SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER

September 6, 2006 -- Hello members and friends of Press Women. I hope that you all had an enjoyable summer and made the most of the extended holiday weekend just past.

Albuquerque Press Women is gearing up for another season of great luncheon programs for you beginning Monday, Sept. 11. Diane Velasco, executive director of The Citizen Media Group, will speak about founding a nonprofit Web-based news source and about how it differs from traditional news organizations. Velasco, a former Albuquerque Journal business reporter, with 10 years of reporting in New Mexico under her belt, this spring started the nonprofit news source, a consortium of professional journalists based in Albuquerque, to offer an alternative news platform (citizenmediagroup.org) and an educational source for citizens to learn how to contact the media and to accomplish their own public relations efforts. Velasco has been focused primarily on business reporting, winning awards for her work. She is experienced in both print and radio news writing.

APW luncheons at the Sheraton Uptown (Menaul/Louisiana) are open to the public for the nonmember price of $21. Or join APW at the door and pay the low member price of $15. For reservations, contact Janet Ford Thursday, Sept. 7, at 720-7821; or go to our Web site, abqpw.org and e-mail your reservation to Janet from the link provided. Your reservation is our commitment to reserve a seat and a meal for you and your commitment to pay (no shows will be billed).

APW Board Election The election for your new APW board of directors will be held at the September general meeting and luncheon, before the speaker segment. We would like to see as many members present for the vote. The slate of officers includes Dan Mayfield, president; Liz Staley, vice president; Denise Tessier, secretary; and Doug Swift, treasurer.

Support APW -- Buy a pen! Albuquerque Press Women has a stock of beautiful and great writing pens (black ink) engraved with our Web address, abqpw.org. Select either a blue or burgundy color for only $10! Pens are available for purchase at all APW luncheons; see Diana Sandoval.

Membership
As in the past two years, APW will offer a fall membership special. Anyone who pays membership dues for 2007 between September and the end of the year will get the rest of 2006 along with the entire 2007 calendar year. Remember that the APW dues year is now on a calendar year to coincide with the state and national organization. The full benefits of membership include the discounted luncheon rate and the ability to link from our Web site to your own for free. You also gain the benefit of belonging to a great organization with other great Press Women members! Now is also a great time to recruit your colleagues to join APW! Again, for those of you who are not current with your membership dues, you will be billed the nonmember luncheon rate of $21, instead of $15.

The dues information follows:

Full membership:
National Federation of Press Women -- $51.50 (Student rate available) New Mexico Press Women -- $10  
Total -- $61.50 is paid to the National Federation of Press Women and is billed in November.  

Albuquerque Press Women -- $10 for National and State members.  
Paid separately to the local chapter. Due annually in January. Full membership entitles you to receive mailings from all three levels of the organization, attend the national convention and other national, state and local functions, enter state and national contests, and enjoy all the "perks" of full membership.  

Local Membership only Albuquerque Press Women -- $35 Local dues are due in January and are paid directly to the Albuquerque chapter. Local annual dues entitle you to the discounted member price for monthly luncheons for you and for any first-time guest you bring ($15 instead of $21), the frequent E-GRAMs that serve as our newsletter, discounts for products and functions held or sponsored by Albuquerque Press Women.

Local membership does NOT entitle you to membership in either the state or national organization and you will not appear on their mailing ists.  

Again, for those of you who are not current with your membership dues, you will be billed the nonmember luncheon rate of $21, instead of $15. Bring your membership up-to-date so you don't lose out on the member discount.

Board of Directors through Sept. 11, 2006
Diana Sandoval - President
Technical Writer, New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration,
Economic Research Bureau
E-Mail

Dan Mayfield - Vice President-Programs and President Elect
Assistant Arts Editor, Albuquerque Journal
E-Mail

Denise Tessier - Secretary
Writer/Consultant
E-Mail

Doug Swift - Treasurer
Freelance Technical Communicator
E-Mail

Janet Long Ford - Reservations and Web site
Owner, Cion Ltd. Co., writing and marketing
E-Mail

Laurie Mellas Ramirez - Publicity
Senior Public Affairs Representative and Editor, UNM Today, University of New Mexico
E-Mail

Christine Burroughs - New Mexico Press Women President
Media Relations Specialist, Media Relations Dept., Sandia National Laboratories
E-Mail

Susanne Burks - Membership Coordinator
Retired journalist
E-Mail

For information, contact Diana Sandoval, APW president, (505) 841-6052 or E-Mail

September, 2006 E-GRAM (close window)