June 12 2006 board meeting minutes

June 12, 2006, board meeting minutes

Attendance: Bacha, Ball, Beathard, Davis, Hepler, Hoke, Jasper, Kiefer, Kostyu, Lorz, Meyer, Monnin, Richards, Richter, Williams

Also in attendance, Matt Burns, a summer intern for Business First

President Brian Ball called the meeting to order at 12:08 p.m.

Minutes approved: The board approved a motion by David Richter, seconded by Paul Kostyu, to approve the minutes from the May meeting that secretary Kirk D. Richards prepared.

Financial report: The checking account at Fifth Third Bank has $3,832.84. The Vanguard accounts have $35,499.92.

Programming: First Vice president Mike Lorz said he wants to establish a programming committee meeting. Debra Jasper agreed to serve on it and noted that there would be interest in programs on election coverage.

Mike said he is looking to work with John Long of the Free Press Museum in Fredericktown. He also plans to work with the bar association for its Media Law Conference. Mike would like to do a reception with the Kiplinger students Debra leads as the director of that program.

Mike also is looking to do a professional development and diversity program. He noted that there could be interest in a program on how to cover the substantial Somali population, which stands at more than 50,000 in central Ohio and continues to grow.

Paul suggested that a program could focus on immigration issues that would include the Somalis and others.

Robin Hepler noted that Columbus has two Latino newspapers: La Voz Hispana and Fronteras de la Noticia.

Mike said it is important to draw people in through the programs, noting that the chapter has had a turnover of 60 members the past three years. He suggested that the chapter consider hosting a past-presidents event. Gary Kiefer noted that five of the past presidents sit on the board: Joe Meyer, Paul, Robin, Sarah Mills Bacha and himself.

Chapter contributes to General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA At Brian’s request, the chapter approved a motion by Paul, seconded by Joe, to pay up to $200 for refreshments toward the event that the chapter is co-sponsoring.

Founders Day: David reported that the auction brought in $1,650. Income from the dinner was $1,215, although the figure includes $216 that The Columbus Dispatch owes and presumably will pay. Of the 53 attendees, 45 were required to pay for dinner.

The chapter spent $1,334.09 for the meals and other costs associated with using the OSU Golf Course restaurant.

David further stated the chapter almost always takes a loss on the dinner and recommended that the board increase the price by $2 to make it $29 for entry. It was $25 prior to this year’s event.

Auction receipts were down because fewer people were attending and because we had only two sets of OSU football tickets donated as opposed to five or six sets from previous years. That’s a loss of $600 or more. Marty Rozenman had good contacts with OSU’s athletic department during the tenure of previous director Andy Geiger, David said. The goal is to establish new relationships there now that Gene Smith is in charge.

David also noted that everyone he has spoken to likes the OSU Golf Course setting and that the meal prices are reasonable and that the cooperation is good. There is room to set up the auction. There is plenty of free parking. It’s easy to get to. The speaker’s fame or infamy is the critical factor in drawing a crowd, he said.

Membership: Second Vice President Jennifer Monnin said she is seeking the names of organizations that could help us identify potential members.

Jennifer noted that there are probably a number of free-lance journalists out there that we don’t know about. Given that, the chapter ought to consider a program designed specifically to draw them out, she said.

Joe noted that the chapter receives a list of national SPJ members who work in the area but are not paying dues to the local.

Jennifer Monnin suggested that someone write little stories on events that the chapter does. Jennifer Davis noted that former chapter president Joe McKnight used to do that after retiring from the board.

Debra recommended the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association as a potential source for members.

Board supports Cadwallader’s candidacy: The board approved a motion by Joe, seconded by David, to send out a resolution in support of former chapter president Bruce Cadwallader, who is a candidate for president-elect of SPJ national.

Members agreed it would be best to distribute the resolution to other chapter presidents and delegates, who will vote.

SPJ national convention: The board approved a motion by Joe, seconded by David, to name Brian as the delegate and Mike as the alternate to vote on the chapter’s behalf at the convention in Chicago.

The board approved a motion by David, seconded by Joe, to pay for Brian’s trip expenses and to pay the registration for Mike.

Ohio SPJ: Brian said that it appears that Ohio SPJ leaders are doing things without keeping the central Ohio chapter in the loop. For instance, Ohio SPJ approved for paying for contest judges out of the contest entry fees without consulting with Columbus, he said.

David noted that our chapter is overdue for having a turn to host the statewide awards. The last time the chapter hosted the awards was during the administration of Chuck Nelson for an event held at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café.

SPJ Thursdays: David recommended that we not hold any more of these during the summer months given that only three showed up to the last one. All three in attendance were board members. David said he is disappointed in the overall response to the effort and said the board needs to discuss whether the series should return in the fall.

Adjournment: The board approved a motion by David, seconded by Jane Beathard, to adjourn at 12:58 p.m.