by Bob Duthaler
The JAG Board of Trustees recently held our Annual One-Day Retreat, an important opportunity to set goals, refine our focus, and plan for the future. I’m proud to share that JAG will continue to grow and support our membership while staying true to our core values. This year, one of our top priorities is enhancing the JAG website, making it a true “go-to” destination for members. You will find the latest news, valuable information, and a members-only section designed to provide exclusive tools and resources.
Our commitment to communication remains strong. Throughout the year, we will utilize the JAG Email List Serve to distribute important articles and updates, and committees will use it to keep members informed on their work. In addition, social media will continue to play a central role in our outreach efforts. We encourage all members to follow JAG, engage with posts, and share content to help amplify our collective message. These initiatives are part of our broader marketing plan to strengthen connections and deliver value to our membership.
Membership growth will also be a key focus moving forward. JAG will actively explore opportunities to bring new municipalities into the fold, especially those with stations not yet part of our network. We will also extend outreach to educational channels at the high school and university levels. Our goal is to demonstrate the benefits of belonging to JAG and the value of working together as one unified voice for community media.
Looking ahead, JAG will continue to host its annual conference in May 2026. We are exploring new ways to rethink session structures and are asking for greater “buy-in” from our members, including more crew, staff, and volunteers attending. Our aim is to have full representation from all JAG member stations while keeping costs low and the quality of the event high. The tradeshow and technology forum will remain the driving force behind the conference, supported by continued partnerships with vendors and local trade organizations.
The JAG Awards will again serve as a celebration of the hard work and creativity of our PEG community. We will continue the single free-entry model to encourage participation, while also enhancing the show’s technical presentation. Partnerships with NATOA and ACM members will help expand our pool of judges. Additionally, we plan to provide training sessions on how to enter, along with presentations on why participating in the awards is so important for both individuals and stations.
Networking remains a cornerstone of JAG, consistently ranked as one of the top benefits by our members. We will continue to offer networking opportunities at the annual conference and explore more in-person events throughout the year, including after-work gatherings, special presentations, and informal meetups. At the same time, we are rethinking our meeting structure to focus on efficiency—holding formal meetings only when necessary and dedicating other sessions to presentations and networking opportunities.
To further support members, the JAG Executive Board and Production Committee are working on a series of training and marketing “Reels” to share across social media. Our plan is to create 10–12 short videos annually that will both inform and entertain while growing JAG’s digital presence. We encourage members to support this effort by sharing videos, offering feedback, and suggesting new topics.
Finally, JAG is looking to increase opportunities for membership involvement within our committees and the Board of Trustees. This includes implementing term limits for board members over time, which will create space for new voices and fresh ideas. Greater member participation is essential to the continued success of our organization, and we look forward to seeing more of you step into leadership roles. We will bring these ideas to the membership in the upcoming months for a vote as it will require a change in our organizations structure.
The year ahead promises exciting growth, stronger connections, and new opportunities. Together, we will continue to shape the future of community media in New Jersey.
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President’s Message: August 2025 – Annual Board Retreat Update
Posted: August 26, 2025 by Doug Seidel
by Bob Duthaler
The JAG Board of Trustees recently held our Annual One-Day Retreat, an important opportunity to set goals, refine our focus, and plan for the future. I’m proud to share that JAG will continue to grow and support our membership while staying true to our core values. This year, one of our top priorities is enhancing the JAG website, making it a true “go-to” destination for members. You will find the latest news, valuable information, and a members-only section designed to provide exclusive tools and resources.
Our commitment to communication remains strong. Throughout the year, we will utilize the JAG Email List Serve to distribute important articles and updates, and committees will use it to keep members informed on their work. In addition, social media will continue to play a central role in our outreach efforts. We encourage all members to follow JAG, engage with posts, and share content to help amplify our collective message. These initiatives are part of our broader marketing plan to strengthen connections and deliver value to our membership.
Membership growth will also be a key focus moving forward. JAG will actively explore opportunities to bring new municipalities into the fold, especially those with stations not yet part of our network. We will also extend outreach to educational channels at the high school and university levels. Our goal is to demonstrate the benefits of belonging to JAG and the value of working together as one unified voice for community media.
Looking ahead, JAG will continue to host its annual conference in May 2026. We are exploring new ways to rethink session structures and are asking for greater “buy-in” from our members, including more crew, staff, and volunteers attending. Our aim is to have full representation from all JAG member stations while keeping costs low and the quality of the event high. The tradeshow and technology forum will remain the driving force behind the conference, supported by continued partnerships with vendors and local trade organizations.
The JAG Awards will again serve as a celebration of the hard work and creativity of our PEG community. We will continue the single free-entry model to encourage participation, while also enhancing the show’s technical presentation. Partnerships with NATOA and ACM members will help expand our pool of judges. Additionally, we plan to provide training sessions on how to enter, along with presentations on why participating in the awards is so important for both individuals and stations.
Networking remains a cornerstone of JAG, consistently ranked as one of the top benefits by our members. We will continue to offer networking opportunities at the annual conference and explore more in-person events throughout the year, including after-work gatherings, special presentations, and informal meetups. At the same time, we are rethinking our meeting structure to focus on efficiency—holding formal meetings only when necessary and dedicating other sessions to presentations and networking opportunities.
To further support members, the JAG Executive Board and Production Committee are working on a series of training and marketing “Reels” to share across social media. Our plan is to create 10–12 short videos annually that will both inform and entertain while growing JAG’s digital presence. We encourage members to support this effort by sharing videos, offering feedback, and suggesting new topics.
Finally, JAG is looking to increase opportunities for membership involvement within our committees and the Board of Trustees. This includes implementing term limits for board members over time, which will create space for new voices and fresh ideas. Greater member participation is essential to the continued success of our organization, and we look forward to seeing more of you step into leadership roles. We will bring these ideas to the membership in the upcoming months for a vote as it will require a change in our organizations structure.
The year ahead promises exciting growth, stronger connections, and new opportunities. Together, we will continue to shape the future of community media in New Jersey.
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Category: Latest JAG News, President's Message