The NATCA Voice started out in 1995 with the Great Lakes regional planning session. One member volunteered to edit a regional newsletter. Another member called to ask if there was anything he could do to help. Both ended up as co-editors for about the first year.

By the end of the first year, one editor had transferred out of the region, and the region could no longer fund the newsletter, so we decided to see if we could turn it into a national newsletter, with bulk distribution to each facility, instead of to the members directly. Mailing a single copy of the newsletter to each national facility for several issues was a first step in passing information across regional boundaries, and in the formation of a national grassroots newsletter.

The newsletter started out as an 8.5 x 11 newsletter, with gloss enamel cover, all black and white to keep cost down. By August of 1995 (4 issues delivered) it was apparent that we need more space. We currently were putting out 32 pages per issue. The next step was to go to an 11 x 12 format, with 32 pages. this gave us the equivalent of a 45 page newsletter in the old format. It also allowed us to use a web press, and eliminate the gloss paper cover, both of which allowed us to put out almost 50% more information at about the same cost. The new format also makes the newsletter very distinctive and keeps it from getting overlooked.

The latest version of the newsletter is a traditional 8.5" x 11" format, normally 48 pages, but less when there is not enough material. We are also publishing when we accumulate enough material, and our goal is 2-3 issues per year. We are working on getting some regular columnists, and getting the membership to submit more articles. As we enter a more confrontational time with the FAA under Administrator Blakey, we believe submissions will increase.

All of this has been accomplished with an all volunteer staff. We all donate our own time to make The NATCA Voice what it is. Each of the volunteers continues to work traffic full time at their facility, and we all work out of our homes.