Coming Thursday: the 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet

Can you believe that the 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet, the only locally-produced journalism awards program, is only three days away?

On Nov. 18, at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center in Tampa, the nationally-recognized Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists will highlight the best coverage of people of color and honor tomorrow's multimedia communicators.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception. ESPN’s Jemele Hill, one of the few women of color serving as a national sports columnist and TV personality, will headline the 7 p.m. dinner and awards presentation. Since joining ESPN in November 2006, Hill has made regular appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take, Jim Rome is Burning, and Outside the Lines.

Guests from all corners of the bay area are expected to attend this year’s ceremony, which will be hosted by WFLA-Ch. 8 morning anchor Rod Carter and include performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy) and Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders.

The best part is that all of this only costs a mere $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of 10.

So go to tbabj.com, click on the 'Donate' tab and get your tickets today!

TBABJ appreciates your support!

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rodney Thrash
Co-chair, 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet
Cell: 770.367.9568 (Rodney Thrash) or 248.760.7561 (TBABJ President Camille C. Spencer)
E-mail: rod.thrash@gmail.com or TampaBayABJ@gmail.com

FOUR weeks until the 2010 Griot Drum Awards

We are a little more than four weeks away from the only locally-produced journalism awards program, the 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet!

On Nov. 18, at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center in Tampa, the nationally-recognized Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists will highlight the best coverage of people of color and honor tomorrow's multimedia communicators.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception featuring local saxophonist Jonathan Milton. ESPN’s Jemele Hill, one of the few women of color serving as a national sports columnist and TV personality, will headline the 7 p.m. dinner and awards presentation. Since joining ESPN in November 2006, Hill has made regular appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take, Jim Rome is Burning, and Outside the Lines.

More than 200 guests are expected to attend this year’s ceremony, which will be hosted by WFLA-Ch. 8 morning anchor Rod Carter and include performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy) and Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders.

The best part is that all of this only costs a mere $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of 10.

So go to tbabj.com, click on the 'Donate' tab and get your tickets today!

TBABJ appreciates your support!

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rodney Thrash
Co-chair, 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet
Cell: 813.610.1268
E-mail: rthrash@sptimes.com or TampaBayABJ@gmail.com

And the 2010 Griot Drum finalists are ...

Congratulations to the following broadcast, new media and print professionals whose coverage of people of color earned them spots as finalists in the 2010 Griot Drum Awards contest!

The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists (TBABJ) will announce winners on Nov. 18 at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center, 11606 McKinley Drive, Tampa.

Tickets, which can be purchased at www.tbabj.com, are $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of 10.

Look what that amount will get you: an opportunity to hobnob with bay area media influencers, a pre-banquet reception, a dinner, a keynote address by ESPN's Jemele Hill as well as performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy), Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders and local saxophonist Jonathan Milton!

The master of ceremonies will be WFLA-Ch. 8 morning anchor Rod Carter.

So what are you waiting for? Click on the 'Donate' tab on the top right of the tbabj.com and get your tickets today!

THE FINALISTS

Shoshana Walter, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Starla Vaughns Cherin, The Florida Courier, Tampa, three categories

Merissa Green, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Jenise Morgan, The Florida Courier, Tampa, one category

Charles W. Cherry II, The Florida Courier, Tampa, two categories

Joyce Nanette Johnson, Citilife Magazine, St. Petersburg, one category

Demorris A. Lee, St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater, two categories

Colleen Jenkins, St. Petersburg Times, Tampa, one category

Stephanie Hayes, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, one category

Michael Kruse, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, one category

Justin George, St. Petersburg Times, Tampa, one category

Michael Wilson, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Scott Wheeler, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Mark L. Schreiner, WUSF, Tampa, two categories

Lissette Campos, Randy Wright, Frank Barrera and Jennifer McVan, WFTS-Ch. 28, Tampa, one category

Jackie Callaway and Matt McGlashen, WFTS-Ch. 28, Tampa, one category

Staff, WEDU-Ch. 3, Tampa, one category

Jennifer McVan, Felicia Burton, Gregg Wyckoff, WFTS-Ch. 28, Tampa, one category

Nancy Ryan, Chris Smith and Peter Masa, WFLA-Ch. 8, Tampa, one category

Fred Bellet, Tampa Tribune, Tampa, one category

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rodney Thrash
Co-chair, 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet
Cell: 813.610.1268
E-mail: rthrash@sptimes.com

View the official Griot Drum Awards promo and buy your tickets!

2010 Griot Drum Awards tickets now available online!

Tickets are now on sale for the Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet, the signature event of the nationally-recognized Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists!

Held each November, it is the only locally-produced journalism awards program that honors coverage of people of color.

The 2010 installment of Griot Drum will be held Nov. 18 at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center, 11606 McKinley Drive, Tampa.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception featuring local saxophonist Jonathan Milton. ESPN’s Jemele Hill, one of the few women of color serving as a national sports columnist and TV personality, will headline the 7 p.m. dinner and awards presentation. Since joining ESPN in November 2006, Hill has made regular appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take, Jim Rome is Burning, and Outside the Lines.

More than 200 guests are expected to attend this year’s ceremony, which will include performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy) and Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders. Area high school seniors and college students will be given financial support to pursue their education in the field of journalism.

Proceeds from ticket sales will help TBABJ fund those scholarships. Tickets are $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of ten.

Click on the 'Donate' tab on the top right of the tbabj.com and get your tickets today!

See you Nov. 18!

Best,

Rodney Thrash
Staff writer, St. Petersburg Times
Co-chair, 2010 TBABJ Griot Drum Awards
Office: 727.445.4167
Cell: 813.610.1268
E-mail: rthrash@sptimes.com

Tickets now on sale for the 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet!

Tickets are now on sale for the Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet, the signature event of the nationally-recognized Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists!

Held each November, it is the only locally-produced journalism awards program that honors coverage of people of color.

The 2010 installment of Griot Drum will be held Nov. 18 at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center, 11606 McKinley Drive, Tampa.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception featuring local saxophonist Jonathan Milton. ESPN’s Jemele Hill, one of the few women of color serving as a national sports columnist and TV personality, will headline the 7 p.m. dinner and awards presentation. Since joining ESPN in November 2006, Hill has made regular appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take, Jim Rome is Burning, and Outside the Lines.

More than 200 guests are expected to attend this year’s ceremony, which will include performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy) and Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders. Area high school seniors and college students will be given financial support to pursue their education in the field of journalism.

Proceeds from ticket sales will help TBABJ fund those scholarships. Tickets are $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of ten.

Please complete the order form and return with the total amount to the address listed below.

See you Nov. 18!

Best,

Rodney Thrash
Staff writer, St. Petersburg Times
Co-chair, 2010 TBABJ Griot Drum Awards
Office: 727.445.4167
Cell: 813.610.1268
E-mail: rthrash@sptimes.com

TICKET ORDER FORM

Name _________________________________

Number of tickets _________________

Address _________________________________

Total enclosed _________________

Telephone _________________

E-mail _________________________________

Return to:
Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists
c/o Rodney Thrash
710 Court Street
Clearwater, Florida 33756

TBABJ Silent Auction and Fundraiser for Haiti Relief

Come out for a night of poetry, wine tastings and a silent auction to help keep hope alive in Haiti.

The event will be hosted by Tampa's hottest radio host, DJ Ekin.

Enjoy some of the best poets in the Tampa Bay area while sipping on choice wines and sampling exotic cuisine from the world renowed Roy's Restaurant.

All funds will be for the American Red Cross to aid relief work in Haiti.

The event will be held on Saturday Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at Wine Mall, 11246 W. Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa.

The cost is $10 at the door, which will include two complimentary glasses of wine. Proceeds will go toward the American Red Cross to help Haiti relief.

(CASH OR CHECKS ONLY, PLEASE). Checks for the silent auction portion of the event can be made out to TBABJ.

For more information, email Nicole Hutcheson, TBABJ membership chair, at njhutcheson@gmail.com, or TBABJ president Camille C. Spencer at camillecspencer@gmail.com.

See you there.