| June 2006 | |
Wild weather winds up wonderful year
Judy Johnson When it rains it pours. At least that’s the personal theme that stands out in my year as Texas Press Association president. I started my term last summer with back-to-back hurricanes — in August Katrina doubled the size of our town Winnie with evacuees from Louisiana and in September Rita drove my husband Buddy and I from our home and shut down Winnie for nearly three weeks. And before hurricane season started this month, Winnie received nearly 10 inches of rain and local flooding right before Memorial Day. I have several friends here who had water in their homes from this most recent freak storm. But thankfully Buddy and I weathered all the storms in this presidency year without significant damage to our home or to The Hometown Press. We’re the lucky ones. Still it has been a most strange and incredible year for me personally. I’m ready for some quiet time and hopefully a break from severe weather. Professionally though this presidency year has been the pinnacle of my newspaper career. The opportunity to serve as your Texas Press Association president has meant so much to me and I am honored to be counted among the more than 125 great men and women who have lead TPA since its inception in 1880. But without the help and support of the Texas Press Association staff — Mike Hodges, Ken Long, Jan Morgan, Patty Sommers, Ed Sterling, Fred Anders, Pauline Word, Stephanie Hearne, Shawn Jones, Debbie Hall, Lolly Denk and Donna Shaw — I couldn’t have done it. I also sincerely appreciate the support of the other TPA officers and other board members for making this year one of the most memorable and fun years of my life. I have enjoyed traveling around the state this spring to the regional press groups where I met members from all corners of Texas. We may vary in geography but we are kindred in spirit and all face the same issues as newspapers. As TPA president I also greatly appreciated the opportunity to attend the National Newspaper Association Government Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., in March and meet and greet national lawmakers to discuss the important issues facing our industry. In September I was unable to attend the NNA convention in Milwaukee, Wis., because of Rita so the GAC was a wonderful make-up trip to see how newspapers are doing on the national level. We still have a lot of hard work at the national level, but the leaders in NNA are working hard to protect newspapers’ interests in Washington. I also enjoyed emceeing the 59th Midwinter Conference & Trade Show in January in Dallas and I’m looking forward to my last hurrah leading the 127th Summer Convention later this month in The Woodlands. The summer meeting promises to be packed with ideas and great speakers and there still is time to register through June 16. The opening night reception features a Mardi Gras Party, which is a great way to wrap up my year as president and spread some good ol’ lagniappe. And since the convention is entirely indoors this time I promise the only pouring being done will be into glasses. |
|
