Silent Auction benefits Texas Newspaper Foundation, TCCJ

The TPA Silent Auction provides convention attendees a unique shopping experience and an opportunity to contribute to Texas Center for Community Journalism programs for new and mid-career community journalists.

The silent auction is part of the 2023 TPA Convention and Trade Show June 1-3 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock. The trade show features dozens of booths where vendors from throughout the newspaper and printing industries display and demonstrate their products and services.

Auction items will be on display in the Trade Show hall beginning Thursday evening, June 1, during the opening reception hosted by trade show sponsor eType Services.

Bidding on the silent auction and the trade show will open again Friday morning, June 2, during the trade show hours. Bidding ends at 11:15 a.m. Friday, when winning bidders will be able to make their payments and collect their items.

Items of all kinds have made past auctions popular and successful, including collectibles and home décor items; sports paraphernalia and memorabilia; regional culinary treats and local agricultural products such as Texas-grown olive oil, honey, wine and spirits; books and historical items; newspaper-themed fashion accessories; and beautiful wall art. It’s a chance for donors to show off wares from their communities as well as a chance for buyers to sample the culture of other Texas regions.

Among the items already donated for the auction is an Ida B. Wells Barbie Inspiring Women Doll. The series of collectible dolls pays tribute to heroines of their time — courageous women who took risks, changed rules and paved the way for generations of girls. Despite being born into slavery in 1862, Ida B. Wells became a pioneering journalist and outspoken activist for civil rights and women’s suffrage. She co-owned and edited a Memphis newspaper where she courageously wrote about inequality affecting African-Americans. In addition, Wells (later known as Wells-Barnett) co-founded the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Sculpted to her likeness and wearing a traditional blue dress with lace details, this collectible Barbie doll honors Ida B. Wells’ activism and remarkable accomplishments. Doll stand and Certificate of Authenticity included.

In coming weeks some photos of donations will be featured on social media as a preview for shoppers. Donors are encouraged to send photos to Candace Velvin at cvelvin@texaspress.com or Sue Brown at sbrown@texaspress.com.

Donating and purchasing items at the auction helps support the Texas Newspaper Foundation’s primary mission: mid-career training for newspaper journalists, photographers and designers, often in conjunction with the Texas Center for Community Journalism at Tarleton State University. The foundation also sponsors the annual Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame, and four new members will be honored in the annual induction ceremonies and banquet immediately following the auction.

Members may send their auction item donations to TPA Executive Director Mike Hodges or bring them to the conference on Thursday, June 1. For more information about donating and about shipping items to TPA, contact Hodges at mhodges@texaspress.com or 512-477-6755 or Brown at sbrown@texaspress.com.

Convention registration forms and information, including hotel room rates and registration deadline, are available now on the TPA website, www.texaspress.com/texas-press-association-convention-trade-show. Participants may register online (credit cards accepted) or download registration forms to send to TPA with payment.