SDSA Board Minutes

November 12, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 by Co-chairs Lynne Armstrong and Roberto Flores.

Members present:  Lynne Armstrong, Roberto Flores, Jeanne Belaire, Cris Ramirez, Antonia Padilla, Travis Peterson, Bryan Gerard, Joe LaMonica, and Olga Hernandez

Members absent:  Richard Moon and Ruth Dalrymple

Guest:  Dan Graney

The assistant treasurer, Jeanne, reported a balance of $5,332.01.

Bryan made a motion to approve the September board minutes, Antonia seconded and the minutes were approved.  There was no October meeting since there was no quorum.

Committee reports were presented, beginning with the Board Development Committee.  The chair of the committee, Cris, reported that several positions on the board would be open for elections in January.  Cris, Ruth, and Antonia will seek re-election.  Richard, Joe and Travis will not.  The following people have expressed an interest in running for an at-large SDSA Board Position:  Michelle Myers, Pat McGuire, and Larry Stallings.  Olga indicated that Chris Forbrich is considering the possibility and she will be sending him an application.  An announcement will be made at the general meeting and Cris will have applications for anyone interested in running for a board position.

Dan Graney, chair of the Endorsement Committee, presented several action items for a vote.  He announced that the board voted by e-mail to approve Kenwood Community Center as the site of the Endorsement Committee Meeting.  Mark Spencer would like to deliver the check personally since he made the arrangements, the board agreed to give him a check and allow him to present it.  Dan presented the candidate questionnaires for approval.  After a discussion of question #9 referring to gender identity being added to legislation, Cris made a motion, seconded by Antonia, to reword the statement to say “Will you support an ENDA that includes gender identity?”  Questions #8 and #9 are redundant.  Cris rescinded her motion and Antonia seconded.  Travis made a motion to remove question #9, Antonia seconded and the motion passed.  Joe made a motion to accept all the questionnaires, Travis seconded and the motion passed.  Cris made a motion to accept the HRC Presidential Questionnaires as part of our Endorsement Process and that we invite their representatives to make a presentation at the endorsement meeting.  Bryan seconded and the motion passed.  Cris made a motion to accept the Friendly Incumbent Endorsement Guidelines, Travis seconded and the motion passed.  Cris made a motion to accept the list of state friendly incumbents (Zaffarini, Van de Putte, Martinez Fisher, McClendon and Villarreal), Travis seconded and the motion passed.  Bryan made a motion to include Congressman Charlie Gonzales on our list of friendly incumbents, Cris seconded and the motion passed, with Travis abstaining.  Dan will be presenting these incumbents to the membership for a vote and requested that this item be placed on the agenda for the next membership meeting. 

Lynne suggested that an e-mail reminder be sent to the committee chairs requesting a budget for the next year.

Travis reported on the Police Academy Training, the first of which was on September 21.  He indicated that it went well and the responses from those attending were positive.  A training session for seasoned officers is scheduled for December 6th and one more will be scheduled next spring.

Olga reported that membership is up to 170.

Lynne requested that Antonia follow up on media sources that will publicize SDSA meetings, events and endorsements.

Lynne reported that Monica Guerrero agreed to be the Mistress of Ceremonies at the next SDSA banquet and that the Tropicano has confirmed the date, September 6th and the contract is pending.

The Christmas party will be on Saturday, December 08, 2007 at the home of Lynne and Olga. Travis and Cris volunteered to provide a ham and Lynne and Olga will provide a turkey.  It is BYOB and bring a covered dish for members.

Roberto announced that Mara Keisling, one of the most influential leaders of the transgender equality movement, will be in San Antonio.  He would like SDSA to be a co-sponsor of this event.

Lynne agreed to write a letter to Grady’s thanking them for their past support and their generosity in allowing SDSA to continue to meet there, free of charge.  She and Roberto will be meeting with Grady’s, in mid December, to confirm SDSA meeting dates for 2008.

Cris made a motion to adjourn, Bryan seconded and the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Cristina M. Ramirez,   

Secretary