From the President's Desk
June 2008
Paging Eleanor Rigby . . .
by Russell Wild
With our 120-channel TV sets, telecommuting lifestyles, and automatic garage doors from which we enter and exit our suburban homes, we live in an increasingly isolated, lonely world.
Robert Putman, author of Bowling Alone, reasons that loneliness has become pandemic, and with it, increasing unhappiness, illness and even premature death. Being a professor type, and from Harvard no less, Putnam talks not so much of "loneliness," but of a "disconcerting, precipitous decline in social interactions over the last three decades across all forms of social capital."
"Social capital," he explains, is "not just warm and cuddly feelings, but a wide variety of quite specific benefits that flow from the trust, reciprocity, information, and cooperation associated with social networks."
It will come as no news to any reader of this column that the profession of freelance journalist can be a particularly lonely one. And that's where ASJA comes in. Ours is not only a strong professional organization, it doubles as well, for those who wish it to be, as a pretty darned good source of "social capital." There's trust, reciprocity, information and cooperation ... often some laughter and silliness, too.
For "proof" that we are much more than a dry, professional organization, I look to the ASJA Forum and note that there are now almost 65,000 posts on the Water Cooler section of our website. When I look at the tally of all the posts on all of the other sections of the forum, only "Magazine and Newspaper Writing" comes even remotely close, with 45,000 posts.
New software being added to our website (which will probably be just operational as this column appears) allows for even greater "building of social capital." To whit: You can now add a smiling photo of yourself! You can tell ASJAers something personal by adding a mini-bio of yourself. You can reach out more easily than ever to make real connections with real people with whom you share much in common, and with whom you just may want to become friends, as well as trusted colleagues.
Putman would argue that reaching out in such fashion could make you happier and healthier. Who am I — other than a possible friend — to argue?
ASJA Board and Staff Personal Tidbits
Can you match the board member or staff member (left) with the mini-bio (right)? Please note that there are two correct answers for "C." Can you also name the board or staff member's home state? (Answers to both questions at bottom of page.)
1 |
Russell Wild, president |
..... |
state? |
A |
Once served as assistant plant manager for Blevin's Popcorn Co. Says, "There's nothing like the smell of fresh roasting popcorn on a cold Nebraska morning." |
2 |
Salley Shannon, vice president |
state? |
B |
Says, "I love to collect antiques, mostly textiles." |
3 |
Alexandra Owens, executive director |
state? |
C |
Once upon a time, worked as a "young girl" au pair in Paris |
4 |
Minda Zetlin, secretary |
state? |
C |
Once upon a time, worked as a "young girl" au pair in Paris |
5 |
Ron Meyer, treasurer |
state? |
D |
Holds a B.A. in Religious Studies |
6 |
Lisa Collier Cool, past president |
state? |
E |
Dad worked for the United Nations; grew up in Kenya |
7 |
Juliana Statius-Muller, membership services coordinator |
state? |
F |
Says (with a charming Southern accent), "I really like spiders and sports cars." |
8 |
Caitlin Kelly, board member at large |
state? |
G |
In 7th grade, was awarded a $25 savings bond as the regional winner of a Daughters of the American Revolution student writing contest; the topic was, "What My Flag Means to Me." |
9 |
Lisa Armstrong, board member at large |
state? |
H |
Is a certified feng shui practitioner; lives on a lake |
10 |
Mary Mihaly, board member at large |
state? |
I |
Played serious Ultimate (Frisbee) and once had a team named after him/her |
11 |
Bruce Miller, webmaster |
state? |
J |
Contradances at every opportunity; walks incredibly fast |
12 |
Janine Latus, board member at large |
state? |
K |
Spent four years training to oil paint, in England |
| |
Click HERE for the correct answers |
ASJA President Russell Wild asks that he please not be teased about having once worked as a "young girl" au pair. He now lives and works in Allentown, PA, 3703 miles (5960 km) from Paris.
back to TOP
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Answers (we've realigned this column to make the lettered answers line up with the numbered names) |
1 |
Russell Wild, president |
PA |
C |
Once upon a time, worked as a "young girl" au pair in Paris |
2 |
Salley Shannon, vice president |
MD |
F |
Says (with a charming Southern accent), "I really like spiders and sports cars." |
3 |
Alexandra Owens, executive director |
NJ |
D |
Holds a B.A. in Religious Studies |
4 |
Minda Zetlin, secretary |
NY |
C |
Once upon a time, worked as a "young girl" au pair in Paris |
5 |
Ron Meyer, treasurer |
NE |
A |
Once served as assistant plant manager for Blevin's Popcorn Co. Says, "There's nothing like the smell of fresh roasting popcorn on a cold Nebraska morning." |
6 |
Lisa Collier Cool, past president |
NY |
G |
In 7th grade, was awarded a $25 savings bond as the regional winner of a Daughters of the American Revolution student writing contest; the topic was, "What My Flag Means to Me." |
7 |
Juliana Statius-Muller, membership services coordinator |
NY |
K |
Spent four years training to oil paint, in England |
8 |
Caitlin Kelly, board member at large |
NY |
B |
Says, "I love to collect antiques, mostly textiles." |
9 |
Lisa Armstrong, board member at large |
NY |
E |
Dad worked for the United Nations; grew up in Kenya |
10 |
Mary Mihaly, board member at large |
OH |
H |
Is a certified feng shui practitioner; lives on a lake |
11 |
Bruce Miller, webmaster |
WA |
I |
Played serious Ultimate (Frisbee) and once had a team named after him/her |
12 |
Janine Latus, board member at large |
VA |
J |
Contradances at every opportunity; walks incredibly fast |
