Registration opens for TPA Convention & Trade Show

Registration is open for the Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show set June 1-3 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.

The TPA event includes awards banquets, a trade show, silent auction, general session learning opportunities, hospitality receptions, and a live band.

Registration forms can be downloaded from the TPA website, www.texaspress.com, and online registration is also available. The TPA convention room rate is only $179 per night (hotel summer rates are normally up to $500) and the $40 per day resort fee is waived for TPA members staying at the hotel. 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, or the awards luncheon on Saturday, June 3.

The schedule of events includes:

THURSDAY

The Robert Burns Memorial Golf Tournament will kick off activities at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 1. Location for the tournament will be announced at a later date.

The TPA registration desk opens at 10 a.m.

The trade show opens with a reception at 5:30 p.m., 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.

A dinner for officers and past presidents and a hospitality reception cap off the first day’s events.

FRIDAY

The trade show is open from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Bidding in the silent auction closes at 11:15 a.m. The Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame 2023 induction ceremonies and luncheon will be held at 11:45 a.m.

Luncheon speaker Eric Erickson will give each attendee his recently released book and speak on “Positioning Your Newspaper for Success.”

General sessions covering important industry topics fill the afternoon from 1:30 until 5:30 p.m.

Speakers include Brad Hill with a postal Q&A, Donnis Baggett and Bill Patterson with a legislative wrapup and Don Richards with a presentation on freelance contracts. Joey and Lindsey Young will explain the TPA member benefit, Earning Your Press Pass, and Russell Viers will give an overview of what TPA members can learn from his Digiversity.tv site.

A hospitality event with live entertainment at 9 p.m. will close the day’s activities. Top local band Three Chord Rodeo will perform.

SATURDAY

The last day of the convention begins with a general membership meeting and election of officers at 8:30 a.m., followed by more industry sessions. Russell Viers will present a photography session and Robert Williams will present “Ad Ideas that Sell!”

The final event is the awards banquet 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.

This year’s convention sponsors include Explore Branson, eType Services, Brightspeed (formerly Lumen), 4 Media, Modulist and Metro Creative Graphics.