A native-born Seattleite, Sunny Wu knows his microbrews.

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Ballots will be sent to the email address filed with AAJA. It will arrive in your Inboxes on Oct. 18. Ballots are due by noon Oct. 28.

Meet the candidates

Chapter President

According to the AAJA Bylaws, Article X, Section 3, the chapter president will oversee all activities of the chapter and will act as its chief executive officer. The president must be a full member of the chapter.

This is a two-year term that starts January 2012 and ends December 2013.

Candidate statement:

SONA PATEL

Producer for Social Media

The Seattle Times

I started my professional journalism career about 5 years ago as a print news reporter, churning out stories for a small daily newspaper in San Luis Obispo, Calif. I didn’t really get the web or why I needed to learn how to tweet, use Facebook or engage readers as part of my beat. But throughout the last three years, the importance of integrating web skills with traditional reporting methods really hit home. As president of the Seattle chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, I’d bring to the organization what I’ve developed over the last couple years as social media producer for The Seattle Times: how to tactically integrate online journalism into our profession.

One of my goals as president would be to hold regular workshops for members to learn about the latest in innovative online journalism and how to apply that to their professional or freelance work. The industry is facing one of its biggest challenges, and it’s up to us to help it survive. We need to work together – helping each other develop the necessary skills to stay relevant in our industry. I’d make professional development and community outreach the bedrock of the organization. One of the things that helped me become a successful journalist was the mentoring and journalism programs available to me while I was in college. One of the ways I want to give back is to set up a mentoring program for young aspiring journalists in the Northwest. Help me make AAJA Seattle an invaluable resource for journalists in the Northwest.

Vice President for Programs

According to the AAJA Bylaws, Article X, Section 3, a chapter may have any number of vice presidents.

The Vice President for Programs is in charge of student and member outreach, including the Northwest Journalists of Color scholarship program and training programs that the chapter holds throughout the year.

This is a two-year term that starts January 2012 and ends December 2013.

Candidate Statement:

LAUREN RABAINO

Associate producer at The Seattle Times

Although I’m new to Seattle and AAJA, I’ve been involved in forward-thinking digital journalism circles for years and can bring an innovative perspective to the board. I would like to expand the role of the VP of programs beyond scholarship efforts to supplement scholarships with educational training for members and non-members. My vision is to make AAJA a digital hub for local journalists to learn about technology, color and how they intersect by hosting workshops and brainstorming sessions. Ideally, I’d like to partner with organizations like ONA and Hacks/Hackers to bring AAJA up to speed in the digital arena.

Chapter Secretary

According to the AAJA Bylaws, Article X, Section 3, the chapter secretary will be responsible for making and maintaining meeting minutes and documentation of other chapter activities.

This is a two-year term that starts January 2012 and ends December 2013.

Candidate statement:

SAMANTHA PAK

Reporter

Redmond Reporter

I am running for the position of AAJA Seattle Board Secretary because after being a member for more than three years, I would like to be more involved in the chapter. I think being secretary would give me the opportunity to do this and learn more about how AAJA Seattle is run.

I would take my duties seriously and complete them to the best of my abilities. Additionally, with the rise of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, I believe my experience with these sites would allow me to publicize meetings and distribute information to members more effectively.

I have worked in traditional print as well as online publications and have held both full-time and freelancing positions – the latter of which is the direction the industry seems to be headed as staff layoffs and downsizing becomes commonplace.

I am currently a reporter for the Redmond Reporter – the weekly newspaper for the City of Redmond – and a freelance writer for Seattle’s Northwest Asian Weekly. I have also been an education reporter for the Post Register in Idaho Falls, Idaho and freelance writer for the Pacific Publishing Company in Seattle.

Since I joined AAJA Seattle, I have really felt welcomed and part of a real community. Fellow members would take a genuine interest in me, which I was especially grateful for when I was job searching. Being chapter secretary would give me an opportunity to give back to an organization that has supported me as I have begun my career.

National Advisory Board Representative

According to AAJA Bylaws, Article III, Section 1, the National Board of Directors is composed of a Governing Board and an Advisory Board. The Governing Board sets the direction of AAJA business. The role of the Advisory Board shall be advisory in nature. Advisory Board members represent the interests of AAJA chapters in the organization, the organization’s interests in the chapters, and the interests of both in the community. The Advisory board shall have no budgetary or principal office oversight. Advisory board members must be full members.

This is a two-year term that starts January 2012 and ends December 2013.

Candidate statement:

SANJAY BHATT

Reporter

The Seattle Times

After four years of leading your Seattle chapter as president, I am running to represent the chapter on AAJA’s National Advisory Board. For many years, our Seattle chapter board has been successful at setting ambitious goals and achieving them. This doesn’t happen overnight. We’ve cultivated a collaborative culture grounded in open communication and high expectations, a team in which every board member has the opportunity to develop leadership skills and feel supported doing so. We’ve established a strategic plan focused on outreach, training and mentoring. And we have produced results, including membership growth during a period of huge turmoil in our market. I believe my board experience, connections with our members and familiarity with industry trends have prepared me well to represent your interests on AAJA’s national board. As your board representative, I would like to bring Seattle’s approach and strategic focus to bear on how the National board functions. In addition, I will communicate to the chapter any actions by the National board that would impact us. I’m always open to your ideas, questions and concerns. Thank you for your support!

Don’t forget to vote!

Check out the details below!
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Paid Blogger/Editor at the Common Language Project

Who We Are:
The Common Language Project is an award-winning multimedia journalism nonprofit based at the University of Washington. We’re looking to expand our site and sharpen our brand by starting a blog to complement the long form, multimedia journalism that we currently specialize in.

Seattle is a small city with a big worldview and tons of diversity. We want to develop a blog that provides a fun, interesting and unexpected take on travel, international development, Seattle’s global/local connection and our region’s diverse communities. 

We’re thinking travel writing from a Northwest perspective, restaurant reviews, event calendars, photo slideshows of happenings in the international community, international nonprofit news, interviews with globe-trotting Seattleites and any other awesome story you can think of.

Who We’re Looking For:
The ideal candidate is independent, entrepreneurial, funny, creative, globally aware and connected to diverse communities here in the Puget Sound region. You need to be interested in marketing, design, multimedia (especially photography) and web publishing (as well as a little social networking and event planning). But above all we want a curious reporter and a strong writer (comfortable with a quick turnaround) willing to put their energy behind an ambitious startup.

The Position:
$750 per month (negotiable) for 3-5 blog posts a week plus some graphic design, web maintenance and editing guest posts; you will also be responsible for developing the blog’s launch plan and marketing strategy. Recruiting sponsors/ad sales will be expected as well, but will include opportunities for greater compensation on a commission basis. This is a nine-month contract position with the possibility of extension.

If interested, send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to jessica@clpmag.org above by September 30th, 2011 at 5PM. More info: www.clpmag.org/submissions.php .

We’d love to get your feedback on the site and what you would most like to see in Version 2.0.

Please fill out this survey and send it to your friends who come to the site!

It’s time for the chapter to elect board members for 2012!

There are four seats up for election, all of which are two-year terms, effective Jan. 1, 2012:

President

Vice president, Programs

Secretary

National Board representative

Serving on the chapter board is an important way for you to demonstrate your leadership (a key skill many employers look for), give back to this organization and support your fellow members.

Chapter secretary Venice Buhain will oversee our elections, which will occur in mid-October. Our national office will receive the names of our 2012 chapter board members by Nov. 1.

FAQ

Who’s eligible to run and vote?

Anyone whose 2011 membership dues are current as of Sept. 30, and is a Full Member. This means those who receive the majority of their income from or spend the majority of their work time in journalistic work (including freelance), those unemployed members between journalism jobs, or those who have left journalism but were AAJA members and journalists for five or more consecutive years. Associate, Student and Retired members are NOT eligible to run or vote.

What is the time commitment?

The board meets at least six times a year to discuss chapter business and plan our two marquee events: Northwest Journalists of Color Scholarship Reception (early June) and the Lunar New Year Banquet & Silent Auction (late January/early February). Board members are expected to participate in these meetings (generally an hour or two) and these two events.

What are you looking for in board members?

Each board seat has distinct responsibilities, which makes it easier for the group to delegate tasks and for individuals to figure out what fits their skills and talents. Of course, the board can decide to change these duties to fit the needs of the group and the chapter.

President: This person is responsible for the overall health of the chapter and represents the chapter at the National Convention and in the Seattle community. Typical duties: Facilitating board meetings, managing relationships with other organizations, and speaking on AAJA Seattle’s behalf in the community.

Vice president, Programs: This person is responsible for the Northwest Journalists of Color Scholarship outreach efforts, judging and reception.

Vice president, Events (seat open in 2013): This person is responsible for the Lunar New Year Banquet & Silent Auction. This person also could organize the summer BBQ, social outings and happy-hour mixers.

Secretary: This person is responsible for the chapter board’s official minutes and elections. This person also could be the group’s social media manager.

Treasurer (seat open in 2013): This person is responsible for managing the chapter’s finances and complying with National’s rules on bookkeeping. This is the only board position that can be held by someone other than a Full Member, i.e. Associate or Retired Members.

National Board Representative: This person is responsible for soliciting input from the local board on issues coming to a vote before the National board and reporting back to the local board. This person is required to represent the chapter at the National Convention.

We will be holding a chapter mixer sometime in the next month. Board members will be there if you want to ask them questions about serving on the board or the elections process.

Oct. 12 is the filing deadline to register your interest in running for a chapter board seat. Send an email to chapter Secretary Venice Buhain, including your name, job title, company and a brief statement (no more than 250 words) on why you’re running.

Oct. 27 is the deadline for casting your ballots. As in previous elections, you’ll most likely receive a ballot electronically.

If you have any questions, send an email to aajaseattle@gmail.com with “2012 chapter elections” in the subject line. Or you can contact one of the board officers directly. Thanks!