We need YOU to Survive!

We need your CAABJ board nominations today!

We’ve already made huge strides when it comes to CAABJ! We had some of our most successful events this year. Our membership numbers have soared. NABJ is recognizing some of the good work we are doing.

Now we need to set ourselves up for success for next year. This is my personal appeal to you as president.

Please send nominations for potential board members to charlotteaabj@gmail.com by 6:30PM TODAY (Thursday).

Nominate anyone you think would do well. Then the elections committee will contact those persons for an acceptance or a decline. Last year we had to piece a board together with a few dedicated individuals. I commend the board members for their work. Now we need to show the next board we have confidence in them and this organization, by making a nomination and eventually voting.

Please send your nomination today.
Sincerely,
Melody Taylor
CAABJ President 2007





ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mentorship Program: We need people who are interested in being a mentor. We have 10 JCSU students who are ready to meet and work with you. The mentor program is e-mail based, meaning both mentee and mentor begin by sending each other an e-mail. It is then up to you to determine how much time you want to invest and what you and your mentee want to get out of this experience.

Scholarship Mixer: The scholarship Mixer is steadily approaching . This laid back but elegant event will be held on Decemeber 2, 2007 at WineUp on 3306-C N. Davidson Street from 5-8pm. One aspiring journalist will receive a $500 scholarship. It's not too late to apply. If you know a college student who is pursuing a degree in Journalism or Communications encourage them to apply. If you need an application contact the head of the Scholarship Committee, Lindsay Pollard at lpollard@charlotteobserver.com. All applications must be post marked by November 2nd.2008 Events CalendarWe are working on next year's events calendar. If there are events you would like to see CAABJ continue to do or start to do please e-mail us at charlotteaabj@gmail.com. Your input is important to us and we want to make sure that all our members have a say.

2008 CAABJ Board Elections: Elections for the 2008 year are right around the corner. The board has done a great job this year pushing CAABJ to new and improved level, so let's not lose momentum. If you or someone you know is interested in running for a seat on the 2008 CAABJ Board, please e-mail your nominations to charlotteaabj@gmail.com. You must be a member to nominate a candidate and to vote for candidates. The results of the election will be announced on December 2nd.

Please keep checking your e-mails for updates on these and other announcements from CAABJ. Also, if it's been a while since you received an e-mail from us please contact us at charlotteaabj@gmail.com so we can make sure your information is in our database.

What's Next for CAABJ?

Thank you to all who came out and participated in CAABJ's Race and Education Forum on Saturday, October 20, 2007. The turnout was amazing. And we could not have done it with out the support of our members. For those of you who couldn't make it out, you missed a great event and some important information about what's coming up in the next few months in CAABJ.


Announcements:

Mentorship Program
We need people who are interested in being a mentor. We have 10 JCSU students who are ready to meet and work with you. The mentor program is e-mail based, meaning both mentee and mentor begin by sending each other an e-mail. It is then up to you to determine how much time you want to invest and what you and your mentee want to get out of this experience.

Scholarship Mixer
The scholarship Mixer is steadily approaching . This laid back but elegant event will be held on Decemeber 2, 2007 at WineUp on 3306-C N. Davidson Street from 5-8pm. One aspiring journalist will receive a $500 scholarship. It's not too late to apply. If you know a college student who is pursuing a degree in Journalism or Communications encourage them to apply. If you need an application contact the head of the Scholarship Committee, Lindsay Pollard at lpollard@charlotteobserver.com. All applications must be post marked by November 2nd.

2008 Events Calendar
We are working on next year's events calendar. If there are events you would like to see CAABJ continue to do or start to do please e-mail us at charlotteaabj@gmail.com. Your input is important to us and we want to make sure that all our members have a say.

2008 CAABJ Board Elections
Elections for the 2008 year are right around the corner. The board has done a great job this year pushing CAABJ to new and improved level, so let's not lose momentum. If you or someone you know is interested in running for a seat on the 2008 CAABJ Board, please e-mail your nominations to charlotteaabj@gmail.com. You must be a member to nominate a candidate and to vote for candidates. The results of the election will be announced on December 2nd.

Please keep checking your e-mails for updates on these and other announcements from CAABJ. Also, if it's been a while since you received an e-mail from us please contact us at charlotteaabj@gmail.com so we can make sure your information is in our database.

Race 101: An Examination of Race & Education

We are just 3 days away from what will surely be one of the biggest CAABJ events since our organization's resurgence! We have a unique opportunity to weigh in on the massive education gap in our area schools... a story we all either cover in our newsrooms, or deal with in our own lives.

Here's what CAABJ members need to know:
Date: Saturday, October 20th
Location: Levine Museum of the New South, Seventh Street, Charlotte
12pm: Brief CAABJ general body meeting
1pm: Race & Education forum, featuring CMS Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman

And a special treat! Our Race & Education forum will be showcased on Praise 100.9! Be sure to tune in on October 17th at 11 a.m. as we speak to Tonya Rivens about this important issue and promote our event!

Please encourage fellow journalists in your newsrooms and offices to attend our CAABJ meeting and event. It is critical that we have as many members at this meeting as possible, as we get ready to move CAABJ into the new year. A dedicated few have pushed to keep this organization alive, we need you to keep it going!
Pass this email along to any African-American journalist you know! And be sure to tell parents about the forum that starts at 1pm.

Thanks and we'll see you Saturday, October 20th!

Race 101: An Examination of Race in Education

You can't stand over you child's desk in school. You can't stand in the doorway during a test, but you can make a difference in how and what your son or daughter learns. We can help you take that first step.

Join members of the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists along with the Charlotte Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists as we present Charlotte Mecklenburg School Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman, local students, teachers, and a host of panelists for "Race 101: An Examination of Race in Education".

There will be a powerful discussion about education and our children, as well as, information that can help you be there when your child need you most. You’ll find the answers you need on Saturday October 20th from 1-3pm at the Levine Museum of the New South. Admission is free.

After a Brief Intermission -- Monthly Meetings Are Back!

We hope you all enjoyed your summer months! Now that you've hopefully gotten a break, here's your chance to meet other Journalists and get involved. It all begins with our September meeting. From there, you can pick and choose how you'd like to participate! The schedule below not only indicates our upcoming events, but what you need to do to get involved!

CAABJ General Body Meeting
Tuesday, September 18th at 7 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the Carabbas Restaurant on 1520 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203.
We hope to see you there!


Upcoming Events:

Thursday, September 6th, 7:30 p.m. CBS News Correspondent Byron Pitts to Visit JCSU, Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium at JCSU How can you help? Show up with your support!

Saturday, October 20th, noon Brief General Body Meeting, Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. Seventh Street, Charlotte

Saturday, October 20th, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. CAABJ Forum: Race 101: An Examination of Race and Education. Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. Seventh Street, Charlotte, How can you help? Call Chair, Ken Lemon if you can volunteer the day of the event: 704-564-0313

Fall School Semester: CAABJ Email Mentoring Program. Here's your chance to volunteer according to your own schedule. How can you help? If you'd like to be paired with a college student looking for a mentor, email us at charlotteaabj@gmail.com. Pairing will begin at the September 18th General Body Meeting

December, Date TBA: CAABJ Yearend Scholarship Mixer: We're celebrating the year that has past for CAABJ and everything that will happen in the future. And we'll award a book scholarship to a deserving college student. How can you help? Email Lindsay Pollard at lpollard@charlotteobserver.com to join the committee.