Convention Agenda
June 26-28, 2008
THURSDAY, JUNE 26
11:00 a.m. Registration set up – Foyer Registration Booth
Exhibitor Displays set up – Magnolia Foyer
Silent Auction set up – Camellia A
Press Camp set up – Gardenia Room, Convention Center
Noon – MPA/MPS Board Meetings - Azalea B
Presiding: Tom Andrews, Picayune Item
2007-2008 MPA/MPS President
2:00 p.m. – MPA Education Foundation Board Meeting - Azalea B
Presiding: Marcus Bowers, Rankin County News
2007-2008 MPAEF Chairman
3:30 p.m. – MCFOI Board Meeting
Presiding: David Hampton, The Clarion-Ledger
2008 MCFOI Chairman
3:30 p.m.– PRESS Camp staff available - Gardenia Room
5:00 p.m. – PRESS Camp activities available from 5-10 p.m.
6:00 p.m.– Opening Reception sponsored by Entergy
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
8:00 a.m. – Registration Open - Foyer
Silent Auction Opens, sponsored by Nissan
Continental breakfast available from 7-9 a.m. – Camellia B
PRESS Camp activities available from 8 a.m.-10 p.m - Gardenia Room
8:30 a.m. Opening Session
Convention Chairman Randy Ponder, Sea Coast Echo
9:15 a.m. – MPA/MPS Annual Business Meeting
Presiding: Tom Andrews, Picayune Item
2007-2008 MPA/MPS President
9:30 a.m. Break/Refreshments
9:45 a.m. — Panel discussion: “Sunshine & Secrecy”
Moderator: David Hampton, The Clarion-Ledger
10:45 a.m. — Covering & Guiding Economic Development
Al Cross, Director, Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky
Afternoon events include lunch; tour/ tennis participants pick up at MPA desk before leaving hotel; golfers eat at Club.
12:30 p.m. — Golf Tournament, sponsored by AT&T (Location TBA)
Tennis Tournament – Location TBA
6:00 p.m. — President’s Reception, sponsored by Butler Snow
7:00 p.m. — President’s Banquet, sponsored by Mississippi Power
Presiding: Tom Andrews, Picayune Item
2007-2008 MPA/MPS President
9:00 p.m. — Hospitality Suite
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
7:30 a.m. — Registration Open
Silent Auction Open – Camellia A
8:00 a.m. — Sunshine Breakfast: Update on FOI Laws
Leonard Van Slyke, attorney, MCFOI
8:00 a.m. — PRESS Camp activities available from 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
9:00 a.m. — CONCURRENT SESSIONS
A) Maximizing Postal Savings
Max Heath, Vice President for Postal & Acquisitions, LCNI
B) Libel & Privacy Update
John Henegan, MPA counsel, Butler Snow – Azalea B
C) Going Digital: Combining words and video online
Presenter TBA
10:15 a.m. — Break/Refreshments – Camellia A
10:30 a.m. — CONCURRENT SESSIONS, continue
12:00 noon — Break/Refreshments
12:30 p.m. — Awards Luncheon: 2007 Better Newspaper Contest - Editorial Division
Moderators: Lisa McNeece, Calhoun County Journal, & Sid Salter, The Clarion-Ledger
2:00 p.m. — Closing Comments
2008-09 MPA/MPS President Randy Ponder, Sea Coast Echo
6:00 p.m. Post Convention Sunset Schooner Cruise
Sponsored by Prince Newspapers