02/05/2016

ONA members to consider board changes, elect new trustees

ONA members will elect four new trustees and consider changes to our organization’s Constitution at the annual convention breakfast on Feb. 18.

The Constitution proposal, which has been approved by the Board of Trustees, would alter the composition of the board and make some minor language changes elsewhere. 

The change eliminates divisions based on daily and weekly classification and instead creates three classes of circulation based on a publication’s largest circulation day of the week. There also will be three at-large members who can come from any area of ONA membership.  New language requires the nominating committee to consider factors such as weekly representation, geographic distribution and diversity in proposing new trustees.

“The line between daily and weekly publication is only going to get blurrier in the future,” said Karl Heminger, board president.  “Our committee wanted to recognize this reality and also provide more flexibility as board vacancies occur.”

A complete version of the document in which all proposed changes are shown in red can be found at this link.

Four new trustees will be nominated to fill expired terms. They are:

• Scott Champion, The Clermont Sun
• Karmen Concannon, The Sentinel-Tribune, Bowling Green
• Christopher Cullis, The Bryan Times
• Rick Green, Enquirer Media, Cincinnati

They replace four trustees who have expiring 2016 terms: Heminger, Jerry Mossbarger of the Jackson Telegram, Rick Szabrak of the Media Network of Central Ohio and the late Keith Rathbun of The Budget, Sugarcreek.  Under the proposed Constitution change, Heminger will continue as a non-voting member of the board for one year as past president.

Nominated to continue on the board for second, three-year terms are Ron Waite, Dix Communications; Bruce Winges, Akron Beacon Journal and Robert Zikias, Cox Media Group Ohio.