Dear Member,

As NABJ President, I am a proud witness to a renewed effort by members to recommit to our organization, especially during these difficult times.

Now that NABJ is in its new national headquarters at the University of Maryland, we are preparing to celebrate our 35th anniversary at this year’s NABJ Convention and Career Fair in San Diego, California, July 28 – August 1, 2010.

In order for this convention to be a success, NABJ needs you. This year’s convention theme is NABJ@35 THE POWER OF CHANGE.

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As the journalism industry continues to evolve, many of our members have been resilient in adapting to those changes. This year’s convention is planned to motivate you to stay ahead of relevant shifts in the media landscape. You will improve your skills through training sessions and tracks that were designed for newbies, budding entrepreneurs, managers, mid-career and multi-media journalists. Plus, we’ll encourage you to take a closer look at your personal health through our expanded health pavilion.

This year’s invited guests include Google senior vice president David Drummond, popular television physician, Dr. Oz, and some of Hollywood’s biggest names working behind and in front of the camera. NABJ has played host to leaders here and abroad; San Diego looks to do the same with invitations to news makers, many who’ve made headlines this year.

I also would like to address some members’ uneasiness about the San Diego host hotel and its developer’s religious views on same-sex marriage.

Hotel owner Doug Manchester contributed money to Proposition 8, a measure passed in 2008 that bans same-sex marriage in California. While Mr. Manchester owns the hotel, the Hyatt Corporation is progressive and has domestic-partner policies. Click here to read about Mr. Manchester’s recent apology on this issue.

While our organization values the diversity of its members, breaking the legal agreement would cost NABJ $1.2 million. NABJ negotiated the San Diego hotel contract more than five years ago before this issue surfaced.

We are making progress in paying off a six-figure convention debt from 2009. NABJ’s leadership has been very proactive in renegotiating hotel rates and convention space to avoid attrition penalties like those imposed on us by Tampa hotels.

When you book your hotel stay, please use our host hotel, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, and let them know you are an NABJ member. This helps our organization reach its hotel room block obligation and avoid paying penalties. I’ve heard from members across the country who are excited about the convention coming to the West Coast for only the fifth time in our history. Many of them are going back to basics and sharing rooms to help NABJ meet its goal and as a way to save money.

Look for airfare specials, convention scholarship information and other convention savings on our web site, Facebook, Twitter and in e-mail blasts. Please don’t hesitate to share information you find with all of us.

I am counting on members to register before the JUNE 15th Pre-Registration DEADLINE, and contribute to support their colleagues who want to attend the convention,but don’t have the means. You know the role NABJ has played, is playing, and will play in your career and in the pursuit of excellent journalism.

While the NABJ Board of Directors is working to keep tight strings on our financial purse, we need your help to ensure this convention is a success.

Thank you for all that you do for NABJ.

Yours in service,

Kathy Y. Times
President