Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande Chapter board meeting
January 10, 2015
Present: Andy Lyman, Michael Marcotte, Rachel Sams, Marisa Demarco, Russ Contreras, Joey Peters, Megan Kamerick, Andrew Oxford
Absent: Jeff Proctor, Elva Österriech, Matt Grubbs
Membership report from Rachel
• The chapter gained 11 members in 2014, an increase of 20 percent and a net
gain of three.
• The goal was to recruit 20 members in 2014.
• It was agreed the chapter will aim to recruit 15 members in 2015.
• Rachel requests board members submit and divide up a list of prospects.
Treasurer’s report from Michael
• Most the chapter’s funds are still in the Guadalupe Credit Union. Only a small amount has been transferred to New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union.
• In the process of attempting to transfer more funds from the account at Guadalupe Credit Union, Michael reports a check bounced twice, leaving the chapter with two $30.00 charges for insufficient funds. Former treasurer Peter St. Cyr is working to have the charges waived. Michael said that if the charges are not waived, he will reimburse the chapter. There is also a $5.00 charge from NMEFCU, he noted.
• The chapter received $300.00 to cover future travel expenses of regional president Tom Johnson. The chapter also received $440.00 from the Top of the Rockies contest.
• The chapter is now registered with the Secretary of State’s Office. The chapter’s registration had lapsed in recent years but was renewed amid the move to NMEFCU.
FOI Committee report from Joey
• Open Meetings Act and Inspection of Public Records Act compliance audits are underway, Joey says. Committee members are gathering IPRA logs from the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Police Department, the Human Services Department, the Office of the Governor and the Albuquerque Police Department. The HSD and City of Santa Fe logs have already been received as well as an IPRA compliance log from the town of Taos.
• Joey says a meeting may soon be organized to determine how to organize and proceed with the collected data.
• There has been some discussion among committee members of pushing for a stronger shield law but there is also discomfort with lobbying, Joey says.
Chapter updates
• Laura suggested changing passwords for the website, email list, social media accounts, etc. Megan says she will begin changing some passwords.
Legislative panel recap
• Andy says the panel was a success but noted technical difficulties with the streaming video. Andy says he did not activate the appropriate settings on Google.
• Andy suggests building a Storify to compile material from the panel.
• Megan says Kevin at KNME would be interested in helping with such an event in the future.
• Marisa says she enjoyed the panel and found it useful.
• Michael says the timing was not optimal as many students had already left campus for the winter break.
Programs
• Laura had indicated interest in developing a panel on environmental reporting, Andy says.
• Megan says FOI and IPRA panels would be useful.
• Marisa suggests a monthly get-together a la FOIA Friday during which journalists as well as other interested parties could brainstorm and work on open records projects. A venue such as the Press Club would be ideal, she says.
• Marisa also suggests getting schedules of information from state agencies.
• Marisa proposes SPJ advocate fair pricing for fulfilled IPRA requests.
• Russ suggests a joint regional conference with UNITY, of which he is president. Similar regional events are being organized around the country, he notes. Russ says the event could focus on an issue such as poverty or FOI. Such an event could draw journalists from El Paso, Carlsbad, etc. as well as the broader community, he says. Russ suggests such an event could be scheduled for the fall if organization begins immediately.
• Andy says he likes the idea and ask the chapter be kept abreast of what it can do to help.
• Michael asks whether Russ can offer any insight on outreach to NAHJ. Russ says it has been hard to keep an NAHJ chapter active in Albuquerque, noting turnover and a lack of support from the national office.
• The chapter should continue brainstorming ideas for programming, Andy says.
• A social event coinciding the legislature is discussed. It may be scheduled for early February.
Gift certificates
• The chapter received three gift certificates for bowling after its victory during the Hacks v. Flacks event. It is agreed the gift certificates will be kept as door prizes at future events.
Other business
• No news on the regional conference in Denver.
• Michael notes LoboCamp is fast approaching. The chapter will reach out to organizers and assist where possible.