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September 20, 2007
A Letter from the President
Dear Fellow Editorial Cartoonists / Animators / Bloggers / Podcasters / Videographers,
Etc.,
As my presidency comes to an end, I have one thing to say: The SURGE is working! At least that's what General Clay Bennett says. Frankly, if it isn't working, then it will be the next president's problem (good luck, Nick!)
By "surge" I mean that we had a good bump in AAEC membership this past year. Forty new members at last count. This was due, in large part, to the "membership forgiveness" policy and the heroic efforts of Ted Rall and Mikhaela Reid to encourage alternative cartoonists to join. It probably didn't hurt that it was also our 50th anniversary.
The people on the ground in DC report that the convention was a great success (mission accomplished.) Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible. In particular, big thanks to JP and Cullum for their hard work on the Golden Notebook, Elissa for putting up with my panicked phone calls, Matt Wuerker and Cindy Procious for their beautiful caricatures, and all the panelists and moderators. The highlights for me are too many to list in this letter, but here are a few:
- Having a chance to honor Founding Fathers Hy Rosen, Jim Ivy and Jim Lange.
- Hearing Dana Priest and Helen Thomas praise the efforts of editorial cartoonists.
- Seeing the Bush Leaguers exhibit hanging at the American University Museum.
- Listening to Mark Shields' "I Believe" speech.
- Meeting Dennis Kucinich's wife.
One thing has become very clear to me in this, our fiftieth year. We can no longer ignore the truth. Newspaper journalism seems to be failing faster than Britney Spears at the MTV Video Music Awards. Editorial cartoonists, unfortunately, are Britney's poor children riding along without being strapped in properly. We are in for a tough future filled with abandonment issues, therapy and substance abuse (that pretty much describes our annual conventions.) But there is life after rehab and that's what we need to focus on. How do we reinvent ourselves? How do we hold on to our fan base? How do we keep from getting fat and lazy and going on stage in an unflattering leather bikini?
The point is, drastic times call for drastic measures and that is how we, the members of the AAEC, need to think in order to survive as an organization. That is why I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of our panel called "Future Of Editorial Cartooning: A Town Hall Meeting." In my pre-convention panic, I envisioned this turning into an episode of The Jerry Springer Show with the requisite free-for-all of cursing and airborne chairs. None of that happened. It was an incredibly cathartic experience with a healthy debate and positive suggestions. We ended up with some realistic goals to work on to help stave off job losses and raise the profile of editorial cartooning. Some of the concrete goals included conducting a survey to show that editorial cartoons are one of the most-read parts of newspapers, planning more public events like "Cartoonapalooza" to raise money for AAEC education and publicity efforts, and trying to increase the low prices many syndicates charge and many newspapers pay for editorial cartoons. Kudos to Paul Fell, Milt Priggee, Ted Rall and Clay Bennett (with encouragement from Wiley Miller) for organizing this event.
It has been an honor to serve as your president during this golden year. I care deeply about the future and continued vitality of this organization. The AAEC has become my second family and the annual conventions a true place of refuge for me.
Whether you know it or not, you all helped me get through a very challenging year. In July of 2006, right before taking over at the helm of the AAEC, I lost my sister Linda to a six-year battle with breast cancer. Some of you knew her. She attended the Colorado Springs convention and loved editorial cartoons and enjoyed hanging out with the cartoonists. She was my best friend for most of my life. In planning the convention I was reminded of all the other friends I have out there. I wouldn't have made it through without the support of my AAEC family. Thanks for being there.
Now it's time
to give someone else a turn at this executive office thing. I look forward
to seeing what incoming president Nick Anderson and host John Branch have in
store for us in San Antonio next year. As for me, it's been real, but now it's
time for me to go make some money and replenish the ol' coffers. Stay the course!
Sincerely,
Rob Rogers
AAEC President, 2006-07
Generalissimo Rogers
by Ted Rall