Region One Director's Report
from the NPPA Board meeting and annual convention:

New board members Jeff Foster, Alicia Wagner Calzada and Ron Erdrich are sworn in at the start of the NPPA board meeting day 1, Wed. June 18, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

Before I even get into the details of the board meeting and convention I want to thank those Region One members who gave me feedback from my pre-convention survey. Thanks to the current state of the economy and some bad luck in our financial planning, the NPPA is in less than ideal shape financially. It's only through feedback from members that the board can hope to make the best decisions about how to hand the crisis and still best serve the membership.

The board, which is made-up of the regional directors and associate directors from the NPPA's 11 regions along with a chapters representative and the four members of the executive committee (the President, Vice President, national secretary and past president), and a non-voting student representative, convened on Wed. June 18th at 9 a.m. Also in attendance were a parliamentarian, a timekeeper, Executive Director Greg Garneau and finance director Karen Chen, and several representatives from member chapters.

After swearing in new board members, reading a roll call of recently deceased and appointing a committee to approve the minutes of the meeting (all routine procedures at the start of an NPPA board meeting) we received the report of the finance committee. This report was divided into two sections, the initial report on the outcome of the fiscal year 2002-2003 budget and the proposed F/Y 2003-2004 budget.

Region 2 director Jim Sulley makes a point during budget discussions at the NPPA board meeting day 1, Wed. June 18, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

The NPPA ended F/Y 2003 with a deficit of nearly $300,000. Some highlights of what caused this shortfall include a $46,000 expense for the Best of TV Photojournalism DVD, which was supposed to have been covered by a sponsor. The sponsor pulled-out at the last minute, leaving the NPPA with a commitment to its members to produce the DVD, but nobody to pay the bill. News Photographer magazine has always run in the red, and continued that tradition this year was well. The Best of Photojournalism yearbook also lost a substantial amount of money. The NPPA membership drive also fell short of projections by about 50%, severely cutting revenue. In addition, the faltering economy has meant a number of past and potential sponsors have cut their budgets, leaving the NPPA with a shortfall in sponsorship revenue.

The BOP yearbook for 2002's contest is in the production process and should be mailed by the end of the summer. The contract for the book has expired and the bidding process for the next book is in full swing. Plans for the next book include marketing the book to the general public. Even after the last dues increase, which was done in order to continue giving the book to members for free, the book has always lost money.

Winslow to explore expanding the ad market of the magazine to include any businesses, which should consider photojournalists an important market, with the exception of alcohol and tobacco companies. News Photographer will also begin to budget its news hole more in accordance with advertising revenue. In the short term you may notice fewer pagers in News Photographer, but hopefully as ad revenue increases, the magazine will expand its news hole.

Soon-to-be past president Mike Sherer, not pictured at right, swears-in the members of the EC, from left, Judy Borich, T.C. Baker, Bob Gould and Todd Stricker during the NPPA National Convention and education days day 3 Fri. June 20, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

Executive Director Greg Garneau pointed out to the board, and it's a number that is worth the membership knowing, that revenue from member dues only covers 38% of the NPPA's expenses. Unless the industry-wide trend of cutting sponsorships turns around in the next year, things will remain tight.

Discussion of the proposed F/Y 2004 budget followed lunch. The finance committee presented their work with a number of understandings. The budget for the next year was based on revenue numbers from the previous year which necessitated severe cuts to make it balance. The finance committee took virtually every line in the budget and slashed it by 10% over the amount actually spent in the previous year. For some regions, which had not published a regional magazine in the year, this meant a really deep cut, of well over 10% of the previous year's budget amount. For the F/Y 2004 budget region one received $4900. Most notable was Region 10's budget of $157. Region 10's director had moved out of the region early in the year, but not notified anyone of his departure, leaving the region with nobody able to control the region's purse.

Region 11 Director Tony Overman makes a point during budget discussions at the NPPA board meeting day 1, Wed. June 18, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

In addition to cutting the national allotment to the regions the finance committee took a controversial move to absorb what have been called the "Regional/Regional" funds into the general fund of the NPPA. For the last couple of decades the NPPA has divided the regional monies into two categories, the national funds allotted to the regions, given on a per-capita basis to each region (it was $7.50 per member for many years, later cut to $3.50, and this year cut even more for some regions) and the Regional/Regional funds, which were funds raised by the individual regions and rolled-over from budget to budget for exclusive use by each region. Region One has not had any Regional/Regional funds for several years. The region used to receive a share of profits from the Northern Short Course each year, which were allotted as Regional/Regional funds. Other regions received profit shares from Flying short Course stops, or held local events the day before the FSC and raised money from those events. Several years ago the NSC's profits were allocated to the general fund instead of being shared by the regions (1, 2, and 3) which founded the event, and the FSC has not stopped in Region One in over a decade. Since the production of One Shot well exceeded the regional budget year after year, the region finally exhausted our Regional/Regional funds a few years ago. It was that budget necessity that led to the conversion of One Shot to a tabloid format newsprint publication last year. This year's cuts will necessitate that One Shot cease to publish on a quarterly basis at all. Plans now are for an annual issue of One Shot to feature regional photographers of the year from both still and TV contests as well as some other feature content.

Still and TV clips winners, regular directors columns, News Views, and other features of interest to the regional members will now be available online on the new Region One web site. With the exception of a couple of regions, all the NPPA regional publications have gone this way. The region One web site can be found at: http://www.nppa1.org

Members of the NPPA board vote to approve the F/Y 2003-2004 budget during the annual board meeting day 1, Wed. June 18, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Tony Overman/photo)

Robin Shotola, a former staffer at The Day and the Concord Monitor, who does freelance photography and web design based out of Baltimore, Maryland now, has created the site and will act as Region One's Webmaster. Sarah Evans will continue as One Shot editor, producing the one annual issue as well as helping edit the content of nppa1.org.

The bulk of the budget debate centered on the status of the Regional/Regional funds. The accounting trick of creating the Regional/Regional funds has been cited year after year by the NPPA's auditors as a major problem that should it continue, and should the IRS choose to audit the NPPA's books, could lead to prosecution. Despite this contention, the board decided last year to continue this practice; actually voting to restore the Regional/Regional accounting practice after the finance committee has proposed eliminating it. This year the budget crisis made the argument to keep the regional control of the Regional/Regional funds less compelling. One argument held that the Regional/Regional allotment was written into the bylaws and as such could not be eliminated this way. The counter argument was that if the bylaw is illegal, as the NPPA's accountants have contended, then the law should supercede the bylaw and we should pass the budget as it is and deal with the bylaw later. There are still some very hard feelings on this topic, mostly from board members will large Regional/Regional funds still in reserve, but also by some board members who feel the Regional/Regional funds should not have been eliminated in violation of the bylaws.

Publications Editor Don Winslow presents the new design of News Photographer to the NPPA board meeting day 2 Thurs. June 19, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

The board eventually voted to pass the proposed budget as presented, with the elimination of the Regional/Regional funds, and will actually meet next month in a teleconference to consider a resolution to remove the Regional/Regional funds from the bylaws. It's not a pretty solution, but legal and fiscal reality dictates it's how it's going to be done. The Regional/Regional funds are actually in the Standing Rules of the NPPA, as opposed to the bylaws, which only require a simple majority of the board to change.

Some discussion included the prospect of raising dues at this time. An increase of $10/year would more than restore the Regional/Regional funds. To consider a dues increase at the board meeting the board would have had to vote unanimously to waive the 30-day notice necessary to consider such a resolution. Since there was no consensus that everyone was willing to vote to waive the 30-day notice, no vote was taken.

There was continued discussion of a future dues increase. The NPPA's dues are low compared to other professional organizations. Dues have not gone up in over a decade; meanwhile the cost of operating the NPPA has gone up every year. The budget passed this year is only a Band-Aid®. Without a number of improved revenue streams the budget will continue to be tight and services will continue to suffer. A dues increase will be only one of the solutions in the coming years.

Bill Parker, AME for Photography at the Chicago Tribune, delivers his talk, Navigating the Newsroom, during the NPPA National Convention and education days day 3 Fri. June 20, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

With the budget behind us day two of the board meeting began with consideration of four resolutions before the board. The first resolution was a housekeeping measure to clarify the intent that the NPPA Vice President assume the office of President should the President be unable to complete his/her term. Because the NPPA president holds a number of important responsibilities in the daily operation of the NPPA, the current situation, in which it is presumed, but not stated, that the VP take over, could leave the NPPA without a chief executive for a period of time. The resolution passed after some discussion.

The second resolution before the board was considered another housekeeping measure, to clarify for the national secretary the procedure for releasing minutes from Executive Committee and Board meetings to the membership. After some discussion, and a committee to consider an amendment to the resolution recommendation that the resolution pass as originally proposed, the resolution did just that, passed.

Retired News Photographer editor Jim Gordon smiles as he goes for a motorcycle ride with region 2 director Jim Sulley during the NPPA National Convention and education days day 3 Fri. June 20, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

Resolution three proposed reducing the voting membership of the board by removing the regional associate directors' voting rights and mandating that AD's could attend board meetings, but only with regional funds. Resolution sponsor Jim Sulley, the Region Two director, explains that the NPPA's board is very large for an organization of its size, and that the possibility of the Director and AD voting at odds on issues would essentially nullify a region's representation on the board.

The resolution failed after a number of board members spoke in favor of the current regional strength of the board and the need for the NPPA to continue giving strength to the regions. The consensus was that any shortcomings in a large board would be best overcome by expanding the training given to board members. As things currently stand, new board members only get training the evening before the annual board meeting. Opinion was in favor of newly elected board members getting training as soon as they join the board, and having that training continue throughout their term.

Students sign-up for portfolio Critiques during the NPPA National Convention and education days day 3 Fri. June 20, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

The final resolution was another bookkeeping measure requiring the NPPA president to appoint an interim regional director in a region in which the director steps down without an AD in place and no regional executive committee in place. This situation was dangerously close to happening in Region 10 last year, when the director moved out of the region, leaving the AD to assume the directorship, but with no executive committee in place. The regional executive committee is comprised of the regional director, associate director, magazine/publications editor, and other members as appointed by the director. The current Region One executive committee is made-up of myself, AD Keith Nordstrom, One Shot Editor Sarah Evans, Women's Committee Rep. Michelle McLoughlin, JIB chair Robert Eng, TV Clips Chair Amaral Santos, Still Clips Chair Carrie Niland and webmaster Robin Shotola. The regional executive committee is required to meet each year at least three weeks prior to the annual board meeting. The Region One executive committee did not hold a meeting this year. A meeting was held last year, and many members of the R1 EC did meet informally at the Region One Education Day in Boston in October.

Publications Editor Don Winslow presents the new design of News Photographer to the NPPA board meeting day 2 Thurs. June 19, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

After lunch the board heard reports from a number of standing committees. The first report was from the Business Practices Committee chair Jim Sulley. The issue of freelance rights, copyright, and work-for-hire contracts is, in Jim's words, "The single most important issue in the future of this organization!" According to Jim, then NPPA must become a voice for the industry, for the profession, and news photography. We have to be seen as a voice of authority on business issues as they apply to news photography. Jim pointed out that when Rep. Jim Conyers of Michigan sponsored a bill that would give freelancers the right to organize, much like a union, that the NPPA was not among the professional organizations invited to the table to discuss the bill. Conyers' office had never heard of the NPPA.

John Curry makes his campaign speech for Vice President during the NPPA board meeting day 2 Thurs. June 19, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

The NPPA, as an organization that includes staff photographers, freelance photographers, educators and editors, has the opportunity to bring together all sides of this issue in the search for a solution. Mark Loundy's monthly column in NP was brought up because in many circles that column, because it appears in the NPPA's official magazine, is perceived as the official voice of the NPPA on such issues. While the column runs with a disclaimer, NP editor Don Winslow is not so sure the disclaimer really works. The NPPA needs to get solid legal advice on where and how it can express organizational opinions on business topics without coming into conflict with both NPPA bylaws as well as the law of the land. Student representative Denise Mangen of Ohio U. pointed out that many students in journalism/photojournalism programs today are getting no business education at all. While it should be the responsibility of these schools to give their graduates a solid grounding in the issues that will face them when the get out of school, the NPPA can take a more active role.

Best of Photojournalism Contest Chairs Maria Mann and Ken Irby present their report to the NPPA board meeting day 2 Thurs. June 19, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

The Best of Photojournalism contest committee reported next, with Maria Mann and Ken Irby presenting. The contest continues to grow with over 27,000 entries in the second year. There was again some controversy in the contest over the non-awarding of a Sports Photographer of the Year award. The judges felt again that the level of work submitted did not reach the standard they felt was needed to give the award. While Maria agrees with the non-award as it was, she says there will be some changes made in next year's category to ensure that an award is given. There will also be some changes in the pre-screening process for entries to allow photos to be moved from one category to another, and to allow single photos to be pulled from multi-photo entries and entered as singles. These changes will be explained in more detail when the contest call for entries comes out next year.

There was discussion of having the TV and Still BoPJ judging held at the same time at the Poynter Institute to save on some expenses. Also, the idea of brining the BoPJ yearbook editor in to the contest judging to get a jump on designing the book was suggested. The book needs to be published in a much more timely manner if it is to be marketable to the general public. Such marketing, though a major bookseller like Amazon or Barnes and Noble, will be a key element is making the book self-supporting and no longer a drain on the NPPA's bottom line.

ED Greg Garneau presents Bruce Moyer of the Hartford Courant with his Newspaper Picture Editor of the Year award during the Corbis Best of Photojournalism banquet, Thurs. June 19, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

The BoPJ web presence will eventually change. The NPPA's servers presently cannot host the BoPJ content so that content is hosted by Poynter. Ideally the BoPJ should have it's own "brand" identity; it's own web presence separate from the NPPA and Poynter.

Following the report of the Cutting Edge TV editing seminar chair Todd Hougaard the board agreed to officially sponsor the Cutting Edge seminar as an NPPA event. The program currently breaks even regularly and is seen as a real asset program to TV members.

Chapters Rep. Bob Gould presented his report from the 16 accredited NPPA chapters. His report was very detailed and offered a number of ideas chapters have used that could be used by various regions as well to boost membership and provide better more varied services.

We heard a report on the soon to start NPPA Mentoring program, on the News Photographer digitization project, the Student report and a report from the News Photographer advertising representative that ads will be up in the coming year.

Past president John Long proposes a committee to re-write the NPPA Code of Ethics during the NPPA board meeting day 2 Thurs. June 19, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

NPPA past president John Long presented a proposal to form a committee to re-write the NPPA Code of Ethics, which dates back, with one small revision, to the founding of the NPPA. The committee will be comprised of John, Denni Elliott and Paul Lester, J. Ross Baughman and John Menell and John asked for one still shooter from the board. I was nominated, gladly accepted and was added to the committee. The committee will report to the next board meeting, next year, with a newly written code of ethics.

Don Winslow, the NPPA's new Publications Editor made his report, wowing the board with a new design of New Photographer, which will debut in August. The design was done by U.S. News chief designer David Griffen and will help the move to market News Photographer for newsstands. NP should be more than just the monthly journal of the NPPA, it should be a nationally recognized photojournalism magazine. There really isn't one out there now, so the plan is for NP to become a newsstand publication, much as the Journal of the National Geographic Society, which started as a members only journal, now has a newsstand presence. You can see photos of Don showing off the new cover design on nppa.org and soon on the Region One web site.

The finance committee, from left, Todd Stricker, Russ Kendall, Judy Borich and Linda Epstein, present the new budget to the NPPA board meeting day 1, Wed. June 18, 2003 at the Wyndham Northwest in Itasca, Illinios. (Sean D. Elliot/photo)

The board approved naming retired NP editor Jim Gordon as the magazine's second Editor Emeritus, to share that title with NP's first editor Joe Costa.

National officer elections were the next item on the agenda with Todd Stricker elected as President, Bob Gould elected VP, Judy Borich elected as the Board's Executive Committee Rep..

Russ Kendall and Linda Epstein were re-elected to the finance committee and Scott Utterback of Region 4 was elected to join them. Jim Caiella of Region 3 and Alicia Wagner Calzada of Region 8 were elected to the Judiciary Committee.

With those elections the meeting was adjourned and the board left to attend the Best of Photojournalism Awards Banquet.

Congratulations on reading this entire report (or at least skipping to the end). Please send your feedback to Region One Director Sean D. Elliot at: s.elliot@theday.com.

Thank You!

Respectfully submitted,
Sean D. Elliot
Director, NPPA Region One