CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB
Board of Directors meeting
Monday, March 9, 2009
Present: Jon Seidel, Deb Cohen, Howard Dubin, Hillary Sizemore, Tony Noce, Beth Konrad, Jane Hirt, Micah Maidenberg, Tim Inklebarger, Dawn Reich, Susan Stevens, Kristen Schorsch, Suzanne McBride, Bonnie McGrath, Abdon Pallasch, Kathy Catrambone, Susan S. Stevens.
President Dawn Reiss called the meeting to order at 8 a.m.
Minutes from Feb. 9 meeting were approved after Suzanne McBride requested they reflect that Kathy presented the financial report.
Board approved Dawn’s nomination of Micah to be a board member and interim membership vice president.
Web Action Committee launched the new site the previous weekend. Hillary says it went without a hitch; analytics show hits from all over and people spending a lot of time on it. “It’s the start of something really important.” She asks for volunteers to help keep it fresh. Kristen will moderate forums, Jon provide the newsletter. Training sessions coming up.
Programs: Poynter and ethics was coming up. Beth reported 101 RSVPs (the number grew considerably). Everyone but the Sun-Times was sending representatives (the paper did send someone).
Lifetime: Fran Spielman of the Sun-Times and Andy Shaw, newly retired from WLS-TV, are the nominees selected by Bernie Judge’s committee. Board gave its OK.
Lisagor: Don Hayner and Jane Hirt will speak briefly. MCs will be Felicia Middlebrooks and Phil Ponce. Same plaque company, Owens, as previous years. Silent auction: Jane was the first volunteer, followed by Wes Bleed, to offer lunch or a newsroom tour. Kathy said contest results were coming in smoothly. Tickets will be $65 for members, $80 for non-members, $750 for a table of ten. Same as 2008 dinner prices.
Slating: tabled. Committee to meet after ethics program., and will report at the April board meeting, as stated in the bylaws.
Regional Conference April 3-4: Jon will go, so will a group of Beth’s students, maybe Dawn.
SPJ Leadership Conference: June 5-7. Anyone want to go?
Treasurer: Suzanne wants us to discuss the next fiscal budget at the April meeting. Dawn suggests an executive committee session.
Watchdog grants: Tony and Howard were preparing to apply for more money from the Dreihaus Foundation. ChicagoTalks.org at Columbia College requested $3,000 for an investigative series on CTA access. Money will be used for cameras. Board gave its OK for a $1,600 grant. Suzanne abstained from the vote because of her involvement with ChicagoTalks.org.
Watchdog award: Tony said word is getting around.
Ethics award: Beth said she’d had no response to call for applications. Will discuss next month.
Burger Night: Dawn said about 25 attended the March one. A travel program is planed for the April one. Need a theme for May.
NEXT MEETINGS:
9 a.m. Mon. April 6
9 a.m. Mon. May 4
Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan S. Stevens
P.S.
New Business: Priscilla Ruth MacDougall is planning to host the annual Les Brownlee Series kickoff Aug. 16 at her Evanston home.