Attending

Kent Flanagan

Milt Capps

Frank Gibson

Bill Lewis

David Eason

Clint Brewer

Sharon Fitzgerald

Gary Cunningham

Jennifer Peebles

Pat Embry

Sandy Dickerson

Amy Smith

Minutes of the Dec. 1, 2000 board meeting

Kent Flanagan and AP were officially thanked by the board members for providing lunch.

Kent convened the meeting and asked that each board member e-mail him with thoughts on what the chapter means to them. He also asked each to introduce themselves.

Following introductions, Flanagan commented that print journalism has fallen on hard times, and that a higher positive profile is needed for the profession.

As a board, Flanagan said that we need to determine what we want to achieve and do a better job of reaching out to working journalists. Related to this, he suggested that we develop programs that will included journalists from outlying areas outside Nashville. Our goals should include educating people about what we do and how we do it.

We will e-mail everyone asking for ideas and then pull together an informational mailing to television news directors, editors, etc. and let them know why they should participate in our organization. We need to become a community that people want to be a part of.

Gary Cunningham commented that SPJ has already taken some steps toward achieving this goal. He said that until now, he had never been asked to join SPJ. He related that walls have been taken down between community newspapers, and that now the chapter can gain a better foothold in building membership.

Frank Gibson responded that the SPJ never intended to not ask Cunningham to join, but that chapter organization wasn’t in place to reach out to potential members.

Bill Lewis commented that he has asked all interested news staff members at the Nashville Business Journal to join SPJ.

Kent Flanagan addressed chapter and national dues. National professional dues are $70/year and local chapter dues are still $15. Currently the system in place has dues for both chapters sent to the national office, and they then send back to us the local dues payments.

Frank Gibson agreed to check on a new dues collection system, in which all members would pay dues to our Chapter, and then Amy would send the national dues to that office.

Amy Smith plans to establish a database of membership.

Sharon Fitzgerald related that she just has 50 member names on her email list and blast fax.

Cunningham suggested that we have a luncheon to ask prospective members to join the chapter, and that each board member be responsible for certain groups of people. No action was taken at this time.

Clint Brewer asked that the chapter consider different times for membership meetings to reach potential members outside Davidson County. Flanagan replied that we will have a mix of noon and evening meetings.

Flanagan reminded board members that the Regional Conference will be held in March in New Orleans. He also said that the board of visitors has been resurrected at MTSU’s College of Communications in which professional development will be offered. Three to four hour workshops will be arranged on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Flanagan is spearheading this effort. MTSU has the largest communications department in the country (primarily because of recording engineering). Potential to develop cross training and develop broader base. Also developing a speakers program.

Gibson stated that one of our missions is to work with students.

Milt Capps suggested that a subset of the membership committee be put in place as a response mechanism.

Flanagan asked for a copy of the last annual report. Gibson volunteered to obtain one. Kent also requested membership forms. He said that he needs to look at the membership list before appointing a membership chair. He asked Sharon Fitzgerald to email him a distribution list; she gave him a copy of the membership list from the National office. He stressed the importance of ironing out where National mails the membership lists and checks.

Flanagan will provide to Sharon a list of the smaller newspapers in Middle Tennessee via email.

Gibson reviewed the Treasurer’s report for 1999, which was supplied by Amy Smith. There is a balance of $18,524 in the Gridiron account and $5,209.81 in the SPJ general account.

Flanagan questioned purpose of Duffers’ Golf Tournament. Gibson answered that Duren Cheek has kept it going longer than Gridiron and does everything. The funds are not earmarked and go into the SPJ general account.

Flanagan asked what the scholarship recipient has to do in return for the scholarship. Clint Brewer replied that they are under no obligations other than maintaining grade point averages. He emphasized the need for a scholarship committee.

Milt Capps moved that the financial reports be accepted, which was seconded and accepted.

Gibson brought up the question of administrative services and said that in years past, SPJ has had volunteers too busy to do what they needed to do. He asked that the chapter employ Amy Smith to take care of books, receive all mail and handle related administrative duties. Kent made a motion that this be accepted and she be paid $100 a month. Embry seconded the motion. It was accepted with the stipulation that the payment be reviewed at a later date for a possible increase.

Decision made for Frank Gibson to be the first check signer for the chapter, and Sandy Dickerson be the second.

In defining duties of the officers, Milt said that his job will include implementing programs and collecting money at the door. He will work with Jennifer Peebles in getting the word out. Sandy Dickerson will be recording secretary.

Cunningham made a suggestion that a change of venue for meetings be made. Evaluation of media organizations underwriting meetings for a sum of $250 to allow change of venue will be made. Clint Brewer has tentatively agreed to underwrite part of the next meeting. AP will underwrite the second meeting. GCA Publishing will also underwrite a meeting.

Flanagan suggested asking Vanderbilt to contribute as well as other organizations. Discussion held. Evening meetings work well on the Vanderbilt campus.

Cunningham asked what the normal attendance ranges for membership meetings. Capps responded that average is usually 30. Milt suggested that the Legislative Plaza be considered as the January 25 venue. Brewer has most of the panel lined up for that meeting, which will focus on the Coverage of the General Assembly.

Capps asked question about drawing line for sponsorships and by media organizations only, not other groups. Ethics need to be reviewed.

Flanagan suggested that one program focus on Channel 8 and the changing face of broadcast news.

Discussion held about issue of president elect. Online responses should be sent to Kent Flanagan.

Gibson reported on chapter status. To be in good standing, the chapter is required to file an annual report. Gibson will learn what needs to be done in order to get back in good standing.

Flanagan stated that Gridiron is a challenge, not a problem. We need to talk about how to approach this event in coming years, and he will try to gather those who have worked on it in past years for a brainstorming session on how to resurrect the event.

The next board meeting was set for Jan. 31, 2001.

David Eason mentioned that in the spring, his department at MTSU hopes to have a panel of three to four from outside the state from different situations to focus on court beat reporting from thenational perspective and from an investigative perspective. Possible date in early March. Flanagan will send Eason name of a prospective participant.

Capps requested program ideas from the board and said that the chapter needs to keep 2 to 3 programs in the works.

Flanagan will encourage membership to attend the Regional Conference. (Lisa Rollins at MTSU has regional details, according to Gibson.)

Flanagan closed the meeting with the statement that he accepted the invitation to serve because he feels that he can offer a perspective that he didn’t have to offer in years past. He wants to talk with board members on an individual basis. He is open to any and all ideas.

Posted Feb. 22, 2001