Year End Message from Thomas Burr

Happy New Year to all of our members! As my time as president winds down, I wanted to thank all of you for helping the National Press Club continue to live up to its reputation as the world's leading professional organization for journalists.

There was no shortage of news this year, and the Club maintained its much-needed voice to defend press freedom in the United States, especially during a challenging election, and around the world.

A few highlights of our success this year include:

• A major renovation of our lobby – including soon-to-be-installed security gates -- to protect our clubhouse and the hiring of a director of security and a new camera system on the 13th floor;


• An update to the Truman Lounge and a new bar floor;


• The long-term investment of $6 million from the Rockwell painting and 2nd Century Fund for our future needs;


• Nearly 30 press freedom organizations signing on to our letter to President-elect Trump calling for a White House Press pool; continued monitoring of deteriorating press freedom conditions in Turkey and elsewhere;


• The re-alignment of our Membership Department and a new director of membership engagement;


• An increase in the number of paid members and improved outreach to potential members;


• A profitable business, with nearly $4 million in reserves and zero debt;


• Newsmaking events, including speakers such as venture capitalist Peter Theil; basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; the secretaries of Commerce, Labor, the Navy; and the CEO of MGM;


• Popular celebrations, including a welcome home event for The Washington Post's Jason Rezaian, a Fourth Estate award dinner with CNN's Wolf Blitzer and a widely attended Spelling Bee between journalists and members of Congress (where the journalists won!);


• A trademark for our oft-used, self-descriptive phrase: "The World's Leading Professional Organization for Journalists."

These impressive accomplishments would not have been possible without the support and efforts of you, our members. It has truly been a privilege to serve you this year.

Our recent election will leave the Club in good hands with incoming president, Jeff Ballou, and a great team of officers and board members. I hope to see all of you at the Club's annual Inaugural Gala on Jan. 14, 2017.

In the meantime, please use these last few weeks of 2016 to take a moment to ensure our membership office has your correct information on file. If you moved, changed jobs, got a new credit card, switched emails, shuffled beats or have any other changes we should know about, please contact [email protected]. We want to ensure your membership stays up to date as we begin the new year and that your renewal process goes smoothly.

Also, check your profile in the online membership directory: http://www.press.org/membership/directory

This not only helps members get to know each other but the staff uses this to help make decisions on head table seats for upcoming luncheons and make sure you get details on events we think might be of interest.

Our membership is strong, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Your grateful 109th president,

Thomas Burr