June 5, 2017
SPJ/LA Board of Directors Meeting AgendaMonday June 5, 20177 p.m.Louise’s Trattoria10645 W. Pico Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90064Attendance: Joel Bellman, Stephanie Bluestein, Christina Cocca, Sarah Favot, Richard Hendrickson, Irene Moore, Navid Nonahal, Lori Streifler, Alice Walton, Roberta Wax, Natalie WindsorBluestein called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.I. Approval of minutes from April 3 and May 1 board meetingsWindsor moved to accept April 3 meeting minutes, seconded by Wax. Cocca and Walton abstained. Approved.Bellman moved to accept May 1 meeting minutes, seconded by Favot. Nonahal, Wax, Streifler, Walton, Windsor and Moore abstained. Approved.II. President’s report – Bluesteina. Annual reportBluestein reported the Chapter’s annual report was submitted to the national headquarters on time. The Chapter held 19 programs/projects last year that were included in the annual report. The Immigration panel that was held on Feb. 23 was selected as our “Program of the Year.” We had all the required events for Ethics, FOI, and Diversity. FOI programs were our most robust. We had three FOI related-programs and lobbied for FOI on four different occasions. Cocca attended the SPJ/Scripps Leadership Training Seminar. We offered a variety of robust programming last year, including a video-editing workshop and several discussion panels and had fewer mixers. Our membership fell last year. We are at 140 members, down from 174 the previous year. Bluestein thanked Favot for her help in preparing the annual report.III. Treasurer’s report – HendricksonHendrickson reported that the BofA balance as of May 1, 2017 was $37,116.85, and as of June 1 is $37,626.47. A total of $207.84 in invoices are owed in accounts receivable. The balance on the books as of June 1 is $37,418.63. The Morgan Stanley balance as of June 1 is $72, 071.73 which includes a gain of $289.15 from the previous month.a. 2016 taxesNonahal reported we submitted our financial report to our CPA. We are in good standing with the IRS and we asked for an extension and filed within the extension deadline. Nonahal said our Bank of America account shows a loss $3,085.94 for 2016, but that is because the Chapter paid $8,500 to the Omni Hotel in 2016 for the 2017 banquet that took place on Jan. 26, 2017. In actuality, we had a gain of $5,414.06 in 2016.Hendrickson reported David Dow, Connie Ho and Jeff Wald reviewed our financial records and they signed off and was included in our Chapter’s annual report, which was sent to national.Wax moved and Windsor seconded to receive the April and May Treasurer’s Reports. Approved.IV. Standing/Ad Hoc Committeesa. Awards – Moore/StreiflerNo report.b. Banquet – WaltonNo report.c. Courts – MarcellinoBellman reported that Marcellino reached out to him with a concern through Seifer at ABC7 about a judge in Orange County Superior Court that allows video in court but no audio. The judge is presiding over the Scott Dekraai jailhouse informant scandal. Walton suggested doing a joint letter with RTNA and the Press Club. We will write back to ABC 7 and say we will support working with RTNA.d. Diversity – Arias/NonahalNo report.e. Ethics – Bellman· Plans for June 22 eventThe Association confirmed they will host us for our Ethics panel on whether journalists can be activists. A press release will be sent tomorrow. Three panelists who have confirmed are Carla Hall, editorial writer at the LA Times; Mark Cooper alternative journalist and author and blogger former editor at HuffPo; and Efenel Arzacon-Barker, an Asian TV journalist. Bellman will moderate. Admission is free and there is no charge to the chapter to use the location. The event will run from 7-9 p.m. Secure, paid parking is nearbyf. FOI – ZahniserNo report.g. Generation J – BluesteinNo report.h. Membership – NonahalNonahal reported we had 174 members last year at this time, now we’re at 140. However, we’re not sure if we have accurate numbers because national has been updating their data and has changed systems. We don’t have access to information we would normally have on national’s website. We’ve been in touch with the leadership committee and they’ve sent us some reports. The Membership Committee is planning to meet within next few weeks. We’ve asked national to send us the names of California members who aren’t affiliated with a local chapter. We’re planning to send hand-written letters to people whose membership has lapsed. Marcellino said 14 people from a previous roster used to be part of our membership, but aren’t showing on the latest roster. They might have renewed chapter membership, but haven’t paid local chapter dues. Membership is also down at the national level as well as local chapters around the country. At the committee meeting, they will try to come up with ideas to increase Chapter membership. The biggest challenge is getting accurate roster lists. Wax suggested contacting the student chapters to encourage them to reach out to graduating college students and reach out to journalism department chairs.i. Nominations – FavotNo report.j. Regional Conference– Hendrickson and FavotFavot reported the regional conference ad-hoc committee met before the regular board meeting and discussed proposals from five different hotels to host the 2018 Regional Conference on April 27-28, 2018. They zeroed in on three hotels in the Universal City/Glendale/Pasadena area that they are going to get more details on so for comparison’s sake. Findings will be discussed by conference call and a recommendation to the board will be made via email to vote on sometime before the July meeting.k. Scholarships – Audi· Scholarship application deadline: June 9We’ve been doing outreach, so far, we only have two applications submitted. We will consider moving back the deadline to get more applicants.V. Old Businessa. Re-cap on May 17 media literacy event at L.A. City College– Marcellino (including voting on provisional expenditure for A/V equipment)Bluestein reported there were approximately 40 attendees, including students, a librarian from LA City College and other attendees. The panelists were excellent and had different perspectives. We had radio, TV and print fields represented. We weren’t able to live-stream it on Facebook as we had hoped because the Wi-Fi signal was too weak.Bellman moved and Windsor seconded to approve the expenditure for $200 for AV equipment for the media literacy event. Approved.b. Mega-mixer—July 11 – SaxtonBluestein reported on behalf of Saxton, who was absent. Saxton has secured parking near the event. Saxton has reached out to Asian American Journalists, Online News Association, Black Journalists Association, CCNMA, JAWS, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, Press Photographers, Radio and TV News Association, 8 Ball Welfare Foundation and AP TV and Radio Association. It will cost $500 for the room rental and we’re estimating $300 will be spent on food. There will be a no host-bar. The costs will be split among the journalism groups that participate. AAJA and ONA have committed to $150 each. Press Club and National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association declined to contribute. We’ve received no reply from Press Photog, JAWS, 8 Ball, RTNA, and CCNMA. Nonahal said in the past, we’ve allowed groups to participate even if they couldn’t pay. We’ll also reach out to IRE. We’ll send a press release next week.VI. New Businessa. Approval of delegates for national conventionTypically, our delegates are chapter president, plus another board member. We’ll have three delegates at the upcoming convention. Nonahal said she will be attending and would be willing to be a delegate. Walton suggested sending an email to the entire board asking if anyone is interested in being a delegate for members who are not present.b. Approval of convention expenses for chapter presidentBluestein said she is planning on staying three nights in Anaheim.Nonahal moved to pay Bluestein’s expenses for the national conference for registration and hotel, Bellman seconded. Approved.Bluestein reported that Connie Ho is interested in putting together a mixer on the Wednesday night before the national conference.C. Windsor, joined by the board, congratulated Bluestein for receiving tenure at CSUNVII. Next board meeting: Monday, July 10 at Louise’s, 7 p.m.VIII. AdjournmentWindsor moved, seconded by Wax to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. Approved.Respectfully submitted,Sarah Favot