The AAJA National Advisory and Governing Boards convened for the annual spring meeting, in San Francisco on March 13 and 14, 2009. At the meeting, the following action was taken:
Each of the 30 board members committed to fundraise during eight weeks starting April 1 for the Power of One campaign, which will support AAJA programs and operating costs. This will be a friend-to-friend approach with board members contacting individuals for tax-deductible donations.
The Board also voted in successors for the remaining one-year Governing Board terms vacated by Ameet Sachdev and Sharon Chan:
o Medium-Size Chapter: Paul Cheung of Florida
o At-Large Representative: Frank Witsil of Michigan
o Updated board buddies
- Cheryl Tan (large): New York, Asia, Washington, D.C.
- Paul Cheung (medium): Florida, Chicago, Portland
- Abe Kwok (small): Arizona, Atlanta, New England, Texas
- Frank Witsil (at large): Michigan, Seattle, Hawaii, Minnesota
- Don Chareunsy (at large): San Diego, North Carolina, Philadelphia, at-large
- Matt Dunn (at large): San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento
Announcements:
• The room rate at the Seaport for the 20th annual AAJA national convention in Boston (Aug. 12-15) has been renegotiated. It is now only $179 a night. The early-bird registration rate is valid until April 17.
• The Membership Committee is working on recrafting the definition of who can qualify for AAJA membership. A draft will be presented May 1 with revisions to be made until the Boston convention, when people will have an opportunity to weigh in at the annual General Membership meeting.
• The Advisory and Governing Boards will meet Aug. 15 in Boston. That is also the date for the annual meeting of chapter presidents and treasurers.
• The Governing Board’s fall meeting is tentatively set for Nov. 6-7 in Los Angeles.
• A Twitter feed has been established for Media Watch: #aajamediawatch.
• A group of members based in Las Vegas, which had requested and was granted pre-certification status to become an AAJA chapter, has withdrawn its petition for consideration owing to flux in local membership.
If you have questions, please contact me at aajadoris@yahoo.com.
All best,
Doris Truong
AAJA National Secretary