CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB
Board of Directors meeting
Fri. Nov. 6, 2020
President Madhu Krishnamurthy called the Zoom meeting to order at 9 a.m. Also present: Howard Dubin, Greg Karp, Taylor Moore, Mike Ewing, Grace Wong, Alejandra Cancino, Christine Wolf, Molly McDonough, Suzanne McBride, Ash-har Quraishi, Nader Issa, Amanda Vinicky, Maya Duksamova, and Susan S. Stevens
.
Minutes from the October meeting were approved as submitted by Susan.
President’s report: Madhu said October’s program – “Pulling Back the Curtain: How stories come to life” – was a resounding success. About 50 people watched via Zoom, more on Facebook, and 275 saw Facebook videos later. SPJ President-Elect, Rebecca Aguilar, said it was one of the best chapter events she has seen. Thanks to Taylor and Ash-har.
Lisagor plaques were shipped Nov. 4. Ten duplicates will ship Nov. 11.
Watchdog: Jason Martin emailed a report on his committee. He updated materials for the 2020 call for the Watchdog Award and the CHC Investigative Reporting Grant (formerly Watchdog Fund). Reminder that we altered the title of the grant to a.) decrease confusion on the 2 award programs and b.) more accurately reflect the shift to a 1-time grant rather than a standing fund as it used to be.
He sent updated calls for Mike to put on the website. (Mike reports it’s done.) Jan. 31, 2021 deadline for both. Applications will be reviewed in February and Jason will bring forward a Grant winner for the board vote at the March 2021 meeting. He’ll share the 3 finalists of the Watchdog Award at that March meeting as well.
He submitted on Oct. 28, 2020, the annual report to Driehaus on our progress wrapping up our 2-year grant cycle for 2018-2020, recapping our 2019-2020 Watchdog Award and Watchdog Fund winners.
Share links on social media.
100th Anniiversary Celebration: Volunteers needed to write short pieces for eblasts and promotions on social media. We will look for students to pay for their help. Madhu will send an invitation for a Nov. 12 committee meeting.
Treasurer’s report: Greg said CHC has a bank balance of $79,898.91. CHC Foundation has $82,097.06. No major money flows in or out for either.
Membership: Amanda’s ideas to increase membership include celebrating members’ work via the website or tweets. What happened to “We Are The Headline Club”?
Programs: Madhu suggests one on “Surviving 2020, self-care, etc.” Taylor said she’ll plan it for early December. Committee meets next week. Also proposed: covering communities of color and trusting law enforcers as sources.
FOIAFest: Nader said not having it in-person allows it to grow. He wants to open it Friday afternoon, with sessions starting at 3 p.m., and after two sessions the keynote speaker. It will run all day Saturday, with two concurrent offerings rather than three as in the past. Maybe even have something Sunday. He wants to provide for one-on-one sessions, mentoring, and networking between panels. He is looking for an online platform that will be free or inexpensive. SPJ? NU? Loyola? Nader and Maria Zamudio met with the McCormick Foundation this week to ask for funding. Without paying for catered meals for attendees and hotel and airfare for the keynoter, our expenses will be reduced greatly. He will give McCormick a rough budget by Nov. 13 and a finalized one Nov. 16. He should know by Dec. 4 what McCormick will provide. He also is looking at other possible grants. Greg noted $7,000 is earmarked for FOIAFest, $5,000 from Driehaus. Attendees will be asked to pay a token fee.
Meeting adjourned at 10 a.m. Next meeting: First Friday in December.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan S. Stevens, secretary