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Meeting 10/19/04 Attendance: Cathy Yarbrough, Beth Schachter, Patrick Berzinski, Vida Foubister, Rabiya Tuma, Laura Newman, Jessa Netting, Elizabeth Barden Ackerman First order of business: Minutes from last meeting approved, with two corrections. Treasurer’s Report Patrick said we should clear approximately $640 from the Polling event. He will keep the check until Jim is back to deposit it. Beth said that we will pay for the transportation of speaker Steve Taylor from Virginia, and for a bus ticket for a journalist from Boston. Patrick said that we had agreed to pay $220 of a $295 ticket. Beth also noted that we will need to pay out money to the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) for the holiday party to which they kindly invited us. Science, Technology, Public Opinion and Presidential Elections Beth asked how the NYAS was as a place to hold an event? Patrick said it was great. The wine, cheese and fruit they provided were delicious and the caterers did a nice job. He said they had arrived early and set up everything ahead of time. Cathy said she will send a thank you note to the NYAS. Patrick also wanted to thank Ken for taking money at the door. SWINY Social Rabiya had a different reaction. She thought that the required name tags, RSVPs and sign-in table might have put off some people who were used to SWINY’s much more casual style. Rabiya felt it disrupted our community, made it less warm and fun, and that Lauren seemed to turn the party into a commercial plug for MB as a for-profit entity, rather than focusing on SWINY’s non-profit agenda. Jessa said it made her a little uncomfortable, when she hasn't been so at previous SWINY socials. Elizabeth noted that Lauren’s style is grandiose and potentially invasive, when she means simply to facilitate. Rabiya said she had received an email from someone who agreed. Rabiya felt we should have some SWINY-only events too. She didn’t like the fact that the event felt more like a Mediabistro-boosting event, with the flyers at the table, and Lauren’s taking over as hostess, including forbidding people from swapping business cards. Laura agreed. Elizabeth suggested making flyers about SWINY to put out on the welcome table next time we co-host an event with Mediabistro, and perhaps give co-hosting another try before we ditch the idea. Fenella had thought it worth trying again. Cathy and Beth agreed that we should try it again, and perhaps make sure that both they and other board members attend to judge for themselves, so that we can all have an informed discussion about it. Beth noted that she is not always eager to attend the Socials, because they are loud and “more suited to the younger crowd.” Beth suggested inviting another non-profit group of writers with more closely aligned interests, such as the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ). Laura (who is also an AHCJ member) didn’t know if it would be a big draw for them, but that we could certainly try it. AHCJ participates with NASW for some health care events, but nothing social. AHCJ has a social event planned for the near future. Elizabeth thought we could be more proactive at future Socials. Cathy volunteered to make SWINY flyers. ScienCentral Holiday Party Mariette has made the invitations for SWINY members, which Beth will e-mail out. The party will be December 7th. Cathy asked whether the cost per person will be any lower, since SWINY can help AMWA pay for it this year. Beth said no, it will still be $35 per person (the actual cost of the party is much more than that), and that our assistance simply enables AMWA to hold the party in the first place. Beth reminded people that authors should bring their books for the raffle, and everyone should bring science toys for tots to donate. Additional Event Ideas Beth said that Paul Nurse had had to postpone our event with him, but that he is looking for a new date. Laura said she was interested in holding a panel about dietary supplements for kids. She'd heard a nutritionist on CSPAN testifying before congress. She said there was a researcher at Einstein University that might be interested in speaking to us. Elizabeth mentioned that differences in children's response to medicine was a big topic now, in light of the recent announcements about minors on certain antidepressants being at higher risk of suicide. Jessa suggested broadening the topic to children and medical trials. Beth thought exploring what’s involved in trials for children would be attractive. Elizabeth thought that if the FDA is changing its requirements for children’s drugs, that it could be especially timely. Rabiya said that she knows a pediatric oncologist at the FDA who might be willing to talk to us or give us some ideas of who to talk to. Laura said that FDA people usually don’t want to talk much to the media, but Rabiya countered that this guy actually does. Laura volunteered to ask Ray Woolsey, who is actively pushing for more drug testing specifically for children. Laura also was interested in biological response modifiers, drugs that target specific proteins, immune responses, angiogenesis. Cathy was concerned that it wasn’t a new topic, but Beth agreed that lots of people don't necessarily understand the conceptual level of such work. Cathy suggested that Paul Nurse or Francis Collins would be good at explaining the concepts. One benefit of Collins’s still working with the NIH is that the government would cover the cost of his appearance. 5th Anniversary of the Human Genome Project Cathy mentioned that next summer is the 5th anniversary of Celera’s June 26, 2000 announcement of the rough draft human genome, and the joint Human Genome Project's initial phase. She suggested that we hold an event exploring what research has been done since then, especially with targeted therapies. Laura asked whether we could get Dr. Judah Folkman and Dr. Bob Cook. She also said that she had written an obituary of Eisner for the British Medical Journal, and that he'd been a competitor’s of Cook. Cathy thought of Nicholas Wade, since he’s back at the NY Times after a book leave. Rabiya proffered May as a good time to do it. Cathy mentioned that February was the actual publication date, so perhaps then? Cathy said she would like to speak, but that she felt she was biased, having been at the Public Relations Society of America at the time, and writing about it. Beth thought that was all the more reason she should speak! But Cathy doesn’t have time to do it. Cathy mentioned Jamie Shreve’s book, and that perhaps we could get him to speak. Laura suggested we invite clinical people, too. Cathy said sure! Journalists, also. There’s plenty more to discuss, so Beth urged us to table the idea until the November meeting. Rabiya suggested we could hold Laura’s event, on targeted therapeutics, earlier in the year, and the human genome event in June. Solar Energy Event Other Events Book agents: Beth brought up this idea. How should we approach an event about agents? Have three agents speak? Writers and agents together? The last time SWINY had such an event, it featured agents and writers both, and was very successful. Jessa suggested the bug book woman. Cathy thought Marsha Angel might do it. Laura noted that she lives in Cambridge, as does Laura van Damm. Elizabeth said she knew people at the Free Press, and might be able to get someone there. Winter City Park Trip: Orchard Beach was such a success, and the rangers were so eager, that we’re thinking of another event this winter, perhaps at Alley Pond. Though Alley Pond might be even more exciting in the Spring. Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Patrick said that Stevens has a center for research into hydrogen fuel cells, and we might be able to organize an event. Elizabeth thought this was especially good, to broaden our events beyond health, medicine and environmental topics. Rabiya agreed that it’s good to add physics and chemistry. Patrick will pursue the idea. Other winter events: Laura asked about the Bronx Zoo, and Beth responded that Jim is working on it. Beth suggested a visit to a botanical garden in winter could be very interesting, or perhaps Wave Hill. Jessa has a relative at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and will look into that as an option. Diversity Program Jessa came to SWINY to suggest that we provide some diversity programs. She pointed to NASW’s programs and the NASW table at the meeting of Journalists of Color as good examples of the appeal. She’s interested in contacting journalists and other organizations doing such things. For instance, we could cover topics of special interest to African-Americans, such as hypertension, how genetics do or do not have bearing on race. Cathy said that Troy Duster, at NYU, gives talks on the issue. Laura thought that Ron Morton, at Hopkins, might also join an event. Beth reminded the group that one reason we get to use the NYAS’s facilities for meetings is that we agreed to help their Science Alliance program for graduate students and post docs all over the city. She thought they would be open to being involved in a diversity program. Science Writing: Beth urged us to hold an event soon about the craft of science writing, and said that might be an opportunity to combine writing with a diversity-oriented program. She was speaking to the director of City University’s graduate program, who was very interested in having SWINY talk to students about science writing. If we had such an event there, perhaps we could at the same time attract a more diverse audience. Also, Science Alliance is eager to set up a mentoring program for Ph.D. students and post docs who want to learn to be better writers. Beth thought an all-day workshop on how to write better about science, both for one’s own self-improvement as a scientist, and also as a potential career-choice. The meeting adjourned at 8:30pm Early January; Date and Location TBA.
There was some discussion about events that might need extra funding, as well as the possibility of attracting speakers with an honorarium. In addition, there were concerns expressed about the possible tax implications of carrying funds over into the New Year. Beth Schachter said she would check with Mariette DiChristina about SWINY’s status as an organization and the tax concerns that were raised.
Elizabeth Barden Ackerman is handling RSVPs for this event. At least one SWINY member expressed concern over the cost of the event, $25 for the talk plus an optional dinner. Laura Newman noted that other NYC institutions offer lectures of similar scope, such as CUNY, but that typically cost less. It might be worth looking into lectures at these institutions if we plan a similar event. SWINY/AMWA Annual Holiday Party. Several people reiterated the need to ensure we have enough volunteers to greet people the night of the party. Beth Schachter said she would ask Cathy Yarbrough to coordinate this for SWINY. Heart Surgery Teleconference. Karen de Seve spoke about the possibility of a January event, hosted by the Liberty Science Center and Morristown Memorial Hospital, that would feature a live heart bypass surgery viewed via teleconference technology. These two institutions host events like this regularly through an ongoing student program. The angle for SWINY: February is heart health month. Some doctors say the media could have done a better job reporting former President Clinton’s heart surgery. This is a chance to see an actual surgery, ask questions during the procedure and get the facts on heart disease and bypass surgery. There were questions about the possibility of a city location for the event, potential for the Liberty Science Center and Morristown Memorial Hospital to offset the cost of the event, and the best time of day to attract the most journalists. Since the meeting, Karen reports that the two institutions will cover the cost of the event. It will need to be held at the Liberty Science Center, currently with the possibility of an evening surgery. There was some interest in inviting other journalism groups to attend the event, in particular the local chapter of the Association of Health Care Journalists. ScienCentral. There was no new information on this event. It might be on hold for now. Pediatric Ethics. Laura Newman talked about some options for an event focused on ethical issues raised by children’s involvement in clinical trials, the genetic testing of children and futility discussions at the end of young life. She is going to explore a panel focusing on these issues for an April event. Solar Energy. In response to the interest of a solar energy group in speaking to SWINY, it was decided to host an event focused on alternative energy sources. The angle: are alternative energy sources more viable now that oil prices are high? We will explore solar, wind and other technologies – especially those with a local connection. Vida Foubister will begin researching speakers for a panel event in March. Urban Park Rangers. There is considerable interest in another trip to a city park with the Urban Park Rangers. Alley Pond Park in Queens or Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan were discussed as good options for this spring. Fenella Saunders said she would look into the logistics of Alley Pond Park.
Beth also brought up the idea of a pitching an article to ScienceWriters that brings attention to the regional Web sites. She plans to contact the other regional groups about this. The possibility of setting up a separate SWINY listserv came up and will be explored.
Organizing free-running activities, such as a book club or writing group, was discussed. Fenella Saunders noted that there are two robotics companies in the city that might be worth exploring for an event. The options discussed include a high-tech panel or plant tour.
From June 23 2004_____________________________________________________________________________ Bronx River Canoe Trip: Sunday, September 26th, 10:00 to about 2:00pm Science, Technology, October 4th, 6:30pm Rockefeller University's November 8th, 2004
Treasurer’s Report Raffle Handling Notices for Non-SWINY Events Potential SWINY events Socials Society for Conservation Biology Meeting Potential SWINY Piggyback Event Parks Department Event Bronx River Canoe Trip ScienCentral Event Election Polling Meeting Patrick said he would look into getting other pollsters, and Ken said he would look into Steve Ross and Adrian Woolridge (West Coast bureau chief of the Economist), the latter of whom is frequently in New York. Fenella asked whether Woolridge would have time for such an event, so close to the national elections? We need people who want to talk and have time. Patrick thought Woolridge might make the time. Patrick will look into getting Jerry MacArthur Hulton, Dean of the WJH School of Technology Management at Stevens, who was a member of the Clinton administration and ran a state campaign. Cathy asked whether Hulton is connected to the Kerry campaign, and Patrick said yes, he is. Patrick suggested that the date could be in early October, around 7:00pm, at Stevens. People could take the ferry or the PATH train. Elizabeth mentioned that we still have use of the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) for a meeting or two, and that this topic would mesh well with the NYAS mission. Plus, it might be easier for people to get to (at least psychologically, if not actually). Patrick counter offered that Stevens could provide food! And that it really is very accessible, at a $2 cab ride, and even a walkable distance, from the PATH. Laura asked whether we should make it a weeknight, or perhaps a Saturday? People seemed to agree that a weeknight would be better. Patrick also said that if we could get a good enough panel, we might contact C-SPAN, especially since the Stevens facilities can easily accommodate press. Fenella pointed out that having it at Stevens might allow for a lower entry cost for attendees, since the hall and food will be cheaper. Patrick thought we could swing it for $10 apiece for members. Elizabeth thought Stevens would be better if we think we'll get a lot of people, since the space is larger than many of the NYAS rooms. Beth was all for it, and thought Stevens just as easy to manage as NYAS, especially for some commuters. Vida urged that we should make it very clear on the invitation just how easy it is to get there. Marion agreed, it should be right on the invitation. Al suggested including explicit directions on the invitation itself. Fenella readdressed the days of the week we should consider, especially since some of our members might be busy covering the election themselves for their respective publications. Patrick said he thought his space was flexible. Elizabeth figured that if people were busy with election coverage, it might be easier to get them to NYAS. Jim noted that it would probably be harder to get speakers on the weekend. Fenella, compromising, proffered that we might leave it up to the speakers, and that Friday was generally a hard day. Marion said, and all agreed, that Monday or Tuesday would be the best days to shoot for. Alla mentioned that transportation BACK to the city should be clearly outlined on the invitation, since people might be nervous about missing the last train, or other public transportation. Cathy suggested a Tuesday, perhaps 5 weeks from today. Laura brought up that she had worked on an Association of Health Care Journalists’ meeting, when she had corralled the former head of Medicare under President Clinton, and that she had had four reporters promise to show up, none of whom came. One person from the Village Voice had arrived unexpected, but no one was that interested. She was a bit skeptical that we could get the media coverage we were hoping for, especially at such a busy time. Marion agreed, saying perhaps if we had the release of a new poll to boast we could draw attention, but if it's just background information for reporters, it might be harder to make seem sexy enough. Patrick said he had contact with some press people via Stevens, and that they had done a similar event on skyscrapers two years ago, to tremendous turnout. Alan and others wondered whether this was quite analogous, since that topic was quite specific, and this may not be so unique. Beth said that if for some reason we decide not to have the event at Stevens, she will approach the NYAS. Winery Trip People asked how many people had gone on other long-distance trips with SWINY. We had a trip to Brookhaven that had a slightly disappointing attendance, and the Cold Spring Harbor trip, a mere 10 people. Alan suggested we find a winery that can serve a meal, so that they can make some money on the visit, at which meal a vintner could talk to us. (Or, the vintner could be part of the tour.) Alan thought shooting for a harvest time might be advantageous (unless the wineries are too busy then), or perhaps later, when they are bottling, so that we can see the blending of casks and hybrids. He thought October might be good. Alan asked whether people thought there might be a price point that was too high. Laura mentioned that the Eli's boxed meals in Central Park were $25, and that those were a bit high. Fenella thought we need not necessarily include a meal in the fee. People asked whether the winery would have a van to pick people up at the train or bus station, as that might affect how much people were willing to pay—that was a point for research. Fenella thought that $40 sounded okay if it were all-inclusive. Elizabeth thought $50 would be okay if a light meal were included. Laura wondered whether that price point, plus transportation fees, would be too much. Alan urged that people could leave from Princeton, which would make the travel much cheaper. He said that the Unionville vintner was very sharp and a great speaker, and that Unionville was only a half hour to forty minutes from Princeton. Cathy suggested we could arrange to eat a meal in Princeton, instead of at the winery. Laura asked whether there were wineries on Long Island that we could visit, that might be a bit closer? It seemed, though, that they would be about the same distance. Alan will look into it further. Multimedia Storytelling Fenella remarked that Rockefeller University did something similar a few years ago. Cathy asked how that turnout had been. Fenella indicated that it had been before ScienCentral existed, and that they had had a number of people from the Discovery Channel, before they tanked most of their original web content. Other Business PayPal Laura reported no success in using PayPal to pay for her NASW membership, but others said that it had worked okay for SWINY. Alan reported that not many people had used it for SWINY, and that we get charged about $1.50 per ticket. So perhaps it's only worth it for bigger ticket items, such as membership, the holiday party, etc. He wondered if it would be worth it if we were a non-profit, and thus privy to lower rates? Alla asked why we weren't a non-profit. Elizabeth explained that Mariette had discussed before that becoming a non-profit is actually quite costly in terms of legal work and fees, and the paperwork is tremendous. So that though we looked into it several years ago, it just wasn't worth it at the time, and until our coffers are more plush (and there is something to protect), it doesn't make sense for us. Marion reinforced that DCSWA had done it several years ago, and it was expensive. Alan said he would ask Diane (of NASW) how NASW does it. Fenella pointed out that once it's done, it's not expensive the maintain. SWINY Website Sites for Future Board Meetings Fenella said that her office has a board meeting room, and is located at 33rd and Park Ave, at the NYU School of Medicine. Laura said the city libraries, such as Riverside Library, behind Lincoln Center, charge just $25. People explained that even that small drain on our limited resources could be devastating to our coffers, so that we really needed to concentrate on free spaces (which have become harder to find in these security-conscious times). Marion said she might be able to reserve us space at her office (Porter Novelli), at 450 Lexington, across from Grand Central, as long as we could give a list of attendees ahead of time to the guards. Elizabeth said she would look into space at her office, at the American Kennel Club, at 260 Madison (38th). Fenella thought we might be able to wheedle some room at Discover, around 5th Ave and 17th St . Email Lists Cathy noted that the national office of PR is here in NYC, and that the national convention will be here this fall. Cathy Luten is the chair of the convention, and was the past president of the Health Convention. If it's at Rockefeller University, we could perhaps arrange a panel on 3rd world diseases, or something else good for SWINY members. Laura said she would reach out to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), since it would be good to integrate more medicine and health care journalists. Patrick suggested that the Society of Professional Journalists and the Society of Health Care Journalists might prove fertile ground for new SWINY members. Marion proffered the HSPRC, PR for hospitals and care, as well as MSKCC. Al suggested we could post reciprocal meeting announcements, and perhaps use other organizations’ lists. Marion said that most don't give out their lists (at least not for free), but they might cross-post our meetings. Fenella remarked that Mediabistro and Ed2010 are already willing to post some of our events. Alan asked that everyone pick an organization or a couple of people to gather into the SWINY fold. Al will email everybody, to invite them. He thought it also good for all the freelancers among us. Laura reminded people that Norman (Bauman) would also be happy to include our events on his list. Marion urged that if SWINY members are also members of other organizations, that those people try asking for reciprocal postings. Fenella thought we might troll the NASW list for members in NY who aren't on the SWINY list. Marion said it had been done once, as a gift from NASW, when we were just getting started. Al said he would be happy to do it himself! We should get people to opt in, and encourage them to bring friends to events. Laura urged us to remember to include CT and NJ folks, too. To reinforce the point, Fenella pointed out that at the last SWINY social, we had had two people from Cold Spring attend. The meeting adjourned at 7:45pm. Next SWINY board meeting: Wednesday, June 23, 6:30pm May 2004_____________________________________________________________________________ Clearwater Sailing Trip: Tuesday, June 22, 6:00pm SWINY Social: Tuesday, June 29, 6:00 to 8:00pm Meeting 5/17/04 Attendance: Mariette DiChristina, Cathy Yarbrough, John Arbucci, Patrick Berzinski, Jim Stallard, Charles Choi, Beth Schachter, Karen de Seve, Elizabeth Barden Ackerman, Ken Kostel, Alan Brown, Vida Foubister, Joe Bonner, Laura Newman ***************************************************************************** First order of business: Minutes from April 21st meeting approved, with corrections. Treasurer’s Report/Clearwater Sail Beth indicated that she had sent Lois Gaeta, at AMWA, an invitation to the Clearwater Cruise, but never heard back. Now the sail is full. We’re sorry the sail filled up before AMWA members could join us, but we hope that contributing to the holiday party, and inviting them to other events, will make up for it. PayPal Website Mariette thanked Patrick for posting all of our events on the website, keeping it up to date. And thanks to Al for setting up PayPal, which is working. Al said he will try to set it up so that you can pay for more than one event at a time. Go see this URL, in order to see what magic Patrick has been working for us: http:www.nasw.org/users/swiny/home/swinyhome.html Send suggestions to Patrick, which he will share with the board.
Clearwater Trip Canoe Trip The dates available are these: September 25th and 26th, when we could do the longer, freshwater trip; and October 9th and 10th, when the tides will be against us, so we could only do the estuary, with the old, industrial portion of the river. The advantage to the (lower) estuary is that there are some great restoration sites, where ecologists are working on rehabilitating a salt marsh. The full trip, from Shoelace Park (including freshwater), takes about 3 hours, total, and includes a trip through the Bronx forest, the Bronx Zoo and the Botanical Garden. The lower estuary starts at the mid-point of the estuary, and flows down, depending on the wind and tides. There’s also an optional extension down another mile or two, for either trip. People usually choose to go the whole way. Maximum occupancy for the trip is 15, yielding a price of about $15 to $20 each. A couple of guides are included—1 canoe guide, and 1 or 2 ecological restoration guides. We are limited by the number of boats, and the people available to guide us. (They have a big event the weekend before the 25th, so there may be fewer guides out for that weekend.) Beth suggested guaranteeing those on the waiting list for the Clearwater sail a spot on the canoe trip. But the consensus was that the groups might not overlap much, so that it wouldn’t be much benefit for those who missed the sail. (Being allowed to paddle lots and get very wet and tired, even with neat estuary science, might not compensate for missing a relaxing sail.) Mariette urged that we should inform people of the strenuous nature of the trip, including portages. Ken said that there aren’t any rapids, but there are a few tricky spots. Karen asked whether people could bring their own boats? (Ken will ask, though it seems unlikely.) Mariette asked how transportation worked? Ken replied that they have a Parks Department van to shuttle people to the subway after the trip is over. When Karen asked where the pullout spot is, Ken allowed that it’s near the cement plant and a 2/5 subway stop. Carol asked whether we should put it on NASW’s announcement board, and Mariette explained that NASW doesn’t usually feature events by local groups that don’t tie in directly with a NASW event. So the big question was, which date should we choose? Charles suggested that the full trip sounds like fun, and Elizabeth agreed, adding that there can be a big difference between late September and mid-October weather, so that September was probably safer. Mariette mentioned that the ScienCentral panel is the 21st, that week, but the consensus was that the two events appealed to different crowds. Mariette asked Ken whether it would be a problem if we didn’t fill all 15 spots? Ken suggested then we could open it to AMWA members. John brought up the pressing topic of what to charge. Since the full trip will actually probably cost $20 to $25 (when you count in tip and all), he suggested charging $30. Al, Elizabeth and Cathy all agreed that $28 was better, citing that old marketing ploy that just under a round number always seems much cheaper and more attractive.
Potential SWINY events Society for Conservation Biology meeting NYC Park Tour ScienCentral Panel Winery Trip? Al’s plan was that we could get a bus, go up, have lunch, taste some wines, perhaps tour the winery, and learn about all aspects of wine growing, crafting, etc. Al can also find someone to talk to us. In the Fall, the hybrid grapes up in the Finger Lakes region are very good, but people agreed that that would be too far. Still, New Jersey and closer on the Hudson has some good places. He will look into it. Reporting on the Upcoming Elections Mariette suggested that that would be a terrific event to hold at the New York Academy of Sciences (where we have free use of a meeting room waiting for us). Vida pointed out that it would both mesh nicely with the NYAS’s goals (they cover a lot of policy), and be a good setting. (Especially since it would be in the fall, and the room available has no air conditioning.) Holiday Party
Multimedia Science Reporting Mariette sprang on the idea, lauding it as an opportunity to have an event focused on the craft of science journalism. She feels we should probably try to host such an event a couple of times a year. Perhaps it’s time to review the essentials of freelance contracts again. THANK YOU, MARIETTE! This marked Mariette’s last meeting as the head of SWINY. Beth and Cathy will run the next meeting, and we will excuse Mariette if she decides to duck out for a while, to attend to other duties. But we hope she’ll come back sometime. |
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