Minutes of the NINA Board meeting
Sept. 11, 2009
Campus Life Building, Room 100, NIU-DeKalb

Board members present (11):
Mike Cetera (1st VP), Jason Akst, Sharon Boehlefeld (past pres.), Jim Killam (communications coordinator), Denise Renckens Olszewski (2nd VP), Dirk Johnson (executive secretary), Penny Wiegert, Roger Ruthhart, Randy Swikle, Jason Schaumburg, John Etheredge.

Members absent (8):
Pete Nenni (president), Jim Slonoff (treasurer), Colin O’Donnell, Joe Corrado, Kristen Schmidt, Wally Haas, Lonny Cain, Rick Nagel.

Cetera called the meeting to order at 10 a.m.

Minutes of the June 26, 2009 meeting were unanimously (Etheredge motion / Schaumburg second).

Treasurer’s Report:
None (Slonoff absent. Via e-mail, he reports a checking account balance of $8,352)).

Executive Secretary’s Report:
Johnson deferred to Jason Akst, who is coordinating this year’s NINA contest for the NIU Communication Department. Akst said almost all judging is complete, and that the overall number of contest entries appears to be 3-4 percent higher than last year. However, entries were sparse in Group 1, weekly newspapers with less than 5,000 circulation. Once this year’s contest is completed, Akst and others will review and, if necessary, revise contest categories and rules. Cetera suggested contacting member newspapers what did not enter this year’s contest, to find out why.

Killam asked whether NIU will provide NINA with secretarial help this year. Akst said probably not this year, because of several transitions in the department, but that the department has expressed strong support for its continued relationship with NINA. Killam then said that the Northern Star can temporarily handle NINA secretarial duties until the Communication Department stabilizes.

President’s Report:
None (Nenni absent)

Program Committee Report:
Cetera proposed, following board discussion at the last meeting, that the Fall Conference feature a different format this year: An evening program with dinner, a keynote speaker and an awards program. This will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Ellington’s restaurant in the Holmes Student Center, NIU-DeKalb.  Schedule:

    1. 6-6:30 p.m.        cash bar
    2. 6:30-7:15 p.m.   dinner
    3. 7:15-8 p.m.        keynote speaker + Q&A
    4. 8-9 p.m.            awards presentation

The board approved (Boehlefeld motion, Ruthhart second).

The keynote speaker, dinner details and pricing will be finalized in the next week.
Etheredge volunteered for the Ledger-Sentinel to again print a tabloid highlighting the contest winners.

 

Education Committee Report:
Renckens thanked Schaumburg, Etheredge and Killam for their help in planning and carrying out the June workshop, since she was on maternity leave.
For the committee’s planned November webinar, Renckens has contacted the Poynter Institute about its Nov. 12 NewsU webinar, “Facebook for Journalists.” Poynter has agreed to offer NINA members a $10 discount from its original price of $24.95. The webinar runs from 1 to 2 p.m. CST. Signup details coming soon.

Membership Committee Report:
 Boehlefeld reported results of the NINA online survey from this summer. Multimedia workshops were the most-requested topic for workshops, followed by photo and design workshops. New-media ethics also appears to be a training topic of interest to members.

Resource Committee/Communications Coordinator Report:
Killam will have the fall newsletter online by late next week and in snail mail shortly thereafter. This will include details and registration forms for the Fall Conference.

Old Business: Killam asked about the status of an idea to change NINA’s name to “Northern Illinois News Association.” Board consensus was to leave the name alone for now. Boehlefeld said any eventual change in name would need to be accompanied by an effort to gain membership from entities outside of print journalism. Ruthhart said that could result in NINA spreading itself too thin and trying to develop programs for too many different aspects of journalism, when our strength is newspapers (print and online). It would represent a change in mission, Swikle said, adding that a name change could send a subliminal message that newspapers are disappearing.  Akst spoke in favor of a name change, saying “it’s the only way to go” as a growth and extension mechanism. “I don’t think this group can sustain and grow with its current focus,” he said. Swikle asked, “Would it strengthen the organization or dilute it?”

New Business: Two new board members were approved, to fill open seats. The new board members are Dave Monaghan of the Herald News in Joliet and Larry Lough of Sauk Valley Newspapers in Sterling/Dixon. (Ruthhart motion/ Johnson second)

Renckens suggested two ideas for new contest categories: best blog, and best print/online project.

 

Next Meeting:
5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Northern Star, prior to the Fall Conference

 

Adjourn: 11:20 a.m.

Minutes submitted by Jim Killam, communications coordinator, 9-11-09.


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