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May 2008
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Something About Helen
Rushing to the airport to pick up Helen Thomas we were worried. Worried about the horrible winds. Worried about an early flight, a late flight, or worse – no flight at all.
Nearly a thousand people were waiting at the Sheraton Ballroom eager to hear the 86-year-old legendary – and feisty – veteran White House reporter.
An elderly Sheraton bellhop consoled us, saying, “Don’t worry, a little wind won’t stop Helen Thomas. In fact a big wind wouldn’t stop Helen. She’ll be here.”
We were early by the clock, but apparently not early enough for Helen who was nowhere to be found.
Agonizing minutes went by. Suddenly she appeared – “Where were you? I thought you all forgot about me?”
As if we ever could.
On this, her third visit to Burlington as a featured speaker in the Vermont Woman lecture series, Helen Thomas was like family. She wanted to know how the paper is faring after three years. She loves journalism and believes, as we do, in the precious nature of independently-owned community media. I told her that her support of our efforts contributed to our success – and she was visibly moved.
At a private luncheon that included former Governors Phil Hoff and Madeleine Kunin, Thomas was asked if she stood by her widely publicized statement: “I am covering the worst president in American history.” She answered, “I did back off and apologize, thinking there is always a chance for improvement – but that has not come about.”
As the longest serving member of the Washington press corps, Thomas has covered nine presidents; traveling the world with most. You can count on her for daring to ask the toughest questions of our presidents and even though she has been bashed by critics, she does not back down.
Our Vermont audience clearly loved Helen, offering standing ovations both coming and going. “You Vermonters are good for my ego. I am not treated quite like this anywhere else,” she said.
Thomas bristles when asked about retiring and remains spunky and agile with an acute mind and a razor sharp wit. But, she always seems to enjoy accepting the proffered arm of an admirer – of which there is no shortage here in Vermont.
One such gent, Mike Donoghue, executive director of the Vermont Press Association, kindly escorted Thomas to the airport, entering the lobby amid shouts of recognition for the journalist as if she were a rock star. And sure enough another fellow, an environmental journalist who’d just attended a conference at the Sheraton, offered to escort her all the way to D.C. We waved goodbye as the diminutive Helen made her way toward the plane arm and arm with yet another admirer.
We thank Helen Thomas for her service to our country. How lucky we are to know her. We are looking forward to inviting Helen back to present the first Vermont Woman Newspaper Scholarship awarded for Excellence in Journalism in 2007.
(From left) Lynn Monty (Contributing Writer), Kit Antinozzi (Account Executive), Jan Doerler (Creative Director), Helen Thomas (White House Press Corps Reporter Extraordinaire), Jessica McEachern (Publishing Assistant), Mary Fratini (Assistant Editor), Margaret Michniewicz (Editor), Suzanne Gillis (Publisher), Trina Hikel (Associate Editor), Ellen Shapiro (Account Executive). Missing from picture: Rickey Gard Diamond (Contributing Editor), Amy Lilly (Associate Editor) and Production Assistants Maria Zamora-Crosby and Chris Reilly.
Aw, Shucks!
Vermont Woman Readers and Supporters: apparently you have discerning taste. You are holding one of the three best monthly newspapers in New England!
I’m delighted to announce that we received notice this week from the New England Press Association (NEPA) that Vermont Woman has placed as one of the top three monthly newspapers in New England, nominated in the category of General Excellence. The prizes will be announced in early February at NEPA’s annual conference. Word from NEPA’s office is that competition this year was “brutal.” Editor Margaret Michniewicz is also in contention for best human interest feature story.
In addition, earlier this month Vermont Woman was awarded second prize for 2005 feature writing by the Vermont Press Association; the winning entry was Michniewicz’s article “Moulton-Steele: Sustaining a Bold Vision” with accompanying photography and design by Creative Director Jan Doerler.
With a staff as small as ours, this is truly a team effort, for which I thank each of you – as well as our savvy readers and advertisers. Our New Years Resolution? To not rest on our laurels, and be better than ever in 2007. Wishing you all a joyous and peaceful holiday season.
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Vermont Woman is a forum for news, issues, features, arts and entertainment from the perspective, experience, and voices of Vermont women. Vermont Woman is a monthly newspaper published in South Burlington, Vermont and is excerpted here on this site. All content ©Copyright 2006, Vermont Woman Publishing |
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