March 20, 2008: NABJ President Barbara Ciara suggested the NABJ treasurer and executive board revisit the UNITY convention split model.

July 23-27, 2008: The UNITY convention is held in Chicago.

November 7, 2008: UNITY acknowledges receipt of NABJ treasurer Greg Lee’s request for full accounting of expenses from the UNITY 2008 Convention.

October 2009: NAHJ member Rafael Olmeda steps down as UNITY President, citing personal reasons; NABJ’s immediate past president Ciara elected to fill the remainder of Olmeda’s term

October 24, 2010: The UNITY board elects NAHJ member Joanna Hernandez as president.

December 3, 2010: Outgoing UNITY President Ciara submits NABJ’s first convention split proposal to the UNITY Board.

December 12, 2010: UNITY Board of Directors holds conference call to discuss NABJ revenue sharing proposal. The board tabled NABJ’s motion to give a committee composed of the presidents (with input from their financial officers) time to accept our proposal or submit an alternative by January 21. The Unity board must act on that proposal by January 31. Both of these deadlines were approved in a motion.

December 14, 2010: Ciara appoints NABJ member and UNITY secretary Leisa Richardson as 2012 Convention Chair. UNITY’s president later informed Richardson that she would be rescinding the appointment.

January 5, 2011: NABJ’s finance committee meets via conference call; discusses impact of UNITY’s convention split

January 11, 2011: UNITY executive director submits response to NABJ’s original proposal.

January 12, 2011: Alliance partner treasurers meet via conference call

January 16, 2011: Negotiation session is held between UNITY’s treasurer and NABJ’s treasurer

January 20, 2011: UNITY submits first counter proposal.

January 21, 2011: Alliance partner presidents hold conference call. The board directs the NABJ treasurer and UNITY treasurer to devise a compromise.

January 21, 2011:  NABJ treasurer submits second NABJ proposal to UNITY executive director.

January 28, 2011: UNITY president and UNITY executive director meet with NABJ Board of Directors.

January 31, 2011: NABJ sends third and final proposal to UNITY.

February 4, 2011: NABJ conducts web town hall meeting for membership

February 18: Alliance presidents meet via conference call. Presidents did not support the latest NABJ proposal but agreed UNITY’s programming and governance needed to be revisited. UNITY’s president agreed to appoint committee to review issues and said funding for a strategic plan would be included in the budget.

February 20, 2011 NABJ president Kathy Y. Times holds call with NABJ chapter presidents; UNITY negotiations discussed

February 22, 2011: UNITY’s president visits NABJ’s president in Jackson, MS

February 28, 2011: NABJ sends membership email update on UNITY negotiations

March 1, 2011: UNITY sends email message about negotiations

March 7, 2011: The UNITY president sets conference call to vote on tabled NABJ proposals on March 12.

March 8, 2011: NABJ re-submits governance and revenue sharing plan motion to UNITY Board of Directors.

March 12, 2011: NAHJ submits proposal to UNITY board hours before vote on NABJ motions.

March 12, 2011: UNITY rejects both of NABJ’s motions by a vote of 12-4 each; then the UNITY board passes NAHJ revenue sharing plan in which it keeps the original formula intact and caps UNITY’s revenue at $750,000. It also approved a task force to work on a strategic plan.  NABJ’s four UNITY representatives did not vote for either motion.

March 13, 2011: NABJ sends membership an update on the association’s rejected motions.

March 14, 2011: UNITY releases statement on passing of new revenue sharing plan.

March 20, 2011: NABJ President holds conference call with Founders, Former Presidents and Chapter Presidents.

March 22, 2011: NABJ conducts national web town hall meeting with membership

March 25-27, 2011: UNITY board meets in McLean, Virginia. UNITY retains services of a consultant to discuss issues among the groups. UNITY votes to select Leisa Richardson as 2012 Convention Chair. "A committee composed of a member from each alliance partner will draft a strategic plan to chart the direction of UNITY, including fundraising, for the next several years, to be finalized by June 1st.

"The governance committee composed of the alliance presidents will review the process to ensure equal and fair voice for each of the UNITY alliance partners. The board will consider the committee’s recommendations by April 30th. The board of directors of UNITY is moving forward with instituting better communications strategies and oversight to ensure that UNITY in all years and the upcoming 2012 convention is a success. UNITY has not passed FY2011 budget.

March 29, 2011: NABJ President updates membership on latest UNITY news

March 30, 2011: NABJ receives 2008 UNITY Convention expense report

April 10, 2011: NABJ’s board votes to withdraw from UNITY: Journalists of Color