March 2, 2015

SPJ/LA Board of Directors Meeting AgendaMonday, March 2, 2015. 7 p.m.Louise’s Trattoria10645 W. Pico Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90064In attendance: Stephanie Bluestein, Christina Cocca, Michael Fleeman, Dick Hendrickson, Elizabeth Marcellino, Frank Mottek, Navid Nonahal, Richard Saxton, Lori Streifler, Jeff Wald, Alice Walton, Roberta Wax, Natalie Windsor, David Zahniser.I. Approval of minutesMottek made a motion to approve the minutes for the Feb. 9 board meeting. Cocca seconded. The minutes were approved.II. President's reportSPJ/LA checking account/Morgan Stanley account update: Nonahal reported that she made it to Bank of America, with Hendrickson, to change the names on the chapter’s checking account. Bellman’s name is now removed and both she and Hendrickson are named as signers.III. Treasurer’s reportHendrickson circulated the treasurer’s report. He said the bank debited SPJ/LA’s account for $125 to balance out a duplicate deposit. Hendrickson said he did not realize that some of the checks turned over to him had been previously deposited.Hendrickson also requested the board’s permission to have an ATM card for the account that would allow only deposits, not withdrawals. Windsor made a motion to allow such an arrangement and Saxton seconded. The motion carried unanimously.Nonahal asked about a figure listed for the chapter’s Morgan Stanley account. Walton made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, with a correction to the January Morgan Stanley balance to indicate $69,291.19 instead of $62,291.19. Windsor seconded. The motion carried.IV. Standing CommitteesAwards – No report.Banquet – Walton updated the board on the banquet preparations, noting that City News Service, Cerrell Associates and others had reserved tables. She asked everyone to please RSVP and encourage others to do the same. The event is set for March 26 at the Universal Hilton.Walton asked if it was normal to be under booked in the weeks before the event. Wax said yes, and went into the mechanics involved in preparing for a last minute set of signups. The board also discussed work on the program, the auction, and the script.Courts – No report.Diversity – No report.Ethics – Bluestein and Cocca discussed the committee’s work in putting together the April 16 ethics panel. Cocca said it might be better to have a mix of panelists, not just lawyers, as proposed during the prior board meeting. NBC’s Andrew Blankstein has already agreed to participate. Saxton said he would see if he could track down TMZ’s Harvey Levin.FOI – Zahniser reminded the board that the FOI panel on the use of drones in journalism is scheduled for March 11 at KPCC’s auditorium.Generation J – No report.Membership – No report.Nominations – No report.Scholarships – No report.V. Old BusinessFeb. 25 Mixer recap – Saxton reported that SPJ/LA had a great mixer featuring LA Times columnist Steve Lopez at Traxx in Union Station. The event was well attended. A few people did grouse about parking.VI. New BusinessStan Chambers’ memorial. Walton reported that SPJ/LA has been asked to participate with the LA Press Club’s March 12 memorial for Stan Chambers, the longtime journalist with KTLA who passed away earlier this year. SPJ/LA would help cover the cost of food, drinks and flowers. Wald said it would be nice to have SPJ/LA involved, since the family probably doesn’t want to have to do four separate memorials.Mottek made a motion to provide up to $250 for the event, and Bluestein seconded. The motion was approved.April 8 mixer: Nonahal reported that April 8 will be the first installment of Claudia Peschiutta’s “Booze and Board Games” night, held at the Redwood in downtown LA. The mixer for May 6 is still to be determined.Next board meeting: April 13 at Louise’s, 7 p.m.Adjournment. Wald made a motion to adjourn. Zahniser seconded. The motion carried.