By Kathy Tretter

Greetings fellow HSPAers. I hope life is going beautifully for you, ad sales are up, readers love what you’re giving them and no legislators are gunning for your paper.

I know it’s a struggle because it’s a struggle for all of us in this fractured media climate. We used to be the kings and queens. Now we’re more often paupers in the ad game and the last one to the table since all traditional media seems to be getting a bad rap.

Please let me introduce myself. My name is Kathy Tretter, I publish two community newspapers about as far south as you can go in Indiana, and right now I am president of the HSPA Foundation.
Except for that last bit I am a total peon. While the title may give me some cachet, being HSPA Foundation president is an unpaid gig that comes with no glory.

So why do I do it? Why do I stay involved with HSPA on either the association or foundation side?

Because being part of an organization where everyone else understands exactly what you are going through can provide resources beyond measure and friendships that will span a lifetime.
I’m living proof of that. I’ve been a member of HSPA for about 36 years now and some of my dearest friends are fellow editors, publishers and reporters met through the association.

It makes it much easier when faced with a situation only a fellow journalist understands. You are my tribe!

I was on the association board for years with a break before joining the foundation. The lessons learned, ideas shared and friendships made over the decades are probably, at least in part, why my two newspapers are still in business.

I know, I know, you are too busy just holding down the fort at your newspaper to get involved.

I’ve heard that one before, sometimes from people in the biz. But to be honest not being involved may be to your detriment. Sometimes we get so busy looking at the next task we can forget the big picture and lose sight of the end goal.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of membership, or just want to talk shop, don’t hesitate to reach out. My office number is 812-367-2041. Let’s all work together to make our industry the best it can possibly be.