andrew snyder, associate editor of kiplinger washington editors and chair of the n.p.c. book and author committee. cheryl arvertsen. jeffrey bartholette. marilyn g wax with national public radio. the other side of the podium, angela king chair of our speakers' committee. laurie rousseau, organizer of today's luncheon and the new managing director of stanton communications. congratulations. valerie jackson associate editor with plats. ira allen public affairs specialist with the fogarty international center and the national institutes of health. skip keltenheiser, independent author and writers of letters from washington. rick dunham, washington bureau chief, one of our former presidents here with hearst newspapers and glad to have rick here as well. finally, r.e.m. writer editor and publisher with american journalism and review. and now you can give your applause. thank you. >> it may come as a surprise to some of you here today as you've watched our speakers luncheons over the years that we do not intend to site members of the press to speak at the podium. for one thing