Date: Monday, December 15, 2003
Present: Linda York facilitating, Ric Power, Mike Yarrow, Mary Savage, John Stoltzfus, Tom Bernard, Martin Fleck WPSR, John Bito and Jay Gerring Fund Raising Committee, Steven Ludwig and Julie does anybody remember her last name?
We were hampered at the beginning by the absence of a quorum and our organizer who we needed for his wisdom on several items. We recently redecided that a quorum would be 75% of the available members of the cc. This means we cannot make decisions if more than one member is absent! Please call 789-5565 if you are unable to make the meeting.
Finances:
Brenda Collier did not have a printed financial report but told us that because of card sales and some major donations from organizations and individuals we now have enough money to retain staff till the end of March!
SMART:
Martin Fleck, director of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, an organizational member of SNOW, presented us with the Sensible Multilateral American Response to Terrorism (SMART) alternative to the Bush foreign policy. He urged SNOW to present party caucuses with a SMART resolution and said WPSR would soon be prepared to make presentations to neighborhood groups on the proposal. We invited Martin to present the SMART plank at the Jan 5th general meeting.
Bylaws:
The CC will meet in special session on Dec 29th at 7 pm to consider the suggested revisions to the current draft bylaws. The bylaws will then be posted on the web and a final vote on the bylaws will take place at the SNOW general meeting January 20th 2004.
Fund Raising Committee:
John Bito and Jay Gerring presented two fund raising proposals. One to make phone calls to prospective donors gathered from the signers of the King Co. Patriot Act petition. Several members of the CC were uncomfortable with phone calls. There was not a clear majority in favor of pursuing that effort. The vote was 2 for and 2 against prohibiting phone calls for the next 4 months.
The 4 members in attendance did approve unanimously contacting people by snail mail or e-mail who indicated on the petition that they would welcome more contact.
The fund raising committee also proposed fund raising dinners. Their idea is that volunteers would invite their friends to a dinner and ask them for a contribution to SNOW. A SNOW founder might be asked to give a talk. This was met by unanimous approval 4 by the members of the CC present. John and Jay were encouraged to develop a 1-page sheet on how to do a dinner party and make a presentation at the next general meeting.
SNOW Benefit Concert:
Tom Harriman reported on the SNOW Concert. He has reserved Trinity United Methodist Church for Saturday Jan 31 st. Four local artists have volunteered their time to perform: Laura Viers, Eyvind Kang, Aiko Shamada and Sharon Abreu. We thanked Tom for his work and decided on a $1500 budget for sound system and printing flyers and tickets. We hope that SNOW member organizations and neighborhood groups will take tickets to sell. We decided on asking for a $10-25 donation per ticket. The budget was approved by the 5 CC members in attendance.
Patriot Act Report:
Ellen Finkelstein reported by phone that an anti-Patriot Act resolution, revised by the Republicans, passed unanimously at the King Co. Council Dec 15th. It took out any reference to the Bush administration or to groups singled our for persecution.
Iraq Committee Report:
Mike reported on the preparations for the visit of the two Iraqi women Dec 20-22. The committee also recommends that we take plank proposals to party caucuses on the war and US foreign policy. It suggests that the Jan 5th general meeting be devoted to preparing people for participating in caucuses.
Tabled:
The discussion of the immediate future of SNOW and the work of the organizer was tabled until the Jan 12 CC meeting.
Hussein Capture:
Mike presented a Statement on the Apprehension of Saddam Hussein. The four cc members present approved putting the statement on the website. (Since then Mike has revised it a bit and sent it out to the CC for re-approve.)
Organizing for the MLK march:
We agreed to promote the march with our member organizations and neighborhood groups. The theme this year is "Walking in MLKs Footsteps: Justice Begins at Home." SNOW groups came out in great numbers last year and we hope they will again this year with their banners and with signs promoting the justice theme.
March 20 Discussion Tabled:
Discussion of organizing for a March 20 demonstration was tabled due to the lateness of the hour.
'Uncovered' Video:
.Doing more with the MOVEON video "Uncovered." There will be a showing this Saturday evening, Dec 20 at Keystone Church. We will discuss other ideas Jan 12th
Bangor Sub Base Protest:
Mary Hanson asked if SNOW would endorse the Ground Zero protest at the Bangor Sub base on Jan 17th. The 4 cc members present approved. Tom B will check with the other two CC members.
Protest at Cheney Fundraiser:
Stephen Ludwig asked if SNOW would endorse a protest in Bellevue when Dick Cheney is there for a fund raiser for Nethercutt on Dec 22. The 4 CC members approved. Tom will check with the other two.
Agenda for Jan 5th General Meeting at St Joseph's Social Hall:
A. MAP Presentation by Rosy Betz-Zall and Patty Lyman - 15 mins
B. Fund Raising Dinners John Bito and Jay Gerring - 10 mins.
C. Announcement SNOW Benefit Concert Ticket Sales - 5 mins.
Focus on the Caucuses
D. Explanation of Caucus Procedures Janice Traven
E. Door-to-door Canvassing workshop Mary Hanson
F. Resolutions: SNOW Iraq Resolution
SMART Res. Martin Fleck
Peace Department
Others on the tables
John Stoltzfus will facilitate the meeting Yeah.
Minute taker: Mike Yarrow