Leading a national organization like the Society of Professional Journalists is tough work. Hard decisions have to be made. Priorities have to be established and progress monitored. There’s frequent hands-on work to be done, phone calls to make and chapters to visit. Leaders must step back from their own local responsibilities and consider the entire organization and how it can better impact the profession.

The work is challenging, but the rewards are great. SPJ leaders hear from individuals who have been touched by the work of SPJ, see where their decisions have made the profession better, and personally gain better understanding of the issues facing the journalists and the industry.

In the coming months, SPJ will elect new leaders to continue the Society’s work. Terms will begin in the 2005-2006 year, which starts with elections Oct. 16-18 at the SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference in Las Vegas.

These positions will be selected:
* President-elect (one-year term). This person becomes president of SPJ the following year.
* Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs (two-year term)
* Secretary/Treasurer (one-year term)
* Director At Large (two-year term)
* Adviser At Large (two-year term)
* Campus Representatives (Two seats; one-year terms)
* Region 2 Director
* Region 3 Director
* Region 6 Director
* Region 10 Director
* Region 11 Director
* Region 12 Director

To run for the national board, you must be a national SPJ member in good standing, have a demonstrated commitment to SPJ, and provide proof of employer support for your SPJ activities.

To run for president-elect, you must have served previously on the SPJ board of directors or the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation board of directors, as the chair of a national committee, or as a professional chapter president who has been or is a member of a national committee.

All individuals seeking a national board position will be asked to submit a photo, one-page biography and complete a board questionnaire that will be distributed to all voting delegates.

Nominations must be received by July 1. If you are interested in serving or know of potential board or committee members, contact Julie Grimes at SPJ at jgrimes@spj.org or 317/927-8000 ext. 216.