Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA)
Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting held at the Wayne McCaughan Community Center
11573 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Note: Action items are recapped at the end of the document
Present: Ken Kunert, Robert Kinports, John Strawn, Clay Marsh, Michael Beck, Daniel Pfau, *Brooke
Stone, *Greg Gonsalez Absent: Dan Frederickson (for * see Item 3 below) Staff: Lorelei Monet Guests: Bill Tomasini, John Forsman, John Klimala, Sherrie Collier, Barbara Adams,
Marie Moore.
1. Meeting Called to Order: By President Kunert at 6:35 PM
President Kunert welcomed guests and asked for additional agenda items. There were none. Kunert
announced that, as usual, guests with presentations would be accommodated at the start of the meeting.
Guest John Klimala announced that the documentary film on family mental health issues being produced
by Transitions, to which project GALA donated $500 (see minutes June 2007), is on schedule and will
premiere on October 3 in the Supervisors Chamber in the County Government Building.
2. Issue: Minutes of July Meeting: Strawn
Discussion: Corrections include that Pfau did not say he would miss August meeting and Kunert voted
to approve the Treasurer’s Report, not to abstain.
3. Issue: Board Membership: Kunert
Discussion: Kunert introduced guests Brooke Stone and Greg Gonsalez as potential members of the GALA
Board of Directors. Each spoke to the board, giving their qualifications and reasons for wanting to join
the board. Following questions from board members, the two left the room while the board discussed
and voted on their potential membership. Discussion included the fact that Kunert
had pre-
Gonsalez as an ideal candidate for board treasurer, a position currently vacant.
Move: Kinports, second Marsh, both be accepted for board membership, all aye, motion carried.
Move: Pfau, second Marsh, Gonsalez nominated for board treasurer, all aye, motion carried.
Action: While our board membership now stands at nine, all should be on the lookout for more members.
4. Issue: Treasurer’s Report: Kunert
Discussion: There are a few small bills in August from Pride in the Plaza that are not yet paid.
Move: Marsh, second Strawn, accept Treasurer’s Report, all aye, motion carried.
Action: Gonsalez consult with Monet and Kunert and assume treasurer’s duties.
5. Issue: Farmer’s Market and PFLAG Booth Partnership: Kunert and Adams
Discussion: Would both organizations benefit by joining together in one booth at the market. Following
a spirited discussion featuring many pros and cons, President Kunert ordered the issue tabled.
Action: Kunert present issue at a future meeting for more discussion and a board decision.
6. Issue: Growing Together Initiative Advisory Committee: Kunert and Marsh
Discussion: Marsh has volunteered to rejoin this committee, of which GALA was a founding member,
as it embarks on a $375,000 endowment fundraising campaign. Note that 5% of the endowment will be
spent each year on GLBT related projects in the San Luis Obispo County area.
Move: Kinports, second Strawn, Marsh represent GALA on this committee, all aye, motion carried.
Action: Marsh rejoin the group and report activities to GALA board.
7. Issue: Youth Group: Pfau
Discussion: The group needs more than just discussion sessions to achieve goals. Social functions like
bowling and bonfires are being considered. Expense will be minimal, well below $100 limit for individual
board member decisions to spend. Pfau will proceed using his own judgement working with Mendoza.
Action: Pfau continue to bring to the board of directors new ventures for the youth group.
8. Issue: “Ride On” proposal for management of Fund for Aids Ride Events: Kunert and Hoffman
Discussion: Table this item for a future meeting.
Action: Kunert bring Ride On issue to board at future meeting.
9. Issue: Collaboration Efforts: Kunert
Discussion: No new activity on any collaboration efforts, other than PFLAG as above, at this time.
2007 Calendar of Activities Update and Action:
10. Issue: Bingo, Every Third Friday: Kunert
Discussion: First Bingo party will be August 17, and on the third Friday of every month thereafter.
First party will be at 1422 Monterey Street to accommodate expected numbers. Amberlyn Storey
has been working closely with President Kunert along the lines of board motion and action at July
meeting. Equipment and snacks purchased, time is 7-
Action: Kunert attend Bingo as board representative and report to board at September meeting.
11. Issue: Halloween Dance, October 27: Kunert
Discussion: Storey is proceeding on schedule, Trinity Hall reserved, Kinports will get a Halloween
Item clearance catalogue to Storey; Kunert appointed Pfau as board representative for this event.
Action: Pfau meet with Storey and get up to speed on her needs from the board.
12. Issue: Family Values Picnic, September 22: Beck
Discussion: Beck provided handout, plans proceeding on schedule, Cuesta Park secured, publicity
planned, DJ is free, Tomasini will cook, speaker is in the works, no beer, budget is $1000. Board felt
budget a little too steep for only 150 people projected attending, suggested seeking sponsors, but willing
to spend that amount if necessary for this excellent family outreach tool.
Move: Marsh, second Gonsalez, accept budget of $1000, all aye, motion carried.
Action: Beck continue with event preparations as outlined in handout.
13. Issue: Pride In The Plaza, June/July 2008: Kinports
Discussion: Kinports presented handout showing Pride 2007 to be most successful ever, highest total
event attendance, highest level of sponsorship ever, largest gross ever, PAC sellout, excellent media
cooperation and exposure. Planning for 2008 well underway, first full committee meeting in October,
major addition will be full-
Action: Kinports continue traditional year long effort to build, build, build this vital event.
14. Issue: Waiters Dinner, November 3: Kunert
Discussion: Committee fully formed, meeting second and fourth Wednesday of each month, Monday
Club reserved, Chef Rick reserved, Oasis Band reserved, sub-
decorations, invitations/mailing list. Board urged online design and printing of invitations, less juvenile
activity at the event. Board will help with drastic updating of mailing list specific to this event. Kunert
shared with the board the possibility of a sponsorship from Starbucks through Hoffman.
Action: All board members make themselves available for consultation and help to this committee.
Committee proceed, with special attention to mailing list and sponsorship. Profit target double last year.
15. Issue: Town Hall Meeting, November 15: Beck
Discussion: Beck will reserve Library Meeting Room next week, the earliest they accept reservation.
Action: Beck reserve hall and continue planning.
16. Issue: Holiday Party, December 16: Kinports
Discussion: Atrium and Meeting Hall reserved at Embassy Suites, drinks Atrium 4:30 PM, dinner Meeting
Hall 5:30 PM, event will be on cover of November-
Action: Kinports continue preparations for this event.
Old Business:
17. Issue: Grants: Kunert
Discussion: No discussion necessary at this time.
18. Issue: News and Reviews: Kunert
Discussion: News stories and promotion essential in next issue for Halloween Dance and Waiters Dinner.
Two single page inserts and online entries should be considered, deadlines may have to be changed..
Action: Pfau prepare news story and promotion for Halloween Dance to N&R editors.
Kunert prepare news story and promotion for Waiters Dinner to N&R editors
Monet consult with editors and publisher on potential publication date change.
19. Issue: Farmers Market Outreach and Education: Strawn
Discussion: Strawn has two more potential once monthly volunteers, Kinports is available on short notice.
Board Members still encouraged to volunteer or show up for a minute to support others working the booth.
Action: Strawn: Continue recruiting volunteers to manage booth monthly.
New Business:
20. Issue: I Madonnari Art Work Festival: Kunert
Discussion: Should GALA sponsor a block in this popular childrens’ street painting festival to be held
September 15 and 16. We have participated in prior years and board is generally favorable, but the artist
we used last year is not available this year. Square costs range from $75 to $500. Shannon Wyndsong
is possible source of help on this.
Action: Kinports research possible artist and Shannon and report to board at September meeting.
Around the Room and Around the Table: Board Members and Guests:
21. Issue: History Film Project: Marsh
Discussion: Marsh reported that so far, according to David Kilborn, only a 10second trailer has been
produced for this film project. GALA made a substantial donation two years ago, and repeated deadlines
for completion have passed. However, all equipment purchased continues to be accounted for.
Action: Marsh keep the pressure on for completion of this project.
22. Issue: Welcome and Thank You to New Board Members: Adams and Tomasini
Discussion: Adams and Tomasini congratulated new board members on their interest and action in
joining the board.
23. Issue: Pep Talk on Waiters Dinner: Kinports and Kunert
Discussion: Both officers strongly urged all present to support Waiters Dinner, particularly in securing
sponsorships and auction items.
24. Issue: Adjournment: Kunert
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Respectfully susbmitted,
<s>
John T. Strawn, Secretary
BOARD ACTION ITEMS TO BE READY FOR SEPTEMBER 4 MEETING:
Kunert: Resolve PFLAG Farmers Market Booth collaboration issue at future board meeting.
Bring “Ride On” Aids Ride Fund issue back to the attention of the board.
Attend first Bingo Party and report back to board at September meeting.
Prepare Waiters Dinner news story and promotion for News & Reviews.
Kinports: Continue “2008 Pride In The Plaza—United For Equality” planning.
Continue with planning for Holiday Party.
Research I. Modannari artist and report back to board at September meeting.
Strawn: Continue recruiting volunteers to manage Farmers Market Booth.
Gonsalez: Assume duties of Board Treasurer
Marsh: Rejoin Growing Together Initiative Committee and keep board appraised of its activity.
Keep the pressure on for completion of the History Film Project.
Pfau: Continue to bring to the board of directors new non-
Meet with Storey and get up to speed on her needs from board for Halloween Dance.
Prepare Halloween news story and promotion for News & Reviews.
Beck: Continue preparations for Family Values Picnic.
Reserve Library Meeting Room and continue Town Hall Meeting plans.
Monet: Consult with editors and publisher on date changes for next News & Reviews.
Waiters Dinner Committee Members: Continue with planning, especially mailing list, sponsorships, and
auction items.
All board members: Continue to search for new board members.
Help with Waiters Dinner, especially obtaining sponsorships and auction items.