This was a piece Rerich compiled from a monthly Press Club meeting with communication professionals in the St. Louis area present and taking part in the discussion.
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Press Club Board Meeting Minutes for September 15, 2014
2127 Innerbelt Business Center Drive
NEXT BOARD MEETING: NOON, Monday, October 20, 2014
Members attending: Joan Lee Berkman, Tom Eschen, Alice Handelman, Betty Kagan, Kent Martin, Pam Niehaus, Barbara Langsam Shuman, Bill Smith, Ellen Soule
Executive Director, Glenda Partlow, and Intern, Ryan Rerich
President Bill Smith called the meeting to order at 12:11 p.m.
The August minutes were deferred until later in the meeting, when at 12:21, Tom Eschen moved they be accepted as written. His motion was seconded by Barbara Langsam Shuman and passed unanimously.
The August 2014 Monthly Transaction Report was distributed and reviewed
Discussion was opened and Alice Handelman recommended we capitalize on the 5,500 enterprise journalism grant to the Post-Dispatch by distributing copies at events, adding to Facebook, and emailing link to publicize. Tom Eschen said locally we could most likely get a follow up on KMOX and other news outlets and that would greatly benefit us. Betty Kagan offered the idea of lamination and handing it out.
Smith said he would request the Post-Dispatch give us 50 to 75 copies of that edition. Tom Eschen was thinking the Press Club could pitch the idea for 5,000 dollars in advertising from the Post-Dispatch. This could be advertising in many different ways.
Kent Martin adds that this would let journalists around know what the Club has to offer.
Alice Handelman thought it was a good idea for Tom to meet with Ray Farris, the new publisher of the Post Dispatch, and names were given for future contact.
Smith stated that Dick Weiss believes there is a possibility of the Post Dispatch winning a Pulitzer Price with their Ferguson coverage and that we should honor them, as well. Tom Eschen, Barbara Langsam Shurman, and Kent Martin spoke about the newspaper’s balanced reporting and editorials.
Smith said he believes we should email the board about this and discuss at next meeting. Handelman suggested they be honored at December annual meeting. Niehaus remarked that this story is not even close to being over yet, and we should wait.
Media Person of the Year:
Smith opened the discussion by asking, Where are we on the MPOY?
Eschen has talked to Trish Muyco-Tobin about chairing the MPOY event, which she is considering and also checking with her employers as it is a lot of work. Eschen will be requesting board members to sign-up for various responsibilities via email and a MPOY meeting will be scheduled before the next board meeting.
Glenda Partlow said she has prepared a per person estimate of cost between Missouri Athletic Club and Edward Jones as venue. MAC is considerably more expensive. Both were available March 31 as of August 25 when she spoke to John Boul at Jones. He said to send a letter requesting that Edward Jones donate the use of their facility again, which she did. This needs approval from the facilities committee and we are still waiting for a response.
To the question of are we honoring too many individuals at MPOY, Eschen said he doesn’t think we are. Greenblatt will contact Brian Williams or Candy Crawley to see if one of them will be our national honoree.
Beauty Buzz:
Because MPOY will be in March, the September Beauty Week at Neiman Marcus would be better than February for Beauty Buzz. This needs to be arranged with Neiman Marcus. Regarding a chairperson, Eschen has emailed Carol Voss requesting she chair and is still waiting for her response. He will follow up with a call. (Handelman said she will send him her phone number. )
Joan Lee Berkman said a mother/daughter event, like last year, is anticipated if Voss and her daughter will co-chair.
Programming Reports
Past and Upcoming events:
August 28 BBB Charity Symposium co-sponsored by Press Club was attended by Rick Stoff and Bill Smith. Smith said it was an interesting event and BBB greatly appreciated the sponsorship.
August 27 Food Forum and Gourmet Luncheon. Niehaus said the luncheon was well attended and the food was excellent. Suzanne Corbett did a great job coordinating the event at Ces & Judy’s and the recruited the speakers for the panel discussion, which she moderated.
Press Club at the Gatesworth Speaker Series
Betty Kagan said Shannon Bailey from the Chess Museum was the August speaker with Amanda Cook. She was receptive to the idea of a Press Club event similar to our July Member Round-up at the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. She said all Press Club members are invited to attend the speaking engagements at the Gatesworth on September 30th with Susan Fadem and October 29th with Trish Muyco-Tobin. On November 25th, Charlie Brennan will speak and board members are invited.
September 23 Press Club Movie Night Amanda Cook has arranged for our club is have a reception in the lobby and screening of “All the President’s Men” at the St. Louis Galleria Theater, reception at 6:30 pm and screening at 7. She is donating the popcorn. We have wine and soda from previous events to serve. We are requesting $25 per person donation. Board members are encouraged to attend.
October 18 Social Media Seminar on Twitter will be from 9 to noon with optional lunch to follow at Webster University Library, computer lab. Richard Gavatin is leading this seminar for the sixth straight year. It will be a refresher and intermediate skill workshop. The seminar only is $10 and optional lunch and additional $10.
November 11 Ferguson Forum will be co-sponsored with Gateway Media Literacy Partners and held at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters on Lindbergh, Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. Niehaus said a committee is working on the panel of 3-4 person for this forum, which should be well attended due to a response to whatever the grand jury ruling is concerning the Michael Brown murder.
Pam Niehaus said that a few people volunteered. She called the library headquarters and it happened to fall during media literacy week. We got the auditorium. We have got it nailed down and need to promote it. She also likes the late date, so there will be response to the grand jury ruling over the Michael Brown case.
There will be a panel of 3-4 people. Free for people to come. We paid the $10 ahead to rent the auditorium. The 11th is a Tuesday.
December 11, Annual Meeting at Forest Park Highlands, (Bill McClellan speaker?) — Niehaus, Frohlichstein
Someone should email Dick Weiss and make sure he has asked McClellan about this.
MAC:
Glenda does not think this is worth it. $4 for parking. No copier. As long as the building space we have is free, stay here. $70 a person if the MPOY was at MAC.
Free Space Here:
Alice Handelman presented the idea of asking the Steinberg family if they want any publicity for the free space. Honor them Dec. 11th at the meeting.
Joan Lee Berkman, along with the support of others, thought honoring them at MPOY in some way would also be a great gesture.
Glenda asked, “Do we want to meet at the old building? I will call them to see if we can go back.”
In terms of scheduling, the group thought it was necessary to meet once each month until MPOY.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:02 p.m.
Prepared and submitted by Ryan Rerich and Glenda Partlow
Approved by secretary, William Greenblatt