAS, perhaps we can find ways to "collaborate cleanly."
The meeting was interrupted by applause 14 times. Adjourned at 6:17 PT.
While this wasn't announced at the meeting, just 24 hours later at the banquet, Dan Ferber won the Diane McGurgan award. Congratulations and thanks for all the hard work, Dan.
