Present: Ed Fire, Claire Rahn, Becky Thomas, Ray Kolcaba, Judy Kramer, Ray DiCarlo, Debi Thomas, Lori Zaim
I. Approval of Minutes of February 9 Steering Committee meeting. Approved w/ minor changes.
II. Treasurer's Report: Ray Kolcaba. Current balance: $10,674.57. The Theater party raised $900.00. 124 members to date.
III. Membership Committee Report: Reminder phone calls were made.
IV. Advocacy Committee Report: Becky Thomas.
Becky is waiting to hear back from Marcia Fudge regarding her position on Campaign Finance Reform.
Health Care: Ed will draft a letter urging Patriots to contact their congressmen and include information on the recent NYT editorial regarding Health Care.
V. Education Committee Report: Judy Kramer, Claire Rahn. Greg Coleridge talk on April 17th. The Family will be the next book discussion. Date TBA. Education Committee meeting March 10.
VI. Old Business.
A. Renewal of Lease: Ed Fire It seems that our current location is the best location for now. Ed will contact Shibley management to request needed repairs. We will continue to pay month to month until repairs are made. Shibley management will contact us if a first floor space becomes available.
B. Plans for March 20 Membership Meeting: Becky Thomas. All steering committee members are urged to attend and to call two others to attend. Stephanie Spear is unavailable on March 20. The current line up is: Kelly Clark (Environmental Sustainability), Pat Moore (Economy and revitalization of CF Village), Judy Kramer (health care), Becky Thomas (Campaign Finance Reform), and Ed Fire (2010 Elections). We will break into discussion groups. Muffins and coffee will be provided.
VII. New Business.
A. Organizing for America--March 2 meeting: Judy Kramer, Becky Thomas, Ed Fire. Met w/ Greg Schultz & David Cook.
B. Formation of the Coffee Party organization. Coffee Party meeting @ LaPlace Borders. Alert interested members and RSVP for March 3 @ Noon. Car pool from office.
C. Voter Registration: Judy Kramer. Will mention @ March 20th meeting.
D. Governor Strickland visit to Geauga County on March 14. New Geauga Dems HQ is several doors down from former location.
E. Relay for Life, May 14/15: Lori reported and P4C will form a team to participate. 6pm until Noon the next day.
F. Other New Business
Elliott Berenson’s Letter to Editor.
Debi Thomas reported that Chagrin Valley Dems will meet at Hamlet in the Atrium on March 9th @ 7:30pm. Bill O’Neill and judicial candidates will participate.
Ray Kolcaba brought up the thought that U.S. job loss is due to deindustrialization, not the recession.
Adjourned @ 11:30.
Lori Zaim
Sunday, April 11, 2010
February 9, 2010 Steering Committee Minutes
Approval of Minutes: January Steering Committee Meeting Approved.
Treasurer's Report: Kathy Kolcaba. The checking account balance is $10,333.39 after paying February rent and January utilities. 112 individual members at present. Approved.
1. Report on potential new office/meeting sites. Kathy recommends the space @ 31 S. Franklin St. It is larger, modern and beautiful. There is no on-site parking but street parking is available. Becky, Ed and Kathy will visit proposed spaces and report back. We will continue to pay month-to-month rent at 139 Bell St and request improved storage, wi-fi, and carpet cleaning before signing the lease. Claire stressed the convenience of staying in our current location.
Membership Committee Report: George Lupone.
1. Possible cell phone calling session to recruit new members. Membership meeting February 17th @ 10:00am to divide call lists.
Advocacy Committee Report and Recommendations: Becky Thomas.
Issues for Patriots for 2010:
Campaign Finance Reform working with youstreet.org
Climate Change/Sustainability
Reforming Health Care
Gun Trafficking in Ohio
Economy through Jobs Creation
November Elections
We need to prioritize these based on member’s interests and involvement/leadership/energy. We would like to focus on specific goals that can be attained in the areas chosen. We will make this the topic of our Membership meeting March 20th. Brief presentations will be given on each topic. Then the members will break into interest groups to discuss specific ways we can educate, lobby and advocate for a particular issue.
Education Committee Report: Jana Theis, Judy Kramer, Claire Rahn, Bill Rowe.
• March 20 – General Meeting (no presentation by Education Committee).
• The Education Committee will meet on March 10 @ 10:00 in the office. All are welcome.
• On April 17 Greg Coleridge , Director of Economic Justice and Empowerment Programs of the NE Ohio American Friends Service Committee, will speak in the Chagrin Falls Library.
Old Business:
1. Results of membership vote on Bylaws: Lori Zaim. 22 yes and 1 no.
2. Theater Party Report: Kathy Kolcaba, Debi Thomas. 30/50 tickets sold to date. Steering Committee should bring food to share.
3. St. Patrick’s Day party cancelled.
New Business:
1. Policy on expenditures when members become ill or pass away. Patriots for Change will notify the membership and make no donation.
2. Ideas/Suggestions for Saturday, March 20 Membership Meeting at Chagrin Falls Library.
• Speaker on Iraq War? (March is the seventh anniversary of the start of the war.)
• Leave time at end of Membership Meeting for regular Saturday "Coffee and Conversation" session?
We will have an agenda-setting meeting for the year with input from the membership.
3. Other New Business? Diana Nazelli recommended visiting the Western Reserve Historical Society. The exhibit on President Lincoln is excellent.
Lori Zaim
Treasurer's Report: Kathy Kolcaba. The checking account balance is $10,333.39 after paying February rent and January utilities. 112 individual members at present. Approved.
1. Report on potential new office/meeting sites. Kathy recommends the space @ 31 S. Franklin St. It is larger, modern and beautiful. There is no on-site parking but street parking is available. Becky, Ed and Kathy will visit proposed spaces and report back. We will continue to pay month-to-month rent at 139 Bell St and request improved storage, wi-fi, and carpet cleaning before signing the lease. Claire stressed the convenience of staying in our current location.
Membership Committee Report: George Lupone.
1. Possible cell phone calling session to recruit new members. Membership meeting February 17th @ 10:00am to divide call lists.
Advocacy Committee Report and Recommendations: Becky Thomas.
Issues for Patriots for 2010:
Campaign Finance Reform working with youstreet.org
Climate Change/Sustainability
Reforming Health Care
Gun Trafficking in Ohio
Economy through Jobs Creation
November Elections
We need to prioritize these based on member’s interests and involvement/leadership/energy. We would like to focus on specific goals that can be attained in the areas chosen. We will make this the topic of our Membership meeting March 20th. Brief presentations will be given on each topic. Then the members will break into interest groups to discuss specific ways we can educate, lobby and advocate for a particular issue.
Education Committee Report: Jana Theis, Judy Kramer, Claire Rahn, Bill Rowe.
• March 20 – General Meeting (no presentation by Education Committee).
• The Education Committee will meet on March 10 @ 10:00 in the office. All are welcome.
• On April 17 Greg Coleridge , Director of Economic Justice and Empowerment Programs of the NE Ohio American Friends Service Committee, will speak in the Chagrin Falls Library.
Old Business:
1. Results of membership vote on Bylaws: Lori Zaim. 22 yes and 1 no.
2. Theater Party Report: Kathy Kolcaba, Debi Thomas. 30/50 tickets sold to date. Steering Committee should bring food to share.
3. St. Patrick’s Day party cancelled.
New Business:
1. Policy on expenditures when members become ill or pass away. Patriots for Change will notify the membership and make no donation.
2. Ideas/Suggestions for Saturday, March 20 Membership Meeting at Chagrin Falls Library.
• Speaker on Iraq War? (March is the seventh anniversary of the start of the war.)
• Leave time at end of Membership Meeting for regular Saturday "Coffee and Conversation" session?
We will have an agenda-setting meeting for the year with input from the membership.
3. Other New Business? Diana Nazelli recommended visiting the Western Reserve Historical Society. The exhibit on President Lincoln is excellent.
Lori Zaim