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SPJ kicks off its national conventions by eating, drinking and spending money.

That's the shorthand recap of the opening reception, which was held Thursday evening in a museum within walking distance of the official convention hotel.

This year, we had a professional auctioneer to help get maximum bids for items. SPJers always give generously, though. The incentive this time was to raise money for a fund being created to honor SPJ's late executive director, Terry Harper.

As expected, tickets to Stephen Colbert's TV show and an autographed director's chair from the Watergate panel at the D.C. convention both brought top dollar.

I was interested in the stacks of final editions of numerous newspapers (I know - how depressing), but my only bid was topped by Steve Geimann.

With that, I joined the long list of people who have been outbid by Steve, a fantastic supporter of SPJ causes.