eChaser: September 2011 / p3

Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas update: Judicial Watch labeled a federal judge’s ruling that White House visitor records must be released under the Freedom of Information Act “a major victory for open government and an embarrassing defeat for the Obama administration.” Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit. “This administration will now have to release all records of all visitors to the White House, or explain why White House visits should be kept secret,” the organization said. “It is refreshing to see the court remind this administration that the rule of law applies to it.”

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PEOPLE & PLACES

Drew Myers, business development director for Fort Worth-based marketing agency J.O., has been named a 2011 Community Hero through the Safeco Insurance Agent Giving Program. Myers, one of 14 winners nationwide, was nominated for the award by Brian Hatton, vice president of the English Insurance Group in Dallas. In their name, $2,000 will be donated to the Presbyterian Night Shelter, where Myers volunteers. Over six weeks, he met with kids at one of PNS’s four shelters, and thus emerged “The Giving Back Team,” designed to encourage homeless children to use their situation as a springboard for good. Myers wanted to show that positive things come to those who help others. He worked with the children to renovate a dog park and raise awareness about abandoned and neglected animals. Members of the team were children Myers thought no one else would ask to get involved. Of his friend, Hatton said, “Drew believes in paying it forward and not letting dire circumstances define human worth.” PNS, which dates to 1984, operates 365 days a year and is the community’s only free shelter that has no restriction on length of stay; three of its four shelters are specifically for women and children, veterans and the infirm. ...

Phil Beckman was recently named a partners in education specialist with the Northwest Independent School District. He previously was interim marketing and communications officer for the American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter and prior to that the public information officer for the Burleson ISD. A UTA communication grad, he worked more than 11 years at the Star-Telegram. ...

Balcom Agency has been chosen to develop a new website for Texas FFA. The site, scheduled to launch this month, will serve as an interactive resource for students, parents, teachers, former members and sponsors. The Texas Agricultural Education/Texas FFA Association is based in Austin and boasts the largest state membership in the country — more than 1,100 chapters and nearly 81,000 members statewide.

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GET A JOB

Chesapeake Energy seeks freelance writers to provide editorial content on various projects. Familiarity with the natural gas industry is a plus. E- experience and two writing samples to jennifer.green-pongrattanaman@chk.com. In the subject line, put Freelance Writer.

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Carol Murray, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

Has Greater Fort Worth PRSA really been around 25 years?

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Fort Worth members of the Dallas-based North Texas chapter petitioned the National Assembly for a chapter of their own. But when I recall the events of 1986, it truly seems a lifetime away: Ronald Reagan was president. The space shuttle Challenger disintegrated in the sky. The national newspaper Today was launched. Prince Andrew wed Sarah Ferguson. Corazon Aquino became the first woman president of the Philippines. Pixar Studios opened. Ollie North and the Iran-Contra affair were household words. Bill Buckner became infamous for letting a baseball roll between his feet. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” premiered. And Geraldo Rivera made a big to-do over opening Al Capone’s secret vault, only to find … a bottle of moonshine.

In November we’ll celebrate the chapter’s 25th anniversary and look back at our successes and the many talented, dedicated practitioners who have nurtured our profession in Fort Worth. Following a nice dinner and program, we’ll poke a little fun at ourselves and laugh together with assistance from the improv group Four Day Weekend.

A “save the date” and more information are forthcoming. Meanwhile, mark your calendar for Thursday evening, Nov. 10. Sorry, no moonshine on the menu.

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OVER & OUT

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

Ten years after 9-11, the stories still draw us — dartsocietyreports.org, youtube.com/watch?v=hZEvA8BCoBw — yet we want to turn away. ...

Look for fresh initiatives this fall from chapter president Kim Pewitt-Jones and her board, beginning with the new Diversity Committee — freelance reporter and chair Rebecca Aguilar, Star-Telegram columnist Bob Ray Sanders, Denton Record-Chronicle reporter Britney Tabor Johnson, graphic artist Amber Tafoya and UTA j-lecturer Pewitt-Jones — designed to increase awareness and support of people of color in North Texas media, professionals and students alike, and increase the number of SPJ members who are people of color. SPJ national seeks to promote a broader voice in newsrooms and strengthen news reports through better sourcing. Its Rainbow Sourcebook offers a compilation of experts in this area, primarily women, gays and lesbians, people of color and people with disabilities. ... In addition to Pewitt-Jones, that new board includes Robert Francis, Fort Worth Business Press, VP scholarships and president-elect; Tracy Everbach, UNT, VP programs; Rebecca Bosquez, freelance, VP awards and recognition; Gene Trainor, Star-Telegram, VP membership; Tom Williams, Haynes and Boone, LLP, VP finance; and directors Rebecca Aguilar, freelance; Andrew Chavez, Texas Center for Community Journalism, TCU Schieffer School of Journalism; Mary Gladstone, freelance; Jack Raskopf, TCU Schieffer School of Journalism, retired; and Jason Whitely, WFAA-TV. Forty-one votes were cast, all aye. ...

It’s rare that spjfw.org/legacy is ever fully caught up, but with completion of the last two banquet 2011 pages, I believe it is. Tell your friends. Better, show them.

Caught my eye. Will the anti-science Republicans kill conservatism as Americans know it? … Glen Campbell: One last love song ... Bill McKibben versus the terrifying tar sands. ... Warren Buffett: Stop coddling the super-rich. ... Potential oil spill in Gulf of Mexico has all eyes on BP. ... 11th Circuit Court rules health care mandate unconstitutional. ... Major newspaper chains consolidate editing. ... Federal court enforces penalties for FOI response delays. … Up, up and away into near-space. … Army creates task force for renewable energy projects. ... Flywheel bicycle a boost for pedal-pushers. … Religious freedom declining in most of the world. ... Office Depot will use paper bags to save trees. ... New system could make censorship of Internet sites virtually impossible. … Could the London riots happen in the U.S.? ... German village produces 321 percent more energy than it needs. … Urban farming movement sweeps across Havana, providing 50 percent of fresh food. ... Walmart donates $500,000 to restore urban ecosystems. ... Online Journalism Review: ProPublica’s outreach a welcome step toward open-source journalism. ... Republicans look to kill legal aid. ... ‘Things have changed drastically’ for women and minorities in newsrooms. ... Cyberbullying of teachers on the rise. ... Bothaina Kamel: Egypt’s first female presidential candidate. ... As offshore drilling moves ahead In Arctic, award-winning journalism reminds us of disaster in Gulf. ... Fracking advisory group riddled with financial ties to gas industry. ... Is the Perry/Bush feud a fake? ... Who bankrolls the deficit reduction team? ... Manhattan farm flourishes in milk crates. ... NLRB orders Santa Barbara News-Press to take back fired reporters. ... Talk to Paul Ryan? It’ll cost you. ... Phone hacking: News of the World reporter’s letter reveals cover-up. ...

Closing words: “History in Texas classrooms will be decidedly different from when we were students. I never learned ‘both the positive and negative impacts of ... country and western music’ in my high school history class. Where would you rate Estée Lauder in terms of historical importance to our country? If you think she is one of the 68 most important historical figures, you agree with the board. Yes, the board included her in the state curriculum, but not George Washington.” — Austin high school teacher Craig Studer, on social studies standards adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010