ACM Mid-Atlantic & Northeast Regions & Jersey Access Group Conference 2010 

Save the Date

Three community media groups partner for a one-of a kind conference.

The Alliance for Community Media Mid-Atlantic & Northeast Regions and The Jersey Access Group have partnered to present a conference that will pool the resources and expertise of all three groups to provide two days of learning and sharing. The conference is designed for staff and volunteers producing and disseminating community media. The theme "Power of Partners" will be the focus from the moment you arrive at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick www.newbrunswick.hyatt.com. This town is the home of Rutgers University with many restaurants, two professional theatres, a comedy club, and bars featuring some of the best music in the state.

Events planned to focus on partnerships.

The Jersey Access Group will host a "Meet and Greet," complete with a billiards room, Wii video game systems, TVs everywhere, lots of food, and the Hyatt's famous "Beer Tower". This will be a time to make new friends, share ideas, build new partnerships and renew and strengthen relationships with old friends.

On the next day plan to spend time with the partners that provide the products and services that make it possible for community media to exist. This is a one day trade show, May 13 from 9:00am - 4:00pm, consisting of over 40 exhibitors presenting the newest technology suitable for the needs of PEG stations. There will be presentations every 1/2 hour throughout the day demonstrating the latest in system applications and hardware that will have just been release weeks before at The National Association of Broadcasters Conference.

Through partnerships with vendors there will be a full production studio consisting of the latest equipment being exhibited at the trade show. The studio will be taping programs throughout the day with ample time for attendees to examine the equipment.

Our partnering will additionally reach out to the educational community to include the area high schools, vocational schools, colleges, and universities. Students interested in media will be afforded the opportunity to participate in a day-long program that will include time to visit with the exhibitors.

May 14 will be a day of workshops, focusing on the partners that keep community media a vital element in our society. Staffers and volunteers will hear from experts on subjects of technology, operations, and production. From concept to completion workshops will discuss skills to increase the quality of programs, workflow, distribution, and community involvement. Don't plan on a lot of lectures. Many workshops will invite attendees to participate and share their knowledge and experience.

There will be 24 workshops that will be presented in four groups of six. You will undoubtly be faced with making a choice and missing out on some workshops. A good reason to think about bring another member of your staff and splitting up to cover more workshops.

Value out weighs cost.

Full conference registration is $250 for members and includes the "Meet and Greet," breakfast with the vendors the first day and a breakfast plenary the second day, lunch with guest speakers both days, and an amazing banquet complete with cocktail hour, a Portuguese Rodizio dinner, beer and sangria, dessert buffet, live music and dancing. The Hyatt has agreed to provide free parking and free internet. And if you can get four others from your center to join you the price is just $185 each. There will also be many door prizes valued at over $5000. Hotel accommodations are $119.00 per night but you must call as the hotel is about sold out. Train to New York City and Newark Liberty Airport are just two blocks away.

So tell your staff, volunteers, and friends of community media to save the date and join us for two days as we celebrate the "Power of Partners."

Make checks payable to ACM Mid-Atlantic Region. Mail PO and payment to ACM Mid-Atlantic Region, PO Box 405, Metuchen, NJ 08840.

Thanks for your attention and we look forward to seeing you, your staff, your volunteers and others supporting community media to discover the "Power of Partners" at our conference.

Sincerely,

Rich Desimone

Conference Coordinator

ACM Mid-Atlantic & Northeast Regions &

The Jersey Access Group

rjdesimone@verizon.net

732 603-9750