Mercyhurst College’s chapter of National Broadcasting Society (NBS) – Alpha Epsilon Rho will host the Freedom States Convention 2011 from Nov. 4-6.

This year’s convention is titled “The Lake Effect: Adapting to the Local Climate.”

According to its charter, National Broadcasting Society — Alpha Epsilon Rho consists of over 85 chapters on college, university, community college, and high school campuses and is a society for students and professionals.

NBS’s purpose is to encourage and reward student accomplishments, allow for meaningful networking between students and professional and to “foster integrity” in the use of broadcasting instruments and the associated businesses and industries.

NBS reflects an ever changing, complex industry.

Every year a regional convention is held that includes speakers, panel sessions and awards for categories in audio, video, papers and scripts for students involved in NBS.

During the 2010 convention at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Mercyhurst students requested to host the convention in 2011.

NBS Advisor and Communication Department professor, Dennis Lebec, said he first thought they would not be ready, but the students convinced him and proved that they were.

Alaina Rydzewski, Mercyhurst NBS President, explained that in the past the conferences have not been the most interesting and they are hoping to change that.

Mercyhurst is not only including the speakers, panel sessions and awards, but there will also be tours of local facilities, a photo scavenger hunt of Erie and a secret event for students.

Because regions have been reconstructed and broken into different divisions, many conventions are not happening this year. This is the first time an NBS conference will be in Erie, and the club’s extensive planning began in January 2011.

Rydzewski hopes this convention will inspire other regions to continue their conventions.

Lebec describes the members of NBS as a “really good group of industrious go-getters.” He continued to explain how this will show other chapters what they are doing, and it will showcase Erie.

Currently, the winners for this year’s competitions at the convention are unknown, but there are high hopes for Mercyhurst students.

In 2010, Rydzewski won an award for a music video and Joseph Pudlick, NBS vice president, was awarded “Rookie Member of the Year.”

The regional director has complimented Mercyhurst for working so hard and being ahead of any other school who has ever hosted.

“[It is] a very arduous task and all of the members have been doing a great job,” Lebec said. “Joe has gone above and beyond the call of duty.”

The Mercyhurst chapter of NBS anticipates over 100 students and faculty from the Mid-Atlantic, New England and some Mid-Western states to attend.