History of AIW
AIW Celebrates a Quarter Century of Service
By Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Contents Copyright © 1986 and 2003
American Independent Writers (AIW) has an impressive history of service to writers of all persuasions, from those just beginning a first story to those with several books under their literary belts. Founded by a small group of writers who recognized the need for a support group for area freelance writers, AIW was launched in Washington, DC, in 1975.
“Before AIW, independent writers were isolated and powerless. Common concerns and needs brought us together to achieve common goals. Life for us independents hasn’t been the same since.” — Joseph Foote, AIW President 1980-81, 1993-94
The first formal meeting of AIW was held on a warm night in April 1975, at the National Press Club. Reportedly, 200 people attended. The group elected officers at its first annual meeting, on June 5, 1975. AIW presidents over the years have represented a wide range of writing genres and interests, from fiction to government reports to journalism education to business to investigative journalism and more: Harvey Katz, Barbara Raskin, Charles Conconi, James Srodes, Paul Dickson, Joseph Foote, Dan E. Moldea, Daniel Rapoport, Michael Whelan, Lisa Berger, Mark Perry, Marta Vogel, Howard Bray, Bill Adler, Wanda Wigfall-Williams, Tim Wells, Susan Levin, Daniel Macey, Joseph Foote (second term), Linda Stern, Mary Scroggins, Clyde Linsley (2 consecutive terms) and Rebecca Clay (2 consecutive terms).
In building an organization that would be useful to both the new writer and the expert, AIW’s founders established a range of services that included a monthly newsletter, Job Bank, social activities, directory of members, legal services program, health insurance access, grievance procedures, medical insurance, and a continuing round of workshops and seminars.
“One of the remarkable things about AIW is that it has succeeded through the energies of independently minded writers – people who don’t usually join committees or belong to groups. These writers have gotten behind AIW and, by pushing for their own interests, have helped the organization. It’s wonderfully symbiotic.” — Lisa Berger, AIW President 1985-86
Many of AIW’s founding members and first officers have remained active throughout its history, serving in subsequent years as officers, board members, committee and Advisory Board members. Their participation has given AIW a strong thread of continuity over the years, helping the organization to remain committed to its original goals while expanding services to meet new concerns.
Thanks to funding support from the Philip M. Stern Family Fund and the goodwill of David Dear of Dear Publication and Radio, the first AIW office opened at the National Press Building in June 1975 with Anne Allen as the first executive director. Judith Brody Saks served as director in the late 1970s. Isolde Chapin became executive director in 1980 and has continued to serve in that position to this day, shepherding the association into its fulltime status and constantly expanding its network of services to members.
Since 1975, the AIW budget has multiplied many times over, membership has more than doubled and redoubled, staff time has more than tripled and office hours have expanded to fulltime.
“I have always felt that AIW, as a trade association, should be more than a clearinghouse for information. To be sure, such services as workshops and health insurance are the backbone of the organization. However, we have the responsibility to stand with other writers’ groups at the forefront of the battle to defend and protect writers from those abuses we bear and read about daily.”
– Dan E. Moldea, AIW President 1981-82
Thaler-Carter has been a member of AIW since 1980. She was AIW’s first ongoing newsletter editor, serving in that capacity from 1980-88, and the 1999 recipient of AIW’s Philip M. Stern Award for exceptional service to the free-lance profession.
