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