Society of Professional Journalists
Minnesota Pro Chapter
Board of Directors meeting
April 14, 2008
Minnesota Monthly offices, Minneapolis
April 14, 2008 Meeting Minutes (PDF)
Board members present: Joan Gilbertson, president; Nicole Garrison-Sprenger, president-elect; Dave Beal, treasurer; Scott Theisen, secretary; Art Hughes, past president; Jane Kirtley, Alyssa Ford, Andrew Tellijohn, Jeff Achen, directors.
I. Treasurer’s Report
Last month Beal reported that a value of $20 was unaccounted for when we totaled the Page One entry fees. That $20 has been returned to us from the Detroit chapter, who found it included with our contest entries.
At the close of business on April 11 the chapter had $13,058 in checking, $17,149 in savings and $10,712 in the CD for a total of $40,919.
Over the next couple months there will be a cyclical downturn in assets because of spring/summer expenses and flow-throughs: Page One dinner and contest expenses, scholarship grants, funds we’re holding on behalf of the Silha Center for the ethics week event and monies we raised for the regional journalism conference last month.
Between the March 19 meeting and the April 14 meeting a motion was made by Gilbertson, seconded by Garrison-Sprenger, to pay a $125 deposit to reserve the Town and Country Club for the Page One banquet. The motion passed with a 10-0 vote by email.
II. Programs
A. Ethics - Wartime Journalism – Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Kirtley reported that the panel will include Eric Black, Gary Hill, Sharon Schmickle and Richard Sennott. The featured speaker will be Edward Wasserman, Knight Professor of Journalism Ethics, Washington & Lee University.
The board discussed having a sign made to promote the Page One banquet at the event, as well as at the upcoming Ethnic Media Training event. Ford will check into style and pricing options.
A motion was made by Theisen, seconded by Garrison-Sprenger, to spend up to $60 to have a sign made. The motion passed 8-0.
B. Ethnic Media Training- Tuesday, April 29.
The event is planned for April 29 at the Rondo Library in St. Paul. Hughes and Ford reported that there has been a positive response and a lot of interest in the event. Hughes will keep in touch with National and the trainer as we approach the event date.
C. Republican Convention
The board discussed possible options for something to do during the convention. Ideas range from giving out coffee mugs with the SPJ Code of Ethics to journalists to co-sponsoring an event for journalists. Board members will contact National for input on ideas and financial assistance. Also, we will check with the Humphrey Institute to find out what they have planned for the convention visitors, as we are interested in joining forces to help sponsor an event.
III. Page One- Thursday, June 12.
A. Both Ford and Hughes offered nominees for the Popovich award. The board briefly discussed the two nominees and will be prepared to make a decision at the May meeting.
B. Committees
-Trophies- Theisen and Lutz will coordinate with the trophy shop
-Certificates, programs and invites- Garrison-Sprenger will coordinate with the printer.
-Presentation- Achen will look into creating a PowerPoint presentation.
-Scholarships- the scholarship winners have been notified and invited to the banquet.
The board considered some suggestions on how to improve the banquet, which were sent to Garrison-Sprenger by a member. The board discussed reading names of only first-place winners and displaying the names and places of second and third place winners on the PowerPoint presentation in an effort to shorten the presentation. The board also considered displaying the work of winners on bulletin boards, as we have done in the past. Decisions on the event will be made as we move toward and prepare for the banquet.
IV. Election
The board discussed the upcoming elections for a vacated seat and several expiring terms. The election committee will work on getting things in order in time that ballots can be sent out by mid-May.
V. Other Business
-Gilbertson will begin working on the chapter’s annual report
-Beal will follow up on a notice the chapter received about an IRS electronic filing procedure.
The next meeting is set for May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Minnesota Public Radio.
The meeting adjourned on a motion by Theisen, seconded by Hughes.