Berkeley STC Chapter Minutes

July 7, 2006

Meeting Started 6:45 p.m.

In attendance:

Richard Mateosian, President

Mary Ann Campbell, VP Programs

Jim Dexter, VP Membership

Tony Rocco, Secretary

Deborah del Mazo, Treasurer

Joe Devney, Elections Manager

Jean Lundquist, Newsletter Editor

Minutes Approval:

A. Minutes approved for the June, 2006 meeting.

Topic 1: Treasurer Report (Deborah del Mazo)

A. Treasurer is prepared to receive cash at monthly meetings.

B. Treasurer working with Joe Devney to resolve outstanding financial issues (unposted credit items to credit card company).

C. Treasurer working to resolve each meeting’s expenses, and provide the profit/loss for each meeting.

D. Treasurer to prepare yearly STC Chapter financial report.

E. Joe Devney is looking into the high cost of our credit card processing (Tierranet, Miva Merchant, VeriSign/PayPal) in an effort to see if we can reduce costs. Jessica Livingston will assist Joe.

Topic 2: Programs Report (Mary Ann Campbell)

A. Speaker confirmed for July meeting

B. Ensured that Hospitality Manager will have food at July meeting.

C. Poll of attendees as to whether they utilize the Chapter’s web reservation system (most do, VP Membership does not)

D. Discussion of appropriate attendee data gathering at meetings; President remembers our Chapter doing this in the past, VP Membership in favor of gathering as much information as possible (current mailing address, email address, etc.).

E. President discussed preparing a physical printed banner announcing the Chapter’s web site to be prepared for display at all Chapter meetings.

F. Discussion of changing the meeting location for future meetings to other possibilities, including St. John’s Church.

Topic 3: Newsletter Report (Jean Lundquist)

A. General discussion on what the Chapter wants from a newsletter, including not generating a separate PDF newsletter but using the web site alone, hard-copy printing of the newsletter to distribute at meetings.

B. Printed postcard for meeting announcements working well, reduces the need for a newsletter.

C. Discussion of methodologies to get volunteer writers for newsletter articles.

ACTION ITEM: President will prepare an email blast to membership, inviting them to write articles for the newsletter.

Topic 4: Webmaster Report (Jim Dexter)

A. Webmaster researched previously identified issue with the web site’s email lists – did not find any problem.

B. Webmaster downloading copy of web site for maintenance/security of web site contents.

Topic 5: Chapter Bylaws Report (Joe Devney)

A. Joe Devney lead a discussion on the impending Chapter Bylaws draft, including description of his correspondence with Beau Cain and Bob Dianetti, with the conclusion that we need to generate a separate set of bylaws that are a supplement to the STC bylaws. Discussed various parameter options (like officer term limits, defining quorum, who can vote, etc.).

ACTION ITEM: Devney will prepare a draft of the Chapter Bylaws.

ACTION ITEM: After approved by Leadership Council, the draft will to the Chapter’s membership for a vote.

Topic 6: Recognition Report (Jessica Livingston)

A. Discussion on how to recognize volunteers within the Chapter.

ACTION ITEM: President will appoint Jessica Livingston as the Chapter’s Recognition Manager.

Topic 7: January Party Report (Richard Mateosian)

A. Publications Competition awards at meeting.

B. Location at Highlands again?

Topic 10: New Business (All)

A. VP Membership led discussion on communications between Chapter and STC Office, proposing that we eliminate one of our two VPs (because the STC Office only deals with one VP per Chapter).

B. VP Membership led discussion on having the Chapter purchase food for the Leadership Meetings.

ACTION ITEM: VP Membership to review STC website to see if there are any STC policies relating to this issue.

C. Public Relations Manager led discussion on the possibility of the Chapter applying for the STC Community Competition.

Meeting Adjourned.