Thursday, November 18, 2021
Virtual meeting held via videoconference on Zoom.
Present: President Randy Showstack; Treasurer Dan Kubiske; Vice President Dee Ann Divis; Corresponding Secretary Amy Fickling; Recording Secretary Kathryn Foxhall; and board members Julie Asher, Denise Dunbar, Jacqueline Fuller, Selma Khenissi and Celia Wexler
Special guests: Stephenie Overman, SPJ Region 2 coordinator; student chapter liaison Kathleen Burns; SPJ member Andy Schotz; and for a brief time, Laura Jane Willoughby, new Dateline Awards Contest coordinator
Call to Order
Vice President Dee Ann Divis called the meeting to order at about 6:36 p.m., when President Randy Showstack was having technical difficulties getting on Zoom with audio.
Minutes
Draft minutes of the September board meeting were emailed to board members ahead of the October 21, 2021, board meeting. The October board meeting did not achieve a quorum, so no votes were taken at that meeting, pushing the vote on the September minutes to the November 18, 2021, board meeting. However, the September minutes were discussed briefly in October, and it was agreed that Corresponding Secretary Amy Fickling would send Recording Secretary Kathryn Foxhall a revised section of the draft dealing with the discussion of advertising for a new Dateline Awards Contest coordinator. Foxhall then sent around a revised version of the original draft September minutes, but did not include all of Fickling’s revisions, preferring for the whole board to discuss the draft and decide on which language to retain in the final minutes. Fickling sent her complete revised section to the board for comparison to Foxhall’s.
Treasurer Dan Kubiske moved that the minutes of the September 30, 2021, board meeting be approved. Board member Celia Wexler seconded. After a call from Fickling for clarification on the motion, Kubiske amended his motion to indicate he was referring to the minutes using the revised section on the Dateline coordinator discussion that Fickling submitted.
The board voted to approve the motion as amended. Divis abstained.
Fickling moved that the board accept the “notes” from the October meeting as a record of the meeting that did not have a quorum to make it official. Kubiske seconded. The board voted to approve the motion. Divis abstained.
Treasurer’s Report
Kubiske noted that he sent the Treasurer’s Reports for September and October by email to all board members. He said the accounts are doing well.
Kubiske moved that the September and October Treasurer’s Report, as amended, be accepted. Wexler seconded. The board voted to approve the motion. Divis abstained.
Report on Restrictions by PIO, etc.
Foxhall reported on the work on the restrictions on reporters through public information officers and related issues. She has an assignment of the issue with a major news outlet. She said work on a survey by Sonny Albarado was continuing. She noted a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer said that the Philadelphia School Board was considering a rule that the 20,000 people of the school system be restricted from ever speaking to a reporter.
Dateline Awards Coordinator
With technological difficulties resolved, Showstack rejoined the meeting, took the chair and suggested that we speak with our new Dateline Awards coordinator, Laura Jane Willoughby. After Divis gave a welcome, each of the board members and guests introduced themselves to her.
SPJ member Andy Schotz, who had helped recruit the coordinator, said that Willoughby, the previous coordinator and he would meet shortly to go over the work involved.
Fickling moved that the board ratify its unanimous decision made by e-vote November 11-12 to offer a contract to Laura Jane Willoughby to be Dateline Awards Contest coordinator for 2022. Kubiske seconded. The board voted to approve the motion.
Assistant Treasurer
Celia Wexler had volunteered at the October 21, 2021, meeting to be assistant treasurer, after Showstack asked for a volunteer. Again, approval had to wait until a vote could be taken at the November meeting.
Divis moved that the board approve board member Celia Wexler as the chapter’s assistant treasurer. Kubiske seconded. The board voted to approve the motion.
SDX Foundation Business
Kubiske moved that the board pass the resolution, circulated earlier, to honor Reginald Stuart, longtime president of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of Washington, D.C. An amendment suggested by member Steve Taylor was accepted. Divis. The board voted to approve the motion.
The motion, incorporating Taylor’s amendment, is appended to the meeting minutes.
Fickling moved that the board follow the recommendation from the SDX Foundation of Washington board and approve the list of people to either join or return to the foundation board of directors for the specified terms, leaving open the possibility that additional names could be added. Divis seconded. The board voted to approve the motion.
The letter on the foundation and the recommended new and returning members from SDX President Reginald Stuart is appended to the meeting minutes.
Honors
Divis moved that the board recognize and offer its congratulations to Region 2 Coordinator Stephenie Overman for her recent induction into the Ball State University School of Journalism Hall of Fame in recognition of her work in journalism. Kubiske seconded. The board voted to approve the motion.
Showstack announced that the WETA public television station has invited him to be a member of its Community Advisory Council and he accepted.
Showstack left the meeting at this point, approximately 7 p.m., due to a prior commitment that he had announced in advance of the meeting. Divis took the chair again.
Upcoming Events
Overman announced that Region 2 would be holding a Google training session. She encouraged members to get other people to attend, noting that the program is not limited to members of SPJ.
In addition, she noted the chapter has been working with the SPJ Virginia Pro Chapter on an event for George Mason’s birthday at his ancestral home at Gunston Hall. It will include the reading of the Virginia Bill of Rights and a program on the enslaved people who lived at the home. His birthday is December 11.
On the topic of events, Divis noted that the chapter’s virtual program with the new general manager of WAMU 88.5 radio station went well. She thanked everyone involved in planning and promoting and executing the details to make it happen. Student chapter liaison Kathy Burns noted that staff at WAMU were very enthusiastic about continuing the relationship with the chapter, including with the 2022 SPJ national journalism conferencein Washington and with internships.
Planning for 2022 SPJ Conference in Washington, D.C.
Divis reported that according to SPJ staff the planning for the 2022 meeting will not start until January.
She said she will work on narrowing the list of professional development session ideas that members brainstormed about.
She noted the board has not had a retreat for two years due to the pandemic, and that she and Showstack had been discussing the need for a retreat. She said we need to decide where we want to put our best effort for the upcoming national conference.
Divis suggested a Doodle poll to schedule another session in the next 30 to 45 days on what efforts the chapter/board really wants to focus on for planning for the conference.
Other Business
Fickling moved that the contract for the Dateline Awards Contest coordinator be prepared by Schotz and sent to Laura Jane Willoughby for her and the chapter president’s signature as soon as possible. Wexler seconded. The board voted to approve the motion.
Schotz said he would update the contract and send a copy to the coordinator and to Showstack.
Foxhall asked if the chapter is keeping papers other than just the minutes in some designated place or electronic file. Kubiske said there are things in the cloud and we have older things in files at the National Press Club. He also said he is scanning documents from Fickling’s terms as treasurer, but there are some we cannot get to due to the pandemic. Some things can go on the hard drive he has for the chapter and more public things can go on the chapter G drives.
Divis said perhaps we need to make a note to make sure all this happens and follow up on it in 60 days.
Burns reported that we have eight area campuses with at least a contact person.
There are no contacts for Catholic University or Northern Virginia Community College.
Burns also circulated a suggestion that White House photographer Christy Bowe be considered for a future program. She is the first woman to be so honored. On Oct. 29, she was introduced at the National Press Club for her latest book,” Eyes That Speak: One Woman News Photographer’s Journey with History Makers.”
Kubiske said we can send emails to the non-members who attended the WAMU program on Zoom and invite them to join the SPJ.
Julie Asher and Jackie Fuller signed in to the meeting at about 7:31 p.m., just as the meeting, which started 15 minutes earlier than usual to help accommodate the chapter president’s schedule, was about to be adjourned.
Adjournment
Foxhall moved the meeting be adjourned. Kubiske seconded. The board voted to approve the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Foxhall
Recording Secretary
Resolution to Honor Reginald Stuart, long-time president of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of Washington, D.C.
November 18, 2021
Washington, D.C.
Reginald Stuart announced his resignation today as president of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of Washington, D.C, the educational arm of the Washington, D.C. Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Stuart’s resignation is effective Jan. 1, 2022. Stuart, best known as Reg or Reggie, will remain on the board for another year.
As SDX-DC president, Reggie has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help aspiring journalism students cover the ever-increasing costs of college. During his tenure, the foundation has provided scholarships for dozens of students attending Washington-area colleges and universities.
In appreciation of his service as foundation president, the D.C. Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hereby recognizes Reggie for yet another job well done and thanks him on behalf of the profession and the SPJ.
Reggie’s much-admired professional journalism career included working as a reporter or editor at The Nashville Tennessean, WSIX-TV in Nashville, The New York Times and Knight-Ridder newspapers. He is the author of three books.
In the mid-1990s, he became a recruiter for Knight-Ridder newspapers, working with the organization’s 32 papers to find talented journalists and business-side employees. He assumed the same position when the media company was purchased by The McClatchy Company.
As his career unfolded, Reggie became one of the most active members in the Society of Professional Journalists. He served as chairman of the SPJ Legal Defense Fund and the Society’s Minority Affairs and Finance committees. For promoting diversity in newsrooms across the nation, he received the Ida B. Wells Award.
In 1994, Reggie was elected national SPJ president. For his dedication and outstanding service to SPJ, Reggie received the Society’s Wells Memorial Key.
In 2006, Reggie was named a Fellow of the Society, the highest honor SPJ bestows. It goes to a journalist for extraordinary contributions to the profession.
In announcing Reggie’s induction as a Fellow of the Society, SPJ President David Carlson described him as “an SPJ stalwart and the sort of guy who never says no when the organization or one of its leaders needs help.”
Members of the Washington, D.C. Pro Chapter of the SPJ have recognized Reggie’s contributions to his home chapter, especially in shepherding young journalists through our ranks. For all his contributions, in 2007, Reggie received the Chapter’s Distinguished Service Award.
We are extremely proud of the work he has done for the profession and for our organization. He deserves our highest praise and unending thanks for shepherding young journalists through our ranks.
Passed unanimously by the board of the Washington, D.C. Pro Chapter of the SPJ, November 18, 2021.
Letter from the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of Washington, D.C.
Greetings Mr. President:
It is my honor to recommend several candidates for appointment to the board of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, each for a term of three years:
William McCloskey
Evelyn Hsu
Amy Fickling
Darlene Superville
Reginald Stuart
Delano Massey
Joie Chen
The foundation board will vote on these names at its meeting expected Thursday morning and forward them to you for action by the appropriate SPJ board members. Most named are well regarded in the news business and have served this organization well.
Frank Quine, our treasurer for the past 20 years, is not standing for re-election. Unfortunately, Frank recently passed unexpectedly. Our condolences to his family whom we thank for his service. Bill McCloskey, who has served s treasurer before, has agreed to serve as interim treasurer until the foundation board appoints a replacement treasurer.
The new names on the list are Delano Massey and Joie Chen. Delano is a mentee of mine who is a producer for Cable News Network (CNN). He lives in Ohio, his home state and commutes to Washington,D.C., until the pandemic subsides. He is a seasoned reporter, having worked and reporter at the BellevilleIl News Democrat, rising to investigative reporter for the Lexington Herald Leader to a regional editor for the Associated Press then moving on to CNN.
Ms. Chen worked as an accomplished reporter for CBS Network TV as Washington, Correspondent, she is now at Poynter Institute. Both have recruited, edited and coached aspiring journalism new comers who could help our foundation with the next generation of prospects.
Joie Chen is the Senior Adviser to the President of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and a faculty member. Her role includes developing new programming and partnership opportunities with news organizations, news adjacent organizations and colleges and universities. Her teaching focuses on transformational changes in journalism.
She also remains active as a practitioner; she is a Special Correspondent for ‘Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien’, a weekly news magazine program syndicated by Hearst Broadcasting.
Joie is best known for her long career as a television news anchor and correspondent. She served ten years as an anchor for CNN, based in Atlanta, before joining CBS News as a Washington correspondent covering the White House and Capitol Hill among other DC beats. She later served as the anchor of Al Jazeera America’s flagship program ‘America Tonight.’ Her journalism career includes coverage of the events in Ferguson, Missouri after the police slaying of Mike Brown, reporting from the Philippines after Supertyphoon Haiyan, the DC sniper attacks, the Atlanta Olympic Park bombing, presidential summit meetings, state funerals, eight national political conventions, news events in 47 states and several Asian nations. Her work has been honored with national Emmys, CableACE and many other awards.
Joie also has a deep commitment to ‘paying it forward’ for young and aspiring journalists. A long-time member of the Asian American Journalists Association, she has spoken at all but one of its annual ‘JCamp’ sessions for multicultural high school students. She currently serves on the Elon University School of Communications Board, and served for many years on the Board of Advisors at her alma mater, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Joie served on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) before joining Medill as its Director of Washington Programs. She lives in Bethesda.
Regards,
Reginald Stuart, SDXDC foundation president