"Family reunion" time!

Warm, wonderful Florida in July is the place to be for the 10th annual Agricultural Media Summit (AMS). But make sure you bring your family and pack your clubs and rackets because we're staying at the Saddlebrook Resort.

Why bring the family? Because this year's theme is "Family Reunion" and there's plenty for everyone to do at the resort--from golf on two Arnold Palmer-designed courses to tennis to swimming in the giant pool.

With the exception of the 2002 Agricultural Media Summit in Reno, I've been to every AMS. That's why I'm so excited about this year's meeting. Considering the membership crossover, combining the annual meetings of the American Agricultural Editors' Association and the Livestock Publications Council was a great fit--publishers would only have to pay for their employees to attend one professional improvement meeting and, with a combined budget, AMS could offer bigger and better speakers and workshops.

THIS YEAR'S AMS IS NO DIFFERENT.

We open the workshops on Sunday, July 27, with a four-hour session with Don Nicholas, the Managing Partner of the Mequoda Group, diagramming and explaining the Mequoda Method to boosting your income using e-newsletters, online content, videos, podcasts, magazines, etc. Nicholas will also be available on Monday, July 28, to present a session on call-to-action writing, which is used heavily in the Mequoda Method.

Marketing to the Hispanic market is a new subject at this year's AMS. Five years ago, AQHA embarked on an effort to increase its communication and services to its Hispanic customers, and brought in Heberto Gutierrez with Inventiva to guide us. Because there is potential in the Hispanic audience in agriculture--especially in the dairy industry--the AMS planning committee thought it would be a good topic to address. So, Heberto is going to do a presentation on marketing to the Hispanic audience. That will be followed by a panel discussion that will include representatives from three different ag publishing companies that have launched Spanish-language publications.

We've also got sessions scheduled on digital photography, the ethics involving the ownership of digital files, writing and management sessions, and, of course, the awards banquets.

MARK YOU CALENDARS

Next year's AMS will be held July 29--August 5 in Ft. Worth, TX. We'll also be hosting the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists at the event!

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SATURDAY, JULY 26

Ag tours in the Tampa, FL, area

SUNDAY, JULY 27

8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.       AAEA and LPC Board
                             meetings
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.        Re-designing your Web site
                             workshop
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.        Multi-Media Storytelling
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.        InfoExpo set up
5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.        First Timer reception
6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.       AMS Kick-off dinner with
                             Quasimojo!

MONDAY, JULY 28

7:00 a.m.                  Golf Outing
7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.        Pancake breakfast
8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.       Morning Sessions Part One
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.      Morning Sessions Part Two
11:30a.m.-12:45p.m.        Luncheon--featuring Student
                             Awards and motivational
                             speaker Paul Peavy
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.        Afternoon Sessions Part Three
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.        LPC Critique Contest and
                             Presentation of Awards
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.        Afternoon Sessions Part Four
3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.        InfoExpo Grand Opening
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.        AAEA Writing Contest Awards
                             Presentation
6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.        ACT Critique and Contest
                             Awards
8:00 p.m.                  "Dive in" movie night featuring
                           "Caddyshack" at the pool

TUESDAY, JULY 29

7:00a.m.-7:30a.m.          AAEA Affiliate Meeting
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.        AAEA Annual Meeting
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.        LPC Annual Meeting
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.        ACT Annual Meeting
9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.       InfoExpo Breakfast
10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.      Morning Sessions Part One
12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.       Luncheon--Featuring Cindy
                             Schoenholz on Animal
                             Welfare
1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.        Dessert in InfoExpo
3:00 p.m.                  InfoExpo teardown
3:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.        Afternoon Sessions Part Two
6:00 p.m.                    Reception
7:00 p.m.                  10th Anniversary Celebration
                             for AMS and Joint Awards
                             Ceremonies for AAEA and LPC
8:30 p.m.                  Desserts and Dancing

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

8:00 a.m.                  Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.       IFAJ Planning Meeting: open
                             to everyone

by Becky Newell, 2008 AMS Steering Committee Chair

American Quarter Horse Association, Amarillo, TX