Minutes

Meeting of the Society of Professional Journalists, Valley of the Sun Pro Chapter

Nov. 13, 2022, 10 a.m.

Started: 10:09 a.m.

Attendees: Tim Eigo, Mark Scarp, Teri Carnicelli, Deb Krol. Absent: Nicole Greason

Opening

• Secretary’s report/approval of minutes from Sept. 17, 2022 – Board action: Moved (Tim) and seconded (Teri) — unanimously approved.
• Treasurer’s report – Teri reports our investments with Russell Life Points/Northwestern Mutual as of Nov. 12 lost $398.27 in the past quarter, to $17,448.77. Our checking account as of the same date contained $4,574.68, compared to $3,285.50 on Sept. 10, 2022.
• Mark’s Mighty Minute! – Professor Kristin Gilger of the ASU Cronkite School wrote to Mark a few weeks ago; she referred him to the Cronkite director of development, Lindsay Walker. Walker said negotiations with an anonymous donor to fund the coalition and its work merging with that of the First Amendment Center at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU, but matters are on hold due to the donor’s dealing with a health issue. She said she would be in touch once discussions resume.

Old Business

• Update about Publicity Summit, Oct. 15: Mark has provided the board an Oct. 28 final income/expenses and overall summary report of the 18^th annual Valley Publicity Summit. Major takeaways: Attendance up to 59 from 53 last year, media participation went to 26 this year from 20 last year and overall proceeds were $2,776, which was $1,421 higher than last year. Major information from the post-Summit survey of PR attendees was preferring a return to a panel discussion of media people to replace our current keynote speaker.
• SPJ MediaFest annual convention: Tim and Nicole attended the Oct. 27-30 SPJ national convention (https://www.spj.org/convention.asp) representing the chapter. Tim said he attended some good sessions. Tim complained about the time of the regional meeting, which was 7 a.m. on a day after a night of going out late for social events. Only Tim and Heather Dunn from ASU came to the meeting. The regional coordinator did not show up. Valley of the Sun SPJ board members agreed to reach out to our new national vice president and others to recruit a new RC when the term is up in 2023. Applying one member, one vote to all business formerly handled by delegates failed in a tie vote of delegates, so the delegate system remains for now.
• Update about SPJ awards given at Arizona Newspapers Association online event, Oct. 6: (Phil Alvidrez Award: David Cuillier; Order of the Silver Key: David Fitzsimmons; Nick Oza (posthumous); Richard Ruelas). Tim expressed gratitude to the Arizona Newspapers Association for allowing us to add our handful of awards to their annual ceremony. Board members talked briefly about alternatives next year, including holding an informal reception outdoors with the “five families,” the other Valley j-organizations.

New Business

• Seeking a new e-newsletter platform, and possible costs – Tim is researching a successor to the platform Paula Pedene shared with us, which she is ending. Mark and Tim will research our newsletter recipient list and our e-blast list to find out similarities and differences.
• Upcoming event: Get Freelancing! Tips for Freelancer Success, Changing Hands Bookstore, Nov. 16 (https://www.facebook.com/events/1204148500311351)
• Upcoming event: Political reporters roundtable on election 2022, Dec. 6 (via Zoom)
• Upcoming event: Holiday Mixer, Dec. 7, FEZ on Central
• Upcoming event: ABA’s Chris Kline on the State of Arizona media, January 2023, unplanned – Mark will contact Kline re availability and PPT version. Need venue, maybe ASU.

PROPOSED NEXT MEETING: Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, 10 a.m.

Adjourned: 11:27 a.m. (78 minutes)

Respectfully submitted,

Mark J. Scarp, Chapter Secretary