The Kentucky Press Association’s business meeting Jan. 23, 2009, at the Galt House Suites in Louisville will include the discussion of, and membership vote on, changes in the Kentucky Press Association Bylaws. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. (Eastern) and the meeting room location will be announced.

The bylaws were last changed in January 2003.

On the recommendation of the Kentucky Press Association Board of Directors, the membership will consider a change in the bylaws concerning a vision statement and mission statement.

Those two statements developed from a six-month strategic plan process that is setting the course for KPA and KPS for the next three to five years.

As proposed, the amendment recommendation deletes current language stating the “Purpose” of KPA and replaces it with a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement.

A second change to the Bylaws concerns “Membership,” specifically adding a membership category for online publications/newspapers. While full-member newspapers will be invited to have their online publication as a part of this category, those will not pay dues. Dues will be charged to online publications that are not an extension of a full member’s printed publication. The Online Publications/Newspapers category will be part of the Associate Member division.

As recommended, the Bylaws would be amended to read:

ARTICLE II
PURPOSES

The purpose of this corporation is to promote the interests of its members, the newspapers of Kentucky; to expand their field of endeavor; to maintain a high code of ethics among all journalists; to enhance the usefulness of the newspaper industry and to promote and maintain a spirit of fraternal regard among its members; and to do any and all things necessary to carry out the purposes of this corporation.

VISION STATEMENT

KPA will be its members’ source of excellence in the gathering, dissemination, and facilitation of news, information and advertising through multiple platforms.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Kentucky Press Association will maintain a stable, secure, and solid financial operation to perpetuate the organization’s vision; uphold the highest ethical journalistic and business standards; collaborate with its members and other media to better understand the needs and interests of its consumers; be a leader in integrating and linking the internet and social web technology with its members and their consumers; search out and promote new strategic partnerships for its members’ benefit; provide a platform for relevant training, exchange of ideas and resources; use a marketing plan to re-brand itself and members to the public; be its members’ voice to the Kentucky General Assembly.

MEMBERSHIP

There is also established the Online Publications membership within this division. Online Publications may apply for membership in the Kentucky Press Association after being in business for the previous 12-month period. To be eligible for membership in the Online Newspaper/Publication category, an online publication:

a. must have been published for the previous 12-month period;

b. must be updated no less than one time each week;

c. must be principally devoted to the dissemination of original local or general news and other news content, which must be a minimum of 25 percent of overall content

d. must be available to the general public on the World Wide Web;

e. must not serve primarily as a platform to promote the interest and/or opinions of a special interest group, individual or cause;

f. must have a known Kentucky-based office of publication, open to the public, where business or publication is transacted, have a local telephone number and must include contact information in each updated publication;

g. must abide by copyright laws.

Online publications must apply to the Kentucky Press Association for membership and must be approved by the Board of Directors. Individual online publications shall have no voting privileges in Kentucky Press Association business matters. Dues for Online Publications/Newspapers are the same as established by the Board of Directors for annual KPA Associates Division dues. Voting Members with an online publication will automatically be included in this membership division as long as they meet and maintain criteria a. through g. above. Dues for Online Publications of Full Members will be waived.

According to the Bylaws, amendments can only be considered after notification is published on the front page of a regular issue of The Kentucky Press after it has been approved by two-thirds of the membership of the Board of Directors. The amendment is then voted on by the members of the Kentucky Press Association. Full/voting members (those publications with a Periodicals Class Mailing Permit) may vote on business matters and each newspaper is limited to one vote.