Silent auction to offer unique shopping experience

AUSTIN – Plans are underway to make the 2022 silent auction benefiting the Texas Newspaper Foundation a unique shopping experience.
The auction is part of the annual TPA Convention & Trade Show, scheduled July 28 - 30 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Center & Spa.
The auction is displayed in the trade show hall, along with dozens of vendors introducing products, services and software designed for the newspaper industry.
The annual silent auction features a wide variety of items donated by members and vendors, including vintage items, newspaper-themed arts, crafts and collectibles; jewelry and other accessories; wines and spirits, jellies and jams, barbecue sauces and spice collections, as well as other regional food and beverage items; t-shirts; books; home decor and garden accessories; tools; lawn and garden equipment; games and toys for the kids; and many other things to appeal to every taste.
To donate items, contact TPA Executive Director Mike Hodges at 512-477-6755 or mhodges@texaspress.com. Information about the donations will be recorded and items may be brought to the convention to be put on display.
Shoppers and donors are contributing to the Texas Newspaper Foundation, which supports the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame and the Texas Center for Community Journalism.
The trade show, sponsored by eType Services, opens with a reception Thursday evening, July 28, the first day of the convention. The show and silent auction reopen at 7:30 a.m. Friday, July 29. The trade show ends at 11 a.m. with the silent auction closing at 11:15 a.m. to give winning bidders time to pay for their items in time to attend the 11:45 a.m. Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and luncheon.
Honorees in the 2022 Class will be inducted into the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame during the luncheon ceremonies. Explore Branson sponsors the event.
General sessions on topics of interest to the newspaper industry are planned throughout the afternoon, culminating with a reception at 5:30 p.m. in the hotel lobby. Topics for the sessions will be announced soon. Members may enjoy dinner on their own. A hospitality reception is set from 9 to 11 p.m.
The annual membership meeting and more general sessions are planned from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday.
The convention concludes with the annual awards brunch at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, when new TPA officers will be installed. Also at the luncheon, the association will honor a publisher with the Mayborn Award for community service, and the 2022 Fred Hartman Award for Excellence in Sports Writing will be announced. The program concludes with announcement of the winners in the 2020-21 Texas Better Newspaper Contest.
Registration for the summer reunion is now open on the TPA website.
Members will find information and registration forms as well as online registration on the convention webpage, www.texaspress.com/convention.
Information for vendors interested in having a booth in the trade show is also available online.
Full registration for all events in the three-day conference is $275 per member. Additional members from the same newspaper may register for $250.
The room rate is $129 per night. Contact information for hotel reservations is on the registration forms. TPA Ad Network participants receive one complimentary two-night hotel stay with their registration.