The South Texas Press Association and the Texas Gulf Coast Press Association will be sharing a single convention site this year at Moody Gardens in Galveston – April 18-20, 2024!
         The boards of both the South Texas Press Association

and the Texas Gulf Coast Press Association agreed to have a

joint convention on a trial basis for 2024. So you might ask...

Why? Well, everyone can agree that expenses of holding a

convention have gone up significantly in recent years.
        The STPA and TGCPA will be sharing convention expenses. The costs will be split based on the number who attended from STPA and TGCPA on a percentage basis. Due to this, the convention expenses per association are expected to decrease.
        Membership fees paid to each association will stay with the association to which the membership dues are paid.
        Contest awards will take place on Friday for the STPA, while contest awards for the TGCPA will take place on Saturday.
        No matter which association you belong to – and if your newspaper belongs to both – please remember to bring silent auction items and door prize items.
        For the silent auction, member newspapers will be able to designate which association (STPA or TGCPA) they wish the proceeds of that silent auction item to benefit. The silent auction bidding sheet for each item will designate which association (TGCPA or STPA) the funds will go to.
        Yes, this is a trial shared convention and each association will be keeping its autonomy. This is not a merger. It is a collaboration.
        We welcome you to the STPA and TGCPA convention – April 18-20, 2024 – at Moody Gardens in Galveston! See you there!

 

Rhonda Chancellor
South Texas Press Association President