Meeting Summary Spring 2010

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AAJA Articles of Incorporation (PDF)
AAJA By-Laws (PDF)
AAJA Code of Conduct Policy (PDF)

Asian American Journalists Association
MEETING SUMMARY SPRING 2010

The AAJA National Advisory and Governing Boards convened for the annual spring meeting, in San Francisco, February 26-27, 2010. These were points of discussion:

• National President Sharon Chan says we should Always Be Closing: memberships, convention registration, Power of One donations and sponsorships. Advisory Board members also went through fundraising training.
• Chan is assembling a Development Committee to help outline AAJA's funding opportunities and investment strategies. She is looking for nonjournalists and non-AAJA members to join the committee, which already includes former People managing editor Jeannie Park and CNN HLN's Richard Lui.
• Board committees are established: Finance with Investment subcommittee (chaired by Candace Heckman), Strategic Planning (Abe Kwok), Membership (Athima Chansanchai), Programming (Paul Cheung), and Policy and Planning (Doris Truong).
• In the Treasurer's Report, Heckman says the majority of chapters met the earlier filing deadline for financials, which will help AAJA push up the production of its annual report.
• In the National Office report, Executive Director Kathy Chow gave an update on all programs and the 2010 budget.
• A new fundraising policy is being drafted, with the language being designed to spell out what kind of donations AAJA will accept and for what purpose.
• National needs help tracking down awards coordinators in newsrooms to encourage entries into AAJA's professional contests.
• A new Governing Board is elected to a two-year term: The members are Abe Kwok (small-chapter rep), Athima Chansanchai (medium), Ellen Lee (large), Annalisa Burgos (at large), Don Chareunsy (at large) and Frank Witsil (at large).
• Kwok is leading discussions about a new Strategic Plan to replace the former document, which has expired. The objective is to have a final proposal -- envisioning success five years from now -- ready for Governing Board consideration at the fall meeting.
• 21st annual convention, Aug. 4-7, at the Hollywood Renaissance.
• Early registration deadline is Friday, April 16.
• Program book advertising is due May 7.
• Programming will focus on experience, instead of media-based tracks.
• Three of the six AAJA founders have committed to attend the opening, which will be emceed by Ben Fong Torres.
• The Governing Board adopted a financial resolution: "Whereas AAJA seeks to be fiscally responsible for its finances, we resolve not to tap into restricted funds for purposes other than that for which they were designated."

Announcements
• The summer Advisory Board meeting will be Aug. 7, 2010, in Hollywood. The summer Governing Board meeting will be Aug. 8.
• Sacramento chapter Co-Presidents Judy Lin and Pamela Wu present a $25,000 check from the chapter treasury as a sign of support for AAJA's mission and programs and a challenge for other chapters to step up to their example.
• AAJA will open an online store in March.

If you have questions, please contact me at aajadoris@yahoo.com .