Recorded by Bill Whitaker

Pride Minutes – September 11, 2016

In Attendance: Bill Whitaker, Corey Rexrode, Frank Mace, July Palas, David Shumate, Andy Ragland, Dennis McCormick, Angel Karmichael, Alexis Karmichael, Lauren Jackson, Aaje Fleming, Tim Albee, Chris Gosses, Carl Maxwell, Nancy Dunst
Call to Order: Carl Maxwell
Carl discussed the kick off of pride event planning for the year
Carl read the first page of the bylaws
Minutes from August 7th and August 21st where handed out
Frank Mace asked about the thank you letter that we discussed about sending them in previous meeting
Chris discussed sending out thank you letters out to all sponsors from Pride picnic
All minutes were accepted
Treasurer report summary was handed out and reviewed by Corey Rexrode. Starting balance of 1680.59 with an ending balance of 1206.18
An itemized list is requested from the treasurer by the board
Mana Meal sent a letter to Rainbow Pride of WV thanking us for the contribution from 2016 drag race
September rent has been paid to Asbury Methodist Church
Carl discussed the Morehead KY pride expenses. The van rental was 175.30 and was split between Rainbow Pride of WV $87.65 and Living Aids Memorial Garden $87.65
Bank statements are being requested by the board from November 2015 through current to complete an annual report
Carl passed out examples of Covenant House and Living Aids Memorial Garden annual reports as an example
Carl discussed Sue Taylor and IRS 990N form and Secretary of State Annual Report
Secretary of State needed a physical address instead of or mailing address so Carl used his physical address to give them.
Carl discussed repairing relationships with the LGTB community
All meeting minutes and financials will be placed on the website for everyone to view

Old Business

Nominations for Marketing Specialist: Susan McComas, Cole Devault, Michael Palmer, Brent Lenly
Chris asked each nominee to send the board their bio and the only one received was Michael Palmer
Alexis mentioned that the first benefit show will be held October 30th at 9pm and will be held at the Blacksheep restaurant in Charleston. The event is called Marvel vs. DC
Alexis mentioned a Straight Alliance group that they will be putting together
Move to motion to vote for Marketing Specialist position
Paper ballet vote has been completed and Michael Palmer has been elected Marketing Specialist
Vendors from the Fall Pride Picnic complained that they should be closer to the picnic and stage instead of setting up in parking lot. The board agrees
Chris discussed that the next pride picnic we shouldn’t dump out the cold water out of the coolers. We wasted too much money on ice as it got dumped at the end of the event.
Royce Caldwell donated $20.00 for ice for the picnic
Dwight Foley donated $500.00 for the picnic
Frank Mace donated $50.00 for the picnic
Josh Scott donated $200.00 for the picnic
Tim Albee donated all of the hamburger and hot dog buns
Pride T-Shirts are in and ready to be disbursed
The board discussed having a different color pride shirt next year
Morehead Pride was a huge success and had 50 vendors
Invoice was paid to accountant Sue Taylor at today’s meeting in the amount of $136.00
Carl has sent out a letter to Rodney Harvey’s PO about non payment
Julie Palas mentioned that we should have a meeting before Pride Bingo
Need 18-20 gifts for the Bingo event
October 9th will be the meeting before Bingo
Asbury Methodist Church will be supplying the hot dogs for the Bingo event

New Business:

We discussed opportunities to team up with other non-profit organizations
We discussed using social media to help other organizations by tagging them on our websites
We discussed Pride guide advertisements
Tim mentioned reaching out to other businesses and link our website to theirs and post gay friendly companies on the pride guide as well as our website.
We discussed having a venue of gay friendly companies at the pride festival
Carl will send out the Thank you letters to all sponsors
Fairness WV event will be October 8th and Rainbow Pride of WV purchased a quarter page add for $250.00
Carl will captain a table at the Fairness WV event
Bob from @tmosphere has agreed to have a meet the board night at @tmosphere. Date will be set soon
All Board members need to get with Chris to get their photo taken for the I Am Pride
The following committees will be created: Pageant and contest committee, Parade and festival committee, Library/Pride Office/Community Center committee, Fundraising committee, Men and Women Health committee, Picnic committee, Marketing outreach committee, We are Pride committee
Committee secretaries need to complete a report or minutes and turn into the board
Carl suggested that we go to big corporations and businesses to raise money
Chris will reach out to some big named drag queens for a potential speaker for the festival
The board discussed setting dates for the pride week, pageants and contests
Carl suggested that we have the Mr. and Ms. Rainbow Pride pageants centrally located in WV like Flatwoods
Chris mentioned that we should try to get discounted hotel rates for out of town guests who are traveling to Charleston for events. Four Points by Sheraton was mentioned and also getting a ball room at discounted price
Rainbow Pride will be hosting the Mr. and Ms. L Pride next year
The board discussed that we owe Lauren Jackson $150.00 for her step down
The board discussed having more lesbian pride events
The board has agreed to list Aj as WV Mr. L Pride and Samara as WV Ms. Pride
The board discussed the Covenant House Canstruction. Rainbow Pride and Asbury Methodist Church will be teaming together in this event. All canned goods go to homeless pantries
Frank suggested that we all solicit people in the LGBT community to work on the committees
Tim will be in charge of the Pageant and Contest committee
Frank will be in charge of the Mens and Womens committee
Next meeting set: October 2nd at 2pm
Adjourn