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June 2005

Farewell and Welcome

As I write my final president's letter, I'm glad to be leaving on a high note, with the $18 million settlement of ASJA's lawsuit against the online databases. I'm also pleased by the success of our recent writers' conference, which drew over 650 attendees -- and many compliments from both members and non-members. As I look back on my original goals, announced in my first president's letter in 2003, it's rewarding to see how much has been accomplished. Here are some highlights:

Stronger advocacy for writers. Whether the problem is slow pay, no pay or unauthorized use of copyrighted material, ASJA now has a powerful resource: our grievance committee, which offers advocacy, action and self-help. Headed by Jim Morrison, the driving force behind the $18 million settlement, the committee recently helped writers who had been stiffed by Seed magazine get the money that was due them. We have also created a Legal Referral Network of qualified lawyers who are willing to handle publishing and copyright cases for members at reduced rates.

Free publicity for ASJA members. Members can now promote their expertise, without spending a cent, through the ASJA Expert Source Tip Sheet, chaired by Andrea King Collier. These monthly e-mail press releases highlighting members' books, articles and significant speeches are sent to over 3,000 media outlets. And both members and non-members can use the sheets, posted in the media section of our site, to find expert sources for their articles.

An even better Web site and newsletter. Our Web staff, Bruce Miller, Christine Larson and the Web site committee, headed by George Sheldon, are working together to add even more valuable features to www.asja.org. Innovations include improved navigation on the public and members-only home pages, expanded search capabilities, an online membership application and articles like, "Tech Tips" and "Five Minutes With..." Our hard-working newsletter editor, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, has also enlivened The ASJA Monthly with such entertaining new features as Melba Newsome's Q and A column, "Straight Shooting."

Conference upgrades. In 2004, we introduced Personal Pitch on Members' Day. Thanks to the dedication and energy of Karen Bannan, these wildly popular one-on-one sessions let ASJA members get their ideas in front of top editors and agents, at no extra charge. The result? A number of on-the-spot sales. Co-chairs Bob Bittner and Minda Zetlin, and their team of volunteers, also revitalized the main conference with supersized sessions and specialized tracks so writers at every level could find panels of interest to them.

Job opportunities for members. One of the more challenging situations ASJA has been faced with is finding new directions for the ASJA Freelance Writer Search, formerly known as the Writer Referral Service. The job service is being dramatically revamped under the leadership of Jack El-Hai, chair of the committee, and Lisa Holton, market coordinator. Stay tuned for further details, since Lisa, Jack and the committee are getting everything in place for the relaunch later this year.

A unique spirit of volunteerism. I continue to marvel at how much ASJA accomplishes, when we only have two paid staff members: our indefatigable executive director, Brett Harvey, and her very capable assistant, Zeleika Raboy. We also owe kudos to our smart and energetic board members: Jack El-Hai, Shari Steiner, Minda Zetlin, Jim Morrison, Sam Greengard, Robert Bittner, Leah Ingram, Sandra Lamb, Janine Latus, Mary Mihaly, Ann Monroe, Jennifer Pirtle, Claire Walter and Russ Wild.

I'd also like to thank our committee chairs: Jim Morrison, who took on both this year's annual members' meeting and our grievance committee; Tamara Eberlein, awards guru; Murray Bloom, one of ASJA's founding members and editor-writer relations expert; Claire Safran, our fiesty First Amendment czar; Russ Wild, finance committee chief; JoBeth McDaniel, fundraising wizard; Andrea Campell, hospitality host; Jennifer Haupt, market reports chair; Janice Tanne Hopkins, membership chief; Sally Wiener Grotta, recruitment head; Bonnie Remsberg, nominating committee leader; past presidents Evelyn Kaye and Sally Wendkos Olds; Diane O'Connell, initiator of superb national programs; Leslie Gilbert Elman, publications boss; Paula Dranov, public relations and marketing head; Andrea King Collier, tip sheet dynamo; Minda Zetlin, volunteers services wrangler; and George Sheldon, techie in chief of the Web site.

Last, but certainly not least, a special thank-you to Jack El-Hai, who will become ASJA's president next month. Jack is an award-winning author who has impressed everyone on the board with his keen intelligence and common sense, so I know our organization will be in extremely capable hands. I was also very honored by his complimentary remarks at the conference. As past president, I'll remain on the board and will continue to work on several projects. And as I do, I want to thank ASJA members for their encouragement and support. You've made all the hard work of the last two years worth it!

LISA COLLIER COOL of Pelham, New York, is president of ASJA. E-mail the president through www.asja.org/contact.php.