SDSA BOARD MINUTES

April 9, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.

 

Members present: Lynne Armstrong, Roberto Flores, Ruth Dalrymple, Joe LaMonica, Olga Hernandez, Richard Moon, Cris Ramirez, Bryan Gerard, Jeanne Belaire, and Travis Peterson.

 

Members absent:  Mauro Gamez

 

Roberto began the meeting by indicating that issues that have come up since the last meeting are on today’s agenda and will be addressed accordingly.

 

Ruth presented a treasurer’s report with projected income/expenses and current account details. The beginning balance in April was $2995.23.  Projected income includes $500 from the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus.  Projected expenses include quarter one dues to National Stonewall $680 and to Texas Stonewall $340; donation to Elena Guajardo for $500 and to kat swift for $250; reimbursement to Lynne, $194.63 for SDSA brochures; leaving a balance of $1530.60.  Additional $245 in checks was given to Ruth at the meeting, bringing the balance up to $1775.60.  Ruth also presented expense reports for 2005 and 2006 as points of reference.  She also indicated that she had cover letters ready to send with quarterly dues to national and state.  Olga will be sending an electronic file with names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses to National and Texas Stonewall.

 

Cris made a motion to approve the minutes of the last board meeting (March 12, 2007), Richard seconded and the minutes were approved.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Board Development:  Cris made a motion to approve Bee Dee Doublet, Charlie Tucker, and Cris Ramirez, as members and Mark Spencer, as chair of this committee.  The motion was seconded by Richard and the motion passed.

 

Endorsement:  Cris made a motion that Ruth be added to the Endorsement Committee, Bryan seconded and the motion passed.  Richard was reimbursed $50 for copying expenses for the Endorsement Meeting, the amount that the board had previously approved.  The SDSA endorsements have been posted on the web site; e-mailed to members; and a press release has been issued to LGBT and other internet and print media.  The committee is recommending that the endorsements be “snail mailed” to SDSA members who do not have e-mail; that they be e-mailed to persons on our master list of 4,000, who are not members; and that 500 copies be made for distribution to bars and LGBT organizations and businesses and to those at our membership meeting on April 16th.  Richard made a motion that these recommendations be approved, Olga seconded and the motion passed.  Richard made a motion to have the board approve $50 for the 500 copies of our endorsements and to reimburse Charlie Gallimore for his mail-outs to those members who do not have e-mail.  Bryan seconded and the motion passed.

 

Motions to be voted on by the board need to be done at meetings or via e-mail if they are time-sensitive issues.

 

SDSA will be sending out an e-mail to the membership requesting block walkers for kat swift.  Bryan presented his reasons for donating $250 to kat swift.  They included the fact that kat is supportive of our issues; she comes to our meetings and activities and supports us.  Olga indicated that the $250 is a token contribution made in good faith, and good spirit.

 

Political Relations: will be meeting Tuesday, April 10th to elect a chair and discuss upcoming activities.

 

Membership:  Since January SDSA has recruited 29 new members, and there have been 68 renewals.  Total membership is 149.  Quarter 2 renewal have been sent out, there are a total of 21 due.  Olga presented a sign-in sheet that was used at the last meeting.  What the committee is proposing is a list with names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses and a preference for meeting reminders, phone, e-mail or “snail mail.”  These would be passed out by table and initialed.  Joe suggested having a monitor at each table to make sure the list is passed on and returned.  Bryan expressed a concern about the list because of the personal information on it, phone numbers, addresses and e-mails.  Olga suggested only listing the names of members.  Lynne recommended that two tables be set up outside the meeting room for people to sign in.  Olga said she thought this was a good idea and would e-mail her committee members.  Olga reminded the board that James Poindexter had submitted a proposal for paying dues; it will be discussed at the next meeting.  Olga indicated that she has about 21 people who have not renewed for quarter one.  She passed out a list and requested help contacting these members.  Members of the board volunteered to contact these people and report their results at the next meeting.  At that time anyone who has not renewed will be sent a letter stating that their membership has lapsed and that if they do not renew within the next 30 days they will be removed from the membership roster.

 

Voter Registration and Mobilization:  Joe moved that the following members be approved as members of the committee, Daniel Graney, James Poindexter, Philip Barcena, Frank Rosas, Doug Garriot, Mauro Gamez and Joe LaMonica, chair.  Bryan seconded and the motion passed.  Philip recruited 15 members at the membership meeting to be deputized as registrars. The committee will maintain a data base of registered voters obtained at LGBT events.  The committee will look into registering voters at Pride events, Esperanza Peace Market, First Fridays, Gay Fiesta and the King William Fair.

 

Program and Events:  Lynne indicated that the committee is recommending that SDSA have its annual banquet at the El Tropicano Hotel on September 15th.  Since requests to guest speakers have already gone out, Olga recommended that the speakers be contacted with the final date.  Cris made a motion that the Board accept the members and co-chairs of the Program and Events Committee, Jim Poindexter, Lynne Armstrong, Bee Dee Doublet, Valerie Grace, Sandy Blake, Roberto Flores, and co-chairs Jamie Lewis and Philip Barcena. Olga seconded and the motion passed.  Cris made a motion that the Board approve the Second Annual SDSA Awards Banquet to be held at the El Tropicano on September 15th.  Travis seconded and the motion passed.

 

Communications: Bryan made a motion that the Board accept the members of this committee, Linda Allen, Bryan Gerard, Charles Gallimore, Antonia Padilla, Cris Ramirez and Olga Hernandez, as chair.  Travis seconded the motion and it passed.  Linda will check to see if we have list serve capabilities to send the SDSA Endorsements to the 4,000 people on the mailing list.  If we don’t have this perhaps the list can be divided and sent through the individual Board member’s Stonewall e-mail addresses.  The committee recommends that all e-mail sent to the membership have the SDSA web site and a note at the bottom instructing members on how to be removed from the e-mail list.  All e-mails sent to the members should be done with the BCC line used for the addresses.  Bryan made a motion that Charles do research on the cost of an SDSA ad in the current.  Richard seconded and the motion passed with one nay vote by Travis.  Bryan made a motion to have Charles look into advertising on NPR, it was seconded by Travis and it passed.  Bryan made a motion that Charles look into SDSA being a sponsor on Q-San Antonio, Lynne seconded and the motion passed.  Olga presented the new design of the web site and Bryan made a motion that the new design be accepted, Cris seconded and the motion passed.  Bryan will be the contact person for the web site.  Antonia Padilla has sent SDSA photos of the candidates at the Endorsement Meeting to be posted on the web site.

 

Bryan, Roberto, Nancy Russell and Kelly Timmons met with Congressman Charlie Gonzalez to discuss the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell bill.  Congressman Gonzalez did not sponsor the bill and we wanted to discuss this with him.  He indicated that the Employment Non Discrimination Act is more important and that it needs to be passed first. He said he would vote for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell if it came up for a vote.  If ENDA (Employment Non Discrimination Act) does not pass then the Congressman said he would consider sponsoring the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell bill.  The Political Relations Committee, which is meeting tomorrow, will discuss following up on this bill with Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.

 

Travis made a motion to accept the $500 donation from the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus, Ruth seconded and the motion passed.

 

The rest of the items on the agenda were tabled for the next meeting.  Travis added one more item to be discussed next month, members making motions from the floor during membership meetings without informing the Board ahead of time.

 

 

 

Travis made a motion to adjourn the meeting, it was seconded by Roberto and the meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Cristina M. Ramirez, Secretary