The golfers are back in the club house so I’m trying to get caught up on some posts before heading over to the InfoExpo session which just got started.
Here’s a question for you. Who’s wearing these fine Swiss Army watches they received at an IFAJ Congress in Switzerland a couple years ago?
If you guess correctly (first one to do so) by commenting then we’ll send you an “I’ve been blogged by AgWired” t-shirt.
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The opening reception of the AMS was a wonderful party that took place in two different locations. We started out with food in one place and the Quasimojo band in a tent at a different location. The fortunate people moved over early. The unfortunate came late and had to walk through the rain that persisted through the evening.
Cindy made it in finally and will be doing some posts tomorrow. It’s late and I’ve got to get up early to join the golf group so I’m this is all you get tonight. I have updated the photo album though.
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John Walter, Agriculture Online, is President of AAEA and he’s got a lot to smile about.
After today’s board meeting he told me that the organization is very healthy and that it’s been a pleasure for him to preside over continued growth in membership and sponsors. Topics discussed at the meeting include, new member benefits like professional development webinars, new award categories for multi-media like video, continued ethics discussions and an expanded role for affiliate members. John says that Holly Martin, High Plains Journal, will be taking over the reins at the end of the AMS.
You can listen to my interview with John here: ams-08-walter-1.mp3
I’ll be talking to John again about what his company is doing online since they’re one of our event coverage sponsors.
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Right now the first educational sessions are taking place at the AMS. I believe this one is “Create a More Profitable Web Presence” with Don Nicholas, Mequoda Group, doing the presentation. Glad to see they’re blogging.
Both of the concurrent sessions seem to be well attended. Perhaps the rain has something to do with that? Surely not.
The other session taking place right now is “Make it Interactive-Tell Stronger Stories Online,” presented by Al Tompkins, Poynter Institute.
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We’re going to have a live blogging extravaganza from Tampa over the next couple days. Right now we’re about to get our second thunderstorm of the day. No need to water the yard here.
AgWired is set up in the media room and Cindy is on her way. She’ll get in late tonight and be posting during the day tomorrow while I’m out golfing.
Unfortunately she won’t get in by opening reception time but I’ll do my best to take up the slack. We had quite a few people in yesterday and the pool area got pretty busy last night. Tonight we’ll have a bigger party.
Thanks to Soren Erickson for taking my picture.
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The BASF Media Room is open for business and equipped with laptop computers and wireless internet access.
Our BASF greeting team is (l-r) Amy Fisher, Padilla Speer Beardsley, Allegra Sinclair, BASF and Soren Erickson, Padilla Speer Beardsley.
They’re hear to help journalists out with anything they need to get stories done. Right now it’s a little quiet with the board meetings taking place and people just getting checked in. I’m sure it’s going to change tomorrow.
I’m planning on having AgWired Live TV on during the conference so you can see professional ag journalists at work. I’ll post a schedule for it later.
Also, don’t forget to keep your eye on the Ag Media Summit Photo Album for the latest pictures of all the fun.
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Registration is now open here at the Ag Media Summit and after lunch the first programs will start.
The board meetings of the two main ag journalism groups are going on right now. Here’s the Livestock Publications Council going at it hard and heavy.
I’ll try to get a report from LPC after lunch and post later.
While LPC is meeting, the American Agricultural Editors Association
is also getting some work done.
I’m sure next year’s AMS, which will be combined with the IFAJ Congress is a big topic of discussion in these meetings. There’s a need to make sure we integrate multiple programs and it should provide an opportunity for AMS growth too.
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Agricultural journalists are getting checked in to Saddlebrook Resort. I just arrived and am getting ready for my first event.
It’s a beautifully sunny day with plenty of humidity.
Join us for the 10th anniversary of the annual Agricultural Media Summit-the largest gathering of crop and livestock media professionals in the U.S.-July 26-30, 2008 near Tampa, at Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel, Florida. There’s no better way to meet with hundreds of editors, designers, photographers, publishers and other ag communications professionals and share what`s new about your company’s products and services.
Be careful where you walk around here. This guy or one of his relatives might be lurking for you.
I didn’t find him here though, in case you’re worried. He was sleeping at Snookers in Tarpon Springs where I stopped for a grouper sandwich on the way here. But you never know.
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It has been an absolutely beautiful day out on the water here in Florida. This is how you get ready for AMS!
Some of you should know that I will have cigars. There are some great little Greek cigar stands in Tarpon Springs near the sponge docks. The sponge diving business seems to be doing really well. There were a lot of boats filled with them. You can see a few pictures in the photo album.
This is a very historic area. I learned that Tarpon Springs was bigger than Tampa once upon a time.
I know there are some dolphin fans out there so I thought you’d enjoy this shot of a Momma with her baby dolphin.
The sightseeing boats were out prowling around for a view of these animals. We saw lots of them.
Tomorrow is when all the action kicks off at Saddlebrook Resort so keep your eye on AgWired to see what’s going on.
