GPUS Steering Committee Minutes
Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 8:00 p.m. ET
I. CALL SETUP & BACKGROUND
a) Facilitator: Frank Young
b) To hear recording: 712-451-0019, access code 926334, ref #5
c) Present: Audrey Clement, Sanda Everette, Jan Martell, Andrea Merida, Charles Ostdiek, Paul Pipkin, Jeff Turner, Tamar Yager, Absent: Bahram Zandi. Observer: Starlene Rankin
d) Agenda revisions: None
II. OLD BUSINESS
None
III. STANDING BUSINESS
a) Treasurer’s Report – Jeff, sent cash report, about $60k in the bank and about $5k in undeposited checks at the office (online deposit not working, will be fixed Tuesday); part of the PNC costs are paid and ballot access funds sent to Miss. and Ill. Finance items for approval: 10,000 brochures reprinted for $1350 – friendly amendment to provide brochures free of cost to states working for ballot access if requested passed by consensus; expenditure approved by consensus. Up to $5k for additional merchandise went to a roll call vote — voting yes: Sanda, Jan, Andrea, Charles, Paul, Jeff. Voting no: Audrey. Abstain: Tamar. Expenditure was approved. Tamar wanted to see a priority list; Jeff said that he would provide an updated one. Charles is working on a revised budget proposal to cover expenses beyond the approved budget. PNC travel & lodging reimbursement was not taken up at this meeting.
b) Fundraising Report – Tamar. We are sending direct mail letters to our donors for the past two years. We are adding a group of “prospects” to each mailing. Last mailing it was NY donors that were not on our list and the donors on our list whose last donation was in 2012. All prospect lists are more than breaking even (breaking even is good for prospects). The most recent mailing has OR and MA donors and donors whose last donation was 2013. We are ahead on all our budgeted income numbers.
c) PNC Update – Tamar. Audrey and Paul presented a draft agenda for the NC meeting; Jeff and Sanda for the SC meeting including new members on Sunday afternoon (see addendum below). It was agreed to schedule a post-breakfast meeting with staff reports at the beginning of morning breakout sessions on Sunday so staff would not have to stay through the afternoon.
VOTING QUEUE
In the queue:
None
Received for the queue:
Approval of Katija Gruene for Fincom – her bio arrived in time for the meeting, so this proposal is ready to go to the queue.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
a) Steering Committee pre-election orientation – Tamar said that she did not have time to handle a phone call with the candidates to answer questions about SC responsibilities, or a candidate forum before the meeting, both important for the SC election. Andrea volunteered to do both.
b) Committee meeting minutes – members discussed the importance of standing committees keeping and publishing minutes of meetings. Where decision-making is done on conference calls, it is important to have a transparent record available to all. Committees should make them available on their committee web pages.
TOTAL TIME: 110 minutes
V. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Entered at 9:53 pm. Present: Audrey Clement, Sanda Everette, Jan Martell, Andrea Merida, Charles Ostdiek, Paul Pipkin, Jeff Turner, Tamar Yager, Absent: Bahram Zandi. A proposal was made to increase the Media Director’s hours so he can help with the recent flood of inquiries at the office. A vote was taken to increase the Media Director’s hours by 50 percent, temporarily, July through October, at his current pay rate; approval was unanimous. Ended 10:22 pm.
Jan Martell
Secretary
ADDENDUM: Committee Meeting Schedules at PNC
National Committee draft agenda
Friday, August 5, 1-4:30 p.m.
• ANM Committee Announcements (1-1:15 p.m.)
• SC Candidate Speeches and Q&A (1:30-2:30 p.m.)
• 2016 Ballot Access Status Report (2:30-3 p.m.)
• Anti-Oppression Workshop (3-4 p.m.)
Speeches from Prospective 2017 ANM Hosts (4-4:15 p.m.)
Steering Committee meeting draft agenda
2:30 pm Houston time Sunday, August 7
• Call to order
• Roll Call: all SC members and SC candidates that were not elected in attendance
• Facilitator: to be selected in advance
• Agenda revisions
• Approve minutes of last SC meeting
• SC Co-Chair self introductions and vision sharing (one around 3-4 minute limit – then second round with 1-2 minute limit)
• Overview of SC operations, responsibilities, etc
• Presentation from Stein Campaign (placed sometime in the agenda at their convenience)
• Liaison assignments
Review liaison roles
Existing assignments
Amend liaison assignments
Newly elected SC Co-chairs indicate preferences (final liaison assignments to be completed and next regularly scheduled SC meeting)
• Adjourn around 5:30 pm
Meet for dinner at 6:30 pm (SC Co-chairs, unelected candidates, any staff that are staying overnight)