NCEW makes investments to better serve members.

So far, NCEW has been spared a dramatic drop in membership. At mid-January, the organization had 529 members--a decline of more than one hundred members since 2000.

Daily reports of staff cutbacks, early retirements, and other industry purse-tightening makes it reasonable to assume that NCEW could take a big hit, unless the organization responds to changing circumstances.

The board of directors is working to assess where NCEW stands, where it needs to go, and the best way to get there. For example, consider three areas of emphasis:

* Recruitment. We have offered a one-year, discounted membership to editorial page editors in several states near the 2008 convention in Little Rock, Arkansas. Graduates of the Minority Writers Seminar who are now opinion writers also will receive the offer. They already have a connection to this organization, and many of them are under age forty. NCEW may also need to shift more recruitment and member services off time-strapped volunteers and onto staff.

* Dues. NCEW dues are high, compared to other journalism groups. Now that we have gained more expertise in seeking grants and donations, we may be able to lower the dues--if we can find another dependable source of revenue. To that end, the board is considering an annual contest in opinion writing. Presented at the 2009 convention, the awards would raise money, promote NCEW, attract new members and, ultimately, make it easier to lower dues. The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, which provides NCEW administrative support, has extensive experience in managing contests.

* Member services. Even with lower dues, more members will have to pay out of their pockets. That means the cost will have to be worth it. We need to provide more privileges of membership, such as foreign and domestic trips and professional development opportunities. As The Opinion Pool gains momentum this year, its research and online templates should help members with day-to-day work. That will require, however, an upgraded NCEW Webpage that allows members to share their work. The board is evaluating the best way to provide that.

There are no easy answers in these turbulent times. But NCEW is strong and moving ahead. Feel free to pass on any suggestions about these and other issues to any board member or to me.

NCEW president Vanessa Gallman is editorial page editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky. Email: vgallman@herald-leafder.com