May 2, 2016

­­­SPJ/LA Board of Directors Meeting MinutesMonday, May 2, 2016 at 7 p.m.Louise’s Trattoria                                                            ­­10645 W. Pico Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90064Present: Joel Bellman, Stephanie Bluestein, Christina Cocca, Sarah Favot, Khalil Garriott, Richard Hendrickson, Elizabeth Marcellino, Navid Nonahal, Julia Seifert, Alice Walton, Roberta Wax, Natalie Windsor.I.               Approval of minutes from April 4 board meetinga.     Bellman moved to approve the minutes, Windsor seconded. The motion carried.II.             President’s report – Nonahala.     SPJ Region 11 conference recap – Nonahal said the national board is planning to decrease the number of regions from 12 to nine. If that happens, Utah will join us in Region 11. Nonahal said the online experience for new members joining is being improved. By next month, people should be able to join a chapter in one click when they try to join national, as per national president elect, Lynn Walsh. Sheriff Joe Arpaio was the keynote speaker. Other programs discussed included freelancer sessions, resume writing and mock interviews for students, and how to brand yourself.b.     SPJ national conference, Sept. 18-20, 2016 in New Orleans – Nonahal unable to attend, but Bluestein and Hendrickson will try to attend. Delegate/attendee decisions will be voted at the next board meeting.I.               Treasurer’s report – Hendrickson (via email)a.     Bank of America account balance as of 4/1/16 - $27.493.44. As of 5/1/16 – $25,425.80. Money still incoming from banquet.b.     Morgan Stanley as of 4/30/16 – $70,549.14c.     Approval of treasurer’s report incoming via email or next board meeting per PayPal possible discrepancy and banquet funds.d.     Windsor moved that chapter pays $24 to pay for replacement check stamp, Walton seconded. The motion carried.II.             Standing Committeesa.     Awards – Marcellinoi.     No reportb.     Banquet – Waltoni.     2016 Banquet recap – Preliminary report is that banquet income is around $10,000.  This year we sold ads in our program in place of holding a silent auction, which generated more money compared to the auctions held in the last few years. This year, we had three sponsors and four paid ads. We spent about $12,000 on the banquet, and we took in about $23,000 in revenue. However, these figures could change depending on the final bill from the venue. This year’s banquet made almost double the profit of last year’s banquet.ii.     Walton is following up with those who have outstanding payments.iii.     Due to the time taken up by speeches of honorees and those introducing them, Marcellino suggested reevaluating the number of honorees. The board discussed better streamlining the flow of people on stage for time purposes.c.      Courts – Marcellinoi.     No reportd.     Diversity – Flores/Hendricksoni.     No reporte.     Ethics – Bluestein/Hendricksoni.     No reportf.      FOI –Zahniseri.     No reportg.     Generation J – Boweni.     No reporth.     Membership – Marcellinoi.     Ad hoc membership committee – Marcellino/Nonahal1.     Committee hopes to tie down numbers of members that we have and increase that number. Zahniser is working to identify what medium members are working in to see if there is a trend for membership.2.     Committee will be targeting members who attended our banquet with a “Thank You” email, followed by another email suggesting membership.3.     Committee will look at national members and past honorees who are not local chapter members. Also looking into student members.4.     Committee is also hoping to find tools to make it easier to sign up online, which Nonahal said national is working to make that easier from national’s end.5.     Chapter hopes to track whose memberships are expiring soon so that we can keep them from leaving the chapter.6.     Windsor looking at benefits of national membership for members paying that fee.7.     Target of new membership goal is upcoming.i.       Nominations – Bellmani.     No reportj.       Scholarships – Audii.     Nonahal said Audi has release to go out about scholarships with some alterations to the dates for the deadlines and votes.III.           Old BusinessIV.            New Businessa.     May 4 karaoke mixer, Redwood – Peschiutta/Waltoni.     Nonahal encouraged board members to attend this upcoming event.b.     Video editing workshop, June 11 – Fleeman/Bluesteini.     Rescheduled from earlier date to June 11 final date.V.              Next board meeting: June 6 at Louise’s, 7 p.m.VI.              Adjournmenta.     Bellman moves to adjourn, Windsor seconded. The motion carried and meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted,Christina Cocca