My style of editing The WIRE was to count on other people to do it. I love to wander the Island, just talking to folks. Then, every two weeks, in a meeting at Jack Resnick's apartment, people would gather to contribute information on meetings they had attended. Some of their reports were well-written; others were just notes from which I could work.

I also attended a lot of meetings, to the point where I wore myself out. Nonetheless, I tried to cover most of the sessions in person, because that was the best way to sense the dynamics of the meeting - something not really satisifed by someone else's notes or recollections.

Relying on other residents to bring in information produced a widely varying cast of characters for those meetings at Jack's. Usually, they included Judy Berdy, Barry Puritz and Karen Puritz, and - of course - Terri Resnick, who provided both reports and fresh-baked cookies. Judy Connorton was frequently at the table and Ginny Ewald was a regular.

If I couldn't cover a meeting, Nancy Masterson would often attend for me.

Ken Paul used to contribute frequently. Gian Picco was a source for me at the United Nations - then became famous with the release of the hostages held in Iran. The Post's Paul Rigby provided cartoons and, when he moved to Connecticut, his son Bay did some. Shirley Margolin was a faithful reporter of what the State government was doing. Linda Heimer was a frequent contributor. Charlie De Fino provided a good deal of information on our youth. Debra Mount Cornet was faithful in rounding up news, reporting on it at the biweekly meetings, and then sometimes she would write the stories. Tim Johns reported regularly on progress at buy-out attempts.

I have to mention Beverly Shutes. She did all the typing from my hasty notes, managing to translate them into readable English.

The politicans and Island officials were always cooperative: Charles Rangel, then Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, when she took over; Gifford Miller, who's now City Council Speaker; State Senator Olga Mendez, and Assemblymember Pete Grannis.

One memorable incident occurred when RIRA President Patrick Stewart and his followers gathered outside the RIOC offices, and wouldn't let anyone in. Then RIOC finally opened the door for a couple of people, but those inside the offices never saw the crowd that was outside. That was always the trouble with most RIOC people - they were confined to the office and didn't see what needed to be done around the Island.

The new President, it seems to me, is trying to do things about the physical condition of the Island, and to make more friends for RIOC. Mostly, he needs to talk to more people, as a good reporter for The WIRE would.