Members present (14): Pam Lannom (president), Jeannine Otto, Jim Killam (communications coordinator), Lois Self (executive secretary), Rick Nagel, Greg Rivara, Owen Phelps, Jim Slonoff (treasurer), Roger Rutthart, Lonny Cain, Colin O'Donnell, Tom Martin (first v.p.), John Etheredge, Lonny Cain.

Guests present (1): Ron DeBrock, director of marketing and communications, Illinois Press Association

Members absent (6): Joe Corrado (2nd v.p.), Wally Haas, Jan Larsen, Richard Parmater, Rich Rostron, Randy Swikle.

Lannom called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

August 8 board minutes approved (Cain motion / Ruthhart second)

Treasurer's report
Slonoff handed out statements showing a checking account balance of $2,497.55 as of Sept. 30. Pending deposits include dues from a couple of newspapers/groups, and $720 from the summer grammar workshop.
The savings account balance is $5.94.
Report approved unanimously (Nagel motion, Lannom second)

Executive secretary's report

• Self read a letter from board member Rich Parmater, who is resigning for health reasons.
• About 90 high school teachers attended the "new ideas in English and Communications" conference at NIU in September. Lannom, Self and Killam were among the presenters. Topics included first amendment issues for high-school newspapers, and a Q&A session for newspaper advisers. About 15 journalism teachers who attended expressed interest in another NINA-sponsored workshop for newspaper advisers.
• Self said she has accepted an extension of her department chair position through spring 2005, at which point she plans to retire from NIU. The university will conduct an in-house search for a new chair, beginning in spring 2004. Ruthhart mentioned that the NINA board should weigh in on that process at some point.
• NIU's journalism enrollments are up again this fall, especially in broadcast.
• NINA contest entries totaled about 40 more than last year's number.

President's report

• Minor bylaw changes will be voted upon Friday at a brief general membership meeting.
• Proposed board terms for 2004-5-6 were presented. Continuing members are Joe Corrado, Jan Larsen, Jim Slonoff, Lois Self and Rick Nagel. Approved unanimously (Phelps motion / Cain second)
• Two board vacancies exist - those of Ray Karges and Rich Parmater. Decisions on those seats were postponed until the Dec. 5 board meeting.
• Lannom presented the slate of officers for 2004. They are: Tom Martin, president; Joe Corrado, first vice president; Colin O'Donnell, second vice president; Pam Lannom, past president; Jim Slonoff, treasurer; and Lois Self, executive secretary. The board approved unanimously (Nagel motion / Cain second). Committee assignments will be made later by Martin.

New business
Slonoff recommended that, because of a successful financial year, $500 be added to both the high-school and college scholarship funds. The board approved (Nagel motion, Lannom second).

Next board meeting: Friday, Dec. 5, at the Northern Star office, Campus Life Building, NIU.

Minutes submitted by Jim Killam, communications coordinator, 10-29-03.

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