AAJA: Asian American Journalists Association


Meeting Summary Summer 2009

Asian American Journalists Association
MEETING SUMMARY SUMMER 2009

The AAJA National Advisory and Governing Boards convened for the annual summer meeting, in Boston, on Aug. 15, 2009. These were points of discussion:

  • In the president's report, Sharon Chan says we need to move aggressively to build a strong, stable financial future for this institution because we’re facing the worst financial conditions in our lifetime; some funding sources are never coming back. She proposes a fundraising campaign to coincide with AAJA's 30th anniversary, which we'll mark at the 2011 national convention in Detroit.
  • A search committee has been established to begin the search for an AAJA Executive Director. Members are former AAJA national president Mae Cheng, recruiter Joe Grimm, AAJA National Treasurer Candace Heckman, San Francisco-based Keith Kamisugi and former AAJA national VP-broadcast Randall Yip. One of the top goals is to find a candidate with strong fundraising experience and grant-writing strengths. Chan encourages every AAJA member to think about who would be a great ED; she says one of us already knows the next ED.
  • Chan announces that Grimm has donated $10,000 to AAJA to establish an endowed scholarship in Detroit, perhaps in conjunction with Vincent Chin's family.
  • Accountant Glenn Sugihara projects a loss of at least $240,000 in 2009, in large part because grants are down and some funders didn't fulfill their pledges or scaled back significantly. A drop-off in membership (from about 2,000 to 1,400) has also hurt the bottom line. Sugihara stresses that the loss should not be too discouraging and that AAJA's good history of investments and fiscal responsibility will help the organization weather this downturn.
    • Chan and Heckman say a wave of fundraisers will be planned across the country to culminate with AAJA's 30th anniversary in 2011, kicking off an annual sponsorship and membership drive, and including continued fundraising from individuals through the Power of One campaign, a possible suspension of the membership-dues share with chapters and a potential assessment from chapter treasuries based on membership and financial resources.
  • VP-Print Janet Cho is continuing her efforts to meet the $5,000 challenge grant offered by the widow of legendary journalist William Woo. AAJA must raise $5,000 by Aug. 31 to qualify for the matching grant. Sales of Woo's book also benefit AAJA.
  • Members of the AAJA Colorado group, which has completed its year of pre-certification status, have asked for a year extension to strengthen the membership base. Gil Asakawa is the new group president, and Joe Nguyen is the vice president. The group also plans to petition to resubmit its application to be recognized as AAJA-Denver, if chapter status is granted. The name better reflects the geographic concentration of AAJA members in the market. [Note: The Governing Board voted to approve the extension of pre-certification status.]
  • Minnesota chapter President Tom Lee, a former Voices participant, proposed a Student Scholars Program to replace the convention news project. The rationale included a lower perceived cost and considerably less manpower required from staff and professional volunteers. A variety of former Voices students and professional participants weighed in to strongly object to the proposal, with some attending the meeting to express their thoughts. The proposal is under further review, but no vote is imminent.
  • The 21st annual AAJA national convention will be Aug. 4-7, 2010, at the Renaissance Hollywood.
  • For the Executive Leadership Program, director Dinah Eng has secured a two-year McCormick Foundation grant. It will be a three-pronged project tied to ELP's 15th anniversary.
  • J Camp, AAJA's program for promising high school students interested in journalism, is in its ninth year. Further tracking of graduates will be helpful with plans to have a 10th-anniversary event during the 2010 convention.
  • Announcements
    • Upcoming chapter activities
      • Sacramento: Sept. 29 photo showcase
      • New York: Oct. 3 Scrabble fundraiser
      • Los Angeles: Oct. 9 Trivia Bowl fundraiser
      • Washington, D.C.: Oct. 23 Trivia Bowl fundraiser at Pew Charitable Trusts (901 E St. NW)
      • Asia chapter Web site relaunched: aajaasia.wordpress.com
  • The Governing Board's annual fall meeting will be Nov. 6-7, 2009, in San Francisco, at AAJA headquarters.