NOV. 2, 2013
GAINESVILLE, FLA.
NASW ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP
MEETING MINUTES
by NASW Secretary Deborah Franklin
Ron Winslow called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, and welcomed members to Gainesville, Fla.
Treasurer Beryl Lieff Benderly reported that NASW “got an unqualified approval rating from the auditor of our budget and books” in the issued opinion letter — the best news possible from an auditor. Members can find budget details online at nasw.org. She encourages any members with a gift for balancing budgets to join the finance committee. Contact Benderly blbink@aol.com or Tinsley Davis director@nasw.org to learn how, and to hear more about the time commitment.
President Winslow presented the 2013 Diane McGurgan Service Award to Michael Newman. Winslow praised Newman for, among other things, his organization of the meet-and-greet sessions at the NASW annual meeting — an opportunity for new members to get to know more experienced science writers and gain a foothold in the community. Newman has also contributed mightily to the planning of NASW workshops.
Freelance committee member Kendall Powell gave a brief update on the compensation survey of NASW members. This online survey had been completed by 470 members as of early November. Details will be published in spring 2014 (preliminary data was presented during the Show Me The Money workshop, in Gainesville). Early results suggest that most freelances in the group make a living writing and editing for (in this order) trade publications, national and international magazines, science journals, and nonfiction books.
Robin Lloyd briefed members on the ongoing efforts of the grants committee as it continues to make financial awards for various projects. Since its inception, NASW has given away about $250,000 in Idea Grants, including partial funding for a Cross- Border Science Journalism Workshop, in San Diego; Open Studio; DCSWA’s annual convention; and several of the Science Online conferences. Lloyd notes that these funds are meant to be seed money to help new projects get started. There is still more grant money available. Anyone curious about how to write a successful proposal can take a look at nasw.org/how-win-idea-grant. Or contact Lloyd robinmlloyd@gmail.com or Tinsley Davis director@nasw.org directly for more information.
Ron Winslow noted that under its new leadership — with committee chairs Czerne Reid and Ashley Yeager — the education committee is continuing to put on a great internship fair at the AAAS Meeting each winter, with a number of students gaining internships directly via conversations and mentoring at the meeting. NASW members attending the February 2014 AAAS [meeting are urged to check with Reid czreid@nasw.org or Yeager ashley.yeager@duke.edu to find out how you can help.
Sexual harassment in the community of science writers made headlines two weeks prior to the 2013 annual meeting. Winslow reported that, as a result, the NASW leadership spent quite a bit of time during its onsite board meeting (and previously via email) discussing how best to discourage any form of harassment among science writers and how to support members who find themselves targets of harassment. The board thinks this issue is very important, Winslow said, and one that requires deliberate thought and action. With that in mind, the board has established a new committee — chaired by A’ndrea Messer (and seeking members) — that will look into expanding the NASW Code of Ethics to include, though not be limited to, harassment issues. NASW Vice President Robin Henig will chair a second committee — a revived grievance committee — that will look for ways to support members who feel they have become targets of harassment. The board also agreed it would be great to include a session during the 2014 NASW workshops on the “dynamics of power relationships” — a panel that might include research sociologists and/or psychologists studying the issue. Overall, Winslow said, the impetus is on individual NASW members to respect each other and to help create a respectful environment for all. Members interested in joining either of the two new committees should contact Tinsley Davis director@nasw.org, A’ndrea Messer aem1@psu.edu, or Robin Henig robinhenig@nasw.org directly.
President Winslow and the board next fielded questions from the membership.
In response to a question about Authors Coalition money, Benderly explained that funds are generated from royalties paid in Europe to reproduce stories reprinted from books, magazines, and newspapers. For the past several years, NASW has received significant funding through the coalition (with monies allocated based on members’ survey responses each year on publishing activities in which they are engaged). Receipt of such money is never guaranteed and can vary significantly from year to year. “The amounts in a couple of recent years have been unusually large,” Benderly noted. NASW uses the money to fund a number of initiatives, including travel grants and idea grants. These uses have varied somewhat from year to year, depending on needs and conditions.
Robin Lloyd explained that the amount of a typical idea grant is between $15,000 and $20,000, though smaller grants are also made. Any grant under $2,500 can be authorized solely by the program/grants committee; larger amounts require NASW board approval. The board requests that regional groups submit grant applications. It is best if such proposals can include funding for an online presence as well (even if archived for posting later on the NASW website) to permit the broadest participation. More information on how to apply can be found at nasw.org/awards. NOTE: To more accurately reflect its work, this committee has been renamed the grants committee.
Robin Henig gave a shout out to the fabulously hardworking 2013 workshop committee for their work on the Gainesville meeting. The committee had to winnow a list of 63 very good sessions proposed by members down to only 16, and regretted that so many worthy sessions couldn’t be included this year. In order to pursue more of these great ideas — perhaps at midyear regional meetings as webinars or through a greater presence at AAAS — the workshop committee will, effective immediately, become a standing committee, in order to review options throughout the year. Also, to reduce confusion (at least in the long run) and to reflect its new commitment to multi-platform, year-round work, the committee will be renamed the meetings committee. New members are welcome! Please contact Henig robinhenig@nasw.org or Tinsley Davis director@nasw.org if you’d like to contribute.
Ron Winslow thanked Joe Kays and his University of Florida team for a wonderful meeting, and also offered special thanks to NASW’s Executive Director Tinsley Davis for her excellent leadership.
With no further questions or other business, NASW’s 2013 annual business meeting was adjourned by President Ron Winslow at 8:39 a.m.
