Sept. 24–27, 2009
Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel
64 South Water St.
Mobile, AL
National Newspaper Association
P.O. Box 7540
Columbia, MO 65205-7540
(573) 882-5800
(800) 829-4NNA (4662), option 2
Fax (573) 884-5490
www.nna.org
Mark your calendars now!
NNA’s 125th Anniversary Celebration
at the 124th Annual Convention
and Trade Show
Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2010
Omaha Hilton and Qwest Center
Omaha, NE
And in 2011...
NNA's 125th Annual Convention
and Trade Show
The Hotel Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM
Pub Aux articles
Make Mobile, AL, your port of call
Originally published in Publishers' Auxiliary, April 2009
© TAD DENSON – MYSHOTZ.COM/ MOBILE BAY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
2008 Mobile Bay Skyline: Mobile was the site of the first Mardi Gras in the U.S. This year, it will be the site of the National Newspaper Association’s annual convention.
Your 123rd Convention and Trade Show Committee, led by co-chairs Willie Gray of The Call News and retired Alabama publisher Mike Breedlove have met in person and by conference calls, pulling together a dynamite program. We hope you will mark your calendars today for Sept. 24-27 and join us in Mobile, AL, for three days of workshops, educational sessions, networking, social events and ideas galore. We guarantee you will go home with great recession-busting ideas for your newspaper. The schedule will follow the new Thursday through Sunday format we introduced last year-there is a tentative agenda on Page 25 of this issue of Pub Aux.
As a new visitor to Mobile, it might look a lot like New Orleans with a beach. Both cities are saltwater ports founded on river deltas by the French. In Mobile you will find a similar cultural and architectural legacy to New Orleans, right down to the ornamental iron curling into arabesques, leaf clusters and lyres. Many Americans are not aware that the country's first Mardi Gras celebration took place in Mobile-not New Orleans-in 1703. Established as the capital of French Louisiana in 1702 and ruled by Spain from 1780 to 1813, Mobile was once a stronghold of Europe and a thriving port in the South. Today , Mobile is described as creating a waterfront rebirth while wisely keeping sight of its unique southern character. It is proud to share this honor alongside other recognized cities such as Miami, Montego Bay , San Diego and Los Cabos.
Convention attendees will stay in the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel, located in the heart of Mobile's downtown business and entertainment district and overlooks Mobile Bay. The hotel is connected to the Mobile Convention Center via skywalk. The opening breakfast on Friday morning will be held at the convention center with all other programs headquartered in the Renaissance.
There are a number of attractions for visitors to see in the Mobile Bay area. The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is a part of your full convention registration, which includes a ticket to the Friday evening Extravaganza. Attendees will enjoy a local seafood feast amidst WWII aircraft, and then board the battleship for self-guided tours. You may want to come early or stay a few days extra to enjoy all the great sights, including Fort Conde, a replica of the original French fort, which dates back to the 1700s. The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center and IMAX Dome Theater is educational fun for kids and adults and is located across the street from your hotel.
Also in the area are the stunning Bellingrath Gardens and Home, dubbed "The Charm Spot of the Deep South," with 65 acres of year-round floral pageantry . Visit the Estuarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab where you can take a journey of natural wonder and beauty with exhibits and interactive displays. Mobile Museum of Art special exhibitions from world-famous museums and collections throughout the year. For details on upcoming collections visit www.mobilemuseumofart.com. The Mobile Zoo, Alligator Alley , and numerous antebellum museum homes are also available for touring.
Another attraction visitors won't want to miss is the Mobile Carnival Museum with crowns, scepters and jeweled robes. You can even climb aboard a rocking float. For details on all of these great things to do, visit www.mobilebay.com. Mobile is also a port for the Carnival Cruise Line, which can be found on the Web at www.cruisesfrom.com/mobile.
Watch this page here in Pub Aux in future months for program details and updates. The NNA convention web site is under construction but will be available soon. There you will be able to find out more about the program, presenters, events, or make your hotel and travel arrangements. Registration materials will be available online in May and in your June and July Pub Aux.