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Rutland
County Democratic Committee
Wednesday, June 29, 2005 7:00
Godnick Adult Center
1. Chair Jonathan Gibson
opened the meeting at 7:10.
2. Minutes were presented
by Jonathan Gibson. A motion to approve the minutes
was made by Mary Mellow, seconded by Antonin
Robbason. No discussion. Approved unanimously.
3. Michael presented the
treasurer’s report. At the last meeting on 3/29/05
the balance of the budget was $643.79. The budget as
of tonight is $1,941.79. There are four outstanding
checks, leaving a working balance of $1,377.79.
Billing has not been submitted for the July cocktail
event. The annual fundraising appeal has had 25
responses amounting to $1,085.00 dollars. The
cocktail party has had 10 reservations. The
executive committee voted to spend up to $250 for a
fundraising BBQ for the Democracy for Vermont event
on 7/23/05. Two banners and a table will be
purchased for the July cocktail party and will be
used for future Democratic events. Steven Nichols
questioned who plans the timing of event letters.
Michael Stimpfel explained the reason for the quick
succession of the letters was due to a delayed
annual fundraising appeal. A motion to accept the
treasurer’s report was made by Jeff Taylor and
seconded by Steven Nicholson. No discussion. Passed
Unanimously.
4. Anne Lezak spoke about
upcoming events. 400 invites were sent out for the
July cocktail party. If you did not receive an
invite, or if you mistakenly received two, please
let Erin Angelias know so you can be added/deleted
from the mailing list.
5. Jessica Falker spoke
about the Democracy for Vermont event on 7/23/05. If
anyone is interested in attending, please fill out
and return the form. If you would like your
organization to be represented at a free table
during the event, let Jessica know. Michael Stimpfel
spoke about the fundraising event BBQ. If you would
like to volunteer to help at either this or the
cocktail party, please notify Michael. Price for the
BBQ dinner will be ala carte.
6. Mary introduced our
state legislators. Steve Howard: briefly spoke about
health care and transportation. John Malcolm: spoke
about three bills that successfully passed this year
and were signed by the governor: the town lines of
Middletown Spring, H314 an extension of farm
viability program that looks into innovative farm
technologies and the last was a bill that recognized
the revolution of Vermont agriculture and certain
tax exemptions for those producing their own cheeses
and products. Dave Potter: served this year on the
education committee. He spoke about the Civics
Education poll that took place, the school bus
modernization law, a law that school boards can
appoint if a vacancy arises and a technical
corrections bill.
7. The health Care forum that is taking place right
now will be taped for public access television if
you would like to view. Jonathan has suggested that
dates and places of the hearings for health care
should be placed on the web site. It was noted
publicly all of the hard work that Dr. Harry Chen
and his committee have done on the health care bill.
8. Michael Stimpfel presented the proposed budget
for 2005. Mary reminded people that people can make
donations, through Paypal, on the web site. The
budget is presented on a calendar year. Motion to
move the 2005 budget as proposed made by Mary
Mellow, seconded by Jeff Taylor. Discussion was
opened to the floor. Steven Nicholson asked why we
are looking at the 2005 budget now, in June, rather
that late December of last year, or early January of
this year. Michael Stimpfel explained that this
procedure began in 2/05. Jonathan Gibson asked Erin
Angelias to assume chair so he could comment from
the floor, she accepted. Jonathan suggested that
people vote against the 2005 budget based on the
fact that is not a balanced budget and that 2006 is
a projected summary not a detailed budget. Antonin
Robbason moved the question and this was passed
unanimously. 2005 budget as proposed, has been
adopted by all with one declined. Motion to adopt
the proposed 2006 budget as a guideline for the next
county committee was made by Bob Perkins, seconded
by Mary Mellow. Bob rejected amendment to the motion
made by Antonin Robbason. Motion to move the
question made by Antonin Robbason, seconded by Anne
Lezak. Passed unanimously to move the question.
Motion was rejected.
9. Jeff Taylor presented the bylaws. Discussion
ensued with points for the EXCOMM to consider. Among
the items discussed and suggestions made were the
following: A) In Article VIII, second paragraph,
last line: remove the words "and approve" B) In
Article II, should there be a limit on the duration
of any lease (for example, "leases of no more than
90 days")? Also, should contracts be approved by the
full County Committee? Antonin Robbason suggested
that any contract that extended beyond the term of
the officers should be approved by the full
Committee? C) Anne Lezak stated that two amendments
were needed to the Bylaws as handed out. Both are in
Article V. The first is technical only to conform
the grammar: In Article V, in the first paragraph,
in the second sentence, for the opening phrase
"Notices of each regular meeting of every Executive
Committee", substitutes the phrase "Notice of all
regular meetings of the Executive Committee”. The
second would allow the Executive Committee to meet
on short notice. It would read: In Article V, at the
end of the second Paragraph, add the following
sentence: "Notice of special meetings of the
Executive Committee shall be given to each member at
least forth-eight (48) hours before such meeting."
10. Motion to table the consideration of the bylaws
to the next meeting of the county committee was made
by Bob Perkins, seconded Mary Germond. Motion to
move the question made by Antonin Robbason. Passed
unanimously. Motion passed with one decline, one
abstention. Bylaws will be posted on the web site
and everyone is encouraged to read and send comment.
Michael made a motion to adjourn at 9:20, Antonin
Robbason seconded. Passed unanimously
Minutes: 3/27 meeting
of Rutland County Democratic Committee
1. The Rutland County Democratic Committee convened
on Tuesday,
March 29, 2005 at 7:00 pm at the Godnick Adult
Center, 1 Deer
Street, Rutland, VT. County Chair Jonathan Gibson
opened the
meeting with a welcome and an invitation to those
present to
introduce themselves by name and town.
2. Minutes for the County Committee meeting of
January 31, 2005
were approved on a motion by Mark Skakel, seconded
by Tom Boswell.
3. A Treasurer's report was given by Michael
Stimpfel who
indicated a current balance of $886.61. On a motion
by Jerry
Kreitzer, seconded by Tim Abraham, the Treasurers
report was
approved.
4. The floor was opened for nominations to fill the
vacant position
of County Secretary. Erin Angelias was nominated on
a motion made
by Antonin Robbason and seconded by Mary Mellow.
Brief remarks
were made on behalf of the nominee by Antonin. A
motion to close
nominations was made by Jerry Kreitzer and seconded
by Tim Abraham.
A motion for the Treasurer to cast one vote for
Erin Angelias as
County Secretary was made by John Conova and
seconded by Sally
Deinzer. Erin was elected unanimously.
5. Peter Mallary, VDP Chair, spoke with the group.
The discussion
centered on current issues in the legislation.
Jonathan suggested
that people find a bill that they are passionate
about and write a
letter about it to the Rutland Herald.
6. Jessica Falker has asked anyone to notify her
about any upcoming
events to post on the county democrat website. She
also asked that
county chairs and committees please email her so she
can create a
link from the website.
7. Michael Stimpfel and Anne Lezak discussed the
2005-2006
Committee budget. There will be a budget presented
at the next
county meeting. Discussion about the fundraising
events, costs and
ideas ensued. Some ideas: that events raise
awareness, not just
funds; having something other than political
speakers; making sure
different age groups are involved; having town
chairs organize town
yard sales; and having a particular donor sponsor a
speaker/event.
8. Jeff Taylor continues to work on the bylaws for
the county.
They will be presented at the next county meeting.
9. Now is the time to be thinking about candidate
recruitment:
anyone you know retiring? A stellar teacher? Anyone
you think may
be a good candidate?
10. Jeff Taylor made a motion to adjourn, seconded
by Jerry Kreitzer. Meeting adjourned at 8:50.
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