About the Gulf Coast tour.

It all started with e-mail exchange with New Orleans limes-Picayune editorial page editor Terri Troncale. I asked her before last year's convention, "If there's one thing you could say to the nation's editorial writers, what would it be?" Her answer: "Don't forget about us" There was a lot of work ahead, and Terri was familiar with journalists' short attention span.

So I brought it up at our pre-convention board meeting and asked whether we should plan a trip. The board's answer, essentially, was go for it.

Fellow board member Pete Kohler had some contacts at Louisiana State University, who hooked us up with the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which arranged for the Black Hawk helicopter tour with the Louisiana National Guard and our Baton Rouge hotel.

Bob Davis, whom NCEW President J.R. Labbe and I had drafted, kept talking to Stan Tiner in Biloxi to arrange the very necessary and illuminating Mississippi portion of our trip.

The folks at the Picayune proved great resources. Terri hooked me up with a friend in the hotel industry, whose venue was too expensive but who directed me to the lovely W hotel, which directed me to the bus company, which directed me to some of the eateries that fed us. Stephanie Grace, a friend from my days in New Orleans, provided an invaluable list of sources from which I built the New Orleans agenda.

Lanny Keller, of the Baton Rouge Advocate, offered up the name of a local foundation that could provide underwriting, an offer upon which Dave Holwerk pounced. Thanks to both of them. Money made the arrangements much easier and the trip more affordable for those who were on the fence.

And somehow it all just came together, with a good-natured troupe of fourteen journalists who rolled with every punch.

It was an experience we'll not soon forget.

Becca Rothschild is an NCEW board member and deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. E-mail [e-mail]