·Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig called for a motion to approve minutes from March 10, 2010 membership meeting.Marcus Osborne motioned to approve the minutes and Terry Collins seconds the motion. The minutes from March 10, 2010 membership meeting were approved.
2.Welcome
·Introductions –
·Attendees introduced themselves and shared “something good!” that is happening in their lives.
·12 people present: Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, Melanie Johnson, Marcus Osborne, Danielle Craig, Z'ma Wyatt, Aqueila M. Lewis, Kim Bardakian, Ellison Horne, Shari Foldes, Sandy Smith and Joy Marion.
3.Officer/Committee Reports:
·President:
Michelle reported on highlights of the Spring Board meeting on March 13, 2010. The Board discussed upcoming events, mixers, and reports from start of term. Kim suggested that board continue the quarterly meetings and figure out how to expand membership.
-VP Broadcast Board member resigned due to personal issues, Michelle said that the Board will focus on filling the seat soon.
- The National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association (NLGJA) Northern California Chapter is hosting a wine fundraiser on April 21, 2010. Michelle will send more information on BABJA listserv.
·VP Print:
Terry Collins reported that BABJA applied for the Spring 2010 Grant worth $500, but did not win.The next deadline is set for October 1, 2010.There was a lot of competition for the grant. Some winners include Atlanta Association, Triangle Association.
Michelle asks that members let her know if have any ideas for events or projects that BABJA should do.
-BABJA is being active during the election cycle and Terry had to reschedule meeting with League of Women Voters since the meeting was originally set during membership meeting. Members provided other suggestions to collaborate with local organizations including National Coalition of 100 Black Men, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Black Elected Officials and Faith Based Leaders of the East Bay (BEO & FBL of the East Bay), and City of Oakland.
·Treasurer:
John Ellis was absent; report sent via email and checking account balance read by Terry.Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig will send detailed information to Secretary, when report is sent.
- Z'ma Wyatt is the only person that applied to be on the Finance Committee and will be working with John and Michelle and assist with checks, balances, etc.
·Membership:
Marcus reported that there hasn’t been a huge amount of new members, but need more.Encouraged those present at meeting to join the BABJA Facebook fan page. Members can post news articles and job openings for print, pr, radio and any media type jobs.
-Also during the Spring Board Meeting, board members discussed a buddy system connecting board with members for additional support; there will be an update on this by June 2010.
·PR/Outreach:
Kim reported on upcoming events from San Francisco Chapter Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in April and May. The events will also feature BABJA board and members. Kim will send information out to listservs.
-The next Unity Media Mixer is on Wednesday, June 23, Press Club (www.pressclubsf. com) in San Francisco from 5:30pm - 8:30pm. The room will be filled with local minority journalists and publicists. It's a great opportunity to network and mingle. Please tell Kim about any of your sponsor ideas and is hoping to have the same partnering journalist/pr groups from January’s Media Mixer.
- BABJA’s 2010 Young Journalist Scholarship Gala is on October 2, 2010 at the Scotts Pavilion. Members should let Kim know if interested in joining the committee, the next conference call is tomorrow night (Wednesday). Expected to have approximately 200-300 Journalist’s and Media Professionals attend.
·Scholarship: Ellison Horne reported that he has updated the scholarship application flier. Kim suggested that Ellison add the pictures from last year’s winners to promote the commitment to students and feature them more. BABJA website scholarship has not been updated as of yet-Michelle will update by this Friday. Terry and Ellison will meet to discuss strategies for outreach to the Bay Area colleges and universities.Michelle suggests that members are encouraged to talk to Gala and Scholarship chairs if interested in being on a committee.
·Fundraising: Netta Conyers-Hayes was absent and did not send a report.
4. National Officer(s) Report(s)
·Bob Butler, VP Broadcast was absent and sent a report to Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig. She mentioned NABJ 35th Anniversary Convention & Career Fair in San Diego, CA and the hands-on training on Computers and AVID software provided at the Convention.
-The cost to attend is now Pre-Registration by June 15th for NABJ Full Member is $330, NABJ Associate Member is $345, and NABJ Student Member is $175 prices will go up drastically after June 15th.Southwest flights currently have a special for one-way $59.
·Marcus Osborne, San Diego Convention committee
- Marcus reported that the convention committee is cutting back on some of the programs and panels because have too many. There isn’t a date set as of yet for the next meeting. The convention is beneficial for those that attend and good for displaced media professionals (print media) especially.BABJA will host a Bay Area mixer at the convention.
5.Old Business:
None
6.New Business:
None
Monthly Guest Speaker (20-25 minute presentation)
·Shari Foldes, Marketing Manager for Ustream-“the leading live interactive broadcast platform that enables anyone with an Internet connection and a camera to engage their audience in a meaningful, immediate way.” People can broadcast video LIVE from a computer, mobile or iPhone.
-BABJA board members are interested in having Ustream at the NABJ Convention for webinars, coverage and panels. Ustream will be hiring soon.
-Kim is sending information about Ustream's "Intro to Ustream Guide" abasic guide for people who are interested in learning more. Visit www.ustream.tv.
7.Open Discussion
·Next BABJA Membership meeting:May 11, 2010 - Center for Investigative Reporting, 130 Center St. #103, Berkeley (near Downtown Berkeley Bart)
8.Adjournment:
·Marcus motioned to adjourn meeting and was seconded by Joy at 8:53pm.
·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’sDiversity Panel “Media and PR Diversity: Why it Matters” on February 25th- 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 35th 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 1st.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
·Approval of minutes from Jan.12, 2010 membership meeting. Minutes were approved.
Welcome
·Introductions –
·Attendees introduced themselves and shared “something good!” that is happening in their lives.
·In attendance: Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, Kim Bardakian, Z’ma Wyatt, Bob Butler, Marcus Osborne, Terry Collins, Charles Lovelace, Aqueila Lewis, Frank Martin, Billy ? (guest of Martin), Kenny Wardel, Aleceia Kidd, Danielle Craig, Ben Edokpayi, Iesha James.
Monthly Guest Speaker (20-25 minute presentation)
·Frank Martin, producer/director and co-writer of the four-hour documentary “For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots.” Martin showed a nine-minutes snippet of the documentary hosted by Hale Berry. The two parts will be broadcast in the month of February on PBS. First part airs February 21, 22 and 24th. The second part airs Feb. 28, March 1 and 3.
Officer/Committee Reports
·President:
·VP Print: NABJ Chapter Grant deadline is approaching. Terry and Michelle will be working on application.
·Treasurer: Not present. Sent in via email and available by request to President.
·Membership: Marcus reported on new members since New Year’s Eve at 12 and three renewals, three pending. Continue to do outreach to the media. Check out the Facebook fan page and check frequently for announcements and job postings. Over 400 have joined since the Unity Mixer.
·PR/Outreach: Kim reports that more 300 attended over 25 organizations. It was packed despite the raining weather.$925 raised for the Red Cross. Considering creating a second mixer in June because of the high demand. Spent $900 in food.
·On Feb. 25, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Panel: Diversity in the Workplace.
·Scholarship banquet planning is set. Looking for venue that holds 200. Talk to Kim and Michelle for ideas, theme and to be on the committee. Bob wants BABJA to consider honoring someone that is not a member. Send flowers to Julie (need clarification).
·Scholarship: Not Present. Michelle said that we are waiting for his updates. Facebook is updated. Terry Collins will also assist Ellison. Need members to recruit at the schools so that they don’t miss out on the scholarship opportunity.
National Officer(s) Report(s)
·Bob Butler, VP Broadcast - Bob put together a San Diego Convention video on Utube. BABJA can start sending Save-the-Dates on the listserv and Web site. NABJ is creating town hall meetings: Trying to get Michelle Obama or Vice President Biden. Safeway may be a sponsor for Healthy NABJ. Midway Association is taking car of the bar. Navy may be sponsoring of the convention. Personal goal of getting $100,000 sponsorships. Comcast is a national sponsor. Union Bay is a sponsor (San Francisco) = $10,000. Because of the economy NABJ is doing all it can to bring in money. Send all sponsor suggestions to Bob. Room reservations $185 a night. Registration is open. The deadline for early bird is March 17. Save money. Have to pay all four-nights up front. Regional Director has left and Bob is taking up the slack. Search for executive director, hope to have it in place by the 21st.
·Marcus Osborne, San Diego Convention committee – Deadline is past for program submissions. Committee is reviewing until the 27.
Old Business
New Business
Open Discussion
·Try to pay for the convention installments. Great for networking and learning.
·Next meeting: On March 9 or may have meeting on a Wednesday evening March 10 in order to bring in more people.
Adjournment
·Marcus motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Terry.
Posted: Jan 19, 2010
BABJA Meeting Minutes - Jan. 12, 2010
BABJA Meeting Minutes Jan. 12, 2010 Submitted by Secretary Aqueila Lewis
1. Call to Order: 7:28p.m.
•Approval of minutes from Nov. 10, 2009 membership meeting. Minutes were approved.
2. Welcome:
•Attendees introduced themselves and shared ..."something good!" that is happening in their lives.
•19 present: Andrea Smith, Kanya Goldman, Kim Bardakian, Ellison Horne, Marcus Osborne, Shonnie Martinez, Theresa Willis, Netta Conyers-Haynes, Iesha James, Bob Butler, Z’ma Wyatt, Teena Massingill, Aqueila M. Lewis, Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, Terry Collins, Shauntel Lowe, Larene Pare, Bridget Braxton, Laniece Jones
3. Monthly Guest Speaker:
•Teena Massingill, Director, Corporate Public Affairs for Safeway gave a 15-minute presentation about Safeway's Healthy Living Campaigns and Healthcare Bill Amendment, which is apart of the Senate Healthcare Bill.
Teena has 10 years experience in print media, three years in broadcast (NBC affiliate Radio in Ohio). She creates press releases and works with non-profit agencies. There are five members of media in Corporate Safeway and two that speak directly to the press.
Teena gave advice on networking and career changes from reporting to corporate and to understand when working with difference audiences and level of support when working with corporate vs. reporting.
3. Officer/Committee Reports:
•President: Members should checkout the Web site as it will highlight special member/board recognitions and accomplishments. Excited about three new paid members that BABJA has received in the last couple of months and two renewals. Talked about the four-hour mini retreat that board members had in December and discussed the responsibilities, positions, what was done in the past and what we want to do during the new term. This new term we want to increase our awareness and we need members comments and input.
•VP Print: Looking into organizing a Town Hall meeting where we discuss topics of interest and invite Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Mayor Dellums, New Police Chief Anthony Batts, etc. Talked about BABJA applying for $500 grant through NABJ. What would we use the funds for? BABJA should think of ideas for an event to be used with the funds.
•VP Broadcast: Volunteered with Friends of Faith's fundraiser drive and observed how it was organized. BABJA should consider creating a fundraising drive for future events. Also has an idea to include San Francisco State students to create an event with BABJA board as panelist or create projects on healthcare judged by BABJA.
•Treasurer: On file. Available upon request to president.
•Secretary: Wants to serve as liaison for UC Berkeley School of Journalism and Onyx Express News Magazine as well as other local community college journalism/communications media. Wants to collaborate with Membership, Scholarship and PR/Outreach Board and Committee members on various projects this term.
•Membership: Wants BABJA to keep growing and encourage members to go out and talk to people in media/PR and ask them to join. Talked about the perks of mixers, job postings, NABJ members collaborating with BABJA and convention.
•PR/Outreach: Highlighted BABJA's first Unity Mixer this year on Jan. 21 in San Francisco. Bring business cards for raffles. Ten organizations are participating including radio, print, PR and other sources of media. Sponsored by Comcast. Wants BABJA to create something like this quarterly or twice a year. Also offered idea about having monthly Guest Speaker series (for meetings) - we are trying to have a different speaker each month that will talk for 10-15 minutes. We welcome your suggestions. Finally on Feb. 25 there will be a joint event with PRSA and BABJA. Food is free and provided by Webbersam. Michelle is moderator, Bob Webbersam and Comcast are on panel.
•Scholarship: Want to give more attention to scholarship recipients. Haven't updated Facebook and Web site about scholarship as of yet. Working on data base roster. Is considering creating a brochure for scholarship advertisement, creating a video testimonial for gala and wants to also do one for overview, for membership and Web site. Secretary, Scholarship, and VP Broadcast will consider creating a gala presentation.
•Fundraising: No formal report, but has three objectives for the new term: 1. Expand fundraising activities and create proposal; 2. Ongoing engagements with sponsors, not just when needed, but over time and invite to events; 3. Earlier outreach to sponsors.
4. National Officer (s) Report (s):
•Marcus Osborne, San Diego Convention Committee: Role is to screen convention proposals that are due Feb. 6 and is looking for training, development and empowerment workshop ideas. Will send out info on the listserv.
•Bob Butler, VP Broadcast: Adds that the proposal is not as easy as sounds because of all that is needed for it to be complete. Discussed California Wellness Foundation may provide grants for the convention. Highlighted San Francisco State Students project and grants can be provided to fund events. Interim executive director is leading NABJ following Karen Wynn Freeman’s resignation last month. Talked about the five-year anniversary for one NABJ student that died of Malaria during the convention in Atlanta. Bob is trying to get funding for recognition or to honor in her name.
Comcast is in the process of buying NBC (most diversity in the newsroom). People can individually make comments about the merger, but BABJA cannot as a group. Trying to get Comcast to give $10,000 to BABJA and it will be good for NABJ. NABJ is having a funding crisis. There are reserves; the Hispanic Association is having problems with no reserves. BABJA's personal goal is to raise $100,000 toward the convention.
5.Old Business: None
6.New Business: Forming committees for the annual scholarship dinner set for Oct. 2, 2010 led by Kim Bardakian. Meeting will be coming soon.
7.Open Discussion: Reminder to visit Web site bulletins and to make comments.
Next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Alta Alliance Bank (address will be sent on listserv and Web site). Guest Speaker: Frank Martin showing his documentary on African-Americans that served in WII. There was a comment for BABJA to highlight Black Businesses in Oakland/Bay Area much like the Black Expo of previous years.
In 2000, acting on a tip from an informant, police and sheriff's deputies conducted a massive raid on a housing project in Hearne, Texas. 27 people were arrested on drug charges, including Regina Kelly. Robertson County District Attorney John Paschall, portrayed in the movie as Calvin Beckett, offered each defendant a deal: plead guilty in exchange for ten years on felony probation.
Several people took the deal but Kelly and the others refused. Their cases became a civil lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, which showed that the informant had lied. Rather than risk a trial, Robertson County dropped the charges and payed each defendant a settlement.
BABJA hosted a screening of American Violet on April 27 in San Francisco. After the movie, BABJA membership committee chair Marcus Osborne and President Bob Butler talked to Kelly, portrayed in the movie as Dee Roberts by Nichole Beharie, about her experiences.
In response to queries from reporters with the Chauncey Bailey Project, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office is examining new evidence in the murder of Peter Kaufman.
Police here, responding to inquiries by the Chauncey Bailey Project, have re-opened an investigation into the unsolved 1968 shooting deaths of a couple affiliated with a mosque that was the forerunner to Your Black Muslim Bakery.
Police here, responding to inquiries by the Chauncey Bailey Project, have re-opened an investigation into the unsolved 1968 shooting deaths of a couple affiliated with a mosque that was the forerunner to Your Black Muslim Bakery.
