Chapter Entertains with dinner and discussions
The Lowcountry SPJ Pro Chapter is making progress as it continues its revitalization efforts in the South Carolina Lowcountry. The chapter recently introduced a new programming schedule, where local journalists meet the last Friday of each month to socialize and hear from entertaining and informative speakers.
About 20 people attended the first meeting where editor and publisher Bill Collins talked about his early newspapering days. He shared humorous stories from his book, "I Hate to Discommode You, But I'm on Deadline."
Once such tale recounts how Collins first decided the newspaper business was for him. He was 14 years old growing up in small town South Carolina. He had a part-time job delivering prescriptions. On one delivery, he rang the doorbell several times and no one answered. Just as he was getting ready to leave, the door opened and there stood a beautiful woman in a short, white nightgown. "I'm sorry," she said. "I was expecting the paperboy." The young Collins explained who he was, handed her the pill bottle and then decided he wanted to be in the newspaper business.
Collins handed out autographed copies of his book to everyone in attendance.

Around the globe
Two members of the East Tennessee SPJ Pro Chapter visited another SPJ member recently in Hong Kong. SPJ activist Dan Kubiske hung a SPJ banner in his home in Hong Kong when the group of travelers from Knoxville, Tenn., paid a visit. Georgiana Vines, 1992-93 national SPJ president and Jean Ash, an active chapter member, discussed journalism issues with Kubiske, a member of SPJ's International Journalism Committee, and his wife Lisa, political and economic chief for the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong. Hong Kong journalists and a representative from the Hong Kong Journalists Association also attended the reception.