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It’s a new year (thank God!) |
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Written by Mike Beacom
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Last year was the most challenging of all the years I’ve been part of the FSWA. We were forced to rebuild our website and were shorthanded for half the year. We still made progress – we switched to a new member database system, improved our user-based awards process, and welcomed our second class to the Hall of Fame.
Still, I say good riddance to 2011 …
Last week in Las Vegas, FSWA leaders discussed the next steps for our organization. I always outline priorities in December, then run those ideas by board members in January. Our recent meeting suggest we’ll have a productive year.
Here are five FSWA’s priorities for 2012 …
1. Finish building the user profile tool
Soon, members will be able to edit their profiles on our site. This will solve affiliation problems and allow for better member-to-member communication. There are a few more perks to this we’re excited to announce once the technology is ready./ Stay tuned!
2. Explore new annual writing awards
An award for the best non-baseball or football publication? There seems to be a demand for this from basketball and hockey publishers. It’s one of a few awards we’ll explore this summer.
3. Enhance our end-of-season player awards
FSWA leadership is developing relationships and technology that will make voting easier and bring more attention to our annual awards for football, baseball and basketball. This year we may add hockey.
4. Revisit our mentor program
New members have shown an interest in connecting with industry leaders to gain valuable feedback on how to advance their careers. We plan to re-tool the program we launched last year with a few new offerings to make it easier for members and mentors to connect.
5. Advance social media
Thanks to the help of Secretary Michael Naclerio, we have built up our presence on Twitter and Facebook this past year. Through these tools we wish to showcase FSWA member articles and ideas. Look for us to take a few more steps in 2012.
There is more we are working on, but these are the five items we’re committed to in 2012. Let us know what else you would like to see us do for you and for the fantasy community.
Best,
Mike Beacom
FSWA President & Chairman
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The makings of a Hall of Famer |
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Written by Mike Beacom
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Tuesday, 01 November 2011 11:23 |
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What makes a Hall of Famer? Many things. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing more than a dozen Pro Football Hall of Famers through the years and walk away impressed every time, often by some identifiable quality – Bart Starr’s attention to detail, the cool stylings of Tony Dorsett, Willie Lanier’s loyalty.
What makes a FSWA Hall of Famer? Some of those same qualities.
When I spoke to Greg Kellogg this week he said again how fortunate he felt to be included in last year’s inaugural class. “I was surprised to be a finalist,” he admitted. “There were guys I felt were far more deserving.” I can only guess that what voters found so impressive about Kellogg’s nomination form last year was his unselfish nature – for many years he has worked to help others, often putting their interests ahead of his own. That’s a Hall of Famer.
I’m excited to shake hands with the next class of FSWA Hall of Famers this January at the FSTA’s 2012 Winter Conference. I expect we will welcome a half dozen or so inductees at the event, all of them men of great character, just like Kellogg.
After emailing all of the finalists a message congratulating them on making it to the finalist round I received notes back from several, thanking the FSWA for the “honor” and expressing disbelief as to how they made it into the group of 15 – all things one would expect a Hall of Famer to say. |
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