Early plan: Balance fun and learning

Later starts for morning sessions

By LYNN HOPPES and JERRY MICCO

Story posted on Aug. 21, 2008

The APSE Convention in Pittsburgh June 24-27 will balance fun and learning. We're going to keep some of the basics such as luncheons and awards ceremonies but the region meetings will be tied together with best ideas, all breakout sessions will have handouts, the critiques of newspapers will be more formal, among other things. We won't start the sessions as early in the morning and we'll have other activities tied to Pittsburgh that can be enjoyed by members and families. We are still finalizing the agenda and will welcome any ideas.

Jack Berninger and Jerry Micco are looking at trying to lock down main sponsorships for our 2009 convention at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. The Post-Gazette has already committed its $20,000 main sponsorship. We are now working on sponsorships for the Keynote and Red Smith luncheons as well as the pre-awards reception on Saturday. We are also talking to papers about printing the convention program, flip cards and awards banquet program. We have a tentative schedule that shows the Pirates at home both the Thursday and Friday of the convention. This has not been finalized by Major League Baseball so it could change completely, but we have tentative teams. The Pirates would play the Indians on Thursday (6/25) and the Royals on Friday (6/26). I've begun talks with the Pirates about ticket plans and possibly a reception at the ballpark. All very tentative at this point.

The convention is at the Sheraton Station Square hotel and it's a beautiful riverfront hotel similar to the Sheraton that hosted the convention in Philadelphia in 2004. For more information on the hotel, check out www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/
overview/index.html?propertyID=693

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