The Fall Forum in Washington, D.C., on November 12-13, 2009, will provide one of the first opportunities to hear from the new leadership in the U.S. and from senior international enforcers. The Fall Forum will feature a keynote address by Chairman Leibowitz, as well as presentations by many other US and international enforcers and a panel of key Congressional staff on the upcoming legislative agenda led by U.S. Sentencing Commission member Beryl A. Howell, who formerly was General Counsel to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The Fall Forum is a must-attend program for antitrust lawyers seeking to keep abreast of the latest developments and the latest thinking on key issues facing their clients. We hope you will join us in Washington for this special event. More Info...

The National Arts Program for the encouragement and development of artistic talent in conjunction with the Events Committee will hold its 3rd Annual Exhibit and Awards for National Press Club members, employees, and their families. It will be held this year in the lobby from November 9 - 20 each day the club is open. Prizes will be awarded for the three adult classifications of amateur, intermediate, and professional as well as the two youth/teen classifications of youth under 12 and teen 13-18. The cash prizes for each classification range from $300 for adult first place to $100 for third place, and comparatively $75 for first and $25 for third in the youth/teen classifications. Applications can be picked up at the front desk, at the Reliable Source, or online by visiting the online calendar on the date November 9th at www.press.org. Registration deadline for participants is October 30th by the close of business. Artwork is to be submitted on November 6th at the front desk from 8am until 9pm or on Saturday, November 7th from 10am and 1pm. Rules and regulations can be found on the application or at www.nationalartsprogram.org. Completed applications can be hand delivered to the front desk at the National Press Club or mailed using the integrated mailer on the application. The program was brought to the club in 2007 by Silver Owl and founder of the National Arts Program Leonard Andrews. Mr. Andrews passed away in 2008 and the club is pleased to continue his legacy through the participation in the National Arts Program. Click HERE to see the registration form and rules

This event is sold out.     Chick-fil-A Inc. Founder/Chairman Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A President/CEO Dan Cathy will address a National Press Club Speakers Series luncheon on November 13.

The father and son team will discuss their company's unprecedented sales growth despite a struggling economy and their recipe for success, hospitality and customer service.

Recognized for its "Eat Mor Chickin" ad campaign, Chick-fil-A is credited with inventing the first fast-food chicken sandwich. The company has more than 1,400 restaurants and last year reported nearly $3 billion in system-wide sales. The privately-held restaurant chain has been ranked among the top 25 Customer Service Champs and was the highest-rated quick-service chain in the South.

The luncheon starts at 12:30. Remarks begin promptly at 1 p.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. 

Thomas Friedman, the ground-breaking New York Times foreign affairs columnist and author, will receive the 2009 Fourth Estate Award, the National Press Club's highest honor.

The award is bestowed annually to an individual who has achieved distinction for a lifetime of contributions to American journalism.  And that’s just what Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and author of best-selling books such as “Flat, Hot and Crowded,” has done, said Donna Leinwand, NPC president.

“Tom Friedman has a passion for journalism that shows in his reporting and writing,” Leinwand said. “He has traveled thousands of miles and asked thousands of questions to bring us balanced and smart stories from around the world."

Friedman joined the New York Times as a financial reporter in 1981.  A year later, he covered the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, winning his first Pulitzer for his work. Friedman also won a Pulitzer for his coverage of the first Palestinian intifada before becoming a Times columnist in 1995.

He won his third Pulitzer, for commentary, in 2002, as the Pulitzer board honored him for "for his clarity of vision, based on extensive reporting, in commenting on the worldwide impact of the terrorist threat."

In addition, through books such as “The Lexus and the Olive Tree” and “The World Is Flat,” Friedman changed the way his readers view the world, Leinwand said.

“Tom Friedman has taken his readers along on hundreds of journeys,” she said. “He explains complex political and economic events with clarity and grace.”

The Club will honor Friedman, the 37th winner of the Fourth Estate Award,  with a gala dinner on Friday, Nov. 13. Tickets can be purchased by calling (202) 662-7501.

For members, tickets are $95 for the general reception and dinner, or $150 for the deluxe package, which includes admittance to the VIP reception, a gift bag and dinner. Members can also buy one guest ticket at the member price.

For non-members, tickets are $150 for the general reception and dinner, or $200 for the deluxe package, which includes admittance to the VIP reception, a gift bag and dinner.

Proceeds will benefit the Club’s Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library and its training programs.