Facilitators: Ruth Yarrow/Mary Hanson
25 people in attendance, representing 10 neighborhood groups and organizations
INTRODUCTIONS - Many of those present reported briefly on activities (past and upcoming) in their neighborhoods. Shannon Turner-Covell was introduced as our new Treasurer.
UPCOMING CAUCUS ACTIVITY - Attendees were urged to both get out the word in their neighborhoods (a good chance to practice door-to-door connections) regarding the caucus meetings as well as to attend their caucuses, possibly taking with them one of the resolutions posted on the SNOW website. For more information about caucus format and location, one can visit www.kcdems.org
BYLAWS - These were circulated with brief comments. (The bylaws had been posted on the website for the requisite comment period.) Minor corrections were made for clarity and the bylaws were then adopted by a unanimous vote of approval. Brenda Collier was thanked for her diligent, thoughtful efforts, completing several drafts of the bylaws and for judiciously incorporating the essentials into this final set There was a recommendation to the Coordinating Committee and to the SNOW Organizer that neighborhood and organizational groups be contacted in a timely manner in order to inform them of upcoming votes and major issues to be considered at general meetings. This will allow the groups to have official representation at a meeting where a vote will be taken.
BUDGET - Brenda Collier presented the financial report for the past year as well as the budget for the upcoming year. After some discussion, the provisional budget for 2004 was approved with the reservation that there needs to be consistent, effective fund-raising in order to operate on a sound financial footing for the next year. There was agreement that it was a reasonable expectation that any SNOW sponsored events be expected to pay for themselves. It was also suggested that neighborhood groups be asked to regularly contribute to SNOW --even if that contribution is small. Finally, it was suggested that "fundraising" be on the agenda for every general SNOW meeting. Even if this is only a short report, it will signal the need for SNOW to continue to think about raising money.
FUNDRAISING - The fundraising committee reported on a number of on-going efforts including fundraising dinners and grant writing. It was suggested that the fundraising dinners proposal be prominent on the SNOW website. The organizer was asked to communicate with neighborhood groups to encourage them to promote the idea of dinners or other fundraising activities. The next meeting of the fundraising committee will be held on Monday, January 26th.
It was also reported that tickets for the Concert for Peace have not been selling briskly. All were encouraged to take posters and fliers as well as tickets and to do what they could to promote sales for this event.
MARCH 20 - Tom Barnard reported on a meeting that took place between some representatives of SNOW and several other groups in order to discuss a possible joint effort to plan, promote and execute a major event on March 20th to coincide with international events on the anniversary of the US attack on Iraq. After discussion, it was affirmed that the representatives would continue to meet with other groups to plan an event that is consistent with the SNOW Points of Agreement, one that gives prominence to neighborhood groups and one that has some component of cultural celebration. For more information on this issue or to offer suggestions or to become involved in helping with the planning for 3/20, SNOW members are invited to contact the SNOW organizer by calling the SNOW office or writing to organizer@snowcoalition.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS - Several announcements were made and these will be included in upcoming SNOW Announce Bulletins
THANK YOU - We ended the meeting with a standing ovation for Brenda Collier who has served as the SNOW treasurer for the past year in addition to having done the lion's share of work on the SNOW bylaws. Her efforts have been a major contribution to the success of SNOW for the past year.
Submitted by Marcia Mullins