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1999 Winter Board Minutes
MINUTES OF THE WINTER BOARD MEETING OF AVP/USA, INC.February 12-15, 1999Place: Albany, New York Friends Meetinghouse The meeting was conducted following AVP's Advanced Workshop format with the focus topic: What should AVP/USA look like in the future? No separate business session was held. Instead, the routine business was conducted at various times throughout the weekend. Facilitators: Rick Krouskop, Kaki Sjogren, Henry Bernstein, Marjorie Kerr, and Janet Lugo. FRIDAY EVENING: COMMUNITY BUILDINGGathering: What rewards I get in AVP/USA. Guidelines Bingo Adjective Name Crossword The Riddler Evaluation & Closing SATURDAY MORNING: WHAT ARE OUR GOALS?Present on Saturday were: Rick Krouskop, Diana Couch, Janet Lugo, Marjorie Kerr, Henry M. Bernstein, Tom Truitt, Jan Krouskop, Fred Feucht, Ann Ward, George Sinnott, Candace LaRue, John Shuford, Ellen Flanders, Toby Riley, Robin Willetts, Lloyd Bailey, Richard Nethercut, Steve Angell, Pat Beetle, Khaki Sjogren, and Grace McGrath. Gathering Elders Circle Brainstorm Mission and Goals Life Auction A short time was given to business and, during that, Fred Feucht reported on the status of the Transformer. He has an issue just about ready. We lost our grant for printing services when the printing company that had awarded us the grant was bought out by another firm. He proposed sending the next issue to all facilitators with an appeal for subscriptions. The question of funding printing and postage expenses came up. Tom Truitt committed to finding the funding for a future issue of the Transformer with the focus on youth workshops. SATURDAY AFT: WHAT ARE OUR IDEAS FOR CHANGE?Gathering: My Truth song Open presentation of proposals. The group heard the various proposals for reorganizing AVP/USA's internal structure. From Another Point of View During this exercise, the groups reported good points they found in each of seven proposals. Following that report, the group checked to see if there was consensus on making the decision regarding closing the national office. The group had not reached consensus at that point. We recessed for supper. SATURDAY EVENING: FATE OF THE NATIONAL OFFICEGathering: Fishbowl on Blocks to Decision The fishbowl lead into discussion of closing the national office which culminated in the group reaching consensus to close the national office. The board then recessed until the next morning. SUNDAY MORNING: GENERAL BUSINESSThe meeting reconvened Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Parson Childrens and Family Center Present were: Rick Krouskop, Marjorie Kerr, Diana Couch, Khaki Sjogren, Tom Truitt, Lloyd Bailey, George Sinnott, Grace McGrath, Henry M. Bernstein, Robin Willetts, Steve Angell, Ann Ward, John Shuford, Pat Beetle, Toby Riley, Richard Nethercut, Candace LaRue, Janet Krouskop, Ellen Flanders. Gathering: The board addressed several routine business items beginning with a review of the following Leadership Team's decisions since the previous meeting in Dickinson, Texas: October 7, 1998 Leadership Team agreed on conducting the Winter Board Meeting in a workshop format. The Leadership Team considered Tom Truitt's offer to act as interim Treasurer of AVP USA. Due to the limited time that Tom was able to give to this task, it was felt that he could not satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of the position, and so reluctantly felt constrained to decline his offer, with thanks for his consideration. October 29, 1998 The Leadership Team authorized Marjorie Kerr to apply for a credit card arrangement with Wells Fargo Bank and sign any agreements necessary. November 30, 1998 The Leadership Team decided to postpone reprinting manuals at this time and to encourage local organizations to reproduce manuals locally in the interim. The Leadership Team noted a recent donation of stock in Royal Dutch Shell and decided to not sell it at this time. December 13, 1998 The Leadership Team discussed how to handle agreements concerning translation and publication with AVP organizations in other countries and responded to an inquiry from Russia by expressing concerns on several issues. The Team authorized an expenditure of $200 from the Ambassador Fund to support Val Liveoak participating in the team going to Cuba. In the absence of any offers to host the National Meeting, September 1999, the Leadership Team investigated the availability of Burlington (NJ) Conference Center (site of the 1997 Meeting). It was available, and a verbal reservation was placed pending final decision at the Winter Board Meeting. Following discussion, the Board ratified these decisions. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Marjorie Kerr then reviewed the
Executive Director's report including a financial report.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON: ANALYZE AND MELD IDEASThe meeting reconvened at 1:30 p.m. at the Meetinghouse. Gathering: A moment of silence Executive Director's Report Marjorie Kerr continued the Executive Director's report. Small Groups: The meeting then chose to break into two small groups, one to focus on the tasks and activities identified by the previous exercises and the other to focus on the structure and governance of AVP/USA. The two groups reported back before supper. The Tasks Group presented the following outline:
The meeting then recessed for supper.
SUNDAY EVENING: ANALYZE AND MELD IDEAS--PART 2Following supper, the group returned to the Task and Governance small groups for further work. The groups reported back. The Task Group had completed a list of timeline components for the transition period.
The Governance Group then reported as follows:
The meeting then recessed for the evening.
MONDAY MORNING: FINALIZE AND IMPLEMENT PLANGathering: The Board first took up the balance of general business items. NATIONAL CONFERENCE National Conference Site (Labor Day 1999) Approved to be held at Burlington Conference Center. NJ AVP has agreed to host the meeting and is requesting the sponsorship of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting on our behalf. PYM sponsorship reduces our costs and insurance burdens. Tom Truitt said that were NJ AVP unable to obtain sponsorship, Community Peace Trainers would approach PYM, as well. EDUCATION COMMITTEE Candace reported that the Youth Manual might be ready by the National Conference. The Basic Manual probably won't be ready that soon. We will ask locals to photocopy manuals and will look into printing a small number of current Basic Manuals pending publication of the new manual. Leadership team was given authority to undertake this interim printing. TRANSFORMER Local councils will be asked to furnish names for group subscriptions ($10 each). People will look at editorial content. Ellen Flanders will try to get AVP/NY to help pay for the next edition. Tom Truitt and Steve Angell guaranteed that funds would be found. INTERNATIONAL Marjorie Kerr proposed that a $5/person fee (voluntary) be added to every AVP/USA general meeting to finance the Ambassador Fund. Approved. GENERAL Toby Riley introduced a project he is working on: To track released inmates to keep them apprised of AVP functions and resources in their area. He will get compose a release form for inmates to sign, giving local groups permission to contact them following release. He asked for the Board's feedback and permission to pursue the matter further. Lloyd is interested in helping on the project. There are issues to be considered. Toby was listened to and given encouragement to proceed. Minutes of the Board and Annual Meetings, September 1998 approved. PERSONNEL Marjorie Kerr noted that many tasks must be continued. She will have to orient people, divide up tasks, and organize things. This will be very time consuming. The Board agreed that she must be paid for shutting down, and it will be her only job. She will get tools out to people. In order to not lose all we have done in the last 10 years, we have to get things done. It will be frustrating and painful. She will need much practical support. After everyone's tools are out, she will become a consultant. Any unpaid, volunteered activity she performs will be by her priorities. Rick Krouskop proposed that the National Office be closed on May 31, 1999, at which time the position of Executive Director will be terminated. A financial termination package was proposed and with revision, the final package is (in round figures): 1. Contractual salary obligation through May 31 $ 5400 2. Accrued vacation time (3 weeks) 1000 3. Additional 1 years vacation time (never used) 1000 4. Pay way to year 2000 International Conf. 1000 5. Donation of office computer and copier 6. Expression of extreme gratitude and
appreciation of all TOTAL $ 8400 Leadership team was authorized to negotiate disposal of any other equipment. Board members will need to be involved in Fund-raising to meet the salary and termination package. Starting June 1, through Labor Day, Marjorie act as consultant (up to $30/hour), with specific tasks contracted by Leadership Team. Having concluded the remainder of the general business items, the group then returned to the reorganization and transition discussion. The board took the Task and Governance groups work products and melded them into the following: INTERIM REORGANIZATION PLANTECHNOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE Committee's function to be consultation and technical assistance. Email manual Voicemail mailbox Members: George Sinnott, convener, Toby Riley, Khaki Sjogren REGIONAL SUPPORT & NETWORKING
FINANCE AND FUND-RAISING
COMMUNICATIONS
CONFERENCE PLANNING
COMMITTEE OF COMMITTEES
EDUCATION COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP TEAM
After September 6, the LT will cease to exist and all decisionmaking is with the committees. Each committee is charged to come to Annual Conference with recommendations on how to continue. Current approach is to minimize damage and then build for the future. Following this, we returned to the business agenda. The Board accepted Tom Truitt as Treasurer for a term lasting until the next Annual Meeting in September 1999. The Board then approved a general form of banking resolution authorizing Tom Truitt to establish a new bank account, and authorized the execution of agreements necessary to carry that out. The Governance and Tasks Groups will co-author an article for the Transformer on the reorganization and transition. Candace LaRue and Khaki Sjogren will be primary authors. There will be more than one Transformer before the Annual Conference. This will begin to give people information on what's happening and where to go for items they were getting from the national office. The Workshop was then adjourned
Submitted: Henry Bernstein, |
Revised: 02/26/2014 © 2014 AVP/USA, Inc.