CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB
Board of Directors meeting
Fri. Nov. 5, 2021
President Amanda Vinicky called the Zoom meeting to order at 9 a.m. Also present: Howard Dubin, Rob Elder, Greg Karp, Madhu Krishnamurthy, Mike Ewing, Jason Martin, Maya Duksamova, Michael Limon, Matt Kiefer, Nader Issa, Nona Tepper, Christine Wolf, Olivia Obineme, Alejandra Cancino, Stacey Westfall and Susan S. Stevens.
Minutes of the last meeting submitted by Susan were approved.
President’s report: Amanda has continued discussing with Poynter its proposed diversity across curriculum education workshop. Thanks to Mike for fresh website content. Thanks to Nona for her book event, which will go up on Facebook with Mike’s help. Amanda asks all of us to look for committee members, and to offer Mike content for his next newsletter.
Treasurer’s report: Greg said he wrote Owens a $7,000 check for Lisagor plaques, a partial payment. He got $5,000 back from SPJ, a dues overpayment. Nov. 5 bank balances: CHC $81,273, CJCF $73,242. About $107,616 is available for spending, while the rest is restricted.
NOTE: Greg will be touring Antarctica Dec. 13 to Jan. 9.
Secretary’s report: Susan reports the foundation has an open board position, and wants to fill it with someone who can write grants.
Membership: Mike urged board members, friends and associates to sign up for committees. He’ll post that in a new newsletter soon.
Programs: Nona said a program on how to diversify newsrooms is coming up, and she would like help in promoting it. Dec 7 she hopes to have a panel on trauma in journalism. And she wants to throw a holiday party. She is looking for an indoor-outdoor venue. The Borderless and NINA programs have been pushed to 2022.
FOIAFest: Matt has 13 committee members and hopes each will organize a panel. It will be virtual again in 2022. He’s working on Bootcamp funding from the McCormick Foundation, looking for a keynote speaker, and wants to hire a coordinator or two by our December meeting. We paid last year’s coordinator $3,500. Howard moved to spend up to $5,000 for coordinator(s), hired at Matt’s discretion. Motion carried.
Maya said we got 12-13 responses from Bootcamp mentees. Most were satisfied but some hoped for a more ongoing process. She wants an earlier start on connecting people and keeping them connected. Nader said applications will be open in mid-December, with a mid-January deadline. Recommend mentors if you like. Nader wants to do 15 mentors and 15 mentees again. Last year’s cost was $10,000.
Emerging Journalists Award: Taylor envisions five to seven winners, each receiving $1,000 and a plaque. She said the foundation will sustain it. Decisions can be made in March or April. Greg said applications might be added to our Better BNC Lisagor platform.
Watchdog: Jason said he’s updating the application for Mike to put on the website.
Lifetime: Flynn McRoberts offered to chair again, though he’s off the board.
Lisagor: Amanda reports Cathy Larkin will have an RFP for a coordinator soon.
Social media: Olivia offered to do spotlights on newer board members. Contact her.
Meeting adjourned at 10:11 a.m. Next meeting: Fri. Dec. 3.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan S. Stevens, secretary