MEET THE 2009-2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Statements were submitted during the nomination process
Cindy Cantrell
Tennis Life
STATEMENT: It has been my privilege to serve on the board this past year. I hope to be reelected as a vice president so I may continue to have an active role in recruiting new members, enhancing the organization’s communication among existing members, adding member benefits and developing partnerships with other tennis organizations.
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Paul Fein
Freelance
STATEMENT: Dear Fellow USTWA Members,
I am running for a position on the USTWA Board of Directors. The USTWA and our profession are facing new challenges entering the second decade of the 21st century. I believe I can help our 71-year-old organization meet these challenges.
I have been a member since 1979 and have worked as a freelance contributor to U.S. and foreign publications. During the past eight months, I have been actively involved in the USTWA. I created a “Historical Directory of USTWA Members” section and a “Tennis Books by USTWA Members” section for our growing Web site. While on the Membership Committee, I played a significant role in increasing the membership which is now 95, its highest total since 2004.
Last December I sent a memo to our officers with eight suggestions to improve the USTWA. I have worked hard on them, and continue to do so, some individually and others by collaborating with the officers. If elected, I will work to initiate the following:
* Many writing associations and organizations have Web site sections for employers seeking freelance writers. The USTWA has fulltime freelancers and newspaper and magazine staffers who would want to do freelance work on the side. Writers, photographers and publicity directors will benefit from a “Job Service” section on our Web site. Gaining more assignments for more USTWA members is an important and worthy goal.
* USTWA members are doers and achievers. A “Member News” section that is updated monthly or bi-weekly, would acknowledge and record that. News would be solicited from the members, and we would include additional news as we become aware of it. This section would include A) news about position changes and promotions at newspapers and magazines B) new members with introductions by or about them C) achievements, such as authoring new books, receiving awards, etc. D) member activities, such as being a guest speaker at an organization meeting, convention, seminar, etc. E) personal happenings, such as weddings, births, deaths, people leaving the field, retirements, etc.
* A section of the Web site should cover the achievements of the USTWA over the years to enlighten and inspire members and visitors. I am attempting to acquire copies of the annual USTWA Membership Guides prior to 1979. The information will help me contact members from earlier eras. This section, or perhaps another section, would chronicle our advocacy achievements, such taking a strong and successful public stand − we voted 88 to 1 − that helped uphold and save the traditional concept of the Grand Slam in 1984. The home page of the Web site of the International Tennis Writers’ Association is advocacy-minded. One role of professional organizations is to take a principled stand on critical issues.
During the past eight months I have worked closely and effectively with our board members, as well as former officers Pete Francesconi and Bob Larson, on a variety of issues. Jim Martz and I co-wrote a column titled “An Open Letter about Regional Tennis Magazines” that appeared in the July 2009 Racquet Sports Industry. We strongly believe supporting and saving regional tennis magazines is consistent with the goals of the USTWA and will greatly help American tennis.
As a board member, I would also welcome informed and enthusiastic discussion and input from our officers and members. I recommend a PDV approach: proposals, debate, and a vote among the officers for all important issues. That procedure would ensure our gaining the best possible expertise, a diversity of viewpoints, and a democratic means of resolving differences.
Ann LoPrinzi, Mark Winters, Cheryl Jones, and Jim Martz, along with former officers Bob Larson, Donna Doherty and Bud Collins, plus Bruce Jenkins support my candidacy. Please give me your support in the coming election. Together, we can make the USTWA, our important profession and our great sport even more successful. With best wishes, Paul Fein
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Ann LoPrinzi
Freelance, Trenton Times
STATEMENT: When I was first elected to the USTWA board three years ago, I felt I could represent that segment of the media that mainly covers local and recreational tennis, as that’s what I’ve been doing for some 21 years as the weekly tennis columnist for the Trenton Times. In these three years, among other things, I have worked on our membership directory, served on a very active membership committee, re-instituted the US Open Media Tournament, helped to judge the new collegiate tennis writing contest, contributed my expertise to the launching of a new Web site, and participated in brainstorming sessions with fellow board members. In addition, I have served as Treasurer for the past year. I have come away from these experiences with a great sense of purpose. Many great ideas have been proposed for the future, and I feel a general excitement about the possibilities for the USTWA in these challenging times. I would like to be a part of this and believe I have a lot to offer. Thank you for your support.
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Jim Martz
Florida Tennis magazine
STATEMENT: I would like to continue serving as a vice president of the USTWA to help continue the progress the board has made this past year. I've been on the board for several years and have seen more enthusiasm for improving the organization this year than at any time. As part of the membership committee I helped reach out to several new members who I believe will enhance the USTWA. I was also pleased to support Mark Winters in his efforts to begin the college and sports information directors' writing contest, which I believe was a great success and can become an even greater asset for the USTWA and for tennis journalism.
I am publisher-editor of Florida Tennis magazine, which I founded in 1992. We have won the USTA's national Media Excellence Award. I was the tennis writer for the Miami Herald for 18 years and wrote freelance articles for several magazines. Along with Paul Fein, I co-wrote a column "An Open Letter About Regional Tennis Magazines" in the July issue of Racquet Sports Industry because we strongly believe supporting regional tennis magazines is consistent with the goals of the USTWA and will greatly help tennis in the US.
I believe the USTWA needs continue to improve the web site, such as creating a "job service" sectionfor full-time freelancers and for staff members from newspapers and magazines. I would like to see the USTWA encourage more members to submit entries to the writing contest. And I believe we need to be pro active in encouraging sports departments of newspapers to cover more grassroots tennis, the backbone of the sport.
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Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner
STATEMENT: As a sports columnist who has covered virtually everything -- and I mean everything from gymnastics to downhill ski racing, as well as dozens of Rose Bowls, Masters golf tournaments, Super Bowlsand Wimbledons -- I believe Ihave an unusualperspective on our business. I recently (2005-2007) served as president of the Golf Writers Association of America, another organization involved in a sport which, except at rare times, as tennis, must fight for space in the papers and on the internet. I also understand the need to protect what rights we may have as journalists. The battle for access never ends. If I can be of service to the USTWA I will be happy to accept any position those in the organization would like me to fill. Thanks, Art Spander
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Tom Kosinski
Sports Central
STATEMENT: "For the better part of the past century the USTWA has set the standard for tennis and sports journalism, and most of the greatest sports writers of all time have passed through its membership. I cannot forget the excitement of the day I was granted membership in the USTWA. I also will never forget standing in the company of my peers, including the legendary Bud Collins, for the first time. At that moment I was humbled, realizing that while I was now part of an amazing organization I also had an incredible legacy to live up to.
I came to the tennis writing profession after being a junior and high school tennis player, a high school and college tennis coach and also as an employee of two tennis racquet manufacturers. I hold memberships in the USTA, USRSA along with the USTWA.
I am one of the first "new media" sports journalists, and maybe one of the first exclusively internet based tennis writers. While the USTWA was founded on print journalism, the advent of electronic and social
media has opened new doors for many yet built walls for many too. My experience in writing for online magazines, websites and blogs gives me a unique perspective on the use and power of the medium for tennis writers. I would like to expand the reach of the USTWA through each and every new media development, to include Facebook, Twitter, Google Wave, even through an iPhone App.
I look forward to creating more avenues for our membership to contribute content and get compensated fairly for it. I want to ensure equal consideration for internet based writers with those of the now
dwindling print media, especially for increased credentialing. Without access none of us can really do our jobs well.
I see a bright future for the USTWA. I see the USTWA becoming the preeminent sports journalism organization, the leader in professional internet and social media and the one professional association that all future sports writers and publications look to as the best and most professional."