Minutes of NINA Board of Directors Meeting Jan. 18. 2008
Board members present (14): John Etheredge, Kim Kubiak (2nd VP), Pete Nenni (1st VP), Sharon Boehlefeld (president), Mike Cetera, Colin O'Donnell, Dirk Johnson (executive secretary), Randy Swikle, Jim Killam (communications coordinator), Greg Rivara (past president), Pam Lannom, Jim Slonoff (treasurer), Lonny Cain, Wally Haas.
Board members absent (7): Josh Albrecht, Joe Corrado, Roger Ruthhart, Jay Dickerson, Penny Wiegert, Denise Renckens, Rick Nagel.
Guests present (3): Jason Schaumburg, Kristen Turner, Steve Ralston.
Boehlefeld called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m.
Minutes of the Dec. 7, 2007, board meeting were approved unanimously (Haas motion, Rivara second).
Treasurer's report: Slonoff reported a checking account balance
of $10,763.30 - NINA's highest in the past 15 years. Savings account balance
is $5.94. Expenses since October include $80 for newsletter printing, $494.76
travel reimbursement for Cory Powell, $590.81 for the annual board dinner
and $600 for Killam's annual stipend.
Reporte accepted unanimously (O'Donnell / Kubiak)
Executive secretary's report: Johnson encouraged board members to let him know of student internship possibilities, since he is helping to coordinate those for NIU journalism students. He also mentioned, as a conference or workshop idea, holding an event in downtown Chicago, possibly in partnership with the Chicago Headline Club.
President's report: Boehlefeld said an ad-hoc committee had come up with several recommendations for bylaws revisions. One is to remove the word "print" from NINA's mission statement. Another is to expand the opportunity for board membership to any NINA member in good standing (the standard currently says "regular" member). She recommended that NINA's definition of a board quorum remain at eight. And, she asked committee chairs to review the bylaws' lists of committee responsibilities and suggest any needed changes.
Program committee: Nenni said the committee reviewed a list of 20 program ideas and came up with the tentative theme, "Thinking different in a new world," for the April 25 Spring Conference. This would include both conceptual and hands-on sessions. The committee will start looking at potential presenters and be ready to announce something by late February.
Education committee: Kubiak asked the board to approve $1,200 for this year's scholarships for graduating high school seniors: $600 for first place, $400 for second and $200 for third. The board approved this request unanimously (Cetera / Etheredge).
Membership committee: Rivara is preparing a member survey, to gauge opinion on the annual contest, workshops, online resources and more. The survey will be done via e-mail and a service such as surveymonkey.com.
Resource committee / communication coordinator: Killam said the winter newsletter has been mailed and has been available online for several weeks. The next one is due in March.
Old business: Boehlefeld nominated seven board members for new three-year terms, expiring in December 2010. They are: Rivara, Cain, Haas, Lannom, Ruthhart, Swikle and Boehlefeld. The board approved unanimously (Slonoff / Etheredge).
Board member Josh Albrecht is resigning because he has taken a new job outside the newspaper industry.
Rivara reported that the Illinois Press Association thanked NINA for its support and offer of help in the matter of photographer access to IHSA championship events. The board directed he and Boehlefeld to draft a letter of complaint to the IHSA for its actions in denying access to several news photographers.
The board voted unanimously to increase Killam's annual stipend as communications coordinator from $600 to $1,000, starting in December 2008. This stipend will be reviewed annually. (Slonoff / O'Donnell)
New business: None.
Next meeting: Friday, March 21, in Campus Life Building, Room 100.
Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
Minutes submitted by Jim Killam,
communications coordinator, 1-22-08.
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