Kansas City Press Club

Board Meeting

2 May 2005

The Pitch

Meeting was convened by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell

Members present: Ortega, LaMartina, Clark, Steigman, Miles, Rupert, Whitehead, Maslin, Nelson, Halifax, McGuire

Minutes

Nelson moved approval of the minutes of the last meeting; LaMartina seconded. Approved on voice vote.

Treasurer’s report - LaMartina

Account balance $9,000.

We will have several thousand dollars in expenses for the Heart of America Awards banquet. McGuire estimated this may be $3500-$4000.

Membership drive – Fivecoat-Campbell

We have retained most members that we’ve had. We have now 80, with applications for two more.

Happy Hour events – Ortega

The last Happy Hour event was one of the best. There was a good mix of people, and there were more people of the KC Star. One factor in the good turnout was the email notification sent directly to people at the Star.

Non-profit status – LaMartina

We have it. We also have a letter for tax-exempt status. Tax exmption excludes cost of food and beverages.

Regional convention – Shockely, Douglas

The regional convention was nothing special. Next year’s will be in Wichita.

UMKC task force – Whitehead

Student government recently passed (or is planning to pass) a resolution that funding of the school newspaper is at the sole discretion of student government or a vote of the student body. Whitehead said he believed the administration of UMKC has no interest in adopting this policy, so there isn’t any need for Press Club action. Whitehead is trying to get updates from the student editor.

Heart of America awards dinner - McGuire

Lifetime Achivement nominations

Charles Guswelle – nominated informally by two editors at Star.

Walt Bodine – nominated by staff of KCUR

Tom Leathers – nominated by himself

Previous winners:

2004 – Dick and Peg Nichols

2003 – Cruise Palmer

Miles moved that the award go to Bodine; LaMartina seconded.

Member of the Year

No nominations received

Ortega nominated Jeff Douglas; Nelson seconded. Approved by acclimation.

Elections

Julie Clark is not returning to board because she is getting married and moving to St. Louis.

Board nominees:

Whitehead has volunteered to be pres

Nelson will remain as secretary

LaMartina remains treasurer

Fivecoat Campbell is immediate past president

Ortega and Maslin will0 chair the awards committee

Miles, Douglas, Halivax, Steigman, Shockeley and Sheila Sonnenschein will serve on the board.

Heart of America Awards – McGuire

We had 360+ entries; up quite a bit. We collected $6500 in entry fees.

There were entries from places that hadn’t entered before, e.g. St. Joseph, Springfield, Wichita, Manhattan and Sedalia

Showed award designs.

LaMartina moved approval of expenditure for awards as shown with suggested change to gold awards. Maslin seconded. Approved on voice vote.

Dinner will be served at tables (no buffet). McGuire recommended the following menu: salad, choice of entrees (pork loin or Atlantic salmon), rice pilaf, vegetable medley, dessert. The concensus of the board was to ask if chicken can be substituted for meat; if not, to go with salmon.

Donations are being sought from news outlets for souvenir items for centerpiece. Each attendee will get a tickets for a drawing, with centerpieces being the prize.

Scholarship Committee has nominated two winners for Moorehead Scholarship because it couldn’t decide on one. Normally the club pays for the winner and and his/her advisor. Scholarship committee has asked that we provide five free meals. Nelson moved that club pick up cost; LaMartina seconded. Halifax agreed to buy one extra ticket and get WDAF-TV to pick up cost of the other four. The board agreed to pick up cost if WDAF doesn’t.

Journalist of the Year award still in sealed envelop. There were seven nominations.

Other business

LaMartina said he needed three board members to review the books for the club’s annual report to national. Fivecoat-Campbell appointed Nelson, McGuire and herself.

Halifax has three candidates for brown bag luncheon speaker. She asked what expenses the Club would cover. Fivecoat Campbell said the Club would pay the speaker whatever is left from the attendance fees after payment for venue, etc.

Fivecoat-Campbell said the Club has not donated to the scholarship fund for some time. Whe would like the Club to give $500-$1000 since we will make money on the awards program. McGuire suggested approving $500-$1000 now with specific amount to be determined after banquet expenses, etc., are known. The motion was tabled. Fivecoat-Campbell suggested the possibility of a silent auction at the awards banquet to raise money for the scholarship fund. Or, we could sell tickets and draw for prizes, such as World Trade Center stamps featuring the famous Tom Franklin photo that didn’t sell at the regional convention last year.

LaMartina moved to adjourn. Miles seconded.