April 1, 2002- The Virgin Islands News Association will hold a general membership meeting at 4 p.m. Saturday on the St. Thomas campus of the University of the Virgin Islands in Teacher Education Building Room T102.
The meeting will address a variety of issues, including the recent Police Department press conference at which it was announced that news media representatives will be required to present police-issued identification cards that will cost $11 each in order to enter any V.I. government building.
Non-members working in the news media and related fields who are interested in learning more about the organization are encouraged to attend.
Following the general meeting, the board will meet to elect officers.
Previous VINA meetings have been teleconferenced between the UVI St. Thomas campus and meeting facilities on St. Croix. Saturday's gathering, however, will take place only on St. Thomas.
The V.I. News Association, formed last year, has adopted bylaws and recently elected its first board of directors — Michael Burton (TV2), Jean Greaux (WVWI News), Patrice Johnson (UVI Public Relations), Will Jones (The Avis) and Shaun Pennington (V.I. Source).
The organization was founded to promote excellence in the practice of journalism and advance the development of responsible journalism in the Virgin Islands; to foster freedom of information and actively oppose all actions tending to limit or curtail that freedom; and to encourage fellowship among those active locally in the mass media.
Membership in VINA is by application. There are four categories of members:
– News media members: individuals engaged locally in news gathering and reporting for the media.
– Charter members: news media members who join the organization within a year of ratification of the bylaws (Aug. 11, 2001).
– Allied members: individuals working in other mass communications or media-related fields (these members have no vote).
– Business, corporate, association or agency members (these members have no vote).
Individual dues are $50 per year for news-media members and $25 for allied members. Organizational dues are on a sliding scale based on number of employees.
For further information about VINA, telephone 693-1058 or e-mail to newsdog@viaccess.net.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
