NFPW friends visit the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

When people ask me about the benefits of NFPW, I always cite the friendships I’ve made.

The first few times I attended a conference I hung out with those I knew, but I made an effort to say hello to others. Electronic communications may be great, but “Face 2 Face” conversations build relationships.

In a few short years, I found myself eagerly anticipating the next conference because I would be seeing friends that gather once a year. Thankfully, Facebook and other social media platforms make it easier to stay in touch throughout the year.

What I love about these friends is that they are always willing to help. I’ve called on many NFPW friends for advice, suggestions and plain ol’ help. They’ve always responded.

NFPW is a group of women and men focused on all forms of communications. We aren’t competitive with each other; we’d much rather help each other.

And when it comes down to it, having friends helps make life easier and more enjoyable. It’s a benefit that is hard to measure, but is immeasurable.

Yet some people don’t understand the value of friends. I thought I would share this YouTube video that is the opposite of everything NFPW represents. None of these conversations would occur at our conferences. It’s a reminder of how fortunate we are to be proud members of NFPW.