Present:
President Kelly Kennedy, Vice President Don North, Secretary-Treasurer Otto Kreisher, Lou Hansen, Mike Francis, Steve Komarow, Kimberly Dozier, Isaac Cubillos, Salome Angrand & Ellen Sherer
12:05 p.m.
Kelly – Need to talk about the conference & membership drive Otto gave the bank account balance of $4,067.74. But we will have bills that take up about half of that, including our insurance, $811; incorporation fee, $104; Washington Sec of State filing, $10, and Salome’s salary, $1,500-2,000.
Kelly asked about a means to notify members when to renew their dues.
Isaac – There is a Web site system to let members know when their dues are set to expire. All we have to do is load the current members and their membership date into the system. I can load the system into the website. Should be completed by the end of the day.
Salome – this is the time of year when we would broadcast for the contest. In past people have filed for the contest, claiming they are MRE members, so they don’t have to pay entry fee. Need to be able to confirm that.
Isaac asked how many people in the past paid by check or on line.
Salome – many by check.
Otto – biggest concern on planning a conference is the need to come up with the $10-12,000 a conference could cost. We want to avoid coming out of the conference in debt, as we did the last two times.
Isaac asked what the $12,000 is for.
Salome – Venue, food, IT equipment etc. and if you have to pay for people to come into DC to appear on the panels.
Someone suggested borrowing the audio equipment from others.
Lou – the venue usually requires use of their equipment.
Otto noted that the NPC footed much of the cost of the reception the evening before the last conference, because we were holding the conference at the club. Not likely to share the cost if we are meeting elsewhere.
Don –agreed. Some of proposals for saving money were to hold the conference at USA today & the Newseum. But we didn’t check on whether the Newseum would contribute space at the Knight Center.
Kelly – Would check on Newseum.
Kelly – Looking for a date, noted that the AUSA conference is Oct. 4-7.
Otto – Oct. 8, a Friday, is proposed congressional adjournment date.
Discussion of potential dates in October or November. People suggested it would be better to hold it right after the Nov. 2 elections. Speakers might be more open to talk. Suggested target dates: the social the evening of Thursday Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) and conference on Nov. 12.
Otto returned to the concern about raising most of the conference cost before getting into detail plans.
Lou – If announced date of conference, people register, get money.
Otto – In past most people sign up late. Conference fees and members dues do not pay for the conference.
Salome agreed. Many registered for the conference & paid at the social.
Salome – We should make a bigger appeal to college students.
Kelly – Hearst center might be willing to join, encourage students.
Q – Ideas for subjects.
Isaac – In past, many reporters not prepared for covering military, or to embed. If had a “how-to” session, what you need to know and take with you. Embed rules
Lou – A topic better for a web offering.
Isaac – Still have “gear up” and embedding rules etc. of the website.
Kelly – Could add reporters’ personal experiences.
Isaac – Might want to offer info for reporters with military or VA facilities near by. Non-members who would want to learn how to cover. Bring in new members. If put the info on the web, could charge for a webinar. Discount for members.
Mike – as someone who asks the question whether I want to pay to come to DC for a conference, what has appealed to me was hearing from some insiders, couldn’t get at home.
Salome – proposed a “boot camp” session the day before for new reporters.
Don – Suggested a source for potential panelists and attendees is the National Defense Information University.
Otto – Urge everyone to come up with ideas to raise money to fund the conference.
Kelly – will be attending the Carter Center conference, will check on ideas. Will be sending out e-mails with assignments.
Adjourn 1:05 p.m.
