Put NABJ on Your Christmas List

Dear NABJ Family,

I can't thank you enough for making the journey to San Diego for a   successful convention. Thank you for the many thumbs up. NABJ's  convention Programming Committee, Board of Directors, staff, and our San Diego chapter put in many hours, emails and phone calls to attract newsmakers and to make sure the convention and special events were a success.  Our honorary convention chairwoman, Paula Madison, reeled in provocative stars and big sponsors. Many members delivered special guests and excellent panels.

Look for more e-blasts and tweets from our communications team as we gear up for the Philadelphia convention Aug. 3-7, 2011, and for great programs and training this fall and throughout next year. Mark your calendar for Oct.16, and March 24, 2011 for two Media Institute programs. 

The Canadian Association of Black Journalists will host our first international Board of Directors meeting and Media Institute, Oct. 7-10 in Toronto. In January, Hall of Fame inductees and our Ida B. Wells Award recipient will be honored at a gala in Washington, D.C.

The gentleman in charge of our training and much more is NABJ staffer Ryan Williams. Please join me in congratulating him on his added duties under the new title of managing director.  Ryan is responsible for day-to-day operations at the National Office as we search for the next executive director. Ryan has been with NABJ for more than five years and has proven himself valuable on many levels, making sure our conventions have run smoothly year after year.

We are still interviewing candidates for executive director. Our interim executive director, Drew Berry, is wrapping up projects and working on next year's budget. His work for NABJ has been invaluable.  Former NABJ Executive Director, JoAnne Lyons Wooten,is staying with us as development consultant. She helped us raise enough money to pay our San Diego convention bills and to put some money in the bank.

NABJ is not out of the woods yet. Please put us on your Christmas list or make an end-of-the-year tax-deductible contribution. Support our Caribbean cruise fund-raiser next June and get professional development while at sea.

Oh yes! There's a new website, at www.nabj.org. You joined NABJ to improve your network. We're providing a greater online community to better connect you by Region, City, and Profession with a membership portal designed for us to support and to encourage one another.

You joined NABJ to highlight your talents to colleagues and recruiters. We'll give you the space to promote yourself to employers who want to hire us or recommend members for open positions, and a better more interactive JOB SITE, with listings in journalism, communications, and media relations.

You joined NABJ to improve your entrepreneurial skills. We're giving you programs that will bring you closer to your business plan.

In October, look for updates on how the NEW NABJ.org portal will bring you closer to your personal and professional goals and make sure your membership dues are worth their weight in gold. Speaking of dues, we need and welcome new faces!  Tell a friend NABJ is on the move. 

Yours in service,

Kathy Y. Times