Are sport-specific writers associations worth it?

Discounts. Some of them pretty hefty, too. As I mentioned earlier on this thread, I'd probably be staying in Jersey on my upcoming trip to NYC without it.

 

Let me add this -- and I'm the incoming president of the National Motorsports Press Association -- there can be value to such associations. I'm working to provide more for our members.

Certainly, any association can serve as a watchdog in dealing with press conditions and league issues for their members. Having a group as varied as ours (print, online, radio and TV) provides the opportunity to reach out to different people, do some networking and maybe pick up a few pointers on doing the job.

And yes, the benefits can be nice. I've just gotten us on a program with Hilton that, upon qualifying, can get you rooms for up to 20 percent off. We're also eligible for the Marriott VIP card, which they tell me can get you up to 50 percent off at participating hotels (yes, I know that's a key line). I'm also talking with folks in the car rental industry to see if we can get a reduced rate.

So, for a $35 membership for one year, you could easily make that up in one race weekend with hotel and possible car rental benefits.

Times are tough and travel is going to get cut even more. I'm trying to find ways to help our members afford to travel since that's such a big expense in covering racing, particularly NASCAR.

So, for any of you who cover racing and are interested in joining our organization, please feel free to e-mail me at dustin.long@news-record.com. and I'll send you an application. if your hurry, you're still eligible for our writing contests. Deadline for that is Nov. 24

Hope that helps.

If anyone has any thoughts on what they like about other associations that I might be able to incorporate in the NMPA -- or other ways to help members save money -- please let me know. Thanks.

 

My theory is that it isn't a glitch, it's a matter of whether the hotel does enough biz with visiting sports teams ... the hotels that host a lot of teams tend to have sweet VIP rate deals. If I don't get a good rate with VIP, I try AAA.
But back to the original question, I think the VIP card saves me a lot of money. I'm allowed to expense the PFWA membership, by the way. Even if you can't do that, you ought to remember the membership cost at tax time, if you itemize.
And I think it's worth being part of the organization, getting the e-mail newsletter ... it's part of keeping up with what's going on in the sport. A small part, but a part, I think.

 

I've saved thousands with the VIP card; some of it benefited my company, and some benefited me.
One more nice thing about it: the bosses do not worry that you're staying at Marriotts and piling up points when the rates provided by the VIP card make your stays so inexpensive.

 

ditto on hundreds maybe thousands saved with the vip card. it's not universal and sometimes you have to call back a couple of times to see if the vip rate kicks in (i'm in chicago for the outdoor classic over new year's and initially the vip rate was available only part of the stay but now it's for the whole shot). as for benefits, speaking for the professional hockey writers' association, it's been helpful when we've had issues of dressing room/player access to have a more or less unified voice. i think kevin allen, our president, gets a fair hearing when he calls the league about problems or concerns. moreover, the league has been fairly responsive when we've asked for changes that might help us do our job. it's been helfpul, too, if reporters in one market need help to be able to have the phwa weigh in as a whole.