There will be a change in convention margins in 2007. Previously, the host chapter took 25% of convention proceeds, while AAJA national took 75%. In 2007, however, the host chapter will take 10%, and national will take 90%. The driving force for this shift was the outcome of the 2005 convention, from which the Minneapolis chapter made over $40,000, although the national chapter had secured most of the sponsorships. The Minneapolis chapter will give some of these funds back to the endowment. It's important for the national chapter to have these funds, because there's no guaranteed funding for programs like J-Camp and Camp AAJA. These programs used to be sponsored by news organizations, but in a tighter economy for the industry, this is no longer the case. Local chapters are encouraged to build their fundraising muscles. Finally, AAJA's incoming president (2007-2008) is Jeanne Marianni-Belding, Editorial and Opinion Editor at the Honolulu Advertiser.

Wanita Niehaus attended the Treasurers' meeting, since neither Wai-Ping nor Cecilia were able to attend the convention. She found that Wai-Ping does a great job keeping the books -- one of the best among all the local chapters. All treasurers were issued stamp pads, so that requests for reimbursement can be stamped onto billing information. The Chicago, Florida, and New England chapters are up for audit. Every chapter needs to keep financial records going back for 5 years. All chapters will move to standardized Quicken accounting. Some treasurers are against online/credit-card payment, because companies tack on a 1-2% charge to transfer funds. Chapters are advised to encourage members and participants to bring cash or checkbooks to events involving purchasing items or paying a fee. Chapters can invest money in any way we choose, including high-yield accounts and CDs. Nothing is off limits; we just need to keep track of it. LA, for instance, has a money market fund. Some board members wondered if we should put scholarship funds into a CD.

2. Interns event: Panelists/speakers were Wash. Post AME, Continuous News, Rajiv Chandrasan, and David Lott, formerly of Wonkette, who has recently returned to legal-affairs blogging. Tan reported great turnout at this event. Almost 40 RSVP'd; about 30 attended, despite rainy weather. National Press Club provided a comfortable, professional setting. Attendees sent emails afterwards, saying they'd learned a lot. Speakers discussed the symbiotic relationship shared by mainstream and new media. They also addressed the economics of the relationship. Tan pointed out that Rajiv Chandrasan has a book coming out on Iraq coverage by journalists in September. We could host a meeting-with-the-author event, and we could ask SAJA to co-host. Tan would like to do all programming at the National Press Club, which offers good event venues for around $200 per event. The intern event cost the chapter $150.

3. Endowment Campaign/LA Trivia Bowl: The LA Trivia Bowl officially closes AAJA's National Endowment Campaign. Our chapter still needs to decide how much we'll contribute to the endowment campaign. Tan motioned we sponsor Doris at the LA event. Sherri seconded. All said "aye." The chapter can formally announce our endowment contribution at the LA event. Our chapter voted previously that we would match up to $5000 donated by chapter members. We need to send out a notice to our members of this matching opportunity. When chapter members contribute, they need to note their membership to the DC chapter on their check. This reminder should also be posted on our web site.

4. Mixer: Will be 1st or 2nd week of August. Sherri moved that the chapter budgets $100 for the August mixer. Lister seconded. All said "aye."

5. D.C. Chapter Trivia Bowl Fundraiser: We're aiming for a Friday night in October. We'd like to have 10 tables of 10 people participate. We plan to charge $500 per table, so we can raise a minimum of $5000. The amount $25/$30 per person was mentioned -- for guests and spectators? We'd like to find sponsors. 2 venue options are GW University and the National Press Club. Tan motioned that we cap spending on food and all rentals (space, equipment,…) at $2000. Wanita seconded. All said "aye." We're planning a 3-hour event, maximum: 7 to 10 p.m. We'd like to have entertainment and drinks available; this will impact which evening of the week we select. National Press Club costs go up significantly on weekends.

6. Media Access Workshop: We can't co-host this event with the Asian American Action Fund, because it's a Democratic PAC. We can invite them to be a part of the event, though. This will be in spring 2007. We'll look to partner with another organization, maybe Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) or UNITY. We can split costs for the event with our co-host. We can hold the event on a weeknight at the Press Club -- maybe a Thursday.

7. Mid-career seminar: "Sharpening Your Investigative Skills - How to Dig Deeper Faster." We can kick off 2007 with this event in January. We'll hold it at the press club. Tan has a contact at the GAO who could offer a seminar on reading federal budgets and covering the government. Wanita has a contact who can speak on Computer-Assisted Reporting. Other possible panelists include James Grimaldi, Washington Post, and Elizabeth Lemy, Consumer Reporter, Good Morning America.

8. Program idea: "Middle East Crisis through American lens" or "Asian-Americans in the media." Lister will get venue and speakers. Possible venues include NPR and Bloomberg. Event slated for early November. We plan to get non-media experts and academicians to serve on the panel. Sherri will help find speakers from GW, Georgetown, or AU. Peggy will look within the State Department. Sherri suggested we ask a media-critic contact of hers at the Washington Times to moderate.

9. Planning notes/binder: Susan will keep a central binder for Trivia Bowl materials. Wanita will look for possible sponsors and create a target list of non-media companies.

10. Next meeting - Sat., Aug. 19: Tan will host.