July 6, 2015
SPJ/LA Board of Directors Meeting MinutesMonday, July 6, 2015, 7 p.m.Louise’s Trattoria10645 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 Joel Bellman, Christina Cocca, Michael Fleeman, Dick Hendrickson, Elizabeth Marcellino, Navid Nonahal, Richard Saxton, Jeff Wald, Alice Walton, Robi Wax, Natalie Windsor, David Zahniser.
MINUTES – Wald moved to approve the June 2015 board minutes. Saxton seconded. Motion carried.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
SPJ Grant update: Nonahal reported that SPJ national provided a $250 grant for the July mega-mixer. The 8 Ball Foundation chipped in another $250. Saxton said other journalism groups may also contribute funds for the mixer. Nonahal said there’s no need to send out another advisory on the event, since there are already around 123 RSVPs.
Excellence in Journalism 2015: Nonahal reported that Dan Evans has expressed interest in being an attendee at the 2015 conference, which runs from Sept. 18 to Sept. 20. This year the L.A. chapter has four votes. Zahniser moved, and Bellman seconded, to designate Nonahal and Evans as representatives at the conference this year. The motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Hendrickson circulated the treasurer’s report. He reported that the Morgan Stanley account has been losing money — $101 two months ago and $198 this last month. Bellman asked if there is any explanation for the drop. Hendrickson said that his expectation is that the chapter will be told that we’re in it for the long term, and that markets go up and down. The good news, Hendrickson said, is that the scholarships came out of the chapter’s operating budget this year. That is an accomplishment, since the Morgan Stanley account normally provides that money, he said. Hendrickson also proposed the idea of authorizing a third board member to sign the chapter’s checks, in case both of the signers are out of town at the same time. After an extended discussion, Wald moved and Bellman seconded to designate Walton as the third signer. The motion carried.
STANDING COMMITTEES
Awards – No report.
Banquet – No report.
Courts – Marcellino provided an update on the committee’s inquiry into complaints about access at the federal courthouse. Marcellino said Laura Vega, the public affairs contact for the U.S. Marshal’s Office, informed her that yes, reporters are entitled to bring digital recorders into the courthouse but are prohibited from using them. Vega told Marcellino there have been some violations of that rule and as a result, security officers are overly cautious. Vega asked if SPJ/LA can inform its members about the rule – and the possibility that a violation can cause reporters to be banned from court permanently.
Vega also said that in one instance, a reporter was overly aggressive with a member of the public – possibly a juror -- about obtaining an interview. Security in that case was trying to keep that member of the public from being harassed. Walton said that her understanding is that it was a defendant, not a juror, who had been approached — and that the reporter has filed a formal complaint. Board members then asked about whether the courthouse bars the larger recording equipment that is carried by broadcast reporters. Marcellino agreed to contact Vega again to find out precisely what equipment may be carried into the federal court building. She will also ask Vega whether court officials are willing to post the rules for reporters in a visible location of the courthouse. Once that information is ascertained, a report will be issued for posting on the chapter web site.
Diversity – No report.
Ethics – No report.
FOI – Board members discussed plans for the September workshop event. Zahniser proposed a workshop that deals with the basics of data and spreadsheets – a 101-type workshop for reporters who are at ground zero in terms of skills.
Cocca said the nonprofit Investigative Reporting and Editors already provides such workshops, as well as an Excel pro who could probably lead it. Walton said data training provided to reporters at KPCC has been helpful. She offered to forward some contact information. Wax suggested contacting Doug Smith at the Los Angeles Times. Zahniser and Marcellino promised to reach out to potential trainers for the workshop and report back to the board.
Generation J – No report.
Membership – No report.
Nominations – No report.
Scholarships – No report.
OLD BUSINESS
“Booze and Board Games” mixer update: Nonahal reported the June 3 mixer had much better attendance than the previous month -- around 20 people at the Redwood. Walton said the entire room was packed. The next board game mixer will be in September.
NEW BUSINESS
Mega Mixer: Saxton provided another reminder of the July 7 event at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub.
Meeting space: Windsor raised the issue of the restaurant used for the monthly SPJ/LA board meeting. Windsor voiced frustration over the noise at Louise’s – and the fact that there’s no longer a curtain to reduce that noise. She recommended an exploratory effort to look at Luna Park at 6th and La Brea. They take separate checks.
NEXT BOARD MEETING – Sept. 8 at Louise’s, 7 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT – Walton moved, Marcellino seconded. Meeting was adjourned.