So Much To Look Forward To In 2009 — by Sandy Sims, Program Chair

It’s hard to believe, but we have most of 2009′s programs scheduled and confirmed. Diane LeBow, John Montgomery and the rest of you have been out there promoting us, and it has paid off. In keeping with our board’s guidelines, we have a great line up that includes professional development, tourism presentations, and other kinds of meetings. Some programs are still in the planning stages such as a press trip to the Gold Country and more.

• We start in January at the newly renovated St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco with Georgia Hesse, founding editor of the San Francisco Sunday Examiner-Chronicle Travel Section. Georgia will share her strategies from A to Z for crafting travel articles that sell in today’s publication market.
• In February, at Books Inc. in Opera Plaza in San Francisco, we’ll be presenting awards to high school students for excellence in travel writing. Bob Ecker is organizing the program.
• In March, Rene de los Santos, Philippine Tourism Director for NW USA and Western Canada, will host us in a Philippine restaurant, and he’ll inform us about the latest from the Philippines as a tourism destination.
• April takes us to the new Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco where we hope to preview the Chagall exhibit and view the museum’s innovative architecture.
• May brings outstanding photographer Bill Foster back to us, this time to give a broader talk about the Web and how best to use it.
• In June we are planning a press trip, offered by Associate Board Member Molly Blaisdell, to Novato’s Inn Marin, where we’ll also hear from marketing expert Penny Sansevieri. Penny will fly down from Seattle for our meeting.
• In September, Ed Hasbrouck will lead a panel discussion on how to create, focus and use your Website for different audiences and purposes.
• Our Associates meeting in is in the works for October. Janice Nieder has offered to co-chair the event, but we are looking for some more assistance in planning this important program, which seeks to promote the many ways our Associates and Active members can mutually benefit each other.

There’s much, much more, including a workshop on basic photography for travel writers and other surprises that are always popping up.

I’ve kept track of all your ideas and of those of you who have volunteered to help in various ways. We are always open to new ideas and look to offer more program opportunities beyond regular meetings, such as members readings, more press trips, and so on.  My email is sansims@aol.com. I look forward to your ideas and help.

– Sandy Sims