March, 2005 NEWSLETTER

February 26, 2005--Hello members and friends of Albuquerque Press Women. The soaking rains we've had over the past two months have now set a new record for the wettest January and February since such information has been recorded and we're hopeful that will mean a bright and colorful spring ahead of us. It's certainly a time for new beginnings and we're excited to bring you the headlining host of the newest in FM radio, soon to hit the Albuquerque airwaves on the day the station launches programming.

On Monday, March 14, longtime Albuquerque talk show host Larry Ahrens will kick off his new morning show at the new FM talk station, 106.3 KAGM. After his show, Ahrens will join Albuquerque Press Women as the guest speaker at our monthly luncheon beginning at 11:45 a.m. at the Sheraton Uptown (Menaul/Louisiana).

You don't want to miss this one, so be sure to make your reservations early by contacting Janet Ford by Friday, March 11, at 720-7821 or by E-Mail. You may select a vegetarian meal. Remember, your reservation is our commitment to reserve your lunch—and your commitment to pay (no-shows will be billed). As always, our luncheons are open to the public for the nonmember price of $21. But for all of you APW members, you pay only $15. Keep in mind that members can also bring a first-time guest for the member price, so invite your friends and/or colleagues and encourage them to join APW so they, too, can take advantage of the benefits of membership.

This will be a "new" beginning for Ahrens, who left AM 770 KKOB in December, but he's certainly not new to the Albuquerque airwaves--he will celebrate 25 years on the air in March. He will be back on the air with his friendly brand of humor and topical topics. However, Ahrens says the audience will notice some new twists in his show. First of all, he will have more time to talk with callers and provide more fun in the show. Secondly, moving the talk format to the FM dial is a first in New Mexico, offering a clearer signal. Ahrens has been recognized for his long broadcast career. He is a member of the New Mexico Broadcaster's Association Hall of Fame, named six times as one of New Mexico's "Power Brokers" by New Mexico Business Weekly, and is host for his annual Presidential Scholarship Golf Tournament for UNM--now in it's 23rd year. Ahrens and his wife, Susan, have three grown children and live in Sandia Heights.

What's ahead? We're still working hard to bring you some great programs in the coming months. APW will not meet in April due to the annual conference of New Mexico Press Women, which will be Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16 at the Sheraton Uptown. Watch your mailbox for the brochure or visit our Web site for the NMPW link for more information and register early for this exciting opportunity for professional growth. On May 9, University of New Mexico journalism professor Dennis Herrick, who recently published a book on communications management, will be our featured guest at the Sheraton Uptown. And in June, we're working on putting together a program on journalism ethics in light of so-called "journalists" who are actually paid by special interest groups to plant stories in major newspapers. This is a MUST ATTEND program, so mark your calendar for June 13, but make a note in your calendar to go to the DoubleTree in downtown Albuquerque for this program.

Still polling: In the last E-gram, I asked for feedback from all who regularly attend our programs and got back very little response (those who replied, need not do so again). The APW board of directors is considering changing our meeting day of the month/week, which might require us to also find another location. Should we decide to change from Mondays and away from the Sheraton, would you be prohibited from attending? We are considering changing to Thursdays and are exploring several other hotel/location options around town. I need your input, so please give me your thoughts by e-mail as soon as possible. Your comments will be considered at our next board meeting.

MEMBERSHIP DUES
Many of you paid your 2005 dues for Albuquerque Press Women at the February luncheon and we're thrilled to have you back. If you still have not yet paid, we are still collecting. We don't want you to lose out on the low member luncheon rate, but if our records show that you have not yet paid membership dues, you will be charged the nonmember rate. You can pay your dues at the March luncheon, or you can mail your check, payable to ABQ Press Women, to:

Carol Kreis, Treasurer
805 Lamp Post Cir. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123

The price breakdown is as follows, if you are a member of National Federation of Press Women, New Mexico Press Women and Albuquerque Press Women, your APW member price is only $10. If you would only like to join at the local level, your APW is $35. We're also offering a discounted student price of $6, if the student is a member of all three organizations, or $20 for APW alone.

In addition to the discounted luncheon rate, members can also take advantage of Albuquerque Press Women's presence on the World Wide Web. If you're a member of APW and you have your own Web site, you are eligible to provide a link from our site to yours increasing your exposure. For more information, contact Janet Ford, 720-7821 or by E-Mail.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
If ever you have any ideas that might help us to better serve you, let us know. We're always open to suggestions and want to provide the best networking and resources for communications professionals. (Visit our Web site for links to e-mails.)

March, 2005 E-GRAM (close window)