I went to my first Radio TV Correspondent's Dinner (also known as the "Junior Prom") back in 1987 when Ronald Reagan was the featured guest.

Back then, I sat a table in another zip code, and shared it with an elected official from suburban Washington, D.C. who later went to jail for corruption.

Twenty-two years later, I got to sit at the head table again, as I rotate off the RTV Executive Board, which is responsible for coordinating coverage rules for radio and TV reporters operating on Capitol Hill.

This year's dinner was in a new location, as we shifted from the Washington Hilton (known by locals as the Hinckley Hilton) to the new Washington Convention Center.

It is a very nice facility and I hope we get to go back there again.

Instead of sitting next to lawmakers, this year I got sandwiched between two flacks, as White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was on one side and the chief spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was on the other.

Gibbs had little of note to say, as he pecked away repeatedly at his blackberry before leaving early with the President.

That early departure was just one of several curveballs thrown at us at the last minute by the Obama White House, which left a number of us muttering less than nice things under our breath.

Usually, the President and/or Vice President attends our dinner, and comes about 45 minutes early for a special reception with board members like myself and selected big shots from the various TV and radio networks.

No matter who is in the White House, it is always very cool to get to shake the hand of the President or Veep, exchange a few pleasantries and then have your picture taken.

I had some good stories from my meetings with George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, so I looked forward to this reception.

Evidently Messrs Obama and Biden and their wives did not.

The day before our event, the White House let us know the reception wasn't happening. So instead of hand shaking and photos in a nice room, those of us at the head table got to meet the President back in the kitchen area behind the dais.

Instead of Obama, VP Biden and their wives, only Mr. Obama attended, and it was made to clear to us that he would be arriving late and leaving early. He did just that, heading out before dinner was served.

Obama zinged us during his remarks, observing that our dinner was second fiddle to the White House dinner, one reason we are called the Junior Prom.

Still, it was a good dinner. My advice to my colleagues was that next year, we shouldn't have it on a Friday night, and that we need to focus on getting lawmakers to be there.

Even if we are the Junior Prom.

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