Burns Memorial Golf Classic kicks off annual convention

2023 Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show events kick off with the Robert Burns Memorial Golf Classic at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock.

The convention continues through Saturday, June 3, at Kalahari Resort and Conventions in Round Rock.

Sponsored by Brightspeed, the golf tournament benefits the Texas Newspaper Foundation and supports the Texas Center for Community Journalism at Tarleton State University and the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Interested golfers may download a registration form on the foundation website, www.tnf.net. Fees are $100 per golfer, which includes green fee, cart and practice balls.

Registration is open for the  Convention & Trade Show set June 1-3 at the 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 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 only $179 per night (hotel summer rates are normally up to $500) and 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.

Tentative schedule of events includes:

THURSDAY, JUNE 1

8 a.m. Breakfast

9 a.m. Robert Burns Memorial Golf Classic at Forest Creek Golf Club, Round Rock, sponsored by Brightspeed.

10 a.m. TPA Convention Registration desk opens

4 p.m. TPA Board meeting

5:30 p.m. Opening reception for the Trade Show and Silent Auction benefiting the Texas Newspaper Foundation, sponsored by eType Services.

7 p.m. Officers/Past Presidents Dinner

9 p.m. Hospitality Reception

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

7 a.m. TPA Convention Registration Desk Opens

7:30 a.m. Trade Show Opens (sponsored by eType Services)

8 a.m. Breakfast

9:30 a.m. TNF Board of Directors meeting

11 a.m. Trade Show closes

11:15 a.m. Silent Auction closes

11:45 a.m. Hall of Fame Luncheon. The luncheon speaker is Eric Erickson, who will give each attendee his recently released book, “Positioning Your Newspaper for Success.”

1 – 5 p.m. General Sessions (Sponsors: Modulist, 4 Media) Speakers include Brad Hill with a postal Q&A; Donnis Baggett & 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.

6 - 9 p.m. Dinner on your own

9 p.m. Hospitality Reception w/ live entertainment, top local band Three Chord Rodeo will perform.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

8 a.m. Breakfast

8 a.m. TPA Convention Registration Desk Opens

8:30 a.m. General Membership Meeting, Election of Officers

9 – 10:30 a.m. General Sessions continue. Russell Viers will present a photography session and Robert Williams will present “Ad Ideas that Sell!”

11 a.m. Awards Banquet. 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.

12:30 p.m. Convention Adjourns