Editorial

• Published date: 01 January 2004
• Date: 01 January 2004
• Author: Pasley Kay
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2004.00001.x

Editorial

The year 2003 has been a productive year for Family

Relations, and 2004 promises to be even more productive

and characterized by some important changes. This first

issue of 2004 marks our change in publishers. We ended a series

of wonderful relationships at Allen Press with the October 2003

issue to begin a promising set of new relationships with Black-

well Publishing with this issue. In addition, by the time you read

this, the National Council on Family Relations will have selected

a new Editor for FR, and we will use the spring to begin the

transition to a new editorial office by summer. As a result, this

volume represents the end of my term as Editor. Our final change

is the initiation of a new electronic submission process scheduled

to be up and running by February 1, 2004. This system should

allow shorter turnaround time and more efficient operation of the

editorial review process. So change is our mantra in 2004, and I

view it as all good.

Other plans for 2004 include an additional issue of FR to be

published in March that reflects the product of the series of study

group meetings during the summer of 2002 and funded by the

Annie E. Casey Foundation. These groups met to discuss and

explore the issues and needs of low-income and poor families.

The articles that resulted provide rich descriptions of familieswho

struggle with harsh economic realities and communicate a resi-

lience and strength in the face of such realities. The final issue of

2004 (October)will represent a special collection of articles edited

by Associate Editor Jeffry Larson, which follows the theme of the

2003 NCFR Annual Conference and addresses marital education.

I believe this topic is especially fitting because of the mission of

Family Relations—a mission that I have worked hard to imple-

ment and make visible with each published piece.

Because the 2004 volume represents the completion of my

term as Editor, this editorial is my last chance to express my

thoughts and feeling about this journal, those who have worked

with me to create the many issues of which I am so very proud,

and to reflect on the learning accrued from serving NCFR in this

important role. Let me state clearly and up front that I remain

convinced that the mission of FR is both timely and valuable to

the field. We offer a unique niche to those who want to make

research relevant to practice and policy, and we do so in a way

that appeals to a broader audience representing multiple disci-

plines. In addition, I believe that the standards by which manu-

scripts are evaluated mean that the articles published make

stronger contributions than might be seen in other practice-

oriented journals. I am pleased to be a part of a long tradition

of Editors working to make FR the very best possible.

My term as Editor has been successful only because of the

incredible work of the entire editorial team that includes the

Associate Editors (Cheryl Buehler, Jennifer Kerpelman, Jeffry

Larson, and Wallace Goddard), a Managing Editor at Allen Press

(Melissa Rodenbeek), a new production team at Blackwell Pub-

lishing (headed by Maggie Walsh), an Editorial Assistant (Brad

Moorefield), the members of the Editorial Board, and the hun-

dreds of ad hoc reviewers. Individually and collectively, these

many people make Family Relations a great journal. I stand in

awe of their commitment to doing the necessary and often

thankless work that allows us to meet the publication schedule

and to do so in such a way that the resulting product is valued by

the readership. I simply cannot imagine how this work could be

done and done well without the assistance of so many whose

strong work ethic and unbelievable competence are readily

apparent.

For me, being an Editor has been a truly amazing profes-

sional experience, and I am ever thankful to NCFR for allowing

me the opportunity to serve the organization in this way. Not

only have I learned a great deal more about writing, editing, and

the publishing process, but the experience has taught me other

valued lessons as well. For example, I have learned more than I

thought possible about the importance of (a)giving up control to

a competent team and trusting them to do the job well; (b)

effective time management to accommodate the ever-increasing

complicated professional life I have chosen; (c)communicating

clearly and compassionately with others (especially authors or

prospective authors)so they remain supportive of the primary goal

at hand; and (d)building and maintaining a viable professional

network on which to draw when various tasks surface that

require attention—sometimes immediate attention. I count myself

extremely lucky to have learned these lessons and much more

from this experience. I have been fortunate to work with so many

incredible professionals, many of whom I now consider friends

and colleagues. This role has required me to identify creative

ways to mentor authors, and I have thrived in this arena. I am

ever hopeful that more of you will explore the possibility of doing

the work of Editor. Both Family Relations and the Journal of

Marriage and Family serve important roles in advancing research

and practice in family studies, and you, too, can become part of

the process.

KAY PASLEY,ED.D., EDITOR

2004, Vol. 53, No. 1 1