Minutes of NINA Board of Directors Meeting
Members present (12): Colin O'Donnell (president), Rich Rostron (2nd VP), Roger Ruthhart, Sharon Boehlefeld, , Jim Killam (communications coordinator), Lois Self (executive secretary), Pete Nenni, Randy Swikle, John Etheredge, Rick Nagel, Penny Wiegert, Wally Haas.
Members absent (7): Greg Rivara (1st VP), Joe Corrado (past president), Pam Lannom, Tom Martin, Jim Slonoff (treasurer), Jay Dickerson, Lonny Cain.
Guest present: Steve Ralston, chair, NIU department of communication
O'Donnell called the meeting to order at 10 a.m.
Minutes of the Jan. 20 board meeting were approved.
Treasurer's report:
Slonoff was absent, but e-mailed that "We have money and will continue
to have money." Full report coming at the June 23 meeting.
Executive secretary's report:
Self asked Ralston to update the board on the NIU journalism faculty searches.
Bill Cassidy, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater,
has accepted one of the positions. Negotiations are ongoing with a candidate
for the other spot.
Self asked for comments about a possible change of contest-period dates, to coincide with dates used by the Illinois Press Association. Awards presentation would remain at the Fall Conference, but the deadline for submissions might be moved earlier in the summer for administrative purposes. The new contest period being considered is May 1, 2005, through April 30, 2006. Also suggested by board members was a contest period of June 30 through June 30. There was no clear board consensus on the changes, so Self said the Communication Department will decide in two weeks. She encouraged anyone with an opinion on the matter to contact her at lself@niu.edu.
President's Report
O'Donnell read a letter of resignation from board member Tom Martin of the
Galesburg Register-Mail. The board accepted the resignation with regret
and approved a motion expressing appreciation for Tom's years of service
to NINA. (Self motion / Etheredege second)
Program Committee Report:
O'Donnell, for Rivara, said the Spring Conference is set for April 28 at
the Daily Herald, with a theme of improving newspaper Web sites. The workshop
is being co-sponsored by the Illinois Press Association. Full information
is available in the newsletter and online.
Nenni said preliminary discussions are under way for the Fall Convention topic.
Education Committee Report:
Rostron said the grammar workshop is planned for June 16 at NIU. Tom Johnson
of the Aurora Beacon News will be the presenter.
Etheredge said NINA received 43 scholarship applications from high school seniors - the second-highest number ever. Judging will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, April 7, at the Aurora Beacon News. Board members are encouraged to help out.
It was suggested that the NINA newsletter feature a story sometime about past scholarship winners. Killam said he would work on that this summer.
Swikle showed that day's Northwest Herald. The lead story was about the Huntley High School newspaper being censored by the interim superintendent after pressure from a school board member who was about to be criticized in a student-written editorial. The board agreed to have Killam write a letter on its behalf to the Northwest Herald and the Daily Herald, in support of the students' rights. (Note: Both papers printed the letter over the weekend, in advance of a special school board meeting Monday.)
Membership Committee Report:
No report.
Resource Committee / Communication Coordinator Report:
Killam said three workshops for high-school journalism advisers are being
planned for Friday, Sept. 29. Tentative sites are the Rockford Register
Star, The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights and the Beacon News in Aurora.
More later on this.
Old Business
None.
New Business
None.
Next board meeting: Friday, June 23, 2006, at the Northern Star, NIU.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
Minutes submitted by Jim Killam, communications
coordinator, 3-27-06.
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