Council & Chapter Meetings
SATW Council & Chapter Meetings are held a minimum of once annually at a destination suitable for story material for our working members. In addition, an Annual Meeting is held in conjunction with the SATW Annual Conference. During our meetings, professional development sessions are available to our members, as are tours provided by the host and the opportunity for individual research.
RECENT MEETING SITES
Sep 2013: Atlantic City, NJ
June 2012: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Jan 2012: Tel Aviv, Israel
Jun 2011: Fiji
Feb 2010: Thailand
Host Benefits
The most high-profile benefit of hosting the SATW meeting is the public relations value attached to media highlighting the host destination. Since members contribute to a broad range of outlets, your message can reach millions of potential travelers. In addition to this publicity, your staff and your destination partners have the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with experts who influence the decisions of the traveling public daily. Many of our Active members have significant social media followings, and will share information about your destination with their followers during their visit.
Destination Selection
SATW meetings are not restricted geographically. Meetings take place both domestically and abroad. Our top considerations for destination selection are:
*Attractiveness of overall package, with emphasis on story-gathering opportunities for members;
*Pricing;
*Accessibility;
*Host’s enthusiasm and interest in meeting SATW’s needs and goals.
A core meeting is typically five days, four nights. Optional pre- and post-tours of three to four days in nearby areas are strongly encouraged.
Attendance at past Council and Chapter meetings have ranged from 25 to 110. More attendees may be allowed if the host has the ability to provide lodging and transportation, but we expect around 50 people to attend each meeting.
Only Freelance Council members may attend our meetings. Spouses, significant others, and children are not permitted. These are working trips for working journalists.
Freelance Council members pay a registration fee to attend (both for the core meeting and additional for pre- or post-tours). The host generally covers the costs of airfare from assorted gateways in North America (most members live in the continental U.S. and Canada, but a few also live in Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Caribbean); transfers; meals; touring; all appropriate tips, taxes, and gratuities related to the meeting itinerary; and individual hotel rooms for each participant. SATW members married to each other will share one room.
Meetings are typically held twice a year: winter (usually January-March) and spring/summer (usually May-July). Other dates can be considered.
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
