Membership meeting: President Fitzgerald Kodjak stresses NPC's strong finances, overall great results

National Press Club President Alison Fitzgerald Kodjak stressed the Club's “strong finances” at a General Membership Meeting held at the Club's Fourth Estate restaurant Friday, commending the Club’s overall results during the first three months of 2019.

“That is really great news,” she said, adding the Club is continuing the process of implementing the physical plan to upgrade facilities as well as attracting new members, some of whom are recognized leaders in journalism nationwide.

Treasurer Peter Urban said the first quarter has shown that the Club is in “good shape,” adding that it has $5 million in cash in reserves and long term "Rockwell" investments that stand now at almost $8 million. The Club continues to carry zero debt.

“Going into the future, things are looking good,” he said.

Talking to an interactive audience, Kodjak laid out the projects Club leadership is working on. She mentioned the strategic plan spearheaded by Vice President, Michael Freedman, the redesign of the the website that is well underway, as well as the membership reorganization. She announced that the Club is looking to hire a full-time membership director.

Participating via audio recording, Membership Secretary Eileen Drage O’Reilly, said the Club has brought in 256 new members this year, hitting the 3,000- member threshold. She commended the efforts of the Club staff, under the leadership of Executive Director Bill McCarren as well as board members who have gone out of their way to bring in colleagues from their respective organizations, such as the Los Angeles Times, Axios and NPR.

Freedman shared with the audience via audio an update of the Club’s strategic planning process. Kodjak had asked him to chair a strategic planning team comprised of board members Emily Wilkins, Lisa Matthews, Fouad Arif, Lindsay Law Murphy and Andrea Snyder Edney.

“We are now preparing to launch our membership-wide outreach to solicit more ideas,” Freedman said. In coming weeks, Club members will receive a message from Kodjak with details of a membership survey to be conducted by Hudson Pacific, a national opinion research firm.

The research will include an online survey,telephone interviews and face-to-face focus groups regarding members' thoughts on the Club's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges. The results, Freedman said, will inform the strategic planning process throughout the spring and the summer.

“We hope to bring a new five-year strategic plan to the general membership for a vote this fall,” Freedman said.

This process is designed to review, enforce and update as appropriate the Club’s mission, vision and goals. It also aims to establish a road map to ensure the long term sustainability of the Club, he said.