Meeting Minutes - Feb. 11, 2008

NATIONAL ETHNIC PRESS AND MEDIA COUNCIL OF CANADA Conseil national de la press et des medias ethniques du Canada Canada's Other Voices February 11, 2008 Meeting Minutes Queens Park - committee room # 230 The meeting called for 6:00 Present: Thomas S Saras Dr. Bikram Lamba Iraj Emad Ahmad Shah Hotaki Teshome Woldeamanuel Mohammad Tajdolati Sima Sahar Zerehi Bahram Bahrami Maryam Aghvami Mila Artega Garcia Hermie Garcia Aaron Behrane Luba Cherny Danielle Zhu Stephanie Williams Tanas Jovanovsci Clyde McNeil Dumitru Popescu John Saraidaris Hussein Poorhaidar Bahram Bahrami Hassan Zerehi Shahram Binesh Niaz Salimi Ahmad Shah Hotaki Shrimal Abeyewardene Mohammad Tajdolati Ranjit Wicks David Ferdinands Emmanuel Ayiku Tanas Yovanovsci AGENDA 1. Welcome Remarks by the Chair –and call to order 2. Call to order by the Chair      • Dr. Lamba motion to accept agenda - Mr. Emad seconded – all in favour 3. Minutes Approved from Previous Meeting      • Dr. Lamba motion to accept minutes from previous meeting – Mr. Emad seconded – all in favour 4. Reports by the President:      • The work done by Balmoral can be found on www.nationalethnicpress.com      • Mr. Saras stresses the fact that not enough members have completed the survey      • We are short 80 surveys – currently we have 180 completed surveys out of 430 members      • Mr. Saras is asking the members of the board to approve motion that any member that refuses to complete questionnaire be removed from list of publications advocated on behalf of in future discussions with government      • Soon we will have an election – Mr. Saras will attempt to make sure we have access to politicians during that time for      reporting purposes      • Mr. Saras is encouraging members to get involved in the NEPMCC      • Meeting with Chief of Police Tuesday February 12 at 1 at 40 College St. 5. February 18, 2008 Social      • Next Monday Feb 18 will be our social event at the "Greek Grill restaurant" at Danforth and Logan at 6pm – members can complete the survey at this event – editors that attend this event will get a 1/4th page advertising      • Please RSVP by Thursday Feb 14 to Mr. Saras 6. Canada Heritage Round Table on Federal Programs      • Canadian Heritage sent letter to President – they are organizing a meeting on March 4 – round table discussion on re-designing Federal programs on periodicals      • Re-design will address issues with Federal advertising agency      • This is a major development and the fact that we have been invited is significant      • The Ontario Community Newspaper Association will also be there as well as the Ontario Daily Papers organizations      • The round table will be at the Renaissance Hotel from 8am to 4pm      • Officially each organization will have a representative – Mr. Saras will be representing the NEPMCC 7. NEPMCC Business Cards      • Mr. Saras needs an email from anyone who wants to have a NEPMCC business card to send him an email with their information including full name – telephone number – email – fax number – cell number – and publication      • Mr. Saras will send a reminder email 8. Canadian News Services and NEPMCC Exhibition – July 7-12      • There will be a week of displays of publications in City Hall rotunda      • A committee needs to be created to coordinate details      • Members need to help to make this event a success      • The 5 day exhibition can be combined with various cultural events throughout the week      • Should we have an official opening of this event with Ministers and government representatives      • Mr. Chair suggests exhibiting paintings and inviting guest speakers      • Sima suggested displaying photo-journalistic images      • Sima also suggested organizing daily panels with guest speakers on various issues discussed in the Ethnic press.      • Mr. Saras pointed out that we need at least 100 publications to make the event a success      • Mr. Saras suggests that we designate a committee to work on coordinating this event      • Mr. Saras states that if we are organized a sponsor can be found to assist with costs      • Mr. Saras suggests that we need a budget      • Mr. Saras noted that this is the first time that we go to the Toronto City Hall if this is a success we can expand to other cities      • Mr. Saras suggests to ask Trifon Haitas to produce a video documenting the work and voices of the members      • Mr. Saras points out that a few years ago Ethnic press was not on the agenda – today we have access to the City Hall for 5 days      • Dr. Lamba stresses the issue that this event will give us exposure      • Dr. Lamba suggests that we need an audience for speaker series or cultural events      • Dr. Lamba points out that there has to be consistent publicity for any events that we organize      • Dr. Lamba suggests a one day panel discussion and other events on other days      • Dr. Lamba seconds the suggestion by Mr. Saras to appoint a committee to organize this event      • Stephanie Williams: July is a time when it will be difficult to attract people to indoor events that are more intellectual      • Mr. Saras responds that end of May was not available for booking – also other times in the year were unavailable for a full week – out of two choices Mr. Saras chose the July dates      • Mr. Saras suggests that Monday afternoon will be the official opening of the event      • Mr. Saras suggests that each newspaper can display their material on a table      • Clyde and Mr. Saras can approach Lombardi to also display a table      • Ethnic channels can also be invited      • NEPMCC will also send invitations to business community and companies to attend the opening and learn about the publications      • Clyde suggested that we accept this date this year and attempt to have a better date next year in 2009      • The organizing committee will include Sima, Clyde, Ranji, Stephanie, Mila, Mr. Hotaki      • Mr. Saras suggests that we start to advertise once the event is organized 9. New Business/Motions:      • Dr. Lamba asks for moment of silence for Mrs Keroglidou Irene’s father who has passed away      • Membership authorizes Mr. Saras to send a postcard on behalf of membership 10. ADJOURNMENT      • Dr. Lamba motion to adjourn, Sima seconded, all in favour   The Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 10, 2008 at Queen’s Park, committee room N# 2, first floor, Please after 6:00 pm enter the building from the front south door, (next to the Main entrance of the building). The Minutes were prepared by Sima Zerehi, Recording Secretary of the NEPMCC