By GREG BROWNELL
APSE Third Vice President

Greg Brownell

Getting to an APSE summer convention can be a challenge for some small newspaper sports editors.

The expenses involved are more daunting for us. And the time lost from work can be taxing to a sports department with a small staff.

But maybe, with a little planning and thought, this is a convention you can make. Consider this your small newspaper guide to attending this summer's APSE convention.

One thing's for sure: you shouldn't have trouble convincing your boss that there's a lot to be learned in the three to five days you'll spend in Orlando.

The schedule has been expanded to include three full days of sessions. At least two of the workshops are designed specifically for small papers, and many other sessions will offer material useful to the little guy.

For those of you who need story ideas, there will be handouts on the best story ideas and the best prep ideas of 2004. And if you want to pirate even more ideas, there will be stacks of papers from the APSE contest available for browsing.

You can take part in the one-on-one critiques, one of the best programs that APSE offers for small newspapers. You'll submit a few of your sports sections to another sports editor, who will critique your work and offer suggestions. You don't have to attend the convention to get a critique this summer, but there's nothing like talking with another editor face-to-face.

Here are some other tips that might help get you to Orlando:

Consider making this part of a family vacation. It is, after all, Orlando, and lots of family-oriented events are planned during the week. You may never have a better chance of getting into the Orlando attractions at a lower cost.

If you're coming alone, cut your housing costs in half by getting a roommate. You can request a roommate by using the link on the APSE Web site's main page. We'll match you up with someone.

Don't wait to lock in your plane fare. A quick search of some airline web sites in March revealed fares as low as $200 from some points on the east coast. Orlando is a Southwest Airlines city, which helps, but other airlines may have good deals if you get them early.

If you're within driving distance, consider coming by car. Parking is free, which is not usually the case at APSE conventions. You might look into a rental car if you're flying in. The extra mobility would be a plus, since there are no fast-food restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.

If you're flying in and don't rent a car, take a shuttle to the hotel. It's a lot cheaper than a taxi.

The small newspaper caucus will be held on the Saturday morning of the convention. It was moved from the usual Wednesday spot because many under 40,000 papers didn't arrive at the convention until Wednesday night.

If you're going to be in Orlando, please make plans to attend. We'll have plenty to talk about.

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You can reach Greg Brownell of the Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star via e-mail at brownell@poststar.com.

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