NCEW Fall Board Meeting Minutes (Unofficial)

Unofficial Minutes

NCEW Board Meeting

September 25, 2007

Kansas City, Mo.

Present: Neil Heinen, Vanessa Gallman, David Holwerk, Tom Waseleski, John Taylor, J.R. Labbe, Miriam Pepper, Lois Kazakoff, Kate Riley, Robyn Blumner, Chuck Stokes, Dan Radmacher, Sue Ryon, Harry Austin, Joann Crupi, Dick Hughes, Doug MacEachern, Tim Williams, Melinda Condon, Pat Stroble.

President Neil Heinen called the meeting to order at 12:14 pm.

Minutes. John Taylor moved that the minutes of the April 13 meeting be approved; Dick Hughes seconded. The minutes were approved without dissent.

Treasurer's report. Treasurer David Holwerk called attention to the fluctuation analysis of year-to-year data on page 2 of the financial report. He said NCEW is doing fine, largely because of sound investments. He noted that dues income is over budget by $1,142. He said regional conferences are under budget for income by $2,913 and under budget for expenses by $2,482 due to only one being held this year. NCEW continues to lose money on the Masthead; Holwerk raised the question of how long it should be published on paper.

Tim Williams of NCEW's headquarters office said he had received a four-year financial review from David Rhoads with MANSI, which offers perspective on NCEW's income and expenses. Copies were distributed to the board.

Heinen entertained a motion to roll over one of three 12-month, $15,000 CDs on Dec. 6. Holwerk made the motion, Radmacher seconded and the motion was approved.

Masthead report. Editor Kate Riley said she's on her fourth issue and this is a good time to start considering a successor, perhaps a retired member. She said the new editor must be able to attend board meetings. She has spoken to the Society of Professional Journalists, which produces an electronic Quill that is archived and searchable. SPJ eliminated its paper Quill to students and saved enough money to cover the digitized Quill. Heinen said Masthead's cost is aggravated by higher postal rates and he asked Riley to make a recommendation at the December board meeting on whether to do an electronic Masthead. John Taylor asked if NCEW should reopen the question of advertising in Masthead. Riley wondered if convention exhibitors might advertise. Holwerk called for opening the door to Masthead ads. Heinen asked Riley to include the question of ads in her December recommendation.

Foundation Celebration. Heinen said Dale Davenport has received at least 40 items for prizes at the celebration, including some for auction. J.R. Labbe said celebration contributors will get buttons to wear on their convention badges.

Committee reports:

-- Peter Kohler of Broadcast/New Media is working on plans with the Knight Center for a seminar in March on digital opinion presentation.

--Holwerk said the Development Committee and NCEW have stalled on the challenge grant. Heinen said there's a need for an executive-level financial development committee and that more foundation support may be sought. He asked that Labbe, Taylor and Holwerk work with him on a proposal for the December meeting. Holwerk said if the Opinion Pool works, the resource could be made available to NCEW members for an added fee. Blumner said NCEW needs bequests to underwrite an endowment. Taylor said it might make sense to seed such a fund with dollars to get it established. Heinen added Blumner to the group that will work on a financial recommendation.

--Exhibit Fair. Pat Stroble said $10,500 was raised of $12,000 budgeted for exhibits at Kansas City. Eleven tables were sold. Miriam Pepper recommended that a committee go after such business in future years. Holwerk said in the future the next two convention chairs should help the present chair and thereby gain experience. Sue Ryon and Pepper recommended the return of convention committees.

--Dick Hughes of Innovations said the convention will make a CD available on innovations and that it should probably become an annual feature.

--Heinen said Jonathan Gurwitz of International Affairs is looking for guidance on whether to take funding for NCEW travel from the National Endowment for Democracy, a private organization that receives most of its funds from the government.

--Heinen called attention to the Membership report, which showed 512 members compared to 546 a year ago. He said John Penney has a number of suggestions for raising membership. Doug MacEachern said NCEW should consider marketing memberships to bloggers. Blumner cautioned against diluting the brand and Riley warned about welcoming bloggers to NCEW who consider themselves journalists but don't adhere to journalistic standards.

Heinen said it's been hard to maintain the membership committee's regional captain system. Labbe said NCEW can't afford to leave recruitment to volunteers; staff must be a big part of the effort. Tim Williams said staff have sent packets to potential members, but it's hard to gain many new recruits that way. Gallman recommended a series of discounts for recruiting writers from one-member shops, the Minority Writers Workshop and other editorial writers. Hughes called for underwriting student memberships.

MacEachern moved that NCEW look into professionalizing the cost of membership recruitment; Hughes seconded it. Motion was approved. Heinen said the executive committee will meet with the headquarters office on the matter.

Blumner said NCEW must consider membership discounts to dramatically raise numbers. Holwerk said it must be done within a financial model. Taylor recommended a $50 introductory offer for new membership. Holwerk recommended it be tried in Region 8, where the 2008 convention will be held. Heinen recommended that Gallman and MacEachern work with Penney and headquarters on trying a discount membership drive for new and current members. Lois Kazakoff said new members must be invited to serve on NCEW committees.

Labbe moved to try a pilot project that would cut dues to $50 to all members in Region 8; Hughes seconded. Tom Waseleski questioned whether the discount should apply to current members. Chuck Stokes said applying it to existing members could create animosity among members elsewhere who pay full freight. Labbe amended the motion to limit the $50 dues pilot project to new members only in Region 8; Hughes seconded. The motion passed.

--Stokes said the Nomination Committee put forth Dan Radmacher and Bonnie Williams for secretary; for board, Linda Campbell, Tom Dennis, Ron Dzwonkowski, Larry Reisman, and Pete Wasson (Sanhita SinhaRoy was a candidate before leaving editorial writing recently). Stokes said newspaper budgets are affecting the availability of good candidates, so the committee must work earlier on getting candidates for next year.

--Waseleski said the Site Selection Committee turned up only one bid for the 2010 convention: Dallas, put forth by Keven Willey. He said the committee will examine her bid, as usual, and she will present to the members at the business meeting.

--Webmaster Dan Radmacher said a new NCEW blog called NCEW@blogspot.comwill be available during the convention to help non-attendees know what's going on in Kansas City.

--Kazakoff said the Futures Committee urges NCEW editorialists to leave the ivory tower, expand the definition of NCEW membership, market the organization's strengths and use scenario planning to look ahead. She said there's a chance to collaborate with the American Library Association on middle school curriculum to teach students about the value of well-researched opinion versus rants.

CONVENTION REPORTS:

Kansas City, 2007 -- Pepper rounded up changes in the convention schedule. Nearly all details remain on track.

Little Rock, 2008 -- Gallman said attendees will have dinner and a tour at the Clinton Library on Thursday night. The spouses' tour will be at Hot Springs, including racetrack, barbecue and gardens. A visit will be made to Central High School and the Little Rock Nine Museum, and possibly the governor's mansion. The site is the Peabody Hotel; the theme is The Next America. An attempt will be made to get either Clinton to visit.

Salt Lake City, 2009 – Holwerk said the opening reception may be held at the top of the football stadium, which has a spectacular view. The theme will be built around things editorial writers typically don't write about or write about very well: sports, religion, science and health. He said the hotel is booked and the spouses' tour will be to Park City. Time may be built in to visit the Mormon Tabernacle and the Mormon genealogical center.

NEW BUSINESS:

--Heinen wants the president, immediate past president and Foundation president to meet in December to do a management evaluation.

-- Heinen said Eddie Roth has gotten strong interest from Tampa, Kansas City, the Florida Treasure Coast papers and others to take part in Opinion Pool. The Reynolds Institute of Journalism has proposed a two-year project as an NCEW partner in research for the Opinion Pool pilots. Kettering remains interested and may collaborate further. Heinen said there's a need for a national coordinator of the Opinion Pool, and the natural may be Roth. Holwerk was invited to apply again in October for Knight News Challenge funding for the pool project.

-- Kazakoff wondered if this is time to approach the Association of Opinion Page Editors on a merger with NCEW. Discussion followed.

-- Gallman said NCEW should have a presence at the Newspaper Association of America convention in April 2008 to raise NCEW's profile with publishers, perhaps via the Opinion Pool. It would be the Sunday after the NCEW spring board meeting. Williams said the timing of NAA events might make it difficult for publishers to meet with NCEW reps.

-- Pepper said NCEW should consider sponsoring an editorial writing contest for marketing, branding and fundraising. Discussion followed. Heinen said the Innovations Committee will study the idea. Blumner moved and Holwerk seconded a motion to have Innovations report at the December board meeting.

Heinen thanked all present for their work and service to NCEW during his administration. The room applauded the president.

Radmacher moved to adjourn and Hughes seconded. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tom Waseleski

NCEW Secretary