Minutes of the NINA Board meeting
March 20, 2009
Northern Star, NIU-DeKalbBoard members present (13): Pete Nenni (President), Kristen Schmidt, Roger Ruthhart, John Etheredge, Jim Killam (communications coordinator), Sharon Boehlefeld (past president), Denise Renckens Olszewski (2nd VP), Lonny Cain, Rick Nagel, Dirk Johnson (executive secretary), Mike Cetera (1st VP), Randy Swikle, Jason Akst.
Members absent (7): Wally Haas, Jim Slonoff (treasurer), Pam Lannom, Jason Schaumburg, Joe Corrado, Colin O'Donnell, Penny Wiegert.
Nenni called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m. (the previous committee meetings ran a bit long)
Minutes of the Jan. 23 board meeting were unanimously approved (Boehlefeld motion/Akst second).
Treasurer's Report: None (Slonoff absent).
Executive Secretary's Report: Johnson said he hope to assemble a panel discussion in Chicago this June, similar to the one held in June 2008. The topic will be ethics-related. Thursday evening, June 11, is the potential date. NINA will try to work with the Chicago Headline Club again in planning and marketing the event.
President's Report: Nenni is seeking a new board member to take the place of Greg Rivara, who resigned in January. Several names and newspapers were suggested; he hopes to have a nominee by the next meeting. The term expires at the end of 2010.
Program Committee Report: Cetera said the April 24 Spring Conference will focus on "Embracing Change in Today's Challenging Media Environment." Two speakers already have been identified: Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune and Barbara Vitello of the Daily Herald. The committee also will invite a third speaker - a business person or business educator. Registration fee will be $20. Details soon. Effort also will be made to attract NIU journalism students.
Education Committee Report: Renckens said two workshops are tentatively planned - a live seminar in June, possibly on a Thursday morning, and a webinar in November offer a long lunchtime. Potential topics include staff morale, making your job indispensable, cross training (particularly reporters and photographers) and how to search for a journalism job.
Also, Etheredge said 26 applications were received for the journalism scholarships for high school seniors. Final judging will take place starting at 9 a.m. Friday, April 10, at the Beacon News in Aurora (495 N. Commons Drive). Board members are encouraged to help with the judging that day.
Membership Committee Report: Boehlefeld set a June target date for conducting an online survey of members to determine what sorts of training and programs they would like NINA to provide in the next several years. Anyone with suggestions for survey questions should contact her.
Resource Committee / Communication Coordinator Report: Killam hopes to have the quarterly newsletter finished and mailed by late next week.
Old Business: None.
New Business: Swikle updated the board on several current cases involving free-expression right of high school journalists. The most recent involves Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, where new prior-review policies are being instituted after the paper published a controversial story.
Swikle also is working with the Journalism Education Association to develop a protocol for a free and responsible student press.Next Meeting: Friday, June 26, at the Northern Star.
Meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
Minutes submitted by Jim Killam, communications coordinator, 3-23-09.
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