Why NCEW? Because of excellence.

Thanksgiving 1997 was a special day for me. Looking ahead to the opportunity to lead the National Conference of Editorial Writers, I was thankful that I had joined the organization 16 years ago. NCEW has been the finest of professional experiences for me and my staff. The organization has similarly helped writers and editors at hundreds of newspapers across North America and in other countries as well.

NCEW members are interesting, bright and considerate people, exceptional individuals whose friendship and collegiality lead to special professional and personal relationships.

But most important, publishers should know that NCEW deserves their consideration and financial support for their employees, because this organization stands for excellence. Whether it's convention seminar topics, information available on the Internet, critiques done by members for their colleagues, fact-finding trips, State Department seminars, special forums at the University of Maryland, the editorial writing workshops for young minority reporters - whatever the event - NCEW members have come to expect the highest quality.

Officers and board members of this organization feel a sense of responsibility to uphold the highest standards, to bring to editorial pages and broadcast outlets the kind of vibrant writing and interesting opinion pieces that will hold readers' and viewers' attention and provide a public service. Whenever a young writer needs a friendly ear from a more accomplished writer, that attention is always available. If a management problem arises, there's an experienced voice to listen to.

NCEW is, at its core, a shared experience. You're not alone in the boat. There's a full crew rowing with you on those stormy waters. And if the boat sometimes capsizes and you find yourself in the water, there are comrades there to help.

The NCEW board has made a special effort to offer all members good reasons for joining our organization. Many editors are not able to attend a convention, but they still benefit greatly from The Masthead, a quarterly publication; from the Member Services Committee; from critiques from other editors; from the hundreds of conversations on the Internet about common problems or approaches to issues.

Ask for help and opinions from NCEW members, and you get them. That is the spirit and the strength of this organization.

Regional expansion

I've set as a major goal this year the expansion of regional NCEW conferences across the country.

Under the strong, effective leadership of Larry R. Evans, editorial page editor of The Freelance-Star in Fredericksburg, Va., NCEW will sponsor more than a dozen regional conferences. Already on the drawing boards are seminars in Florida, South Carolina, New England, Virginia, West Virginia, the Pacific Northwest, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Minnesota, Illinois, Georgia, and Tennessee.

I believe these regional conferences will help existing members attract new members and create interest in attending our national conventions. They are another example of NCEW's effort to reach out to provide professional development.

Throughout the past few years, the organization has been able to hold onto a 600-member base, truly a remarkable achievement in a time of newspaper consolidation and increased pressures to produce more profitable bottom lines.

Invest in excellence

One major reason for NCEW's success has been the active and enthusiastic support of the NCEW Foundation, the non-profit educational arm of our organization. Through aggressive fundraising with foundations and newspaper groups, the Foundation has slowly built its resources to more than $200,000 over 17 years.

But the annual support from members has been disappointing. Last year, members contributed an average pledge of less than $5. I don't for a minute believe that NCEW members feel indifferent about the organization's activities. Instead, I think we have not rallied the membership to this cause.

During the next few months, I will ask NCEW's board and membership to lend financial and volunteer support to Ed Jones, president of NCEW Foundation, as he sets about achieving a goal of $50,000 this year.

A gift to the Foundation is an investment in the continued excellence of NCEW. The Foundation's financial success enables NCEW to offer better and more varied programs that provide training and development in the craft we all practice. The Foundation helps finance many of our activities.

Paragraph 1 of our NCEW Constitution says the organization is "dedicated to stimulating the conscience and the quality of editorials." If we are to continue to raise the quality and the character of the editorials, members need to show their appreciation by giving money to the Foundation. In that way, NCEW may persist in its pursuit of high standards and helpful assistance to its members.

I challenge each NCEW member to recall what this organization means to our professional lives and to contribute to the NCEW Foundation to continue NCEW's marvelous work.