Dallas Peace Center Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, July 21, 2005
Members present: Stephen Brown, Sidney Burkins, Delia Castillo, Len Ellis, Mary Ellen Irving, Bill McElvaney, Iyas Maleh, Michael Millican, Danna Pyke, Kimberly Truitt, Ron Wilhelm
By proxy: Nadine Bell, Bobbie Nehman, Nelda Reid, Liz Wolff
Members absent: Farrukh Hamid, Holsey Hickman (ex officio), Hai Ly, Bill Matthews, Sam Nance (ex officio)
Staff present: Lon Burnam
Visitor present: Laray Polk, Bob Dennis
I. Centering: Delia called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Len led members in reading the statement "Let Peace Begin with Me." The board then surprised Lon with a birthday cake.
II. Minutes of the June 16th meeting were presented. Mary Ellen moved the minutes be accepted as presented. Iyas seconded the motion. Motion passed.
III. Treasurer’s Report: Lon presented Nelda’s oral and written report.
Total June expenses = $9,036.64.
Total June revenue = $12,361.73.
Overall cash flow for June = $3,325.09.
Actual year-to-date revenue = $46,935.53,
but budgeted year-to-date revenue = $62,297.11.
Bill McElvaney moved acceptance of the report. Danna seconded the motion. Motion passed by voice vote.
IV. August board meeting: Due to Lon’s planned absence, Bill McElvaney moved that the board cancel the regular board meeting on the third Thursday in August. Stephen seconded the motion. Motion passed by voice vote.
V. Team Reports
A. Infrastructure Team:
1. Henry Irving sent a written report. Lon suggested board members review the report and he would meet with Henry to edit the board nomination procedure to be voted on at the September meeting.
2. Lon reported two board resignations: Hai Ly has moved to New York and Nadine Bell submitted her resignation. The board accepted the resignations with regret.
3. Lon reported Valley Reed submitted her resignation as assistant director effective July 31st. Lon requested that the board approve up to 40 hours a week for Jamillah until a new assistant director is hired. Danna moved that funds be reallocated to allow Jamillah to work up to 40 hours per week until a new assistant director is hired in September. Len seconded the motion. Motion passed by voice vote.
4. Lon also requested that the board be open to a called meeting of the board prior to the second week of September.
B. Communications Team:
1. Media Watch: Mary Ellen presented a written and an oral report. She reported that a local Muslim high school has requested a training in media watch. The training will be conducted by Adil Hajoube and Mary Ellen.
2. Mary Ellen distributed a handout "What game are we playing?"from the book Game Plans by Robert Keidel to illustrate models of organization communication. She urged the board to reconsider the purpose and common vision of the DPC. She asked board members to express their level of commitment to the Communications Retreat proposed for the fall (See June 16th minutes.) before she and other committee members invest time and energy in planning it. Mary Ellen committed to calling the ad hoc committee together to develop a proposal of activities for the retreat. Ad hoc committee members include Mary Ellen, Bill McElvaney, Danna, Charles Hunter, Len, Michael.
3. Dallas Peace Film Festival: Lon distributed a flyer regarding the Dallas Peace Film Festival from noon-5:00 p.m. on August 6th at the Dallas Theater Center. He urged board members to promote the event by distributing posters and flyers. Bob Dennis, representing the DPC fundraising committee, urged board members to exercise their fiduciary responsibility to support the film festival by purchasing the $125.00 anniversary package. He committed to match two board members’ pledges to purchase the $125.00 anniversary package. Bill, Len, Ron, Sidney, Iyas, and Mary Ellen committed to purchase the $125.00 package.
4. Non-violent Communications: Michael reported on his experiences in the Marshall Rosenberg course on non-violent communications and urged board members to consider taking the course.
5. Lon reported that the next issue of the DPT will go to the printer on Friday, July 22nd.
C. Dismantling Racism Team: Danna presented a written and oral report.
1. Damascus Road Anti-racism Training: The team presented two motions:1) that the DPC allocate education funds for the registration cost of this training, in the amount of $100 for each DPC staff member willing to give their time to attend the training. Bill McElvaney seconded the motion. Motion passed by voice vote. 2) that the DPC also provide education funds for a $50 half-scholarship to any board members who can attend the Dismantling Training Workshop August 19-21 with the support of a partial scholarship. Mary Ellen seconded the motion. Motion passed by voice vote
2. Civil Rights Conference: Oct. 2nd. No board action necessary at this time, but Lon suggested the board consider the DPC being a sponsor for the event at $100, which will allow the DPC a table and visibility.
D. Fundraising Team: Sidney presented an oral report.
1. Peacemaker Award Dinner will be held on December 1st.
2. Grants planning. Sidney will work with Melissa to determine the status of grant proposals and possibilities.
3. Board member obligation: Sidney will send to board members the board member obligation form to review prior to the September meeting. Kimberly reminded the board that board members’ support for the DPC should not be limited to financial obligations, but allow participation of people of all economic levels.
4. Delia distributed a flyer about a potential fund raising opportunity based on a "Blessing of the Animals" event.
E. Children and Youth: Vicki Millican sent a written report. Lon pointed out one highlight: "Peace One Day" event which includes screening of the film at the Lakewood Theater on Tuesday, Sept. 13th. No board action was taken on the motion, approved at the June meeting, to reconsider the status of the committee.
F. Swords into Plowshares
1. Sudan Peace & Justice: No report.
2. Ending the occupation of Iraq: Laray Polk reported on the meeting regarding plans for the Sept. 24th End the Occupation event. She reported that Hadi Jawad is now chair of the committee. She announced plans for the event include a solemn march from Kennedy Memorial to Oak Cliff Park, musical celebration and featured speakers. She presented a request from the organizing coalition that the DPC be an umbrella organization/lead sponsor of the event. Sponsorship would involve: 1) serving as the central clearinghouse, 2) use of DPC space to plan for the event, 3) minimum use of staff to help with information, 4) Delia and Len as board representatives on the planning committee and if one or both cannot be present at a planning meeting, they will designate a board representative. Bill McElvaney moved approval of the sponsorship provisions. Mary Ellen seconded the motion. Motion passed by voice vote. The coalition will meet every Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, July 26th at the DPC.
3. Middle East Committee: Bill McElvaney presented a written and oral report. Highlights: Jerusalem Women Speak event was attended by more than 200 and netted $3,772.00. The Transnational Video Conference at Arapaho UMC was attended by 118 people. Bill distributed a report from Bobbie regarding the various speaking events by Hagit Ra’anan. Bill informed the board the committee plans to revise the DPC statement on Palestine and Israel produced in 2002.
4. Fair Trade: Ron reported he spoke on "Workers Beat" KNON radio about CAFTA. He wrote an article for the August issue of the DPT on CAFTA. DICEJ is working with Voces Unidas to organize a seminar on the Bible and economic justice in the fall for the Spanish speaking community.
5. Landmine Removal Committee: No report.
VI. Announcements and Adjourn:
Mary Ellen moved the meeting be adjourned. Delia adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
submitted by Ron Wilhelm, Secretary
