Speaker - July/August 2010

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR
These Things
I Know

Texture. Photos. The written word. These are the things that I love about Speaker magazine. The Internet is exciting, but there’s nothing like making a cup of coffee and immersing yourself in a magazine.

That’s why I accepted the challenge to serve as the 2009-2010 Speaker magazine editorial advisory board chair. And because NSA President Phillip Van Hooser, MBA, CSP, CPAE, is a smooth talker.

I’m hooked on reading the magazine. Correction: the award-winning magazine. It recently won a bronze award for the second consecutive year in the category of “General Excellence” for magazines in the prestigious Society of National Publications (SNAP) EXCEL Awards, which attracts approximately 1,000 entries from associations nationwide. This honor encompasses best writing, content, design and overall packaging, with no small thanks to Barbara Parus, managing editor, whose creativity, eagle eyes and attention to timelines produce a standard of excellence that is, well, award winning.

The Speaker editorial advisory board members are Jill Konrath, Terri Langhans, CSP, Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE, Gina Shreck, CSP, and Dennis Stauffer, who worked together to deliver 10 interesting and content-packed issues. Each team member brought something different to the table, including connections and expertise as individual as they are.

• Deadline actually means deadline.

• I’m not nearly as organized as I claim to be.

• I really do know a lot of people.

• If the e-mails between Barbara Parus and me are ever published, we are both toast.

• When the magazine mailings went from white envelopes to poly bags, it was tantamount to moving from eight-track tapes to HD TV.

• Some people do not have a sense of humor.

• My team was right: There was no place in Speaker for a scratch-and-sniff section.

• There are more opinions about the magazine than about health care reform.

• All of the articles that are submitted by members are reviewed and discussed.

• Some people think they’re better writers than they are. Others are better writers than they think they are. Everyone should write.

• Copy and artwork are inextricably intertwined.

• Most NSA members are brilliant, creative and giving people.

• My background in improvisation was very helpful in this position.

• An editor is a writer’s best friend.

Molly Cox, 2009-10 Speaker magazine ditorial advisory board chair

Here are a few lessons I learned as an editorial advisory board chair:

These lessons illustrate that we can learn so much by volunteering. By expanding our comfort zones and reaching out to help, we benefit and change in ways we never anticipated.

I hope you enjoyed reading the magazine during my 2009-10 term. But if you haven’t, then, um, contact Pamela Jett, the 2010-11 Speaker editorial advisory board chair, who will be happy to talk to you. I’m confident that she is going to be very good in this position.

Speaker will continue to flourish as long as members continue to offer their advice and expertise. If you have an idea for an article, please email it to Barbara Parus at barbara@nsaspeaker.org or Pamela Jett at Pamela@jettct.com.