B O A R D M I N U T E S
Chicago Headline Club
Board of Directors Meeting
July 20, 2002
President’s annual planning meeting
Meeting called to order at 10:30 a.m.
Present: Molly McDonough, Steve Rynkiewicz, Rob Hess, Ed Cooper, Ben Bradley, Christine Tatum, Paula Brien, Andrea Darlas, Howard Dubin, Mary Myers, Cindy Dampier and Susan S. Stevens.
President’s report
Molly distributed a calendar for the coming year, noting that additions will be made. (Current calendar is an attachment to this. Also attached is CHC leader contact information. Please save them – you’ll need them!)
Meetings will remain at 8 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at Tribune Tower. Example: Aug. 14. However, the September meeting will be Sept. 4 to avoid conflicting with the national convention.
Four people will go to the SPJ national convention: Molly, Christine, Howard and Ben.
Molly said nominations are being accepted for lifetime achievement awards for still-living journalists. Guidelines will be developed.
Open board seat resulting from the resignation of Damon Adams was discussed. No conclusion.
Brownlee series
Chris distributed a tentative calendar of the October events, which she and associate CHC member Bill Perry have been working on. Two Poynter Institute instructors, one of them former Sun-Timesman Greg Favre, will do sessions. Mary Knoblaugh of the Tribune is being asked to do a session. Community Media Workshop probably will contribute. There also will be things for broadcasters, photographers and high school teachers. Ben, Andrea and Cindy also are working on Brownlee.
In addition to the workshops, book readings will be done in stores.
A special Wednesday Brown Bag, Oct. 16 or 23, might be for foreign journalists.
More bus tours of media sites will start in January.
Membership
Molly reported 377 members. Steve thinks it’s a little higher. It is the largest SPJ chapter because Washington’s shrank.
Treasurer’s report
Steve said we have $89,800 in assets. Growth is from increasing the Lisagor Contest entry fee. Eighty percent of our income is from Lisagor entries.
Group discussed setting up a foundation for tax-exempt status. Arthur Nielsen Jr. routed his $15,000 for the Brownlee Series through the SDX Foundation to get the tax break. Several board members noted this is cumbersome and might not always be an option.
FOI
Molly said Phil Kadner is writing editorial boards, asking them to press political candidates on open access.
Meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan S. Stevens
Secretary