Association News

Toyota's hybrid Prius is already a common sight in commuter heavy places like D.C. and L.A., but have you gotten to drive one yet? Toyota and a number of its hybrid, alternative fuel and future technology experts will be available to answer questions during the convention. Green and environmental reporters take note: The company's interactive exhibit will feature a full array of current model Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles -- the­ Prius, Camry and Highlander -- that can be taken for a test ride or drive. To sign up for the hybrid ride and drive experience, talk to the reps staffing the Toyota booth in the trade show.

It feels like the late 90's again here at AAN! As of this afternoon, there are approximately 580 members, non-members and exhibitors registered for this year's convention in Portland, which is now only one week away. We haven't seen numbers like this since the Phoenix convention in 2000. For a list of member and non-member registrants as of May 30, download this PDF.

And we won't make you blog to qualify! If you were registered for the convention as of last week, be on the lookout for a Willamette Week envelope. For inside that envelope is a TriMet ticket good for a Max train ride from PDX to downtown Portland. The train leaves the airport every 15 minutes; after a 29-minute ride, it'll drop you at Pioneer Square, which is two blocks south of the Hilton.

Portland's Alma Chocolate will provide the sweet, sweet reward for 2007 AAN attendees who contribute to the convention blog at Portland2007.AAN.org. Post thoughts on a session, a guest speaker, nightlife or your Portland adventures, and take home a chocolate concoction by Alma. Or just email your convention pictures to Photos *at* AAN *dot* org - be sure to include your name in the body of your email as a photo credit. Blog participants who've earned their cocoa will be listed in the "Chocolate Winners!" column of the blog. Alma Chocolate can also be found on Saturday's Farmers Market tour [see convention events].

The election will be held during the association's annual meeting on Saturday, June 16. Current members of the board have indicated their intention to run for nine of the open seats. Other AAN members who are interested in running for the board should contact executive director Richard Karpel at 202/289-8484 or rkarpel at aan.org.

As veteran attendees know, the trade show exhibit hall at the AAN Convention is the best place in the world to grab an armful of alt-weeklies. If you want your papers included in this magnificent spread of profane tabloids, you'll need to ship them to arrive by Wednesday, June 13, to the following address: AAN Convention Newspaper Display, Pacific Exposition Decorating Company, 2737 NW Nela Street, Portland, OR 97210. (If your shipper needs a phone number, it's 503-417-8000.) You can send as many papers as you like, but 25 to 50 are generally sufficient. And, yes, remaining papers will be recycled.

Oregon's senior senator, known for his interest in health care, technology and natural-resources issues, will address convention delegates the morning of Saturday, June 16. Before his election to the Senate in 1996, Wyden served 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a vote earlier this month, Wyden cosponsored the Feingold-Reid amendment calling for the mandated redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. In 2002, the Democrat was one of only 23 senators who voted against the authorization of military force in Iraq.

That's the question that will be answered in a classified-track session led by Move.com’s Adam Fine, who will talk about how the web has reshaped the ways people think about buying, selling and valuing properties. Fine will also demonstrate how the web has made real estate a voyeuristic pastime.

Earlier this month, AAN presented the first annual Molly Ivins Award to MSNBC host Keith Olbermann. During the AltWeekly Awards lunch on Friday, June 15, author and radio commentator Hightower will help us to continue to celebrate the memory of his late friend and fellow Texan with a rousing tribute.