BABJA MEETING Minutes

March 10, 2010

Submitted by Aqueila M. Lewis

      1.  Call to Order: 7:29pm  

·       Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig called for a motion to approve minutes from Feb. 9, 2010.  Bob Butler motioned to approve the minutes and Marcus Osborne seconds the motion. The minutes from Feb. 9, 2010 membership meeting were approved.

2. Welcome

·       Introductions –

·       Attendees introduced themselves and shared “something good!” that is happening in their lives.

·       14 people present: Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, Melanie Johnson, Marcus Osborne, Mark Luckie, Bob Butler, Adriann McCall, Danielle Craig, Iesha James, Y’Anad Burrell, Zma Wyatt, Aqueila M. Lewis, Kim Bardakian, Charles Johnson, and Reginald James.

·       Mark Luckie showed his first book Digital Journalists Handbook

·       Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig and Zma Wyatt are starting Women’s Magazine.

·       Melanie Johnson is graduating this semester from the Academy of Art University-Multimedia Communications Graduate Program.

3. Officer/Committee Reports:

·       President:

Michelle reported to remind members that NABJ’s Conference Early Bird Registration is fast approaching.  BABJA Board’s Spring meeting is this Saturday, March 13, 2010, from 12:30p.m. to 3 p.m. at Everett & Jones Barbecue at Jack London Square. The Board will discuss upcoming events, mixers and suggestions from BABJA members.

·       VP Print:

Terry Collins was absent and didn’t send a report

·       VP Broadcast:

Theresa Willis was absent and didn’t send a report

·       Treasurer:

John Ellis was absent, but Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig reported on his behalf. John and Michelle met last week and decided that for future meetings, only BABJA’s checking account balance will be reported in membership meetings. For checking account balance as of March 10, please contact the President.

-BABJA is looking for members that are interested in forming a finance committee. No background experience necessary. Interested members will work with John and Michelle.  More information on the Finance Committee will be sent out on the BABJA list serve.

·       Secretary:

Aqueila thanked Bob for the UC Berkeley School of Journalism’s contacts and said that she will start contacting more of the University and Junior College’s more in April and will commit to inviting people in Media to the membership meetings

·       Membership:

Marcus reported that the month of December and February were our highest interest in membership and now the interest has slowed down significantly.

·       PR/Outreach:

Kim reported about PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY OF AMERICA--SF & BAY AREA BLACK JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION’s Diversity Panel “Media and PR Diversity: Why it Matters” on February 25^th- 6pm-6:30pm Reception 7pm at the Wells Fargo , Stagecoach Room, 120 Kearny Street in San Francisco. The event featured moderator and panelists: Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, Independent Contract Journalist; President, BABJA, Bob Butler, KCBS Radio Reporter; VP Broadcast, National Association of Black Journalists; Traci Mogil, Sr. Vice President, Healthcare Practice Lead for Weber Shandwick; Lorena Hernandez, CA Regional Director of Communications, Comcast. 70 percent of people spoke in audience and Zma took great pictures.  The event received great feedback.

- On May 20, 2010^, BABJA is hoping to plan another joint panel event in Downtown SF with the National Lesbian Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA).

-The January Unity Media Mixer was a hit and people are asking about the next one. Kim is thinking about June 23, 2010 asks that members send her location suggestions preferably in downtown San Francisco, near Bart, capacity 150-200.

- The Scholarship Gala is on Oct. 2, 2010 at the Scotts Pavilion. Members should let Kim know if interested in joining the committee.

·       Scholarship: Ellison Horne was absent and did not send a report.

·       Fundraising: Netta Conyers-Hayes was absent and did not send a report

      4. National Officer(s) Report(s)

·       Bob Butler, VP Broadcast-

Bob says that the NABJ 35^th Anniversary Convention & Career Fair is an important event if you are a journalist. It is in San Diego and west coast members should attend. It will be at the Manchester Grand Hyatt on

July 28 - August 1, 2010. There will be a panel on Obesity & Diabetes and NABJ Board is trying to get Michelle Obama.  There will also be a panel on Military & Families, NABJ Board is thinking about getting Vice President Biden or former President Bill Clinton. More Sponsors from Union Bank and Wellness Foundation.  The cost for room reservations is $185 a night in Manchester Grand Hyatt. The cost for early bird registration for full members is $275 until April 1^st.  The cost for NABJ Affiliate Chapter Member is $225. The Registration for student members is $175.  BABJA is hosting a mixer at the conference.

-There will be hands-on training on computers and AVID software provided at the convention.

-NABJ is searching for an Executive Director and approx. 45 people have applied. The board is looking at 7 or 8 of the applicants that fit what they are looking for and finalists will come to Washington, D.C.  There is a temporary Executive Director now, but there will not be enough time for the new Executive Director to be prepared for the conference.

-Lisa Cox is the new Regional Director and will be in contact with BABJA.  Out of the 40 Chapters only 3 are in compliance with National Chapter (NABJ): Atlanta, Tulsa, and Tampa.

-The Bob wants to try to have a program or breakfast at the Convention about Malaria & Africa to honor the 5 year Anniversary of Death of Akilah Amapindi

-Journalists in Haiti are asking for help and need computers, recorders, and notebooks.

·       Marcus Osborne, San Diego Convention committee

-The day to review programs for the Convention keeps getting pushed back and dates are being changed, but Marcus will report when he hears something about it.

5.  Old Business:

                  None

6.  New Business:

      Monthly Guest Speaker (20-25 minute presentation)

·       Adriann McCall, Project Manager for Get Screened Oakland (GSO), a public-private partnership in public health and citywide, strategic response to Oakland’s HIV epidemic. The program was founded by Mayor Ronald V. Dellums 2 years ago.  The mayor has been passionate about HIV since he was in Congress.  GSO is one of the first health initiatives and part of his “Model City Initiative” that has been successful since he took office. Congresswoman Barbara Lee is also a major supporter off HIV/AIDS awareness. GSO is trying to ensure that free HIV/AIDS testing is a part of health care and that hospitals and clinics have the necessary products to distribute the test.   (More info from McCall’s speech available online)

7.  Open Discussion

·       New magazine: The Bay Area Press is launched.

·       The West Coast Blues Award Show will be in Oakland at the Hilton Oakland Airport, 1 Hegenberger Road, Oakland on March 28, 2010 from 6pm-10pm

also includes After party.

·       31st Annual Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco on March 22, 2010.  For more info please contact BASHOF at (415) 296-5606 or nkrueger@bashof.org   

·       Next BABJA Membership mtg:  4/13/10 location TBA

8.  Adjournment:

·       Marcus motioned to adjourned and it was seconded by Bob at 8:39pm