I didn’t think there was anything new I could say about networking, and then I realized that a recent big life change offered opportunities to think about the value of networking and ways to make it happen.
I’ve moved from St. Louis to a condo community outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be close to family; the older of my two younger brothers has lived in this area for almost 50 years, and his daughter and son, their families, a cousin and her family, and even a high school classmate all live in the same town. My new place is about a 15-minute drive from them, which is convenient without being intrusive. So far, it’s working out great; I had some health challenges in my first few weeks here while adjusting to the high altitude and dry heat, but I seem to be back to my usual self. To my great relief, my cat is adapting beautifully, despite two airplane flights and temporary quarters at a family friend’s house while awaiting the arrival of my movers.
Where does networking fit into this new adventure? For the past few years, I’ve been active in Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC), the regional affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW). And NFPW has a New Mexico branch! Not only that, a friend from high school who lives in Las Cruces is a member. I’ll be attending an Albuquerque Press Women event next week as a first step in establishing professional connections in my new locale and am looking forward to participating in this new-to-me group.
To make it even more exciting, I just received certificates for six awards in the MPC communications contest, which means I’m eligible for national awards at the 2025 NFPW conference this fall. I’m planning to use that recognition in networking and outreach efforts with local and regional publications.
At least one of my other longtime professional memberships doesn’t have a local chapter, but there might be other groups worth joining to expand my networking activity.
My point for NAIWE colleagues is that belonging to and being visible in networking through professional associations can ease the transition to a new home, whether across town or across country. Even if you have family and friends in a new place, networking can bring professional advantages and a stronger sense of belonging. And as I’ve often suggested, if you belong to a national association without a local chapter in your new (or current) region, consider starting one!
Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker for more than 40 years. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally in, and does writing, editing, and proofreading for, publications, associations, nonprofits, websites, service firms, independent authors, and businesses. She sold her first freelance articles when she was still in high school. Often called the Queen of Networking, Ruth is active in about a dozen professional associations, serving as a newsletter editor, webmaster, publication author, speaker/presenter, blogger, program host or planner, and chapter leader. In 2006, Ruth launched the Communication Central Be a Better Freelancer conference — now cohosted with NAIWE — to help aspiring and established freelancers find greater success. Ruth is also owner and editor-in-chief of the An American Editor blog and owner of the Publishing with Flair publishing business. Her honors include member of her high school alumni hall of fame, in part for her publishing work and networking services; Writers and Books Big Pencil Award for teaching adults and contributions to the literary community; EFfie awards for writing, editing, and newsletters; an APEX award for feature writing; the Philip M. Stern Award of Washington (DC) Independent Writers for service to freelancers; and IABC/DC Communicator of the Year and Silver Quills for magazine writing and newsletters.
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