Race to Indianapolis in 2011: kiss the bricks, just for kicks

Masthead, The, Autumn, 2008 by Tim Swarens

When the National Football League's two best teams meet in Indianapolis in February 2012 to play in the world's most-hyped sporting event, visitors will cavort at dozens of parties that start late at night and wind down early in the morning. Downtown streets will be transformed into a virtual ski village on the prairie, with large fire pits to warm revelers, top musical acts to entertain them, and giant overheard balloons to shield them from snow and ice. Hordes of national and international media will be on hand to report on every utterance offered by the starting left tackle from Boise State.

None of that will be in place, however, when, five months earlier, members of the National Conference of Editorial Writers descend on Indy. Sorry, the NFL got first dibs.

But, dear NCEW member, don't feel neglected. You'll still find in Indianapolis a lively and attractive downtown that features first-class hotels, restaurants, museums, and theaters, all within easy walking distance from the convention headquarters. You'll breeze through a new, world-class airport terminal before making the short jaunt to downtown. You'll also enjoy during your visit the high level of service and hospitality that wins Indianapolis rave reviews from millions of visitors who flock here each year for conventions and sporting events.

Of course, an NCEW gathering isn't merely about comfort and ease. Want a mental workout between the breakfast buffet and the late night social hour? We've got it.

You'll be engaged by thoughtful discussions on such topics as U.S. foreign policy, possibly led by Sen. Richard Lugar and 9/11 Commission co-chair Lee Hamilton; global poverty, hunger and the AIDS crisis, led by former U.N. World Food Program Director Jim Morris; the tension between academics and athletics, led by NCAA president Myles Brand; the challenges facing health care, featuring leaders of the nation's second largest medical school, the largest health insurance company, and one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical makers.

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You also will be inspired in sessions that dissect the challenges facing our industry, and, in particular, the art of editorial writing. For instance, directors of the Indiana University School of Informatics are available to discuss the latest trends in blogging and how technology, as it evolves, will continue to reshape opinion writing.

Just for fun, we'll let you breeze around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the world's largest annual sports event. You can even, if you'd like, kiss the bricks. (Don't worry, it's more innocent than it sounds.)

In short, come to Indy and you'll be freshly inspired and engaged. You'll learn more about this wonderful and constantly changing craft we call opinion writing. And you'll return home well rested, well fed, and ready to take down, in five hundred words or less, the first politician who steps out of line.

Remember: It's Indy in 2011. Good enough for the NFL. Good enough for NCEW.

Tim Swarens is editor, opinions/community conversations for The Indianapolis Star. Email: Tim.Swarens@ indystar.com