CSCMA enters its ninety first year in 2008. We thank all who have supported us over the many years on our journey towards the century mark of serving circulation executives associated with the many newspapers in the central states area and inspiring and challenging them to be the best.

While the traditional newspaper model has been evolving at a rapid rate over the past years it's probably fair to say that most of us have experienced more change in the past five years than perhaps at any time in our careers. More and better technological and innovative methods have been tried and proven to help us improve and define our products.

As I've repeated often in my messages…change is not to be feared, but rather embraced. To quote- the competition is so keen today that if a company stands still for one year, changeless in a changing world, it may never again be able to catch up with the competition- - James Cash Penney

In the maelstrom of change, the Central States Circulation Managers' Association realizes the importance and responsibility of the role our sectional plays. It is most important that we explore partnering with other sectionals and with our national organization - the Newspaper Association of America to insure we live up to our purpose to establish a forum for circulation executives to freely discuss best practices and share concerns for future successes of newspapers.

CSCMA is prepared in 2008 and beyond to serve in the role of continuing the purpose of sharing cutting edge new visions and developing the networking newspapers need to sustain solid, viable businesses as we experiment and evolve around new models for our product to provide a media platform that advertisers and the general population trust and value.

TRAINING
Plans are underway this year for 4 training sessions in 4 different states: Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan & Wisconsin. Be sure to check Training/Events and Newsletter links on our web page for more information and the registration forms for these future training seminars. These sessions are available to CSCMA members for FREE.

MEMBERSHIP
If you are not currently a member, I invite you to join our organization today. If you are a member, do you have any new employees at your paper who are interested but not yet members? Just click on the green membership application link on the right side of our home page to start the process right away or contact Rick Bell directly at rbell@desmoinegannett.com for more information. Remember, we provide a network of professional people for you to communicate with to get answers on how to solve challenging problems that you must overcome as a circulator for your newspaper.

Plan to attend our 91st Annual Marketing Conference, April 27-29, 2008
-Winds of Change: Adapt - React - Succeed-

Our 2008 conference will be held at The Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, Illinois, April 27-29. It is a wonderful facility offering excellent room rates, well appointed, spacious guest rooms featuring -heavenly beds-, excellent speaker and vendor areas and fine food at the hotel restaurant with quite a few neighboring restaurants. To check out the facilities and/or make room reservations go to this web site www.westin.com/chicagonorthshore. Be sure to plan to attend and/or send some of your staff as there will be many topical subjects presented offering solutions for you to bring back to your papers.

On behalf of all the Board of Directors of CSCMA I wish to thank you for your continued support of our great organization and I hope to see you at The Westin in April.

Tom Bunch
CSCMA President
815.431.4061
tomb@mywebtimes.com