Public Radio in Mid America
Membership Meeting
Annual Meeting Minutes
May 17, 2017
Ritz Carleton Hotel
New Orleans, LA
Call to Order and Determination of Quorum
Approval of Minutes from 2015 Annual Meeting
Minutes from the 2015 Annual Meeting held November 19, 2015 at the Super Regional Conference in San Antonio were available via website and hard copies were distributed at the meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded. The minutes were approved.
Secretary’s Report
None
Treasurer’s Report
The Treasure’s report was presented and accepted.
President’s Report
Dan Skinner reported that during the last year he represented PRIMA at the NPR Board Meetings. When he was not available, Vice President Paul Maassen filled in. During this year, NPR reported a positive cash flow and NPR audience growth. The audience growth is due in part to the coordinated effort between NPR and member station to promote programming via the Spark Campaign. Dan noted that this is very good news considering that just a few short years ago, the NPR news magazine audiences were declining and NPR was running a deficit.
Work continues on the NPR/Station Compact. PRIMA appreciates NPR’s attendance at the conference and their willingness to engage in dialog with our members. PRIMA will work with PRIMA membership to provide guidance to NPR on the station compact. PRIMA will continue to coordinate with NPR to bring webinars to members, including the legislative updates.
After the last PRIMA Membership meeting, we conducted a survey regarding the location of the spring meeting and the timing of our annual membership meeting. The consensus of the membership was for the spring 2017 meeting to be held in NOLA and to move the annual membership meeting from the Super Regional to the Spring Prima Conference. This conference marks the fulfillment of both.
PRIMA granted several scholarships and fee waivers to enable additional attendance. Skinner thanked the board members for their work in preparing and conducting this year’s PRIMA Conference. Thanks to all of the presenters for donating their time and knowledge. Dan asked the attendees to join him in a round of applause for Paul Maaseen and his staff at WWNO for hosting the conference.
Board Elections
Nominations Committee Chair, Paul Maassen presented the recommendations of the committee.
Treasurer – Regina Dean
Secretary – Neenah Ellis
Board Member #3 – Tim Eby
There were no additional nominations from the floor.
It was moved and seconded that we accept the slate by acclamation.
There was a unanimous vote to accept the slate.
New Business
Regina suggested that PRIMA host a one day meeting for membership to discuss the NPR/Station Compact. She proposed that PRIMA pay for a block of rooms for one night to keep expenses low for attendees. This will give us the opportunity to “get into the weeds” on the station compact. The board will suggest a date and time etc. Tim Eby volunteered to host the meeting in St. Louis. Gemma Hooley of NPR suggested that we schedule the meeting in time to provide feedback to NPR before the Super Regional meeting in late September.
Guest Speakers
Patty Cahill, CPB Board Member and CPB Staff Member Jeff Luchsinger. They provided an update on CPB funding and program initiatives. They also took questions from the audience.
Meeting Adjourned
Submitted by Neenah Ellis, PRIMA Board Secretary
May 19, 2017