Gay And Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA)
Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting held at Wayne McCaughan Community Pride Center,
11573 Los Osos Valley Road, Suite B, San Luis Obispo, California, on Tuesday, January 8, 2008.
2007 Board:
PRESENT: Ken Kunert (presiding), John Strawn (recording), Michael Beck, Greg Gonsalez, Robert Kinports, Clayton Marsh
ABSENT: Dan Frederickson
2008 Board:
PRESENT: Ken Kunert (presiding), Clayton Marsh (recording), Michael Beck, Eveline Blanchette, Greg Gonsalez, Gerald Lindemulder, Marcus Menard, Will Russell, Bill Tomasini
ABSENT: Dan Frederickson
GUESTS: Norma Capello, John Forsman, John Klimala
6:34 PM: 2007 Board called to order by 2007 President, Ken Kunert, who asked those present to introduce themselves to the group.
1.) ISSUE: December 2007 Board Meeting Minutes
Kinports moved and Strawn seconded the motion to approve the Minutes of the December 2007 Board Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
6:52 PM: 2007 Board adjourned and retired.
6:53 PM: 2008 Board called to order by 2008 President, Ken Kunert.
2.) ISSUE: Kinports' Resignation
Kinports submitted his resignation as Vice President and Board Member.
3.) ISSUE: PRIDE Chairman/Coordinator as Contractual Agent
After extended discussion, Marsh moved and Lindemulder seconded the motion to designate Kinports as agent for GALA with authorization to sign contracts for PRIDE events within the limits of the accepted budget. Motion carried unanimously.
4.) ISSUE: Treasurer's Report
Discussion of accounting change to provide more current figures -
5.) ISSUE: Cal Poly Public Relations Analysis
Kunert presented to the Board a public relations analysis done as a Cal Poly student project. He said he would send electronic copies to Board Members.
6.) ISSUE: Kintera.com
Marsh asked that discussion of the Kintera.com proposal be tabled until after he and Beck return from the Creating Change Conference in Detroit where he hopes to gather more information about Kintera and their competitors before the Board makes a final decision. Gonsalez moved and Blanchette seconded the motion to table it. Motion carried unanimously.
7.) ISSUE: GALA Spokesperson
Extended discussion of GALA's public image and communications, spokesperson group or speakers bureau, phone tree, geographical representation, etc. Lindemulder volunteered to develop a spokesperson group within one month.
8.) ISSUE: Creating Change Conference Stipend
Marsh led a discussion of a stipend for Beck to attend the National Gay & Lesbian
Task Force Creating Change Conference in Detroit from February 6 to February 11,
2008. A mini-
9.) ISSUE: Board Retreat
Discussion of a Board Retreat and the components needed -
10.) ISSUE: 2008 Budget/ Program of Work
Kunert asked Board to review event and fundraiser budgets with an eye to revenues generated and allowable expenses. Action on completing the full 2008 GALA Budget was tabled until further information could be considered and included.
11.) ISSUE: Capello Comments
Norma Capello presented to the Board her comments and observations of her experiences at GALA events over the past few years. She said that many of GALA's events are too expensive for lesbians to attend. This was objected to by Tomasini as an excuse, not a reason. She also said that there should be a women's committee to survey women as to their wants and needs, and that there is no outreach to welcome new members to GALA or the community. She also listed her credentials and successes in organizing in other communities. Kunert explained that, with the exception of those events specifically designated as fundraisers, GALA events are priced to be accessible to most of the members of the LGBTQ community, and that there are usually scholarships provided for those who cannot afford the admission price of a given event. When Kunert asked Capello if she would join the Board or at least head up an event, she declined. Blanchette offered to work with her to address her concerns.
12.) ISSUE: Event Schedule
After extended discussion, the following tentative event schedule for 2008 was adopted by consensus; subject to changes in dates, venues, lead persons, and/or budgets.
EVENT WHEN LEAD PERSON COMMENTS
Bingo Ongoing Menard
(Monthly?)
SLO Farmers Market Booth Ongoing Strawn
(Weekly)
Spring Dance March (?) Gonsalez & Menard Possible at Novo Restaurant?
Youth Dance April/May (?) Gonsalez & Menard In conjunction with Youth Conference?
Youth Conference: April/May (?) Parker & Mendoza (?)
Legacy Brunch: May Marsh With possible help from Don Reynolds.
Forum #1: May Marsh Initiatives on State Primary Ballot.
Reverse Drawing & BBQ: June Kinports With Ryan Miller and Pride Committee.
Gay Film Fest: June 28 & 29 Marsh With Charles Myers and Jim Dee.
PRIDE: July Kinports With Ryan Miller and Pride Committee.
Roundtable August Marsh In collaboration with SLOCCF -
"Family Values" Picnic September ? Not discussed.
Forum #2: September Marsh Initiatives on General Election Ballot.
Waiters Dinner October Russell
Halloween Dance October Beck
Forum #3: October Marsh Candidates on General Election Ballot.
Musicale November Marsh
Holiday Parade December Tomasini
Holiday Party December Kinports
13.) ISSUE: News & Reviews
Deadline for submission of articles for the March/April issue of News & Reviews is February 9, 2008. If one is to be held, a flyer advertising the Spring Dance will be to be made up and inserted for mailing or electronic posting. Blanchette asked for guidance on policy regarding editing of articles as to content and length. Consensus decision of Board was that Editor already has necessary authority to edit as she sees fit. LGBTI focus and content to be given priority. Possibility of adding new pet focused features.
14.) ISSUE: Farmers Market Outreach and Education
Strawn submitted a request for Board Members volunteer to fill vacancies available to oversee the GALA booth at Thursday evening Farmers Markets in San Luis Obispo. Sign up sheet was circulated.
15.) ISSUE: Bylaws Revision
Marsh asked Tomasini to serve on committee with him, and Lindemulder volunteered to serve also. Marsh stated that Doug Heumann had found an attorney well versed in Bylaws for nonprofit organizations to vet them when they are ready for final approval.
16.) ISSUE: Collaboration Update
Kunert presented an update on a mental health questionaire being developed in collaboration with Pacific Pride Foundation and UCSB. GALA will do mailing to our members.
17.) ISSUE: San Luis Obispo Film Festival
Lindemulder moved and Beck seconded a motion to support the San Luis Obispo Film Festival. Motion defeated unanimously.
18.) ISSUE: GALA Board Yahoogroup
Kunert asked that all new Board Members be placed on the confidential GALA Board
Yahoogroup e-
19.) ISSUE: Kunkler Letter
Kunert read a letter from Jim Kunkler, librarian of the Hatler Memorial Library, thanking the 2007 Board for naming him Volunteer of the Year.
20.) ISSUE: Computer Repair of Purchase
After discussion of the relative merits of repairing the old Hatler Memorial Library computer or purchasing a new one, Russell moved and Lindemulder seconded a motion to purchase a new computer for under $800.00. As part of the discussion, Kinports had indicated that he had recently purchased one for his father within that price range and would assist GALA in obtaining a similar one.
21.) ISSUE: Election of Vice President
Beck expressed interest in filling the vacancy created by Kinports resignation. Russell moved and Blanchette seconded the motion to elect Beck as GALA's new Vice President. Motion carried unanimously.
22.) ISSUE: Round The Table
Marsh called attention to the "Close Gitmo" campaign being waged by the ACLU.
Menard said he sees the need for more outreach by GALA.
Blanchette said that after some misgivings she was glad to be back on the Board.
Tomasini agreed that he, too, was glad to be back.
Gonsalez wants to work on upcoming Youth Conferences locally, at UCLA, and elsewhere to spread the GALA name.
Beck thanked the Board for the stipend and the donations to make his trip to the Creating Change Conference in Detroit possible.
9:55 PM: Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
<S>
Clayton R. Marsh
Secretary
JANUARY 2008 GALA BOARD ACTION ITEMS
BECK: Attend 20th Anniversary Creating Change Conference in Detroit.
Plan for "Family Values" Picnic.
BLANCHETTE: Work on Board Retreat Committee.
Work with Capello about her comments of no outreach to lesbians, and a possible survey in News & Reviews.
GONSALEZ: Make changes in accounting system to advance financial review by one month.
Work on Board Retreat Committee.
Work with Menard to plan Spring Dance.
KUNERT: Work on Board Retreat Committee.
Work with Gonsalez on accounting changes.
LINDEMULDER: Develop spokespersons group and phone tree plan.
Work with Tomasini and Marsh on Bylaws revision.
MARSH: Attend 20th Anniversary Creating Change Conference in Detroit.
Form Bylaws Revision Committee and plan for meetings.
Plan Legacy Funds Brunch.
Plan Political Education Forums and Senior Issues Roundtable.
Plan PRIDE Film Fest.
Prepare SLO City HRC 2008 Grants In Aid Application for "Q" Youth Group.
MENARD: Work on Board Retreat Committee.
Organize and promote Bingo games.
Moderate GALA Board Yahoogroup e-
Work with Gonsalez to plan Spring Dance.
RUSSELL: Plan for Waiters Dinner.
Plan Holiday Float.
TOMASINI; Work with Marsh and Lindemulder on Bylaws revision.
NON-
KINPORTS: Plan for Reverse Drawing & BBQ.
Plan for PRIDE Week Activities.
Plan for Holiday Party.
Purchase new computer with Monet.
MONET: Purchase new computer with Kinports.