TPA enlists Santa’s help for upcoming session

Last week the screen of my cellphone lit up as the electronic brick began vibrating across the nightstand. Fumbling, I stabbed at the phone and flipped it open to see who decided 2 a.m. was a good time to call. 
Squinting, my eyes made out the letters K-R-I-S.

By LEONARD WOOLSEY, TPA President 

I slid my finger across the screen.
“Yes?”
A strange voice boomed through the handset.
“Heeeey Mr. President! What’s up?”
“Excuse me,” I said. “Who is this?”
“Me. Kris. Kris Kringle. From the North Pole.”
“You know it’s the middle of the night and I need…”
“You know me. Santa! The Big Man of the Great White North? Ho, ho, ho and all that?”
I poised my finger above the screen to end the call. 
“This is about the Texas Press Association. I’m making my list and need to know what you need for the upcoming session.”
“Santa,” I said. “Really?”
“You bet. Who do you think left you that sweet Sears American Spirit 10-speed in 1976, eh? Your parents? Ha! You weren’t that good that year. I cut you some slack.”
I flashed back to that moment – who else could have known? I tore the page out of the Sears catalogue but chickened out from giving to my parents; instead I stuffed the page under my mattress. How the exact bike ended up by the fireplace on Christmas morning forever made me wonder.
“Blue or silver?” I asked. 
“Why, silver, of course,” he said. “Look, I’m up to my eyeballs with caffeine-jacked elves. Can we get to your TPA wish list? I’ve got work to do.”
Kris said he regularly calls the president of TPA for a Christmas wish list.
“By the way,” he said. “That Donnis and Mike still around? Those two have quite a collection of coal by now. Hope they straighten up soon.”
With that factoid, I knew I was speaking with the real Kris Kringle. 
“Yes, I could use some help,” I said. “Tough legislative session coming up.”
I could hear a rustling in the background of the call.
“No whipped cream. The missus says I’m lactose intolerant nowadays.”
Kris returned.
“Okay, fire away.”
I thought of the challenges ahead for Texas newspapers and our never-ending fight to keep the light of transparency glowing. How our members are working harder than ever with fewer resources, but never give up the good fight. 
“Ready?”
“I was born ready,” Kris said. 
I jumped into the list. 
“Here’s what would really help us, Santa.
1. Full participation among TPA members in our statewide online public notice site. My fellow publishers promise to be good all year if you can put this under our tree.
2. Seeing our members fully engage with their elected officials, from city council to Congress.
3. Seeing our members engage more with each other and with TPA via our convention, our email list-serves, and TPA’s ever-growing list of free training opportunities.
4. More member participation in TPA’s organizational activities, from serving on committees to helping judge contests.
5. People letting TPA know how we can continue helping our members be more effective and profitable in their journalistic and business endeavors.”
I paused. 
“Is that it? That’s all?”
“Santa, I work with a great group of people at TPA. I’ll bet if you can help these priorities happen, we can take things from there.”
“Well, you know I still keep track of what Donnis and Mike do, right?”
“Think you could cut them a bit of slack this year? They are two of the hardest working people I’ve ever worked alongside at a press association.”
“Humph,” he said. “Okay, this time. But you know I am always watching, right?” 
“Yes,” I said. “And it’s a bit creepy, don’t you think?” 
“Hey, do you want my help or want? I happen to know some elves with anger issues.”
“Okay, I’ll keep you posted.”
“Well, I need to go – the missus is headed my way.”
“Hey Kris?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for the help this year. And you know, I still believe.”
“You better.”
Click.