Help!

 

A little while ago, I posted to The ABA Blog a three-part, behind-the-scenes look at the three feature articles in the September 2011 Birding. (Check it out here, here, and here.)

The comments—36 thus far—have been highly gratifying: thoughtful, intelligent, and indeed influential. Yes, influential. Based on some of the great feedback, we’ve tweaked a few things for the upcoming vol. 44 (2011) of Birding.

But, folks, I got a problem.

All of a sudden, y’all stopped writing letters to the editor! I totally get the immediacy of the e-medium. I’m all for it, and I’m delighted that Birding enjoys a strong online presence these days.

But come on, people, I haven’t received a single letter to the editor since I posted here about the September 2011 issue.

Does it seem like I’m groveling on my hands and knees? Guilty as charged.

But there’s something else.

I’d like to state here that I consider letters to the editor to be one of the high points of each issue of Birding. They’re great fun. And they’re important. We call them “Your Letters.” They’re all about you. Your agenda, your ideas and input, your vision for our American Birding Association.

I keep saying it, and I’ll keep on saying it: Our overarching goal, our “prime directive,” for Birding is that it serve as a mouthpiece for the American birding community.

And “Your Letters” is an especially authentic and compelling venue for achieving that goal.

What to write about? Anything! Many letters are responses to recently published articles. But many others are “occasional” contributions—pretty much whatever’s on a member’s mind. Got a question about listing rules? Want to share an insight about reaching out to young birders? Bring it on! Have something to say about politics? Great. Why, we’ll even run your letter about cats. Seriously.

(Oh. I should note that “Your Letters” do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the American Birding Association. Duh. But it’s worth putting that out there every now and then.)

Again, I’m groveling. But, again, there’s something bigger going on here. “Your Letters” are important. And they’re so fun.

Bring ’em on!

P.S. Please send the letters to me via e-mail: tfloyd@aba.org. Don’t post them here.

P.P.S. In your subject line, please type LETTER TO THE EDITOR, just like that, all caps. Thanks!