She was one of the co-chairs of the 2009 NFPW conference in San Antonio, Texas and continues to be an active member of Press Women of Texas and NFPW. She is a talented writer and hard worker. Meet another unique and unbelievable NFPW member, Bonnie Arnold.
Bonnie Arnold
Name — Bonnie Arnold
City/state — Kerrville, Texas (“Hill Country” about an hour northwest of San Antonio)
Affiliate and any leadership positions – Press Women of Texas; over the years I have been a “district” officer when we had enough members to break up activities into smaller areas, to state president, co-coordinator of the 2009 NFPW conference in San Antonio, director of the High School Contest for Texas more than once, and currently secretary of the state group.
Years a member of NFPW – I joined Texas and NFPW in 1983, and continued membership each year since.
Tell us a little about you – I am a native Texan, though my husband’s military service and then former VA job took us to five other states to live briefly; we worked to stay “home” since then; wife for 48 years this year; mother to two grown daughters (who actually inherited and use the sewing/crafting skills I learned from my mother and grandmother); and grandmother of twin 5-year-olds, a girl and a boy. I like traveling but unrelenting work hours and too few vacation days make it hard to leave the job for the car or airport.
Career advice you would like to share?
I believed my professors in J-School when they said we’d never get rich. It was and still apparently is very true. I think I deserved more money over the years, but working for (relatively) small dailies and weekly community newspapers isn’t a money-maker. But I continued over the years since my first paying newspaper job in 1981, to be “hooked” on the variety of people contact, and the feeling that the readers, too, should be in seats in many of the same meetings I go to – even if I grit my teeth frequently over city council and county commissioner meetings. Otherwise, I guess a couple well-chosen internships or summer jobs would tell you if you really want to stick with it.
Bonnie Arnold, left, with Karla Estrada 2014 High School Communications Award of Excellence winner from Texas; Judy Gharis, current PWT president; and Angela Smith.
What talent would you like to have?
Not sure about a new untried one. I still sew for myself and grandchildren when I can. The time to try out classes in new things might be nice.
If you could live anywhere, it would be?
First, probably where I am, in a town of about 24,000 with a good community weekly newspaper (2 weeklies and 1 daily here) and being 10 minutes from my office and less than 20 minutes to almost anywhere else I get sent. We have a river to look at, no “rush hour” to speak of; and the big city is about 45-60 minutes away if wanted or needed. Equal second choice would be closer to my only two grandchildren in southeast Georgia, but we haven’t moved in 34 years and that’s a scary prospect.
What books have you recently read?
Who has time to sit and read for fun?! No, really, mysteries for “escape-ism,” especially women authors with women as main characters. I did indulge in a thick biography of Queen Victoria recently when PBS started their new TV series.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
This seems eons ago, when I was in college, I competed in an on-campus beauty (sorry, “scholarship”) pageant to pick a Miss Texas Woman’s University to try to advance to Miss Texas. I didn’t get far ….
Why are your affiliate and NFPW important to you?
My affiliate and NFPW are important to me because of moral support and networking. My Texas friends have been generous as sounding boards and with job advice when asked.
How can people connect and follow you on social media?
“Following me” is a NON-technology thing. I have a cell phone (not a smart phone – it just needs to make and take calls), and email at home and office; and my by-line on top of an average of 5,000-plus words per week at the Hill Country Community Journal newspaper. I’m a little tired now. Is there such a thing as part-time reporter/photographer?
Talking with Teri 