JEA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
November 14, 2025 – 8 a.m., Nashville
Delta Mezzanine 6 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
I. Call to order – Val Kibler, MJE
President Val Kibler called the meeting to order at 8 a.m.
II. Roll call – Cindy Horchem, CJE
Those present who signed in their attendance were:
Board of Directors:
Valerie Kibler, MJE, president; Justin Daigle, MJE, vice president; Andrea Negri, MJE, scholastic press rights director; Rachel Steil, MJE, educational initiatives director; Shari Chumley, MJE, director-at-large; Sandra Coyer, MJE, director-at-large; Timm Pilcher, MJE, director-at-large; and Veronica Purvis, DBA, CAE, executive director (ex officio, non-voting)
Committee chairs:
Louisa Avery, MJE, awards chair; Laura Negri, MJE, Career and Technical Education chair; Rod Satterthwaite, MJE, certification chair; Aaron Manfull, MJE, digital media chair; Jessica Hunziker, MJE, Journalist of the Year coordinator; Jim Streisel, MJE, curriculum specialist; and PJ Cabrera, MJE, Scholastic Journalism Week coordinator.
JEA Staff:
Davonte Longmire, membership engagement strategist.
State Directors: (update)
Morgan Bricker, MJE; Erica Brockmoller, CJE; Phillip Caston, CJE: Mary Kay Downes, MJE; Sue Flaming; Katie Fernandez, CJE; Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, CJE; Ryan Gunterman, MJE; Steve Hanf; Anne Hayman, MJE; Glenn Krake, CJE; Ben Langevin, CJE; Susan Massy; Julieanne McClain, MJE; R.J. Morgan; David A. Ragsdale, CJE; Larry Steinmetz, MJE; Mitch Ziegler, CJE
Members: (update)
Katie Baxter, MJE; Lara Bergen, CJE; Michelle Coro; Sydney Skye Duncan; Noreen Fitzgerald-Makar, CJE; Marsha Kalkowski, MJE; Beth Koreski, CJE; Pia Longinotti, CJE; Sarah Nichols, MJE; Christina Porcelli; Becky Robinson, CJE; Amy Sorrell, MJE; Carrie Wadycki-Cruz, MJE.
Recording Secretary:
Cindy Horchem, CJE, JEA staff/business and projects coordinator
Note: CJE and MJE designations are in the roll call, but will not be repeated each time a name is in the minutes.
III. Approval of minutes – Kibler
Mary Kay Downes moved and Sandra Coyer seconded approval of the minutes from the spring 2025 general membership meeting in Seattle. (Passed unanimously)
IV. Reports
President Val Kibler highlighted reports and actions from the Nov. 13, 2025, board meeting.
A. Summary of board action – Kibler
Kibler read the commendations list
- Kristin Taylor commended by Andrea Negri for leading the Constitution Day team.
- Tripp Robbins commended by Andrea Negri for his video series on press rights issues and for advocating for press rights every chance he gets.
- Alicia Merrifield commended by Valerie Kibler for her work as mentoring chair.
- Amy Sorrell commended by Valerie Kibler and Rod Satterthwaite for her five years of service as Certification Committee chair. Among the many things she accomplished: Amy led the development of digital testing to increase access, started the MJE cohort concept to help guide potential MJE candidates through their projects. and guided the committee in adding DEI questions to both the CJE and MJE tests.
- Sarah Nichols, MJE commended by Aaron Manfull The JEA Digital Media Committee worked recently to reorganize and update the guides housed on the site. Sarah was an integral part of that process, helping to check links and images as well as offer some thoughts as to how the guides should be presented. Her work throughout the process was critical to helping deliver the final guides that started to get rolled out in October. Aaron Manfull and the JEA Digital Media Committee thank her for all her hard work and effort.
- Michelle Balmeo, MJE, commended by Aaron Manfull The JEA Digital Media Committee worked recently to reorganize and update the guides housed on the site. Michelle was an integral part of that process, helping to check links and images as well as offer some thoughts as to how the guides should be presented. Her work throughout the process was critical to helping deliver the final guides that started to get rolled out in October. Aaron Manfull and the JEA Digital Media Committee thank her for all her hard work and effort.
- Diana Day, CJE commended by Aaron Manfull The JEA Digital Media Committee worked recently to reorganize and update the guides housed on the site. Diana was an integral part of that process, helping to check links and images as well as offer some thoughts as to how the guides should be presented. Her work throughout the process was critical to helping deliver the final guides that started to get rolled out in October. Aaron Manfull and the JEA Digital Media Committee thank her for all her hard work and effort.
- Megan Ortiz commended by Aaron Manfull The JEA Digital Media Committee worked recently to reorganize and update the guides housed on the site. Megan was an integral part of that process, helping to check links and images as well as offer some thoughts as to how the guides should be presented. Her work throughout the process was critical to helping deliver the final guides that started to get rolled out in October. Aaron Manfull and the JEA Digital Media Committee thank her for all her hard work and effort
- Elisabeth Strehl commended by Aaron Manfull The JEA Digital Media Committee worked recently to reorganize and update the guides housed on the site. Elizabeth was an integral part of that process, helping to check links and images as well as offer some thoughts as to how the guides should be presented. Her work throughout the process was critical to helping deliver the final guides that started to get rolled out in October. Aaron Manfull and the JEA Digital Media Committee thank her for all her hard work and effort.
- Davonté Longmire commended by Aaron Manfull The JEA Digital Media Committee worked recently to reorganize and update the guides housed on the site. Davonté was an integral part of that process, helping to check links and images as well as offer some thoughts as to how the guides should be presented. His work throughout the process was critical to helping deliver the final guides that started to get rolled out in October. Aaron Manfull and the JEA Digital Media Committee thank him for all his hard work and effort.
The National Student Media Contest numbers are rivaling Washington, D.C., numbers from 2019. Up to 50 different contests … an increase from 38 when Nancy Smith, the contest chair, started. Contests have been updated, so they are more current.
Report from Bradley Wilson and Davonté Longmire – ad packages for C:JET and online digital advertising updated and revamped.
Certification report from Rod Satterthwaite indicated numbers for new certifications and renewals remain strong.
Vice President Justin Daigle summarized the semiannual report notes for the board. He provided a list of all of the comments and asked board members to review and respond to them.
Laura Negri reported on CTE testing at conventions. There were seven testers for Adobe certification the first year; 34 testers this year.
Shari Chumley reported on mentoring. She is interim chair. The committee’s goals include increasing the number of mentors, especially in Texas and California.
In New Business:
- The board approved the 990 from the 2024-2025 audit.
- The board approved new language in the diversity policy.
During Power Hour, the board discussed the upcoming membership drive. Make sure records are accurate within your states and individually.
Detailed reports from all board members, committee chairs and state directors are included in the fall 2025 semiannual report.
B. JEA Operations – Veronica Purvis, DBA, CAE
- Purvis wants to work to continue to use data analytics more as we move forward.
- Welcomed board members who started in May. Encouraged everyone to vote during SJW week. Must have JEA membership active on Jan. 15, 2026, to be able to vote in February.
- Kansas State University
- New performance management program and new timekeeping system
- KSU construction upcoming, which will mean moving HQ space
- JEA Staffing
- One-year anniversary for Amber and Davonte
- Team building, planning and feedback year round
- Infrastructure improving
- Membership
- JEA Membership report – At annual report time 2,340 voting members; yesterday, it was 2,595. State memberships were pretty consistent overall. Florida down 15 members last year. Illinois steady from spring, but down 14 from last fall. Michigan down 56 members. Massachusetts gained from 30 to 44. Bigger numbers in Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
- JEA Forum to replace Listserv Nov. 22
- Refreshed newsletter look, sending from Constact Contact and GZ, also working to add more member-centric content.
- Technology
- Utilizing the AMS, GrowthZone
- Technology
- Utilizing the AMS, GrowthZone
- Convention numbers updates
- Nashville is the first to reach prepandemic numbers. Can look at the semiannual report for more convention numbers and financial details.
- Minneapolis – spring 2026 April 16-18 and Orlando fall 2026 Nov. 19-22
- Advisers Institute
- Evolved since 1947
- Valuable professional development for teachers only
- Always a net negative in terms of financials
- In AI 2025, sold a new sponsorship to Penn State
- Will be rethinking the format and planning to bring something back
- Go to events on website, scroll to bottom to find survey for suggestions on events
- Partnerships/Other Initiatives
- NAMLE
- University of Maryland J-Day conference – April 4, 2025
- JEA/NSPA steering committee
- Advocacy–We’re working on building out our advocacy efforts so there will be a clearinghouse at a high level that points to different types of advocacy work.
- SPLC’s 50th anniversary – Purvis attended the closing celebration in October
C. Financial Reports – Purvis
- Purvis reported from July through September 2025, the first quarter of the current fiscal year, revenue was $251,646, primarily from programs and memberships. Expenses during the quarter were $190,911, primarily for programs and administration.
- The investment portfolio is still very balanced and healthy at $1,353,735.
- The audit for the 2024-2025 fiscal year recently concluded. Revenue was $941,256 and expenses were $1,105,802 for a net negative $164,546. Liabilities were $100,114 plus $1,353,848 in equity to total $1,453,962 in assets.
- JEA Giving Days – in additional to Giving Tuesday campaign
- Constitution Day – September
- Scholastic Journalism Week – February
- World Press Freedom Day – May
More details are included in Purvis’s portion of the semiannual report.
D. Diversity Report – Sandra Coyer, MJE
- DEI report – The board passed an updated Diversity Statement. The committee and board look at our policies before anything happens, so we make informed decisions that are not led by emotion. Added language from the SPJ Code of Ethics.
- At the committee meeting Saturday at 9 a.m., we will talk about how we get feedback. Coyer likes to set goals and track how we do over time. Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting.
- Showed numbers from four conventions Kansas City, Philadelphia, Seattle and Nashville related to earning diversity certificates and sessions.
- There are 37 DEI resources available on the website.
- Coyer has read through the semiannual report three times so far to look for common questions/problems/concerns that can be addressed by the DEI committee.
- DEI is not a standalone thing; it permeates the entire organization … always looking for ways to expand the community and help publications represent and serve the schools and students where they are.
- Goals moving forward
- Membership growth and engagement
- Creating resources
- Recruitment and retention of students, especially with changing credit requirements, funding issues
- Everyone is invited to attend the committee meeting tomorrow.
V. New Business
- The slate of candidates for the JEA board was presented:
- Director at large – Michelle Coro
- Scholastic Press Rights director – Andrea Negri, MJE, Cypress Wood (Cypress) High School and Joseph Runyambo Gasinzira, Isoko Complex (Minembwe) School
- Nominated for director at large from the floor with her permission – Sarah Kirksey, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Timm Pilcher moved and Shari Chumley seconded approval of the slate for the open JEA positions including the nomination from the floor of Sarah Kirksey, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, for director at large.
(Passed unanimously)
- Justin Daigle moved and Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg seconded to commend the Nashville local committee members for all of their hard work and effort to create an amazing convention.
VI. Adjournment
It was moved by Mary Kay Downes and seconded by Timm Pilcher to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 a.m. (Passed unanimously)
