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About CWA
CWA: A Concise History
by Tom Kuennen
The Construction Writers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, international organization for journalists, writers, editors, and public relations professionals serving the information needs of the construction industry. The association strives to provide educational benefits to its members.
CWA holds two conferences a year: an annual conference in May in Washington, D.C., and a fall midyear conference in October in Chicago, IL. Each conference features an awards dinner to recognize remarkable professionals and provides members with excellent networking and educational opportunities. The Journalism Awards, Photography Awards, Silver Hard Hat Awards, and Build A Future Scholarship are awarded to winners at the annual meeting, and the Marketing Communications Awards and the Website and Electronic Communications Awards are presented at the fall midyear meeting.
In addition to these meetings, the association hosts receptions and events at national industry meetings and trade shows. A quarterly newsletter informs members about current activities, members' accomplishments, important industry developments, coming industry events, and job opportunities.
CWA History
The Construction Writers Association was incorporated in the state of New York in 1958. It was founded as an outgrowth of an informal gathering of construction magazine and newspaper editors and writers covering the 1956 meeting of the Highway Officials of the Atlantic States in Atlantic City, NJ. CWA's organizational meeting, at which the first officers were elected, was held at the Stevens Hotel (now the Conrad Hilton) during the January 1957 meeting of the Associated Equipment Distributors in Chicago. If we date our inception from the incorporation date, CWA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008.