We hate to be a Debbie Downer during the National Press Club's big week, but we thought we'd float this comment from a reader (and NPC member) and get your thoughts:

The real story is that the Club is dying. It has been losing scores of members each year who are not being replaced. Much of the media has abandoned the Press Building, their elections attract just a scant number of members, the bar is dead at night, and they are having trouble rounding up sufficient numbers to sell out their gala. Sad, but all true. The San Francisco Press Club (and others) closed several years ago. It would not surprise me if the same happens to Washington's in a number of years.