Attendance: Judy Kramer, Bill Rowe, Ed Fire, Debbi Thomas, George Lupone, Becky Thomas, Ray DiCarlo, Sherri Culver, Lori Zaim
Meeting called to order at 9:30 by Vice President Sherri Culver
Treasurer’s Report:
None given, treasurer out of town
Membership:
• Maybe 65 paid members. Not definite because we didn’t have the list.
• Calls were made to 30 former members who had paid in 2008. ¼ responded favorably
• Pay Pal has gleaned five membership payments
• Web site needs updating. Nothing has been done since April. Who is responsible?
Advocacy:
• Registration of voters this summer and fall will be done under the NOA group headed by Pearl Livingstone and Norm Robbins
• Senator Voinovich has not yet decided whether to support public funding of elections
• It was decided to abandon the program AnySoldier due to lack of participation
• Becky Thomas will attend the Education committee Tues. June 16th to help plan a forum on Afghanistan/Pakistan/Iraq
Education:
• Volunteer service fair was well supported by organizations (17) but attendance was sparse. Everyone involved worked hard, but we probably shouldn’t do this again. The bake sale brought in $105.
• Three Cups of Tea will be presented on 8/22 at the library
• Those wanting to hear author should car pool for the 26th event downtown
• Cuyahoga Treasurer Jim Rokakis will speak Sat. the 13th at 10 at the library on foreclosures and the land bank
• Fund raiser featuring Bill Rowe with a sample of songs from the play written by Bill Rowe and Shelly Bloomfield will be in Nov. It will include a sale of Bill’s books, CD’s an Kelly’s homemade beer
Health Care:
• Ray DiCarlo and Lynn Rustad will continue sending Action Alerts about health care HB676
• Marcia Fudge declared support for HR 676 after a visit from Ray DiCarlo and others
• TR Reid will talk at Trinity Cathedral on 6/20. Call Judy or Ray to carpool
New Business:Discussion of By Laws
• Judy Kramer moved to amend the proposed Bylaws to say that committees will appoint their own chairperson instead of the President doing so. Seconded by Ed Fire
• (Vote: 5 for the amendment, 2 against, 1 abstained)
• Ed Fire moved that the amended Bylaws be submitted to the membership for approval. Seconded by George Lupone. Vote unanimous in favor.
• Ed Fire recommended we devote a meeting to getting people involved in leadership and fund raising.
Next scheduled Steering Committee: July 14th, at 9:30.
Meeting adjourned at 11:20.
Respectfully submitted by Acting Secretary,
Becky Thomas
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
May 12, 2009 Steering Committee Minutes
Present: Lynne Rustad, Judy Kramer, Ted Buczek, George Lupone, Sherri Culver, Ed Fire, Lori Zaim
Meeting called to order @ 9:38AM
Minutes: April 14, 2009 approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
• Balance: $3515.85 plus $143.48 (transfer from PayPal): $3659.33 total
• New Members: 5 (paid w/ PayPal) for a total of 47 households or 64 individuals (does not include snail mail members)
Membership Communication Report:
• Current Membership (see above figures)
• Actions taken since last meeting to increase membership:
o Letters sent to former members and those who have never been paid members via email, included PayPal links. Received five PayPal memberships.
o Thank you letters for dues payment sent.
o Membership Committee meeting: Thursday, May 14 to discuss further actions.
Newsletter – proposed articles: Education information, Volunteer Fair, Public Option for health care reform, Employee Free Choice Act (ECFA) - Card check to facilitate union organization), Three Cups of Tea info. It was suggested that the newsletter was not provocative enough and that most people don’t read it. But the monthly presence makes it important. (A lot of work for nothing).
Website domain name transfer: Up in the air. Gary has received no response to phone calls or email requests. Ted said that the new provider should take care of name transfer.
Dot Mac contract: Gary is working on it. It would be preferable to have multiple editors for web site.
Status of AOL Internet access – justification for Patriot ISP We are currently using Ted’s private account to access dial-up Internet in the office. Since it costs Ted nothing extra and he had no objection, we will continue to use it. Computer in office with dialup connection is so slow, it is rarely used. Discussed viability of Verizon’s new personal portable Wi-Fi (My-Fi) at a cost of $100 and 40/month. If one member of Patriots obtains router, it could be used in office for meetings since it supports five laptops.
Education:
• Volunteer Fair Update: Bake sale, possible face painting for $1.00. 18 tables for participants. Drop bake sale items in office Saturday morning 10-12. Ted will bring inflated balloons. Kittens will be available. Volunteers needed for two shifts: 12:30-3 & 3-5:30.
• Other scheduled events: Jennifer Lynch to talk on Afghanistan 5/21, Rokakis to speak at library 6/13, Three Cups of Tea 8/23
Advocacy:
• "AnySoldier" progress: Response has been disappointing. Will send a reminder.
• EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act): - The bill has been rewritten with compromise on issue secret ballots. Discussed LaTourette’s questionable track record.
Health Care:
• Sherrod Brown health care forum: was well-attended and Brown supports public payer option.
• Single-payer option: Discussed the Baucus 8, Code Pink and T.R. Reid who will speak on 6/20 at Trinity Cathedral - $10 admission, possibility of carpooling.
New Business:
• Fundraising: Great ideas were submitted. Since we have no chair of for Development Committee at this point, it was suggested that S/C members take ownership of their own ideas and develop plan to implement.
• Development and Office Management Chairs: Still needed. Spring and Fall cleaning of office suggested.
• Survey to assess member volunteer potential: Interest survey suggested but not sure if members will follow through.
Meeting adjourned @ 11:03AM
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Zaim
Acting Secretary
Meeting called to order @ 9:38AM
Minutes: April 14, 2009 approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
• Balance: $3515.85 plus $143.48 (transfer from PayPal): $3659.33 total
• New Members: 5 (paid w/ PayPal) for a total of 47 households or 64 individuals (does not include snail mail members)
Membership Communication Report:
• Current Membership (see above figures)
• Actions taken since last meeting to increase membership:
o Letters sent to former members and those who have never been paid members via email, included PayPal links. Received five PayPal memberships.
o Thank you letters for dues payment sent.
o Membership Committee meeting: Thursday, May 14 to discuss further actions.
Newsletter – proposed articles: Education information, Volunteer Fair, Public Option for health care reform, Employee Free Choice Act (ECFA) - Card check to facilitate union organization), Three Cups of Tea info. It was suggested that the newsletter was not provocative enough and that most people don’t read it. But the monthly presence makes it important. (A lot of work for nothing).
Website domain name transfer: Up in the air. Gary has received no response to phone calls or email requests. Ted said that the new provider should take care of name transfer.
Dot Mac contract: Gary is working on it. It would be preferable to have multiple editors for web site.
Status of AOL Internet access – justification for Patriot ISP We are currently using Ted’s private account to access dial-up Internet in the office. Since it costs Ted nothing extra and he had no objection, we will continue to use it. Computer in office with dialup connection is so slow, it is rarely used. Discussed viability of Verizon’s new personal portable Wi-Fi (My-Fi) at a cost of $100 and 40/month. If one member of Patriots obtains router, it could be used in office for meetings since it supports five laptops.
Education:
• Volunteer Fair Update: Bake sale, possible face painting for $1.00. 18 tables for participants. Drop bake sale items in office Saturday morning 10-12. Ted will bring inflated balloons. Kittens will be available. Volunteers needed for two shifts: 12:30-3 & 3-5:30.
• Other scheduled events: Jennifer Lynch to talk on Afghanistan 5/21, Rokakis to speak at library 6/13, Three Cups of Tea 8/23
Advocacy:
• "AnySoldier" progress: Response has been disappointing. Will send a reminder.
• EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act): - The bill has been rewritten with compromise on issue secret ballots. Discussed LaTourette’s questionable track record.
Health Care:
• Sherrod Brown health care forum: was well-attended and Brown supports public payer option.
• Single-payer option: Discussed the Baucus 8, Code Pink and T.R. Reid who will speak on 6/20 at Trinity Cathedral - $10 admission, possibility of carpooling.
New Business:
• Fundraising: Great ideas were submitted. Since we have no chair of for Development Committee at this point, it was suggested that S/C members take ownership of their own ideas and develop plan to implement.
• Development and Office Management Chairs: Still needed. Spring and Fall cleaning of office suggested.
• Survey to assess member volunteer potential: Interest survey suggested but not sure if members will follow through.
Meeting adjourned @ 11:03AM
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Zaim
Acting Secretary