Southern Council Meeting Minutes
Sunday 01-22-2006


I.  
General Business:

1.  Meeting called to order at 11:20am.  In attendance:  Tom Drake, Tara, Helen de la Maza, Zayanne
Thompson, Kris Pamintuan, Michael Charnofsky, Laura Vandezande, Tonya Mandl
 
2.  Update on Non-Profit Status discussion for presentation to board – Tom
A.  Form committee w/ someone So. (Zayanne?) & No. (possibly Aaron? Ask No. Council) to review the two documents Tom received from the lawyer
B.  Zayanne needs to get tax forms together for this
C.  People who donate money to us cannot use us as a tax-exemption until we are officially a non-profit

3.  Colorado Canoe Trip – Laura
           A.  It’s filling up, still have 4 spaces open
           B.  Feb. 24-26, 2006
           C.  Kris remind other OSS sites about Canoe Trip

4.  Newsletter / Website – Tom
A.  Jason will contact Joanna about taking over the newsletter & then he can take over the website.
B.  No one else has applied for the job, Maggie has been doing it & hasn’t said anything else about not doing it
C.  Tom will contact Dan Allison about doing the website

5.  Membership/publicity - brochure update – Michael/Helen
           A.  Helen & Michael came up w/ a lot of “new words” & a really good rough draft
           B.  Just about ready to take the next step – send it to the board for approval
           C.  Still need photos & quotes for it (Kris send photos to Michael for brochure)

6.  Membership Form Discussion  Update – Helen/Michael
A.  Do we need to briefly describe contributing categories (“basic,” “contributing,” “life,” & “institutional”) or is it ok
B.  Helen/Michael will take it to the board & suggest putting “limited income” next to the “basic” category

7.  Kenaf Paper – getting it to conference program – Michael
           A.  Do we need more?  (Kris e-mailed Jason, waiting for his response)

8.  GSEEC meeting Feb 10th San Jose – Michael
           A.  Dan Allison & Duffy are going
           B.  Michael could go, but it will be costly for him to go & he may not be able to go
           C.  Is there someone from No. Council who could go?  Michael will ask them about going to GSEEC

9.  Discussion AEOE CD-ROM Video for presentation to board  - Tom/Jason
           A.  Where is Jason on this?
           B.  What’s our next step?
           C.  Tom will ask Hoppy about the guy who took video of the last conference

10.  Mileage – Zayanne
           A.  We need to discuss mileage at the state meeting (make it an agenda item)
B.  Mileage has gone up significantly, we need to look at raising mileage & encouraging phone conferences when possible

 
II.  
Spring Conference 2006

1.  Spring Conference Budget – Tom/Zay
           A.  Speakers & Entertainment:
i.  Richard Louv $2300 ($2000 + $300 travel)
                       ii.  Swamp Mama $300
                       iii.  Delta Nove $1400
                       iv.  Nuñez $350
                       v.  Recoup $ from Nuñez & Louv’s workshops
                       vi.  Erich Schneider will play at registration for cost of conference fee
           B.  Scholarships: we will give 20 scholarships @ $100 ea.
           C.  100+ institutional members
D.  Donations – Laura/Tara will send out a blurb to members to donate things for auction (attached to e-mail about workshop app. Deadline); Michael will ask Acorn Naturalists for prizes for eval. prizes

2.  Status Workshops – Kris
A.  Update:  14 applications as of today. Sandi Funki from GSEEC helping to recruit + 2 from
B.  Jacque Nuñez & Richard Louv will be presenting workshops – fee for both ($10 for Nuñez, $15 for Louv)
           i.  Richard will be presenting the last slot of the day
C.  Set-up Sub-committee for aggressive workshop acquisition
D.  Krystina Castella (author for ”Discovering Nature’s Alphabet” – we could comp. her membership for coming to present
E.  Split up contacts, talk to these folks by Tues. the 24th:
i.  Michael – CHK folks (LACOSS), Antonio Solario (Nat’l Park Service), Martin LeBlanc of the Sierra Club, integrated waste management – Jerry Leiberman & Jenny Rigby
           ii.  Laura – LA County Nat. Hist. Museum, Gracie, Nat’l Park Service (Santa Monica)
iii.  Helen – Santa Monica Conservancy
iv.  Tonya – GLTSA list of presenters, Cal State Long Beach
v.  Tom – Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Teach
vi.  Kris – will continue w/ her contacts, multicultural/diversity groups, U of R., Deroski, etc.

3.  Status Speaker Richard Louv (contract revision) – Tonya
           A.  Will be presenting a workshop -- $15 fee
           B.  Small revision to his contract – travel expenses billed directly to Richard, $2000 fee paid to agent
           C.  Book will be out in paperback by conference time

4.  Status T-Shirt Design  - Tom/Julie
A.  Design/adjustments/acceptance – deadline Jan. 31st to decide
B.  Adjust cloud, make it more organic, have it just say AEOE
C.  Use a more balloony font (like “comic sans”)
D.  Put design on back; put AEOE logo & conference date

5.  Status T-Shirt Ordering  – Jason
A.  Patagonia Beneficial-T t-shirt color: “Green Tea” – men’s short sleeve, women’s slim fit, & long sleeve; 1st choice “banana,” 2nd choice “red” for volunteers (or use what we have left over from last year)
B.  Natural canvas tote bags

6.  Merchandise – do we need more?
A.    Tote bags – need to order
B.     Mugs & frisbees galore left over – don’t need more
C.     Merchandise at concierge table
 
7.  Status Entertainment – Michael/Laura
A.  Delta Nove – contract coming
B.     Swamp Mammas – Laura has the contract, Zayanne has copy of it
C.     Friday during registration – comping music for conference fee
D.    Talent Show – sign up ahead of time, e-mail the Mandl’s, keep skits short & appropriate
 
8. Status Vendor
A.    Possible donations from Odwalla, Cliff Bar – Laura/Tara
 
9.  Status Professional Development – Tonya
A.  Tonya will send a blurb about Professional Development in the e-mail, will need to go in registration packet

10.  Registration Packet – Jason /Kris/All
A.    Revision to Spring Conference Packet 2004 Suggestions
i.        Paid workshops
ii.      T-Shirt  Order
iii.    Cost / Housing
iv.    Professional Development
v.      Other
 
11.  Status Opening Ceremony (Nunez) – Helen
           A.  8:50-9:30 = Opening Ceremony
B.  $250 for opening ceremony, $100 for workshop, + any materials
           C.  25 person limit for her workshop at slot #2; needs 2 tables & PA system for ceremony
           D.  Helen will work on contract for Nuñez
           
12.  Status Auction Items – Laura / Tara
           A.  Letter going out by Friday; Tara will keep the items that come in

13.  Status Photo Contest – Tom
A.  Judges – ??? still need some
B.  Photo-contest coordinator – Tom e-mailed Gideon, waiting for response – Tom will call him at CC 867-7573

14.  Status Job Fair – Tom
A.  Debbie had a concern about the location
B.  Baruh Hall vs. Gildred Hall???  Meeting Room of Conference Center Downstairs???
D.  What about moving everything  (registration, auction, etc.)
C.  We’ll decide when we go visit for next meeting

15.  Status of Volunteers for Conference – Tom
A.  Have a volunteer list; Tom has contacted them, most are available during the conference but not for meetings; Tom will need phone numbers from Helen to call volunteers
B.  Marie White moved to Wisconsin, so is no longer available

16.  Newsletter
           A.  Conference article, including schedule info, etc.
           B.  Ad for donations for auction/scholarships\
           C.  Book review/article from Richard Louv
D.  Tom will call Jason about newsletter, whether newsletter will be combined w/ Northern?

16.  To Do List
A.  Form committee about non-profit w/ someone So. (Zayanne?) & No. (possibly Aaron? Ask No. Council) to review the two documents Tom received from the lawyer
           B.  Zayanne needs to get tax forms together for this
           C.  Kris remind other OSS sites about Canoe Trip
D.  Jason will contact Joanna about taking over the newsletter & then he can take over the website.
E.  Tom will contact Dan Allison about doing the website
F.  Kris send photos to Michael for brochure
G.  Helen/Michael will take it to the membership form to state board & suggest putting “limited income” next to the “basic” category
H.  Michael will ask No. Council about going to GSEEC
I.  Laura/Tara
will send out a blurb to members to donate things for auction
J.  Michael will ask Acorn Naturalists for prizes for eval. prizes
K.  Tonya will send a blurb about Professional Development
L.  Helen will work on contract for Nuñez
M.  Tom will need phone numbers from Helen to call volunteers
N.  Tom will call him at CC 867-7573
O.  Laura/Tara (auction donations), Tonya (professional development, talent show, etc,), Kris (workshops), send blurbs to Helen by Monday, e-mail to go out by Tues.
P.  FIND WORKSHOP PRESENTERS:  ALL
i.  Michael – CHK folks (LACOSS), Antonio Solario (Nat’l Park Service), Martin LeBlanc of the Sierra Club, integrated waste management – Jerry Leiberman & Jenny Rigby
           ii.  Laura – LA County Nat. Hist. Museum, Gracie, Nat’l Park Service (Santa Monica)
iii.  Helen – Santa Monica Conservancy
iv.  Tonya – GLTSA list of presenters, Cal State Long Beach
v.  Tom – Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Teach
vi.  Kris – will continue w/ her contacts, multicultural/diversity groups, U of R., Deroski, etc.
Q.  Tom will call Jason about newsletter, whether newsletter will be combined w/ Northern?

17.  Schedule or Review Time for Next Meeting
A.  Newsletter folding/So Council meeting on Feb. 20, 11am-2pm?  Newsletter goes out Feb. 21st?  (April 1 = early registration deadline April 15 = regular registration deadline) – DEPENDS ON JASON
B.  Next meeting March 12, 2006, Sun