NPPA leadership void

I’m note sure if its the state of the industry today or an NPPA leadership issue but it seems the organization is having problems filling its leadership positions.

Elections are supposed to be taking place now in its even number regions. Region 2 and 4 voting is now underway through Jan 17 although the Region 4 election is uncontested.

Chris Howell, who is a senior photographer at the Herald-Times in Bloomington, Indiana is running for director. There is no biographical information available on the NPPA Web site for David Couch who is running for associate director. Regions 6, 8 and 10 are still seeking candidates and voting can’t begin until there is someone nominated to put on the ballot.

Region 4 is currently headed by Denny Simmons from the Evansville Courier & Press with Rodney Paul Curtis from the Detroit Free Press serving as associate director. Earlier this year Simmons was appointed the new NPPA Monthly News Clip Contest national chairperson.

NPPA leadership has taken its share of criticism over the years, but it like ONPA, is run by volunteers. Without them these organizations don’t work. We seemed to be blessed in Ohio with people seemingly always willing to give of their time to serve our members. It seems NPPA has some work to do in this area.