120th annual KPA convention features Slimp, speed topics
Attendees at the 120th annual Kansas Press Association convention April 20-21 at the DoubleTree in Overland Park will see a familiar face in the always-popular Kevin Slimp as the headliner.
Slimp, probably the nation’s most sought-after speaker on newspaper technology, will provide information on a number of topics.
To lighten up the event, convention organizer Emily Bradbury, KPA’s member services director, has lined up Charles Marshall, a motivational speaker who uses humor to teach life lessons.
Marshall will present “Living the Intentional Life,” which is designed to help convention-goers learn how to implement change in their professional lives.
Slimp will discuss the latest technology available to newspapers, much of it low-cost or free, that you can buy today and implement tomorrow.
“Kevin will also let us in on the secrets from successful newspapers in his topic ‘What I Have Learned From Successful Newspapers’,” Bradbury said
Of course, the popular Speed Topics are back as well.
Speed topics this year will include:
• Going Postal, with Steve Haynes.
• How Is My Legislator Voting? with Kevin Yowell
• Facebook and Your Newspaper, with Dan Thalmann.
• AOE Best Practices, with Ron Fields.• Ask the Media Lawyer, with Mike Merriam.
• Community Newspaper Leadership, with Doug Anstaett.
• Community Management Tune-up, with Murrel Bland.
• Technology Answers with Ron Fields, KPA’s technology consultant.
We’ll also have breakouts on a number of subjects, including:
• Photo Editing and Color Correction Tips to Increase the Quality of Your Publication.
• What You Need To Have a Successful Community Newspaper.
• Customer Service.
• Advertising Training and Best Practices.
So, what’s new for 2012?
On Saturday morning, we’re going to feature a “Bring Your Family to Breakfast” event. If you’re registered for the convention, you can include your children for free at the Saturday breakfast.
“We’ve even decided to start a little later to accommodate those who don’t like to get up so early on Saturday morning,” Bradbury said.
The AOE Advertising Awards will be presented separately during lunch on Saturday, while the News Awards will be given at the usual time beginning late on Saturday afternoon.
The hotel has a personalized KPA reservation page. Find it at http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/M/MCIMSDT-KPA-201...
The hotel deadline of March 17 is a bit earlier this year, so please make your reservations early and remember that you can cancel up until 6 p.m. on the date of arrival. Rooms are $92.
The official registration form can be found here.