CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Bidding on silent auction items is a tradition at the West Virginia Press Association’s annual conventions.
Convention 2015 is Aug. 13-15 at The Embassy Suites in Charleston and the silent auction tradition continues.
“An enjoyable part of the event is shopping through the annual WVPA Foundation silent auction items,” said Don Smith, executive director of the WVPA. “It’s very popular and goes to a great cause.”
Funds raised at the silent auction — along with funds from other donations and revenue — help the WVPA Foundation support projects such as educational programming, internships and scholarships.
The WVPA is again seeking the support in the form of a donated item for the silent auction from its member newspapers and organizations around the state.
“Our silent auction is a success because our member newspapers collect items from their unique regions of the state,” Smith said. “In the past, the newspapers have requested assistance and items from the local CVBs, B&Bs, associations and other tourist and destination businesses to ensure the silent auction has a statewide flavor. We hope those donors saw a return from donation and the exposure and are willing to support our silent auction again this year.”
Thursday, Smith called on the newspapers to ask for a volunteer to champion this great effort and get the items. Convention 2015 is four weeks away.
“We hope the publisher, editor, ad director or circulation director will volunteer,” Smith said, “Now we now at the weeklies, the employees laugh at my request because at a weekly the same person might have all those duties and be the owner’s spouse.”
Smith said the WVPA hopes each newspaper can contribute at least one item to the silent auction to ensure a regional representation at the auction. “Any item is great and such items as gift baskets and regional golf and overnight stays are very popular,” he said.
Deadline for registration at Convention near. Anyone nearing to register should visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-wvpa-annual-convention-tickets-12021128519
To review the convention program: 2015 WVPA Convention program
To reserve a room at The Embassy Suites, call 304-347-8700 and use WVPA Room Block code PSS or visit embassysuites3.hilton.com.
Follow Convention 2015 on social media at #wvpress2015 and Facebook at West Virginia Press Association
