SDSA Board Minutes

March 9, 2009

Members present:  Lynne Armstrong, Roberto Flores, Olga Hernandez, Jeanne Belaire, Cris Ramirez, Linda Allen, Peg MacPhail, Bryan Gerard, David Plylar, Mark Spencer.

 

Members absent: Larry Stallings, Chris Forbrich and Antonia Padilla

 

Co-chairs Lynne and Roberto called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Secretary’s Report:  Peg moved to accept minutes as presented, Bryan seconded and it carried.

Registrars will be on the membership agenda first and then the regular business meeting will take place.

Endorsement Committee:  David reported the venue for the forum on March 29  is Kenwood Center, 1:30 to 6:00 PM.  Arrangements have been made for a security guard.  Letters to all those who have filed have been sent.  Committee members will do follow up on questionnaires.  David presented a tally sheet that will be used at the forum and each SDSA member will receive a copy.  Peg has created a web page listing the status of returned questionnaires.  It can be seen via the SDSA web page under endorsements.   The motion that no candidate can speak at the endorsement forum without a questionnaire was discussed.  This motion is null and void because proper procedures, as per by-laws, were not followed.

 Budget and Finance Committee:  Mark discussed tracking expenses by committees and categories.  The committee is looking at using Quicken to record this information.  Bryan offered to set up Excel spreadsheets for this if Quicken does not work.  Mark presented a financial statement for the first month.

Membership Committee:  Olga reported that we have 167 members so far.  She would like for members to be reminded that their dues must be current if they want to vote at the Endorsement Forum

Banquet will be held on the 10th of October.  Matt Foreman, former Director of the Gay/Lesbian Task Force, and currently

Olga has been asked to be co-chair of National Stonewall Democrats.  She has accepted.  She has asked for our support.   Roberto moved that Olga be unanimously approved for the NSD position with full support from SDSA.  Peg seconded the motion and it carried.  Other chapters in Texas have also agreed to provide support.

Roberto reported that at least 8 SDSA members attended the TSDC Conference.  Photos will be on the web site.  Speakers were excellent as was the food.  Seventy-nine people attended.

Travis Peterson presented an overview of the Peace Officers Training Committee and why he thinks that SDSA should make this committee an official committee of SDSA.  His suggestion is that it become a subcommittee of the Political Relations Committee.  Bryan moved to create a subcommittee of the Political Relations Committee that would act as a liaison to the Peace Officers Training Committee and assist the POTC in becoming an independent and free standing entity, Cris seconded and the motion carried.

Topics and suggestions for the board retreat will be discussed through the Yahoo group.

Mark is working on the brochure and suggested waiting until the election is over before updating and printing it.

Lynne asked us to consider the possibility of providing scholarships for those unable to attend events, conferences, etc.  This can be a topic for the retreat.

The Board discussed taking out an ad on Q San Antonio and advertising costs have been budgeted.  Details on the cost of an ad will be discussed next meeting.

Peg suggested looking into Facebook and Twitter in order to attract more members.  She will get more information and details on this.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Cristina M. Ramirez,

Secretaary