Dear JAWS members:

When outgoing superwoman president Kat Rowlands placed the presidential shark crown on my head at this year’s Conference and Mentoring Project (CAMP), I teared up looking out at the brilliant women who started our Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) nearly 30 years ago sitting among those who were at CAMP for the first time. As a fellow in 2010, I remember the feelings I had at my first CAMP — intimidation and excitement — as I marveled at the brilliant badasses surrounding me, welcoming me into their ranks.

Building momentum is fun and we are doing a lot of that right now at JAWS.

At a networking party I held at my home this month, I got to sign up a dozen new members, connect writers looking for work with editors looking to hire, and start building a wish list of training sessions that we will organize this year.

What fun to see success with the networking, mentoring and training behind our mission to support the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism and work toward a more accurate portrayal of the whole society.

The transition to fall requires a fresh look at the calendar, including the start of school for my daughter, the holiday celebrations with friends and family and, of course, JAWS CAMP.

I had intended to tidy my desk that quiet Saturday while subbing for another editor on vacation. But then the Asiana plane with 307 passengers and crew crashed at SFO, plunging me and dozens of other journalists into the adrenaline-pumping rush of a big news story.

June is a month full of ceremonies: graduations, celebrations, new commitments and awards. … 

It is also a month of notable achievements for JAWS so I hope you will all celebrate with me to note these milestones

The JAWS board is now soliciting nominations to join the Board of Directors when the terms of six current members expire. We need women to fill the roles of vice president, deputy vice president, treasurer and at least three general board members.

The spring is an exciting time for the Board of Directors of JAWS because we gather for our annual retreat – this year in my hometown of Berkeley, Calif. – to take stock of where the organization is and strategize about where we want to go.

The JAWS Board of Directors took time recently to review the organization’s core values as a way to reaffirm the principles we value as an organization.

I found it inspiring to think about the strength of our collective purpose and to look back on all the careers that have been launched, sustained and propelled by the JAWS network during the last three decades.

JAWS has a lot of momentum right now on several fronts, and I am happy to share our progress with you.
CAMP:
We are thrilled to announce that Jill Abramson, executive editor of The New York Times, will be our Saturday night keynote speaker for 2013 CAMP at The Essex Culinary Resort & Spa near Burlington, Vt., Oct. 24-27.

A new year always brings new inspiration for me and there’s no shortage of that from JAWS members. As recounted in my December letter, we have enjoyed a tremendous year of growth and success, so let’s keep the momentum going and make sure that other women in journalism benefit from all our organization has to offer.

While celebrating the holidays and enjoying time with family and friends, December is also a time to take stock of the past year. …And it has been a consistently rewarding one through my leadership as President of Journalism & Women Symposium.

What a success! I am so awed by the 226 women who came to the 2012 Conference and Mentoring Project of Journalism & Women Symposium. From newspapers and magazines to documentaries and books to radio and blogs, the work being done by JAWS members is remarkable.

We have fielded an impressive group of women to join the Board of Directors for 2012-13, pending election by the general membership at our fall conference in October. Going off the board — with our great thanks for their service— are Teresa Puente (who has served for two years as Secretary), Peggy Orchowski, E.J. Graff, Charreah Jackson and Jessica Alpert.

The JAWS Board has selected the sites for our next three conferences, keeping in mind the membership’s desire to hold CAMP at a beautiful, affordable and accessible location. This is no easy task, especially when adding geographic diversity into the mix of criteria. But we try to please most members most of the time with a variety of selections and knowing in advance should help you — and the board — to plan.

The JAWS Board has selected the sites for our next three conferences, keeping in mind the membership’s desire for holding CAMP at a beautiful, affordable and accessible location. This is no easy task, especially when trying to get some geographic diversity into the mix of criteria. But we try to please most members most of the time with a variety of selections and knowing in advance should help you — and the board — to plan.

We are growing our membership! We are improving our website! We are planning for the future! I’m pleased to share several news items that will keep Journalism & Women Symposium moving forward in the coming year.

You know it was a good weekend when you’ve had to wash 12 champagne flutes and 64 wine glasses. But even better than the party was the reason for such celebrating.

This year I decided to give up New Year’s resolutions and focus on revolutions instead. Revolutions hold all kinds of potential for success, inspiration and meaningful change.