Good day. Hopefully your year is off to a great start; it’s hard to believe we’re already almost a quarter of the way into 2022. The Kentucky Derby is fast approaching – only about five weeks to go – along with the next NTWAB Business Meeting. Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 4 for this year’s Derby Week meeting.

We’ll finalize an agenda and meeting time as we get closer and will most likely again offer a virtual option for members interested in participating without being in Louisville. That option seemed to work last year at the Derby meeting and at the Breeders’ Cup Week meeting.

Attached here you will find the spreadsheet detailing the first-place votes of NTWAB members in good standing for the 2021 Eclipse Awards. The officers and board of directors appreciate everyone that took the time to vote. Greg Hall and I will be meeting soon with the Eclipse Awards Steering Committee to discuss this year’s event, voting procedures and any other issues that popped up during the awards season.

Since we’re in an even-year, the full slate of officers and three director positions will be elected for 2-year terms at the Derby meeting. All members in good standing are eligible for these positions, which serve the racing media in a variety of ways.

The positions with expiring terms in 2022 (and current officer/director) are:
President (Tom Law)
Vice President (Greg Hall)
Treasurer (Dick Downey)
Secretary (Jessie Oswald)
Director (Frank Angst)
Director (Nicole Russo)
Director (Tim Wilkin)

The terms of directors Scott Hazelton, Marty McGee and Natalie Voss will not expire until the 2023 Derby meeting.

It is with regret to inform the membership that Jessie Oswald has indicated she will not seek another term as secretary. Jessie has served the organization for eight years, through several sets of leadership, and the organization has been very fortunate to have someone as professional, accurate, thorough and organized on board all this time. Jessie will be extremely missed. If you’re interested in being considered for the secretary position, please let us know and reach out to Jessie with any questions you might have regarding the secretary’s responsibilities.

Please send along any suggestions for individuals to serve in the officer or director positions. Formal nominations and the election will be conducted at the May 4 meeting.

Finally, former NTWAB President Alicia Hughes passed along the following information regarding a journalistic fellowship with a paid master’s degree and full-time job opportunity that Advance Local Media is conducting with Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Click here to read more about the program and opportunity.

I’ll be in touch again in advance of the May 4 meeting. Have a great spring. See you soon,

Tom Law
NTWAB President