B O A R D M I N U T E S
Chicago Headline Club
Board of Directors Meeting
April 25, 2006
President Meg Tebo called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m.
Present: Meg, Bonnie McGrath, Deborah Cohen, Phil Potempa, Michelle Stevens, Howard Schlossberg, Abdon Pallasch and Susan S. Stevens.
President’s report:
Meg said Lisagor income and expenses are still being tallied. Final figures from the hotel are not in.A post-mortem meeting will be held in a couple of weeks. Volunteers are invited. Lisagor has become so big it is too much for volunteers alone. Should we hire a contest coordinator? An events coordinator?
The silent auction and basket-passing raised about $2,200 for New Orleans Times-Picayune staffers who are still suffering financially from Hurricane Rita. We will deduct our expenses and then match the contributions, sending a little more than $4,000 to New Orleans.
SPJ Convention programs are being pulled together pretty well.
The Thursday night opening reception is still unplanned. River East Arts Center on Illinois Street? House of Blues? Give suggestions to Ben Bradley, Meg or Chris Vachon. We need space for 200-250. Jason suggested the arts center, but noted that we’d need to decorate an empty space. Susan suggested we ask the Chicago History Museum, Chicago Journalists Association and Museum of Broadcast Communications if any of them can put together displays from their archives. (By e-mail later, she suggested Billy Goat’s at Navy Pier for the venue.)
National was hoping to raise $100,000 in donations. So far, it has about 10 percent.
Jason has been looking into much-needed stationery. He would like authorization to spend up to $4,000 for letterhead, envelopes, notepads, mailing labels and generic CHC business cards. Susan motioned and Phil seconded authorization. Motion passed.
Membership:
Deb said we have about 413.
She noted the new merchandise website, via headlineclub.org, reflects the new logo on shirts, hats, totes, mouse pads, mugs. It looks pretty good.
Slate:
Meg on Jason’s behalf presented the slate for the coming year. Everyone is firm except for Jerry Campagna and Andy Schneider, who have not responded.
President:Jason Jedlinski, Fox News Chicago
VP Programs, President-elect:Kristen McQueary, Daily Southtown
VP Membership:Karen Cullotta, Roosevelt University
Treasurer:Howard Dubin, Manufacturers’ News
Secretary:Susan S. Stevens, Southeast Chicago Observer
Immediate Past President:Meg Tebo, ABA Journal
Directors through June 2007:
Jerry Campagna, Reflejos Publications
Deborah Cohen, Reuters America
Sandy Jones, Crain’s Chicago Business
Julia McEvoy, Chicago Public Radio
Abdon Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times
Howard Schlossberg, Columbia College
Andrew Schneider, Bugle Newspapers
Michelle Stevens, Chicago Sun-Times
Directors through June 2008:
Jacqueline Fitzgerald, Chicago Tribune
Christian “Fuzz” Hogan, CNN
Suzanne McBride, Columbia College
Bonnie McGrath, attorney/freelance
Jon Seidel, Post-Tribune
Jennifer Vanasco, Chicago Free Press
Brian Wellner, Hyde Park Herald
Meg will serve as freedom of information committee chair with Phil Kadner and Bob Roberts aiding. 2007 directors are already on the board, so the vote is on 2008 directors plus the officers. Art Menke is or will move to a new job in Kansas City. We will miss him. Abdon moved and Howard seconded approval of the slate.
Membership meeting to approve the slate will be at 6 p.m. May 24 at Harry Caray’s. The board might meet earlier, perhaps 5:30. Stay tuned.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan S. Stevens
Secretary