A letter from RRA President Thomas Burr, following the annual meeting:

Fellow regionals,

At a general membership meeting today at the National Press Club, your entire slate of Regional Reporters Association officers and board members were re-elected to serve another term. A list of those elected by acclamation is below.

I am again humbled by your support to serve for one more term as president of the group and hope that we can do all we can to help boost opportunities for regional Washington correspondents and promote our important work to the masses.

As you well know, it’s a difficult time for us correspondents given the economic downturn and the industry troubles. But as you also are aware, no one in this town can sift through and dig out hometown news better than those of us regional correspondents working the halls of Congress and pressing officials from departments, agencies and the White House.

As always, please feel free to suggest ideas or offer suggestions on how RRA can help you as a regional correspondent.

Best, Thomas

Officers

President:Thomas Burr, Salt Lake Tribune
Vice President:Joe Morton, Omaha World Herald
Secretary: Lisa Mascaro, Las Vegas Sun
Treasurer: Malia Rulon, Gannett News Service

At-large directors

Alex Daniels, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Todd Gillman, Dallas Morning News
Michael Coleman, Albuquerque Journal
Bart Sullivan, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Jessica Wehrman, Dayton Daily News
Paul Merrion, Crain’s Chicago Business
Josh Drobnyk, Allentown Morning Call
Keith Chu, Western Communications Newspapers (Oregon, Calif.)
Herb Jackson, The Record ( Bergen County, N.J.)

About the RRA: The organization was formed in 1988 by Washington-based regional reporters who found they could help each other without compromising competition and who had more success asking to interview a high-ranking administration official as a group than they did individually. The group currently has nearly 50 paid members, who represent papers from Detroit to Houston and from St. Petersburg to San Jose and many major cities in between.

Another quick reminder of the general board meeting and elections today at noon at the National Press Club. Please join us if you can. Free appetizers for those who can make it.

General membership meeting and board and officer elections:
Today, Monday, June 22
Noon
National Press Club, Mezzanine, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, DC

The following positions are up for election:
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and nine board of directors spots.

Please feel free to nominate yourself or another member by emailing president@rra.org. Nominations also will be accepted at the general meeting.

In accordance with our bylaws, members who have paid 2009 dues will be eligible to run for office and vote. You must be in attendance to vote. No proxy votes are allowed. Uncontested races will be voted on by a raise of hands or voice vote; contested races will be resolved by secret ballot.

Please feel free to email with any questions.