From President Thomas Burr: A message to members on security changes at Club

Fellow members,

I'm writing to explain some changes you will soon see at the National Press Club that will make our members, our staff, our guests and our facility more safe and secure.

As we've seen in recent times, attacks on journalists have escalated, as have threats against our profession. We've seen too many tragic incidents, from the deadly shooting last year at Charlie Hebdo to journalists targeted internationally for practicing the cause of journalism. That's not to mention other mass shootings that have killed scores in American cities.

The National Press Club, as the world's leading professional organization for journalists, hosts high-profile guests almost weekly and is the home to working journalists and communicators as well as host to thousands of visitors each year. And, it goes without saying, that we care deeply about our dedicated staff who come to work here every day.

With that in mind, the Board of Governors of the National Press Club has voted to renovate our elevator lobby and improve security measures to create a more safe environment. These changes were called for in the 2014 Strategic Plan, built on recommendations by members and passed by our membership. After a thorough review by a Press Club task force, and drawn from recommendations and guidance from police and security consultants, we are now taking action.

Starting soon, we will be removing the current front desk in the 13th floor elevator lobby and replacing it with another, more high-tech desk underneath the stairs in our main lobby. The resulting entrance will continue to have the feel and look of our historic Press Club while also updating our needs in this century.

Later, the Club will install what I would term turnstiles – similar to those found in the lobby of The Washington Post or on the campus of George Washington University – which will allow members and guests to enter our facility but halt those who are not supposed to be here. This protects the value of your membership because this is, after all, your Club. Members will be issued key fobs for access and guests will be offered single-use codes that can be printed off or scanned on a smartphone.

Gone is the day that one could wander into the Capitol without a pass, let alone visit a friend at a residential building without being buzzed in or escorted. Any gym in town will ask you to prove your identity before you hit the treadmill. As we've all seen, most commercial buildings in Washington require some sort of step before access is granted. We will be no different.

We live in a much different age than when the National Press Club was founded in 1908, and we must adapt as needed. These renovations are aimed at making us all safer, and that's something I think we can all agree is a worthy goal.

Best,

Thomas Burr
National Press Club President