Make plans now for TPA Convention & Trade Show

The TPA Convention and Trade Show June 1-3 in Round Rock includes a trade show featuring top vendors showing off their products and services, informative general sessions, networking opportunities, a hospitality event with live entertainment and awards ceremonies honoring the best in the Texas newspaper industry.

Registration is now open for the event set at the unique Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. The African-Themed resort features multiple restaurants and one of the largest indoor water parks and gaming areas in America.

Registration forms are available on the TPA website, www.texaspress.com, where forms may be downloaded and online registration is also available. The TPA convention room rate is $179 per night (hotel summer rates are normally up to $500) and the reservation deadline is May 18. Qualifying ad network members receive one complimentary stay for up to two nights. Member registration fees are $275 per person for the full event package, including the trade show, Hall of Fame luncheon, Saturday contest awards luncheon, general sessions and all hospitality events.

Members may also opt to register for just the Hall of Fame luncheon on Friday, June 2, and/or the awards luncheon on Saturday, June 3.

The Robert Burns Memorial Golf Tournament will tee off at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock. Brightspeed sponsors the event. The event benefits the Texas Newspaper Foundation and a registration form is available on the foundation website, www.tnf.net.

The TPA registration desk opens at 10 a.m. to welcome vendors and members checking in. The trade show opens with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, when attendees may visit a with a variety of vendors displaying their products and services.

The annual silent auction benefiting the Texas Center for Community Journalism will also be on display in the trade show hall.

Other sponsors include Explore Branson, 4 Media, Modulist, The Newspaper Manager, BLOX Digital, formerly TownNews, Column and Metro Creative Connection. A dinner for officers and past presidents and a hospitality reception will cap off the first day’s events.

On Friday, the TPA convention registration desk opens at 7 a.m. with the trade show and silent auction in full swing at 7:30 a.m. The trade show closes at 11 a.m. as bidding ends for the silent auction closing. Winners will be announced at 11:15 a.m.

The Texas Newspaper Foundation board meets at 9 a.m.

The Hall of Fame Luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. with induction ceremonies for the 2023 class of honorees.

Among the topics for general sessions scheduled from 1-5 p.m. are a postal Q&A with Brad Hill of Interlink and legislative wrapup with TPA Executive Vice President Donnis Baggett and Legislative Advisory Committee Chairman Bill Patterson. Don Richards will have a presentation on freelance contracts and Russell Viers will give an overview of what TPA members can learn from his Digiversity.tv site.

From 6 to 9 p.m. attendees are on their own for dinner. A hospitality event featuring live music by 3 Chord Rodeo starts at 9 p.m.

Saturday events start with the annual general membership meeting and election of officers at 8:30 a.m. General sessions continue from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with Russell Viers presenting a photography session and Robert Williams, editor and publisher of the Blackshear (Georgia) Times, presenting “Ad Ideas That Sell!”

The annual awards banquet begins at 11 a.m. New officers will be installed and the association will honor this year’s Frank W. Mayborn award recipient, the Hartman Sports Writing Award winner and Golden 50 award winners. Capping off the festivities is presentation of the awards in the 2022 Texas Better Newspaper Contest.