Each year, the Valley of the Sun SPJ chapter invites all Valley media, but particularly our valued members, to a party at a local watering hole within a day or two of the annual summer solstice. It’s a chance to get together and cool off on Phoenix’s longest day. We’re two days off this year from the actual June 20 solstice, Wednesday, June 22, when at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., we’ll gather in the Brewer’s Room at SunUp Brewing (appropriate for the day, no?) for some cool brews, hot talk and a few rounds of free appetizers, courtesy of your chapter’s generous board members.

So come to SunUp Brewing, 322 E. Camelback Road, a few steps from the Central/Camelback light rail line in uptown Phoenix, and quaff a few cold ones with us! Say you’re coming at our Facebook event page!

We’ll also take five minutes around 6:15-ish to elect our 2016-2017 chapter officers. This is essentially one-party rule, unless someone actually steps forward to challenge the slate* (which we’re officially ready to accommodate, although no one can remember the last time this has ever happened). After a voice vote we’ll immediately return to the festivities.

(*The slate: Amanda Ventura, freelance writer, president; Tim Eigo, Arizona Attorney magazine, vice president; Kaely Monahan, KTAR-FM, secretary; Teri Carnicelli, North Central News, treasurer.)

This is actually part of a nationwide simultaneous meetup held by SPJ chapters across the country called SPJ After Deadline. Technically, they’re doing it on June 21. But we are mavericks here in Arizona, so we’re having ours one day later. Like that name, SPJ After Deadline? Maybe we’ll participate again… and this time we might hold it on the same day our national organization planned.

Questions? Email our president, Amanda Ventura, mandaven5@gmail.com.