Date: Monday, July 14 - Bastille Day
Present: Brenda Collier, David Ward, Ellen Buvarnik, Jay Gerring, Mary Hanson (for John Bito), Mike Yarrow, Will Rose. Absent: Ann Buzaid
Guests: Ellen Finkelstein, Jack Bucher, Robert Hill
Meeting started at approximately 7:15.
Ellen Finkelstein presented report on her experience at United For Peace & Justice (UFPJ) conference in Chicago. UFPJ is setting up series of national conference calls, question of how to apportion representation was a point of some discussion among the organizers. 5 main working groups are continuing to meet and/or email around organizing specific actions. Some of these are events that SNOW can consider tying in with. Ellen is involved with the Immigrant Rights/Civil Liberties working group.
Question of whether/how SNOW can continue a relationship with this organization and the events and actions it will be generating. No takers on the CC, consensus is that it needs a person or small group to form a working group. Proposal from Mike Y. to bring this to the General Meeting (GM), amended to ask Ellen to continue to be the contact person from SNOW to UFPJ seconded and passed unanimously.
***Minutes of last CC meeting were reviewed and approved.
***Jack Bucher presented information about last year's Peace Day event and requested SNOW's involvement in planning, coordinating, publicizing this event. His vision is for an event at Westlake Park on September 20, with a march on 5th Avenue. General reluctance on CC to commit to this. Jack primarily needs a commitment of people and their time and energy, rather than just financial support or endorsement: "If SNOW doesn't take this on, it won't happen."
CC was cautiously supportive, with note taken that last year's event was not well-attended. Glen Gershmehl of Lutheran Peace Fellowship, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, University Unitarian/Universalist Church were involved last year and may be moved to support it again this year, depending on SNOW's involvement.
Noted that the event coincides with kick-off of Immigrant Workers' Freedom Ride (Sept. 20 - Oct. 4) and that it may be difficult to coordinate two events like this on the same day. Proposal was made and seconded for Jack to present this at next General Meeting, passed with one abstention.
***Treasurer's Report -- Brenda Collier presented Financial Report and 2003 budget. A budget is needed that can be provided to the State of Washington as SNOW files for status as a registered charity. Suggestion that the budget be presented at next GM led to discussion: Brenda not able to attend this meeting because of family duties, so who would present? Discussion of whether to postpone notification to GM until Aug. 18 meeting, while approving budget now for submission to state.
Proposal was made to approve budget as presented, with one change in percentage of webmaster expenses allocated to fund-raising as suggested by Ellen B. and agreed by Brenda C., so as to proceed with charitable organization registration process. Final budget will be presented by Brenda C. at Aug. 18 GM with opportunity for input and questions from members. At July 21 GM Will R. will briefly explain this action and why it was taken, and have a few copies of budget available for those who wish to see it. This proposal was seconded and passed unanimously.
Following was an overview of the Financial Report, and Brenda was commended for her good work. Brenda mentioned that at some point SNOW will need to consider having someone in a fund-raiser role. Brenda clarified that this person would need to be someone other than she.
***Discussion followed of what further agenda items should be discussed.
***Brenda C. requested endorsement by SNOW of Hiroshima to Hope 2003 -- no financial commitment, simple endorsement. Passed unanimously in 90 seconds. Mike Y. will present this at 7/21 GM and ask for volunteers to help with this project.
***Discussion of webmaster report requested at last CC meeting: Spencer will be asked to report to next CC meeting on "link policy" for the website. Brenda C. proposes that a monthly report be required by any staff person -- at this point that is only Spencer, may expand to include organizer. This was agreed by consensus, no vote taken.
***Discussion of bylaws and process for incorporating comments from last GM, any additional amendments and additions. John Bito had said at last CC meeting that he had the notes from the last GM with feedback from members, but those notes are not in our possession. Some input mentioned by others present at the meeting include:
Agreed by consensus, no vote, to present the interim bylaws as they are at next GM, leaving open the process of amending and completing a final version.
***Mike Y. presented request that SNOW seize upon the Hanford Initiative to Stop Nuclear Waste (http://www.heartofamericanorthwest.org/), championed by Heart of America NW, as an opportunity to mobilize Neighborhood Groups (NG's) and members. Proposes shaping an info/action packet and plan to make available to NG's that can include:
Initiative signature deadline is December 31, so this can take place over several months.
Some discussion about this and whether CC should push for this and present it as a major SNOW action, requesting support and involvement of NG's; or a more low-key approach that would allow the energy for it to originate from NG's. Some disagreement about appropriateness of offering prizes, asking sponsors to provide.
Suggestion was made to find out if any groups are already working on this issue, and use the website to highlight this.
It was pointed out that this matter had been brought to an earlier CC meeting, presented at a prior GM, and that there had been considerable interest at that meeting.
Proposal was made to offer this SNOW campaign at next GM in response to the interest expressed by membership; Mike Y. will prepare materials for kits, and those NG's that choose to pick up and run with it will be encouraged and supported. This was seconded and passed unanimously.
***Hiring Committee report: Hiring committee includes Jay Gerring, Ellen Buvarnik, Rick Power. The committee has collected 15 or 16 resumes (one new arrived 7/14). Committee meets next on Sunday 7/20 to discuss the resumes which all members will have reviewed, and set a time-line for further action and a proposed hire date.
***Action Committee report: Discussion of the "message" and "action" points synthesized from input from members and CC over several months.
Phrase specifically calling for action for impeachment was struck after Ellen B. recollected that earlier CC meeting had agreed to avoid this specific and possibly polarizing issue and stick as much as possible to basic underlying issues.
Will R. suggested adding "message" category referring to support of grassroots democracy, and that this could implicitly hold reference to impeachment or electoral reform actions NG's might want to focus on. No action was taken on this at the time, but such language may be added later.
Other specific changes and edits were made by agreement among members, with Mary H. revealing quite a knack for editing which was commented on with appreciation. First two introductory paragraphs significantly shortened and improved; the entire revision was unanimously accepted.
***Will R. offered a very quick report on a recent gathering with representatives from 3 of the neighborhood groups he represents as liaison. Due to the lateness of the hour he reported only one significant piece of feedback, to wit: there is some feeling among NG members that the original focus of SNOW as a vehicle to foster and serve neighborhood groups somehow has shifted to a more top-dominant organization served by the NG's. Will suggested this serve as a reminder to remain open to input from NG's and allow SNOW to be led by the neighborhood groups as much as or more than by the CC.
***Fund-raising effort with Dave Berrian photos. Some discussion of how best to make use of these images in 11 x 8-1/2 format to offer for donations at events. Mike Y. will check back with Dave Berrian to learn more about which photos are most popular, get a check on the whole idea from Dave. Suggestion to reduce number of photos on offer to 3 or 4, and to offer through the website and use as a "gift premium" for various levels of financial giving. Mike Y. will follow up with Dave B. and Spencer regarding photos and possible copy for website. This issue will be brought up again.
***It was decided to shelve the leaflet approval issue for the next meeting.
***Mary H. agreed to send her request for endorsement of Nagasaki Day event via email for vote by CC.
***Media Committee report: discussion of whether Karen should continue to work with designer who had offered to work on design, with Karen's caveat that people must be willing to release attachment to "little blue snowflake" design, if she is to continue. Some wish to proceed with a logo, yet resist idea of "pre-approval" of whatever Karen and designer come up with. It was a conundrum beyond solution at that late hour, and the issue was shelved by consensus for the time being.
David W. reported that in his view the media committee has folded, the only remaining issue on its agenda being the logo question. David expressed the view that the media committee has been dogged by disagreement over the "media watch" issue, which some on the committee had continued to insist on as a role of the committee despite repeated discussion and decisions that the mission of the committee should be support of NG's and should not include a "media watch" function.
David then announced his resignation from the CC, as his position on the CC is that of liaison to the media committee.
David will be out of town at the next CC meeting, and indicated his resignation from the CC and from the media committee is effective immediately.
Ellen B. announced her resignation from the CC, and identified her replacement, Rick Power. Ellen stated that she will no longer serve as a SNOW spokesperson, and as of this meeting end is no longer a CC member.
The meeting ended with several brief announcements by a guest, Robert Hill, who attended "to observe" Mary H. in her role as John Bito's alternate in John's absence.
Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Minutes by Will Rose.