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YWCA PACIFIC REGION
Regional Business Meeting
Tucson, Arizona
October 5, 2006
Meeting Minutes
President Gloria Lau called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m., and welcomed associations for their attendance.
Pat Wiedhopf provided an overview of the YWCA of Tucson’s capital campaign.
Janet Marcotte welcomed everyone and explained the YWCA of Tucson’s preference for the brand for the Tucson association. Tucson’s choice for the brand was based on research that demonstrated that the colors of turquoise and purple match the desire of the Tucson membership.
Gloria Lau explained that the agenda for the regional meeting would include committee reports in the morning and the focus of the afternoon would be on issues affecting the associations.
Approval Agenda: Beth Quillen Thomas made the motion to approve as presented; Patricia McFadden seconded the motion; 0 noes; 0 abstentions. Motion accepted.
Secretary’s Report: Robyn Austin presented the minutes from the May 2006 regional business meeting. Beth Quillen Thomas made a motion to accept the minutes; Patricia McFadden seconded the motion; 0 noes; 0 abstentions. Motion accepted.
Treasurer’s Report: Richard Burrell presented the report. Rosamaria Gomez-Amaro made a motion to accept the report; Loretta Morris seconded the motion; 0 noes; 0 abstentions. Motion accepted.
Budget and Finance Report: Richard Burrell presented the report and stated that an investment committee will be established to decide the management of the $165,000 being held in the YWCA Berkeley investment account. Beth Quillen Thomas moved to accept the financial report; Keri McClain seconded the motion; 0 noes; 0 abstentions. Motion accepted. The 2006/2007 Budget for the year was also approved. Muriel Smalheiser made a motion to accept the audit for fiscal year 2006; Helene Pizzini seconded the motion; 0 noes; 0 abstentions. Motion accepted.
YWCA Metro Dallas Introduction: Barbara Mosacchio, the executive director of the YWCA of Dallas, gave a report on the history of the association’s programs, services and strategic plans that have been implemented to bring the association to a level of financial solvency. These efforts are being instituted to demonstrate the YWCA of Dallas’s commitment to becoming a part of the pacific region. Gloria Lau officially welcomed the YWCA Dallas to the region. Dallas YWCA is committed to the brand and to paying support fees to the Pacific Region. They feel that the Pacific Region can help them with getting in full compliance with the brand and are anxiously awaiting steps that the National Hallmark Initiative will bring to making the brand more marketable.
Regional Consultant’s report: The report can be viewed on the intranet. Kay Kelley summarized these points from her report. Kay thanked the YWCA of Tucson for the Techgyrls training that it provided to associations in Berkeley and thanked Berkeley for hosting the training. Diane Masseth-Jones of North Orange County will be involved with a pediatric asthma campaign called “Safe from the Start” that is collaborative and bicultural. This culturally sensitive campaign will provide outreach and training to staff and parents. Associations that wish to be trained in the campaign may contact Kay.
Kay has applied to Ebay for a scholarship grant for the presentation of “If Hats Could Talk”. This is a play about Dorothy Heights’ life and encourages children to talk about race. The proposal that Kay submitted requests that the performance of the play be in metro areas that have a YWCA association. View the home page of the YWCA USA for more details about the play.
NCB Report: The report is posted on the Intranet. Sitara Harvey-Cook and Muriel Smalheiser summarized these points.
Special Exceptions Policy is in the packet. Please respond to the survey that was sent to associations. The moratorium on disaffiliation has not yet been lifted by the national office. This means that associations out of compliance with all but the gender issue can be under review for disaffiliation.
Sitara pointed out the process that vendors need to use for the right to use the YWCA’s brand.
There was discussion about the nomination of Doris Pagelkopf to the World Executive Committee. It was explained that the nomination was declined because of her witness report and her subsequent defense of this report.
Muriel encouraged associations to respond quickly when they receive information about the Retirement Fund Policy change.
Advocacy: Sylvia Cagle presented on behalf of Yaamini Rao. Sylvia requests that associations appoint a volunteer from each association to serve on the Advocacy committee.
Muriel encouraged associations to be knowledgeable about the Reproductive Rights Position Policy and perspective of the YWCA. This can be downloaded from the YWCA USA’s home page. Associations should note that nonprofit organizations are not legally able to endorse candidates running for a political office. The following reports are on the home page: Affirmative Action; Reproductive Rights; Wage and Equity Issues; Voting Rights.
World Relations Committee: Please let Kay and the national office know if you are attending the World Conference. Registrations received by October 15th will get a $50 discount per registrant. Kay also needs to know the number of people from associations who will be attending so that discounts on airfare can be negotiated. Keep in mind that vaccinations must be completed within the designated timeframe as well. Muriel encouraged prospective presenters to include in their presentations a “how to” component as well as “questions and answers”. Information about the World Conference can be viewed on the home page of the YWCA USA.
Association Services Committee: Pat Wiedhopf summarized decisions and discussion from the meeting held on September 22, 2006. Associations are asked to view the profile that is online and is due October 5th. This tool is useful in assessing associations’ needs. The sub-committee is developing a grievance process for any association that may be asked to disaffiliate from the Pacific Region and the YWCA USA that will be available at the meeting in April in Dallas. Note that on the affiliation agreement that #10, #11 and #12 are new editions. The committee agreed to work on the language for # 10 to make it more inclusive of the intent of the gender amendment of the YWCA USA bylaws. Sylvia Cagle moved that these editions to the Affiliation Agreement be accepted, allowing the Association Services Committee to work on the above changes. Diane Masseth-Jones seconded the motion; 0 noes; 0 abstentions. Motion accepted. Diane Masseth-Jones moved that the associations who have not been reviewed by the Peer Review Committee submit binders to the Regional Office by March 15, 2007. Patricia McFadden seconded the motion; 0 noes; 0 abstentions. Motion accepted. Pat asked people to consider joining the committee and she acknowledged the work of the current committee members. The associations agreed with the offer by the committee to take the draft of the affiliation agreement back to the committee level for another draft.
Marketing Committee: Sylvia Cagle noted the Week without Violence micro-site on the YWCA home page. National Week without Violence is October 15-21. The committee and the national office will be working with Next, Bozell and Jacobs on “Start a New Conversation” during the next few months. This campaign will include blogs, pod casts, MySpace.com and other viral marketing strategies. The committee and Kintera are discussing training and more information will available in the near future.
Marketing/Branding: Brenda Komar is recruiting members for the committee. The time commitment is one – two hours per month. Please complete the survey that will be sent. Brenda suggested that the region have a real presence at next year’s Governors and First Lady Conference on Women. Kay pointed out that even though it is a California event many sponsors that would see our presence are national companies i.e. Target, NAWBO, and Merck. Kay also stated that we need to start working on this now; tickets are already on sale. The Los Angeles YWCA had a booth at the conference.
Nominating Committee: Elaine Moore asked members to submit their votes on the motion nominating Beth Quillen Thomas to the nominating committee. If this passes, a bylaws change will be required. A vote for the new board members was also held.
Election Results: Total slate accepted. Beth Quillen Thomas was voted to serve on the nominating committee, as well as new board members. (Ballot attached) Elaine Explained that she has resigned form the board and will now chair the leadership development committee. She also explained the nominating chair process. The committee will appoint a chair soon, as the NCB Elections must take place before December 30, 2006.
Hallmark Program Initiative: As part of the affiliation agreement, all associations must be involved in providing Hallmark Programs that address the economic advancement of women and racial justice. Currently, 80% of associations are not involved in these initiatives. The intent of this committee is to ensure that the program standards demonstrate elements that meet the initiatives in ways that reflect the needs of the associations’ communities. The National Hallmark Initiative Model Program applications are due by October 30. Programs that meet the criteria will be awarded stipends for program curriculum development and implementation. The funds were made available for this project by the YWCA Mid Peninsula dissolution and building sale.
Special Circumstances: Special Circumstances procedure, which is available on line, will apply to the association wishing to have male board members and open membership up to males. Janet requested that comments about the language of the special circumstances or any clarification needed to be submitted in writing. Kay will forward to the National Task Force who is creating this process.
BYLAW Changes
Kay talked about the need to increase the pool of the voting membership and was asked by the chair, Judy Case-DiPasquale, to seek legal counsel on this matter. Kay reported that she has done that and has not yet heard back form the attorney. The agreement of the associations present was to bring this topic to a future meeting, and to encourage associations to use the “designee” clause of our Bylaws if they do not feel the Executive Director or the Board President have the time to committee to the regional board of directors. Remember that designees for votes must be registered with the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Pacific Region. The executive committee needs to reflect the diversity of the associations. Kay and Gloria committed to personally contacting new board presidents and executive directors to educate them about their ability to name designees to the region’s board of directors. Food for thought for associations is that the region foregoes its 501(c) 3 designation and becomes a trade association.
Retirement Fund Policy: Kay asked associations to read the policy and provide feedback via email.
Visioning Task Force: The task force asked the associations to discuss feedback on the plan and asked the associations to engage in discussion of these issues. Sitara facilitated the discussion and individuals divided into three groups. These are highlights from the facilitated post-group discussion. Sitara encouraged the group to consider the structural issues that the associations must recognize. In addition, what strategies can the region use to establish good leadership? Moreover, does the current three-tiered strategy of advocacy, branding, and communications still make sense? Kay and Gloria will be attending the vision session in Washington DC on November 9-12, 2006
Mission Statement Change: The NCB has asked that we select a member of our region to serve on the Mission Statement sub-committee, Gloria asked that associations who have members who wish to serve on the committee should contact Kay.
Next Meeting: April 26, 2007, Dallas/Fort Worth YWCA.
Meeting adjourned at 3:06 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robyn Austin, Secretary