Date: Mon. May 19, 2003
(draft)
Present: Ellen Finkelstein, Ellen Bovarnick, Jean Buskin, Mike Yarrow, Rad Cunningham, Mary Hanson (alt. for John Bito), Jay Gerring, and visitors.June 1 Planning (Ellen F.) 1.5 hour big group, 1.5 hour break-out -- voted to put in a prominent place on the website, and to put David Berrian's pictures (for silent auction) on the website also. Budget of $1075 approved -- collection should cover expenses.
Mike Yarrow reminded us that living by the points of agreement of SNOW especially means respecting each other, especially at meetings where disagreements are common and difficult.
We voted unanimously to join United for Peace and Justice, and Ellen F. volunteered to represent us at their national meeting in early-mid June.
We voted to endorse and support Water Partners, who raise money to bring pure water to Iraq.
We did not vote to endorse a Veterans for Peace Memorial Day event because we did not receive a written endorsement request/report from them.
Mike or Jean will try to attend a meeting with anti-racist whites @ AFSC 7PM Thursday May 22, and we voted to send email on this group's efforts to SNOW contacts -- see if someone from Gen Mtg might want to take the lead on this. We will announce the May 31 People of Color Teach-in at the next SNOW General Meeting. We unanimously voted , and Mike and Jay volunteered to help plan, a one-day workshop on building a multi-racial peace movement -- for late June.
The Community Action Zone at the Fremont Fair -- June 21-22 -- is an opportunity for tabling, including KBCS promotional flyers. Mary will contact Fremont SNOW and see if they will be involved, if they want help from other neighborhood groups.
We discussed Incorporation & tax status. WA State Non-Profit Status, with brief by-laws to start, to be expanded later, was voted our best option at this time. The 501(C)3 was rejected, and although the (C)4 was recommended by a tax lawyer , we had the problem of investing a lot of time and money -- "do it if you'll be around for at least a couple of years" was the advice he gave. We acknowledged the need for accountability and boundaries, especially concerning hiring staff.
Ellen F. will co-facilitate the May 27th General Meeting with a Queen Anne SNOW member.
Rad will find a place, facilitate, and do the agenda for the June 23rd General Meeting.
Next CC Mtg will be June 2nd, June 9th if necessary also. Need facilitator, agenda compiler.
We do not have an option of putting non-SNOW groups events on the website at this time, and did not vote to list anti-LEIU events there.
Liasons: Neighborhood clusters are selecting replacements:
North Cluster has no liason after Rad Cunningham leaves, and East side is in final stages of selection.
A working mission statement draft will be sent to neighborhood groups for feedback. Jay will receive comments -- jgerring@exmsft.com
Hiring an organizer: A second interview with two finalists is planned. Jean, Mike, David Ward, Ellen B. and Rad will interview the two finalists. Qualifications and experience -- hopefully strong on peace activism and organizing skills-- were generally desired. Only 3 months term of employment is guaranteed, and many felt that even strong candidates might find the job challenging , but a good organizer could really benefit SNOW.
(Minutes taken by Mary Hanson )