President's Message
By Alan Capper

September 2006

Welcome back to all members, after the summer break. Although traditionally a quiet time, we had two great events over the summer. The first was afternoon tea and a briefing from the general manger of one of New York's most famous and oldest hotels, the Algonquin. Close to Times Square, in the 1920's and 1930's the Algonquin was at the heart of New York's theatrical, cultural, and literary activities.

The famous Algonquin Round Table which featured Dorothy Parker, George S. Kaufman and Robert Benchley, produced sparkling conversation and a great deal of literature in the decade of its greatness. Other regular visitors to the hotel included Douglas Fairbanks, John Barrymore and H.L. Mencken.

50 members of the FPA were treated to a spectacular English style afternoon tea and a tour of the hotel by its general manager. The tour included the Round Table and the magnificent Oak Room, one of the hottest cabaret spots in the city then and now. It was an opportunity to have an inside view of a great New York institution and to appreciate another aspect of New York life and history.

Another event over the summer was a tour of New York Harbor through the courtesy of New York Water Taxis. Their senior management accompanied over 60 of our members on a two hour long trip around the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Lower Manhattan and the East River. An interesting halt was made at Hunter's Point at the New Long Island City beach. Built and managed by New York Water Taxis. It was a wonderful sensation watching the sun set over Manhattan with your feet on the sand and a cold beer and hot dog in your hands. We were very grateful to New York Water Taxis for the experience and for the opportunity of having yet another view of New York, this time from the water.

In late summer, our director Suzanne Adams underwent major surgery and has recovered well and is now having physical therapy. She remained active working from a laptop in bed in her apartment after the operation and has now made a welcome return back to the office. I am sure members will join me in thanking her for her complete dedication to the FPA and our members.

The fifth anniversary of 9/11 doubtless kept many of you occupied reporting the events of the day and the general mood in New York City. For those of us who were there on 9/11/2001 the memories were as fresh as ever, at the same time increasingly distant in time. For once, the cliché “our world was changed forever that day” is highly appropriate. This is particularly important at a time when international opinion is running against the United States, the war in Iraq and other matters arising post 9/11. From foreign journalists perspective a great deal was demanded of us on the day and our own perspectives on how much life in the United States has changed since then.

For myself, my first broadcast was at 2:30 am that morning to coincide with the breakfast show in London, and my last broadcast at 9:00 pm that evening. Just before I went to bed, I looked at the twin beams of light soaring over the city, and wondered if these anniversaries will ever become less poignant.

Now fall is upon us and a full program of activities is in front of us and I look forward to meeting with you at as many of these events as you can attend, including the next “First Wednesday” gathering which will be scheduled for October 4, 2006.

I hope that you continue to enjoy your professional assignments in this magnificent city.