One of the cool kids.

Greetings, friends,

Did you make it to New Orleans for APSE’s 2017 Summer Conference and sign up for one of our committees? Great. Prepare for a rewarding year of having your voice heard as our organization keeps striving to better serve all members.

Miss out on the APSE Summer Conference but still eager to get involved? I know a number of you fall into this category; you’ve told me so in recent weeks through emails, phone calls and social media.
And you’re in luck.
As I look over the sign-up lists for APSE’s various committees, let’s just say that ample opportunities remain. With a couple of exceptions, we’d do well to have as many as 10 people on each one. Most currently fall well short of that. That means there are more than a few seats left for those still willing to raise their hand.
Participation on an APSE committee should be (and is) important and rewarding work. It’s time spent thoughtfully with like-minded folk, mostly via conference call, in which members help shape our approach to challenges and opportunities both present and future. The investment of time isn’t overwhelming, but ground covered by our committee members suggests and informs decision-making as your officers work hard to represent the best interests of you, their constituents.
To sum up, I encourage you to consider signing up for a committee if you haven’t already. If you have, hang tight as we finalize these rosters and then get to work with objectives I’ll be outlining with the committee chairs in coming weeks.
To join up, or get your questions answered, please contact me directly at jrosen@kcstar.com.
Your President,
Jeff Rosen

COMMISSIONERS

Works with APSE President to help maintain contact with commissioners and chief executives of major sporting leagues. Helps organize APSE’s annual commissioner meetings in New York. Should be able to attend meetings in N.Y.

Chair: Gary Potosky, The Philadelphia Inquirer

gpotosky@phillynews.com; (215) 854-2402

1.  Joe Schiefelbein, The Advocate

2.  Reid Laymance, Houston Chronicle

3.  Jorge Rojas, Houson Chronicle

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CONTEST

Solicits member feedback on writing (including video and multimedia) and digital contests to help the contests evolve and meet membership expectations and needs; works to streamline and improve entry process.

Co-Chairs: John Bednarowski, Marietta (Ga.) Daily Journal, and Justin Pelletier, Sun-Journal (Lewiston, Maine)

johnbednarowski@gmail.com; (770) 428-9411

jpelletier@sunjournal.com; (207) 240-6355

1.   Gary Potosky, Philadelphia Inquirer

2.   James Crepea, AL.com

3.   Dan Spears, Wilmington StarNews

4.  Hugh Kellenberger, The Clarion-Ledger

5.  Matt Pepin, The Boston Globe

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CONFERENCE

Attends the winter meeting to discuss and determine sessions for the annual conference. Helps coordinate plans for a program that reflects activities of APSE committees and provides workshops and general sessions of relevance and interest to members of all-size papers and media companies.

Chair: Jeff Rosen, The Kansas City Star

jrosen@kcstar.com; (816) 234-4354

1.  Glen Crevier, Star Tribune

2.  Justin Pelletier, (Lewiston, Maine) Sun Journal

3.  Dana Sulonen, USA TODAY Network – Tennessee

4.   Phil Kaplan, Knoxville News Sentinel

5.  Erik Hall, OutSports

6. Tommy Deas, The Tuscaloosa News

7. Joe Schiefelbein, The Advocate

8. Ryan, Sharp, The Oklahoman

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DIVERSITY

Working with the President, help run and ensure success of APSE Diversity Fellowship Program. Also help plan sessions for national conference and region meetings. Help serve as liaison between APSE and NABJ, NAHJ, NAJA, AAJA and AWSM. Work with the program for SJI as needed.

Chair: Angel Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times

angel.rodriguez@latimes.com (213) 335-4435

1.   Dana Sulonen, USA TODAY Network – Tennessee

2.   Phil Kaplan

3.  Greg Brownell

4.  Erik Hall

5.  Cyd Zeigler, OutSports

6.  Tommy Deas

7.  Jorge Rojas

8.  Rod Walker, The Advocate

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FUTURES

The Futures Committee advises the Executive Committee as well as APSE membership on issues concerning the future of the organization.

Chair: Michael Peters (Tulsa World)

michael.peters@tulsaworld.com; 281-615-9725

1.  Rachel Crader

2.  Gary Potosky

3.  Greg Brownell

4.  Mike Sherman

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GRASSROOTS

Works to organize convention workshops and general sessions that appeal to small-paper editors; works with region chairs to plan at least one session at each regional meeting geared for editors of small papers and websites; works with Outreach committee on recruitment and retainment from smaller news organizations, including websites.

Chair: Robert Gagliardi, WyoSports.net (Laramie)

rgagliardi@wyosports.net; (307) 421-1861

1.  Tommy Deas

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LEGAL AFFAIRS and ETHICS

Considers questions involving legal, credentials and ethical issues and advises APSE officers and membership; helps craft appropriate responses and inquiries from the organization.

Co-Chairs: John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, and Gerry Ahern, USA TODAY Sports

john.cherwa@latimes.com; (213) 237-3567

gahern@usatoday.com; (651) 357-5268

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OUTREACH

In charge of recruiting and retaining APSE members, staying on top of staff changes throughout the nation, getting the word out about APSE through social media including Facebook and Twitter. Will work with the President and officers to spearhead a membership drive.

Chair: Chris Fickett, The Kansas City Star

cfickett@kcstar.com; (913) 645-9410

1.  David Folse, St. Tammany (La.) Farmer Newspaper

2.  Mike Kates

3.  Phil Kaplan

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OLYMPICS

Working with the President, updates members on Olympics issues with website stories and works with the USOC in an advisory capacity on credentials. Work with The Associated Press on coverage plans. Must be able to attend meeting every other year in Chicago.

Chair: Jorge Rojas, Miami Herald

jrojas@miamiherald.com; (305) 376-3213

1.  Matt Vita

2.  Reid Laymance

3.  Joe Knowles

4.  Malcolm Moran

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REGIONS

Work with region chairs and vice chairs to ensure that each region holds at least one meeting a year; work with region leadership on professional development offered at region meetings, helping line up speakers, serving as liaison with other committee chairs such as diversity and outreach, and so forth; helping region leadership with timely collection and publication of region news, notes and moves on website; ensuring region leadership is current and active.

Chair: Dana Sulonen, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

dsulonen@tennessean.com; (330) 987-7557

1.  Christopher Boan

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REVENUE

Works closely with the president to actively seek out and bring aboard new sponsors to support APSE’s objectives and annual events.

Chair: Tommy Deas, The Tuscaloosa News

1. Rachel Crader

2. Tim Stephens

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SCHOLARSHIP

Helps in administering APSE’s annual scholarship program.

Chair: Phil Kaplan, Knoxville News Sentinel

kaplan@knews.com, 865-342-6285

1. Joe Schiefelbein

2. Erik Hall

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STUDENT LIAISON

Coordinates affairs surrounding APSE student chapters and student membership; coordinates APSE outreach with students and universities; fields inquiries from prospective student members and student chapters; collaborates with region chairs on region activities at university campuses; coordinates student-produced and student-related content for the APSE website; directs student activities at APSE convention; represents student membership in APSE meetings.

Chairs: Tim Stephens, SportsManias; tims@sportsmanias.com, (954) 873-0325

Malcolm Moran, IUPUI, (814) 574-1485

1. Ethan Joyce, Rocky Mount (N.C.) Telegram

2. Tommy Deas

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WEBSITE

Helps produce stories for the APSE website; maintains a diverse story selection; covers news of APSE and the sports journalism industry as it relates to sports departments; and working with the chairs, maintains close contact with other committees that should be producing website stories; also develop and improve functionality of the website itself and find ways to make it increasingly dynamic.

Chair: Todd Adams, Springfield (Ill.) State Journal Register

todd.adams@sj-r.com; (619) 405-0943

1.  Gary Potosky

2.  Erik Hall

3. Mike Sherman

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WRITERS

Works to build writers membership and find ways APSE can better serve writers. Serve as conduit between APSE and various writers’ organizations on a variety of issues including access and credentials.

Chair: James Crepea, AL.com

jamescrepea@gmail.com; (631) 987-8308

1.  David Folse

2.  Ethan Joyce

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