Update on TBABJ plans and needs for UNITY convention next month

Members and friends of the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists:

We're getting down to the wire in planning our kick off party for the 2009 convention, scheduled july 26 in chicago. We've had a lot of developments in the past week and we've made some plans, so here's what we know:

Currently, we have smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius, prizefighter Winky Wright and Busch Gardens' vocal group Men of Note confirmed to appear. The NABJ is also working with a new sponsor to bring several big-name performers to the party; we will release those names when the performers are confirmed.

We are making 100 t-shirts to promote the chapter, with plans to sell them at the kick off party and elsewhere. Any chapter member who volunteers during the convention will get one free shirt (it isn't much, we know, but's its better that what you usually get...)

We have several tasks we will need to complete at the UNITY convention before the party. So if you will be attending UNITY and would like to help the chapter, please send me your contact information -- email, hotel location, cellphone -- so we can contact you in Chicago. We are asking chapter members to meet at 5 p.m. July 23 (Wednesday) at the registration desk of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and towers. There, we will find a good location to meet and go over the tasks to come that week.

We will need help stuffing the 1,000 goody bags Busch Gardens has provided for the party. Right now, we're planning to meet Saturday afternoon to place items inside. We also need to solicit items from Tampa Bay area business to place inside the bags. If you know of any companies which might provide items to place inside the bags, please let me know, so we can contact them.

We will raffle off a golf outing at Innisbrook Resorts which includes a two night stay at the luxury resort and a round of golf. We won't be charging for the tickets, but winners must be present at the kickoff party to collect the prize. We will need volunteers to help distribute raffle tickets throughout UNITY -- especially during the two big meal events, the hall of fame luncheon and salute to excellence banquet. Please let me know if you're willing to help there.

We have planned a conference call for 6 p.m. July 7 to update everyone on our progress. If you would like to participate, please let me know, and I'll send you the call-in number to be part of the conference. I ask particularly that all TBABJ executive board members try to be on the call.

Let me know if you have any questions about the details I've related here. There will be more details to come in short order.


Eric Deggans
President, Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists
Chair, NABJ Media Monitoring Committee
TV/Media Critic, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times
http://www.tbabj.com/
(727) 893-8521