NCEW Annual Meeting Minutes (Unofficial)

Unofficial Minutes

NCEW Annual Business Meeting

September 29, 2007

Kansas City, Missouri

President Neil Heinen called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.

Minutes. Previous secretary David Holwerk explained that he recorded the minutes at the 2006 business meeting in Pittsburgh, but lost them in a computer overhaul. Board members helped reconstruct the details of the meeting and the minutes are substantially accurate. Jim Wieghart moved to accept the minutes, John Penney seconded and the motion passed.

Treasurer's report. Holwerk said NCEW's total assets were $331,498 at the end of 2006 and $374,778 at the end of August 2007, due to investment gains. Dues were over-budgeted for 2007, signifying increasing pressure on membership. He said regional conferences are under expenses by

$2,400 and over budget by $2,900; that means not enough effort was going  into holding regional conferences to reach other members.

Trend lines on the balance sheet from 2003 to 2006 show less money being retained as cash today; Holwerk said it means more funds are being invested -- $226,000 in 2006, versus $208,000 in 2003.

Pete Wasson asked how NCEW chooses investments. John Taylor explained that an investment counselor at Smith Barney manages NCEW's funds conservatively and reports to the board at its December meetings. Rick Horowitz asked if printed copies of the treasurer's report would be provided; Heinen said they will be available on line.

President's report. Heinen recounted the executive committee meeting with the Kettering Foundation, the launch of the Opinion Pool and facing the challenges of the industry and NCEW as the chief activities of the past year. He said the organization is probably more predisposed to broadening membership in certain ways; that will raise questions on what members will pay and how to find potential members. NCEW will need an improved and modern web site, new approaches to marketing and new partnerships like those with Kettering and the University of Missouri. How can the foundation support the organization with these efforts? One accomplishment is the large number of people who contribute to the foundation, which was helped by this year's challenge grant. This level of support gives NCEW leverage to get more from grant makers, he said.

Nominating committee report. Chuck Stokes reviewed this year's candidates: Vanessa Gallman for president, Holwerk for vice president, Tom Waseleski for treasurer, and Dan Radmacher or Bonnie Calhoun Williams for secretary. For board, candidates are: Linda Campbell, Tom Dennis, Ron Dzwonkowski, Larry Reisman, and Peter Wasson. Sue Ryon moved that nominations be closed; John Taylor seconded; the motion passed by acclamation. Voting by secret ballot was conducted.

Gallman, prior to previewing the 2008 convention, said leadership will clarify the Opinion Pool for members and get them more information. She called it a great opportunity for helping members do their jobs and enable them to get research on opinion pages and online commentary. She said there is real commitment on the board and executive committee to uphold the standards of the craft while exploring online initiatives. She said that while NCEW has become an expert at raising money, it has to work on raising and retaining membership. Lack of employer support should not be an excuse for tolerating sliding membership. She said NCEW will explore plans for an educational trip to the Mexican border early in 2008 to study  immigration.

Site Selection. Waseleski reported the committee received only one bid for the 2010 convention -- Dallas, Texas, put forth by Keven Willey. He urged  members to consider volunteering as future convention hosts. Willey detailed the Dallas bid, saying four hotels have approached NCEW, three of which are offering room rates under $149 a night. Tour options are the Sixth Floor Museum to the Kennedy assassination, assorted art museums and the stockyards in Fort Worth. She said possible topics include: America's changing demographics and the importance of the southern hemisphere to the U.S. economy. Dick Hughes moved that NCEW hold its 2010 convention in Dallas; Kay Semion seconded. The motion was approved by acclamation.

Heinen said Gallman asked Pat Widder and Harry Austin to serve as the Nominations Committee for next year.

John Taylor reported that the foundation is in very good financial shape with more than $819,000 in total assets and that it intends to increase the level of support for NCEW activities. He explained the independence of the foundation from NCEW. He said the foundation holds the Minority Writers' Seminar, underwrites the Masthead, helps fund NCEW member travel like trips to the United Nations and the State Department. He said the Challenge Fund for Journalism was helpful to foundation fundraising and it forced the organization to do a self-assessment. The foundation hired Patti Schwartz to advise on fundraising and it will seek more large gifts from other foundations. The Foundation Celebration at Kansas City has been successful; the new twist this year was holding a silent auction with minimum bids for several items. Also new was a live auction for a framed letter from editorial writing icon William Allen White.

Sue Ryon asked where the foundation's money has been coming from. Taylor said Scripps, the New York Times, McClatchy, Knight and other large media foundations have been major sources of new dollars. A new application will be made to the Knight Foundation by Oct. 15.

Heinen asked for any committee reports. Dick Hughes of Innovations urged members to consider joining an NCEW committee of their choice and supporting the work of the organization. He asked for applause for the diligent work of NCEW officers.  Heinen recapped the work of various committees.

Election results. Heinen announced that NCEW's new secretary is Dan Radmacher. Board members are Linda Campbell, Ron Dzwonkowski and Pete Wasson. Heinen thanked three outgoing board members for their service -- Dick Hughes, Joann Crupi and Bonnie Anderson -- and presented them with certificates.

Taylor awarded several Foundation prizes and said J.R. Labbe has offered to cross-stitch the First Amendment for a $100 contribution to the foundation.

Kay Semion moved to adjourn the meeting; John Penney seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tom Waseleski, Secretary