AVP-USA ANNUAL MEETING

MINUTES

May 25, 2003

Farmington, Minnesota

 

The 2003 AVP USA annual meeting was held Sunday, May 25, 2003 at the Mount Olivet Retreat Center ,

7984 257^th St. West , Farmington , Minnesota .  In attendance were about 80 AVP USA facilitators.

 MINUTES

The 2002 minutes were accepted without change.

 OLD BUSINESS

• The Restorative Justice committee was established last year.  They will report during the committee reports.
• The International Travel Fund was spent during the year to assist those going to the International Conference in Nigeria .
• The Zell fund has been used 2-3 times.  $5,000 to bring ex-inmates to Virginia and $6,000 used this year for about 21 scholarships.  The rest went to AVP USA general fund.

 COMMITTEES

Each committee was asked to give a brief synapsis of their committees work this past year, barriers encountered and plans for the coming year.  A more detail committee report is attached to these minutes.

 

• Committee of Committees (presented by Diana Couch) –
  • This committee consists of a representative from each committee and the current AVP USA officers and serves only to share information between committees, make recommendations and to nominate the new Vice-President. 
  • Vice-President nomination was Ann Ward.
• Finance Committee (presented by Ann Ward) –
  • The 2002 financial statement was reviewed and explained by Mike Leatherwood.  Committees are reminded to submit their 2003 budget needs at this annual meeting. 
  • The expanded Finance Committee has 3 grant writers and others with experience in managing budgets. 
  • A fund-raising letter will be going out in the next couple of months.
  • Regarding financing for regions – Regional reps need to submit a request to the Finance Committee of what is needed.
  • Tom Truitt, current AVP USA has stepped down from his position of Treasurer.  Although he was unable to attend this meeting, his long term support and service was acknowledged by this group.  An affirmation poster was posted to send to him.
  • Nomination for Treasurer – Mike Leatherwood
  • New co-chairs Ann Ward and Mike Leatherwood
• Communication Committee (presented by Diana Couch)—
  • Database – Diana has taken over the complete database.  Janet Lugo has had to withdraw from maintaining the database.  Although she was unable to attend this meeting, her work developing and maintaining the database and transformer subscription list, was acknowledged. An affirmation poster was posted to send to her.  The CLARG Committee is currently assisting Diana with updating the database.
  • Website – Rick Krouskop has continued adding to and maintaining the AVP USA website.   Main contact information is being updated by the CLARG.
  • Transformer – Chuck Oropallo, the Transformer editor, and the committee are brain-storming improvements that will bring down the production costs of the Transformer and increase subscriptions.  
    • Suggestion was made from Steve Angel to send a copy of the Transformer to all who donate
    • Point of note was made by John Shuford that there may be some material in the Transformer that is not appropriate for non-facilitators.
    • It was pointed out that each person, who completes a T4T and whose name is added to the database, receives a free one-year subscription.
    • Some inmates pay for their subscription.  Others are paid by the local AVP program.  Anyone, in or out, can request a complimentary one-year subscription if needed.
      
    •  
  • Communication Center – The Friends for a Non-Violent World (FNVW) have graciously offered to house the new AVP USA Communication center.  This will centralize the mail, e-mail and phone services of AVP USA into one location.  Abdul-Hakim As-Siddig (Hakim) has volunteered to man the center which is being activated at this meeting.
  • Distribution Center – Alan Taplow continues to improve the distribution center. New items are restorative justice packets and koosh balls.
  • Nomination for AVP USA Secretary – Diana Couch
• Education Committee (presented by Fred Feucht) –
  • There is a need for someone to take on the responsibility of the revision of the Advanced Manual which will include the exercises in the Supplement.
  • Keep submit your Advance agendas to this committee so exercises being currently used to no get omitted.  Alan has about a 2 years worth of copies and is counting on the new edition to be ready when he needs to reorder.
  • The committee needs more members.
  • There is a need to publicize the AVP USA site set up for sharing new exercises…maybe this can be done through the Transformer.
  • Nomination for AVP USA President – Dick Nethercut
• Conference Committee (presented by Terry Kayser) –
  • Have 5-6 new members
  • They are recording details of the job assignments of organizing conference for future planners and to mentor those having the jobs he next year.
  • Feel the need to plan 2-3 years in advance
    • 2004 conference will again be at this facility in Minnesota
    • 2005 conference will be in Northern California
    • 2006 conference may be in Boston
  • This year’s conference did better than break even.
  • New co-chairs Patrick Parker-Roach and Terry Kayser
• Restorative Justice (presented by Donn Kesselheim) –
  • Group has 3 goals
    • Explore role of AVP in restorative justice
    • Provide information on restorative justice to interested facilitators (Alan currently has a restorative justice package that can be purchased through the Distribution Center .
    • Develop 4-5 exercises exploring the elements of restorative justice and AVP which be screened by the Education Committee
  • Contact Donn Kesselheim if interested in supporting any of these efforts.

 

NEW BUSINESS

·         Youth Initiatives – Darrell Hefte

There has been more cooperation with HIPP.  Kathryn Liss, National HIPP Coordinator, is in attendance of this AVP USA meetings.  Hopes to have 20 youth present at the next conference.  Asked the Conference Committee to consider “Youth” as the theme for the next year’s conference.

Referred to the Conference Committee

 

·         New Committee Amendment –

A structure is needed in the by-laws for the creation of new committees.  Changes in the by-laws require 30 days notice to the membership before the next meeting.  It will be done at next year’s annual conference.  It will be as follows:

 Article 6.8

“The Annual National Gathering may establish or dissolve interest committees when there is a need to do so.  Such an action shall be noted in the minutes of the gathering where it occurred.”

 

The current article 6.8 shall be renumbered as 6.9.

Referred to the Committee of Committees

 

·         Future conferences

Regarding the International Gathering of ’06.  Dick Nethercutt proposed that an offer be put forth in New Zealand in ’04, inviting AVP-International o hold it’s ’06 conference in Boston consecutively with AVP-USA.  It was pointed out in Nigeria in ’02, the International group decided to plan 5 days for the next conference. 

Darrell Hefte suggest Florida be considered for AVP USA conference in ’07, maybe picking an earlier date such as Martin Luther King Day weekend to take advantage of the nice weather. 

Referred to the Conference Committee

               

·         Inmate re-entry interest group

There are not enough participants to form a committee yet, but sharing information is encouraged.  Some interested facilitators are Lila Rucker, Terry Case and John Shuford.  Steve Angell pointed out that any group can met and present a program for consideration.

 

·         Fundraising

The annual fundraising letter is being prepared and regional reps are reviewing the mailing list.  Suggestions were to make this an annual appeal, to ask for donations from local groups and to approach other interested parties.

Referred to the Finance Committee

 

·         International Gathering

About 10 people are hoping to go to the International Gathering in Aotearoa/New Zealand ([email protected]).  It is scheduled for Jan 30 – Feb 3^rd 2004 to fall in sequence with the Friends International Meeting.

   

NEW 2003 AVP USA OFFICERS

                Nominated and approved was the following slate of officers.

                                President – Rich Nethercutt

                                Vice-President – Ann Ward

                                Treasurer – Mike Leatherwood

                                Secretary – Diana Couch

   

Notes recorded by Dotty Joos.

 

Submitted by,

 Diana Couch

AVP USA   Secretary

 

AVP/USA Financial Statement   -- FY03  to Date Compared with FY02
	Jul '02 - May 23,'03			Jul '01 - Jun 02
INCOME
DONATIONS
Local Councils	$0.00			$291.00
Quaker Meetings	$0.00			$1,999.00
Donations Received - Other	$10,530.00			$6,369.00
TOTAL DONATIONS RECEIVED	$10,530.00			$8,659.00
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES
2002 Conference				$8,545.00
2003 Conference	$3,477.00
TOTAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES	$3,477.00			$8,545.00
SALES OF MANUALS, ETC.	$15,315.00			$17,550.00
TRANSFORMER SUBSCRIPTIONS	$2,181.00			$1,111.00
INTEREST INCOME	$10.00			$33.00
MISCELLANEOUS INCOME	$101.00			$33.00
OTHER INCOME	$0.00			$75.00
TOTAL INCOME	$31,614.00			$36,006.00
EXPENSES
2001 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Travel	$0.00			$159.00
Miscellaneous	$0.00			$8.00
2001 Annual Conference - Other	$0.00			$1,272.00
TOTAL 2001 ANNUAL CONFERENCE	$0.00			$1,439.00
2002 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Financial Assistance	$0.00			$2,100.00
Food	$0.00			$3,197.00
Miscellaneous	$0.00			$3,194.00
Room	$0.00			$3,444.00
Travel	$540.00			$1,169.00
TOTAL 2002 ANNUAL CONFERENCE	$540.00			$13,104.00
2003 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Miscellaneous	$322.00			$0.00
Room	$3,635.00			$0.00
TOTAL 2003 ANNUAL CONFERENCE	$3,957.00			$0.00
BANK CHARGE	$0.00			$5.00
CARDSERVICE CHARGE	$493.00			$593.00
COMMITTEE EXPENSES
Communications Committee	$524.00			$77.00
CLRG - Local & Regional Group	$21.00			$15.00
TOTAL COMMITTEE EXPENSES	$545.00			$92.00
COST OF MANUALS, ETC.	$8,010.00			$8,438.00
MISCELLANEOUS	$0.00			$110.00
POSTAGE AND SHIPPING	$48.00			$89.00
TELEPHONE EXPENSES	$0.00			$452.00
TRANSFORMER PUBLICATION COSTS	$9,757.00			$1,626.00
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE	$0.00			$0.00
AVP INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE	$5,697.00			$0.00
AVP/USA REGIONAL	$159.00			$0.00
TOTAL TRAVEL ASSISTANCE	$5,856.00			$0.00
UNCATEGORIZED EXPENSES	$0.00			$0.00
Total Expense	$29,204.00			$25,948.00
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$2,410.00			$10,058.00