October 1999 Region 6 Report

REGIONAL CONFERENCE UPDATE
The 2000 regional conference in Minneapolis could shape up to be a major event. Discussions are in progress to include programs from Investigative Reporters and Editors, National Press Photographers Association, a Taishoff broadcasting seminar and programs from the National Association of Television and the Arts, the group that gives out Emmy Awards. We are working with these groups to arrange speakers and programs. The regional will be April 14 and 15 at the Sheraton Minneapolis Metrodome.

CHAPTER PROGRAMS
The St. Thomas SPJ chapter hosted a panel discussion on Gov. Jesse Ventura and his relationship with the media. More than 80 people attended this lunchtime program and it made the metro section of the Minneapolis paper. The Minnesota chapter hosted an internship program for more than 100 students at KSTP-TV in St. Paul.

Please send me information about your programs so we can include them in the Region Report.

POST YOUR EVENTS
A reminder to send the dates and information of your SPJ programs to the Minnesota chapter Web page. It has the most extensive listing of journalism events around. E-mail calendar items to: mknaak@cloudnet.com.

DALGLISH TO D.C.
Former Region 6 director and national FOI chairwoman and Minnesota chapter president Lucy Dalglish will become the executive director of the Reporters Committee For Freedom of The Press in suburban Washington, D.C. She replaces Jane Kirtley, who is now at the University of Minnesota. Dalglish starts in January. You can read more on the Minnesota chapter Web page at www.mnspj.org.

NATIONAL CONVENTION POST-MORTEM
We had 657 total attendees in Indianapolis. National had planned for more.

Between sponsorships and registration fees, SPJ took in between $135,000 and $140,000. It’s going to take a while before we get all the bills in and paid so the net numbers won’t be available for a little while.

NEW NATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS
A number of new faces on both the SPJ and SDX boards: Welcome to Oren Campbell, Region 10 director, who succeeds Laurie Williams. David Aeikens, Region 6 director, succeeds Anita Weier. Lisa Rollins, Region 12 director, succeeds Bonna de la Cruz. Marcia Biggs, Region 3 Director, succeeds Lance Wallace. Kevin Koelling, campus representative-at-large succeeds Lisa Rollins. Jim Parker, news director at WOI-TV in Des Moines, won election as director-at-large, succeeding Staci Kramer, defeating longtime Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs Mac McKerral in the only contested election. Prof. Charles Davis of the University of Missouri becomes campus adviser-at-large, succeeding David Carlson. And Carlson becomes vice president for campus chapter affairs succeeding McKerral. Re-elected were regional directors Mark Scarp, Region 11 and Julie Asher, Region 2. At the top of the ticket: Kyle Elyse Niederpruem becomes SPJ President; Ray Marcano, moves into the President-elect slot; Al Cross is now the Secretary-Treasurer; and Wendy Myers is immediate past president. On the SDX board, we welcome Dori J. Maynard, communications director of the Robert J. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, and Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Law at the University of Minnesota (and former executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press). Re-elected to the SDX Board: June Almquist.

MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS
SPJ has 10,574 members, up 62 from the 10,512 reported Sept. 20.
Student member numbers are up by 111, but pro member numbers are down by 51.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Dec. 14 – Minnesota Pro Chapter hosts a holiday party at the home of its President-elect Judith Yates Borger.
April 14-15 Region 6 conference, Minneapolis.