Briefings from the Jovial Office . . . by Bill Morrison Enough thanks to go around

As the Reuben Awards weekend quickly approaches, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in the 2016 awards process!

This year we had 11 specialty juries and 15 regional NCS chapters who poured through hundreds of submissions and deliberated to arrive at the final three nominees in each of the 15 divisions. The entire membership also voted online to decide the winners and runners up in four of those divisions; Editorial Cartoon, Gag Cartoon, Newspaper Panel and Newspaper Strip. And of course, all members were given the opportunity to vote by mail to decide the winner of The Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. So to all who took the time to participate in this process in any way, we are much obliged!

I’d also like to express my gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organize the awards process. First, to your NCS Board of Directors: Jason Chatfield, Hilary Price, John Hambrock, John Kovaleski, Sean Parkes, Darrin Bell, and especially to our National Rep

Ed Steckley. Ed not only takes on the same duties as the rest of the Board, receiving submissions, sorting through them, and getting them distributed to the proper juries and chapters in time for voting, but he also oversees the entire awards process from start to finish. I won’t bore you with the details, but trust me, it’s a mountain of pro bono work.

I’d also like to thank past presidents Tom Richmond, Jeff Keane, Rick Stromoski, and Steve McGarry for their invaluable wisdom, knowledge, and guidance throughout the process. Tom and Rick also took on the organization of some of the specialty juries, and it was comforting to have their steady hands on the tiller.

Finally, thanks to Latisha Moore for her organizational brilliance and assistance throughout the operation!

The result of all this expenditure of time and energy is a brilliant slate of nominees in 15 divisions and the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.

Here’s the official list of nominees which you may also find on the NCS website, www.reuben.org:

ADVERTISING/PRODUCT ILLUSTRATION

■ Anton Emdin

■ Luke McGarry

■ Dave Whamond

BOOK ILLUSTRATION

■ Mike Lester (Amazon Rapids Series)

■ Mark Tatulli (Daydreaming)

■ Dave Whamond (Braids)

This issue’s cover is by the most accommodating Stephanie Piro, who pitched in at the last minute to contribute a piece of art for the cover. Which is not even the art shown here — she did this second, completely different piece of art that IS featured — with our many, many thanks for bailing us out.

NCS BOARD

Honorary Chairman

Mort Walker President

Bill Morrison 805-579-9827

First Vice President

Jason Chatfield

Second Vice President

“The Cartoon!st” is the official publication of the National Cartoonists Society, P.O. Box 592927 Orlando, FL 32859-2927. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the NCS. Entire contents ©2017 National Cartoonists Society, except where other copyrights are designated.

The Cartoon!st needs your news, opinions, drawings and photos. Address all materials to: Frank Pauer, 53 Beverly Place, Dayton, OH 45419. Phone: 937-296-0502 home, 937-229-3934 days.

Email: fpauer1@udayton.edu

Deadline for the next issue: June 11

Hilary Price 413-586-0223

Third Vice President

Darrin Bell 510-205-8592

Secretary

John Kovaleski 717-334-5926

Treasurer

John Hambrock 262-658-2676

Membership Chairman

Sean Parkes 480-626-2702

National Representative

Ed Steckley 413-478-4314

NCS COMMITTEES

The Cartoon!st

Frank Pauer 937-229-3934 fpauer1@udayton.edu

Ethics

Steve McGarry mac@stevemcgarry.com

Education Rob Smith Jr. (rob@robsmithjr.com)

Greeting Card Contracts

Carla Ventresca 615-480-7931

NCS FOUNDATION

President Steve McGarry 714-593-0514 mac@stevemcgarry.com

For questions about accounting, membership, database and dues renewals, contact: National Cartoonists Society P.O. Box 592927 Orlando, FL 32859-2927 407-994-6703 info@reuben.org

The National Cartoonists Society Web Site: www.reuben.org.

Please address correspondence to: Frank Pauer, 53 Beverly Place, Dayton, OH 45419, or fpauer1@udayton.edu

COMIC BOOK

■ Max Sarin & Liz Fleming (Giant Days)

■ Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key)

■ Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)

EDITORIAL CARTOON

■ Ruben Bolling

■ Mike Luckovich

■ Jen Sorensen

FEATURE ANIMATION

■ Eric Goldberg, Character Animation: (Moana)

■ Cory Loftis, Character Design: (Zootopia)

■ Erick Oh, Character Animation: (Finding Dory)

GAG CARTOON

■ Pat Byrnes

■ Joe Dator

■ Will McPhail

GRAPHIC NOVEL

■ Jules Feiffer (Cousin Joseph)

■ Rick Geary (Black Dahlia)

■ Bryan Talbot (The Red Virgin & the Vision of Utopia)

GREETING CARD

■ Dave Blazek

■ Maria Scrivan

■ Debbie Tomassi

MAGAZINE FEATURE/ ILLUSTRATION

■ Jon Adams

■ Teresa Burns Parkhurst

■ Peter Kuper

NEWSPAPER COMIC STRIP

■ Brian Crane (Pickles)

■ Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker (Dustin)

■ Terri Libenson (The Pajama Diaries)

NEWSPAPER ILLUSTRATION

■ Anton Emdin

■ Glen LeLievre

■ David Rowe

NEWSPAPER PANEL

■ Dave Blazek (Loose Parts)

■ Nick Galifianakis (Nick and Zuzu)

■ Mark Parisi (Off the Mark)

ON-LINE COMICS –LONG FORM

■ Meredith Gran (Octopus Pie )

■ Kathleen Jacques (Band by Band)

■ OMG Check Please (Ngozi Ukazu)

ON-LINE COMICS – SHORT FORM

■ Sarah Andersen (Sarah’s Scribbles)

■ Ruben Bolling (Donald & John)

■ Dave Kellett (Sheldon)

TV ANIMATION

■ Eric Goldberg (The Simpsons)

■ Steve Lambe & Alan Stewart (Atomic Puppet)

■ Chris Savino (The Loud House)

THE REUBEN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CARTOONIST OF THE YEAR

■ LYNDA BARRY

■ STEPHAN PASTIS

■ HILARY PRICE

■ MARK TATULLI

■ ANN TELNAES

Give yourself a treat and go to the website to view the samples for each nominee. Each and every one is outstanding and deserving of the award for which they’re nominated.

I’m so proud to be associated with an organization that recognizes and awards the best work and talent that our cartooning industries have to offer, and I’m doubly proud of the members who worked tirelessly to make it all happen so successfully!

Congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees, and I hope to see you all in Portland!

Over and Out, Bill Morrison prez@reuben.org

By Hilary Price

At the start of the year, many of you filled out a 10-question survey to help the NCS get a better read on what we do well and where we need to improve. We’ll touch on it at the Reuben Weekend’s business meeting, but we also plan to address some of your questions and concerns in future issues of The Cartoon!st

I think the survey will give the incoming board a lot to chew on, and that was its primary purpose. For starters, here are five things that we got from it:

1. Communication: The Cartoon!st is popular among all types of memberships (regular members, 65+/retired, associates, widows, and over 80). While good for finding out what went on, it’s less helpful for what is happening in the future. People rely most on Chapter emails and Facebook (versus Twitter and the NCS website), and many would like to get events and news via email from NCS headquarters.

2. The Reuben Weekend: Members want fewer seminars at the Reubens in order to network and see friends, and also want the seminars to be more professional development focused. Reuben events where members interact with the public are popular. Cost prevented many members from attending the event.

3. Diversity: Members would like more focus on younger cartoonists and those outside of the more traditional syndicated field, such as webcomics and animation.

4. Outreach: For themselves, and also to improve our prestige as an organization, members wanted the NCS to create more ways to interact with the public, either as actual events or posting some of the Reuben seminars on YouTube.

5. Perks: Members wanted discounts on art supplies or technology, and were looking for incentives not just for themselves but to attract new members. Booth space at the Comic Cons were appreciated. Heath care was often cited as a wish.

This isn’t all inclusive— just a taster of the data. Our last question to members was, “Do you know someone who should be a member, and will you reach out to them?” So here is a call to action: Will you make that second or third email to reach out to someone?

We all make mistakes—I know I’ve made my share in this crazy business of comics! I put this together based on some questions and concerns that aspiring comic artists have asked me over the years. I’ve narrowed the list down to five mistakes that I think are the most important — share them with your aspiring cartoonist.