AAJA-DC Board Minutes
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008

Officers Attending: President Tan Ly, Vice-President (Broadcast) Sherri Ly, Community Liaison Lister Lim, Secretary Susan Yoo

Also Attending: Web mistress Peggy Hu

1. Chapter goals: President Tan Ly stated the chapter's primary goal -- moving forward in tough times. The industry is cutting back everywhere -- has been for a while now, and the pattern looks like it will continue. In this environment, our chapter needs to do what it can to provide support and opportunities for members and continue our mission. Tan stated his goal for the board to meet physically every other month and handle necessary business in-between meetings via e-mail.

2. Treasurer's report: Treasurer Cecilia Kang has filed the chapter's annual report with AAJA national. Tan will ask her to e-mail the report to the board.

3. Sponsorship letter: President Tan Ly has written a draft letter seeking sponsors for chapter activities in 2008. There will be four tiers of sponsorship ($1000+ Platinum, $500-$999 Gold, $250-$499 Silver, up to $249 Bronze). Each board member will be responsible for providing Tan with 4 contacts -- 2 in the journalism industry, 2 outside of the journalism industry. Tan will send the contacts the chapter's letter, and board members will follow up with the contacts.

4. Scholarship: VP-Broadcast Sherri Ly will head up the call for scholarship applicants. The deadline for applications will be March 21. The chapter will award one $2000 scholarship and one $1000 scholarship. Tan will spread the word to contacts at high school newspapers gathered through a program run by the Washington Post. Secretary Susan Yoo will send Sherri a list of contacts at local colleges' financial aid offices. Yunji Denies will help Sherri get out the word to students.

5. Media access training: This workshop will be held on April 17. April 24 is the "rain date." (Addendum: Training session is now set for April 24.) The workshop will aim to offer some expertise with contacting newsrooms in the current online, high-tech environment. We'll try to get someone from an assignment desk to sit on the panel. It will be an evening session: 6:30 p.m. Lister will head up this event. We need to find a free space. Susan and Lister mentioned the availability of conference rooms at their workplaces. Conference rooms may not be ideal, however, for a panel talk with breakouts into groups for further discussion. Tan has a contact at UC at DC; they could have a good room for us to use.

6. Professional development (4): The chapter will plan 4 events throughout the year, that focus on professional development. These will be:

• East Coast Mini-Conference -- usually in March. This year's conference will be held in Philadelphia. The DC chapter will be responsible for panels/sessions at this event.
• Independent Reporters and Editors (IRE) -- Tan will head up an event partnering with IRE in mid-June.
• Downsizing in the media industry -- making a career change away from journalism: Sherri will head up this mid-July event.
• Speaker series event -- We'll shoot for September for this event. Board members expressed interest in having a DC blogger speak to chapter members and guests.

7. Mixers (4): The chapter will organize 4 mixer/social events over the course of the year:

• Lunar New Year mixer -- Feb. 7
• Nationals game outing -- early summer
• Picnic -- late summer
• Holiday Potluck -- Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. The chapter will provide a turkey and ham.

8. Trivia Bowl; Scrabble Tourney: We'll aim to have our third annual AAJA-DC Trivia Bowl on Nov. 14. Tan suggested the Newseum as a possible venue. We'd like to find a free space that’s Metro-accessible. The Trivia Bowl will include a round devoted to elections trivia. We'll aim for late summer for the Scrabble Tourney.

9. Camp AAJA and ELP (Executive Leadership Program): Susan and VP-Print Hanah Cho will attend this year. Susan and Hanah need to send Cecilia Kang their receipts for airline tickets so the chapter can reimburse them. Cecilia and Lister applied to attend ELP this year. Tan moved that the chapter provide a stipend, and that accepted applicants can petition for up to $800 to help cover costs of attendance. Lister seconded the motion, and all said, "aye."

10. Next meeting: Feb. 16, 1 p.m. at Sherri's house in Cabin John.