This keynote address by President Herbert Lowe was taken from the
Region VII Conference at the Westin Oaks Hotel in Houston, Texas on March 13, 2004.

I greet you on behalf of the entire NABJ Board of Directors—an extraordinary team of dedicated members who from its first meeting in August has concentrated on doing what’s best for this association and, for you, the membership. As you know, a few are hear with us this weekend: Associate Representative Angela McClendon, Student Representative Caleb Wilkerson, Region III Director Elliott Lewis, and, of course, your regional director, Russell LaCour. Please show them your love.

I also want to recognize the past NABJ board members among us: John Hanson of Austin, James Campbell of Houston, and Cheryl Smith of Dallas-Fort Worth. Show them your love, too.

Now please show your love for NABJ’s executive director, Tangie Newborn. She has the challenging job of leading our national office staff back in Adelphi, Md. Two of our staff, Program Associate Kristie Jones and Student Services Associate Warren Paul, are here with us this weekend. Make no mistake, our staff works hard for NABJ—and for you. Anytime you have reason to call the office or see them at a conference or convention, let them know that you appreciate them.

Next, let’s honor those crucial to helping NABJ on the local level in this region—our chapter presidents—in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Tulsa. In the interest of time, I’d like every present and past chapter president in the room to stand so we can show them our love.

We’re not done yet. Thank you to our hosts, the Houston Association of Black Journalists, which is led by President Anthony Obi Ogbo, as well as the planning committee for this extraordinary regional conference, headed by Bernadette Brown and Rochelle Rucker. Show them your love.
Finally, I want to recognize every person here in this room today. The planners built this—but you showed up, looking good, ready for business and aiming for success. Give yourself a round of applause, and know that your presence here today is what NABJ is really about—"Embracing Diversity, Preparing Journalists for Tomorrow."

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