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OK ALLIANCE - MINUTES OF THE MEETING, 06/26/03
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Chair Suzanne Patzer called the conference call to order at 11:05 AM.
Also participating in the conference call were Chip Bergquist, Thom Schneider, Melissa Mills, Johanna Perrino, Rod Swartz and Tom Bishop.
Ms. Patzer raised the question of the affiliation agreement. Mr. Schneider spoke of his intent to vote against the affiliation agreement. The agreement as presented by the Board to the membership was to protect the National’s non-profit status. However, after reviewing the affiliation agreement and the reports that are required to be filed by an affiliate member, there was an entire report concerning the affiliate’s EO activities that was never once discussed during any of the presentation on this subject. Seeing that whole process was explained as a requirement by the IRS to protect the National’s non-profit status, no one has been able to explain to Mr. Schneider how the EO report is linked to the protection of the National’s non-profit status. Mr. Schneider expressed a philosophical problem of promoting this requirement as one thing and then placing an entirely unrelated requirement as a condition of being an affiliate. Mr. Swartz and Ms. Mills concurred with Mr. Schneider’s concerns. Questions were then raised what would happen if the Chapter did not ratify the agreement or delayed any action until after the national conference. Central States Chair Tom Bishop was asked to join the conference call to respond to questions. Mr. Bishop stated that although the EO report was not directly discussed during the education process, it has been in the affiliation agreement all along. Mr. Bishop stated that it has been the desire of the Board to obtain this information, but because of the organizational setup between the National Board and the Regions and Chapters, there was no formal process for achieving this. Mr. Schneider stated that he had no problem with the collecting of the information, but reiterated his position that this information should have been included in the educational process to the membership. Mr. Bishop explained that if the Chapter did not ratify the affiliation agreement, they could not longer use the ACM name or logo, would not be under the National’s non-profit status and would not be covered by the National’s liability insurance policy. Mr. Bishop also explained that if the Chapter chose to delay a vote until after the July 1 deadline, as of that date, all the actions previously discussed would take place and the Chapter would have to start the process all over again (collecting signatures, notification, etc.). A motion for the O.K. Chapter Board to ratify the affiliation agreement by roll call vote was made by Mr. Schneider, seconded by Mr. Swartz and carried unanimously by voice vote. Shall the O.K. Chapter become an affiliate member of the Alliance for Community Media?
The motion passed 5 to 1. With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:24 a.m. Submitted by: |