2022-03-23 Executive Board Meeting Minutes

150 150 34th Democrats

34th Dems Board Meeting Minutes

February 23, 2022, – Virtual meeting held via closed ZOOM

7:00 pm – Call to Order by Chair Carla Rogers 

Attendees: 

x Carla Rogers x Bunny Hatcher x Karen Richter
x Steven Butts x Colleen Hinton x Roxanne Thatcher
Aaron Garcia Virgen x Sarah Koch x Sara Smith
x Rachel Glass Chris Porter x Gina Topp
x Leah Griffin x Deena Ledger x Julie Whitaker
x Trey Lykins x Nick Bonazza x Soleil Lewis

Welcome & Reminder of Our Social Contract

Review of Agenda and Minutes 

  • January’s minutes approved by voice
  • Agenda for tonight approved by voice 

Decisions & Announcements 

  • The board agreed that hosting the endorsement meeting on Zoom was preferred over In-person due to higher anticipated participation.  Will need people to provide technical support. 
  • Budget committee needs a 3rd person. Work includes 1-2 meetings. Contact the Chair or Treasurer to participate.  Will also be added to the member meeting agenda. 
  • Board member positions are open.  
    • Need a Vice Chair #2 and a Caucus & Elections Chair (after redistricting) 
    • Need a new Young Democrats delegate. 
    • Leah Griffin volunteered to do Twitter. 
  • Carla will be making updates to the Standing Rules for Review by the board in a future month.
  • March 16 Board Meeting is in person at Youngstown Arts, 7:00 – 8:30 

 Redistricting 

  • Redistricting was completed on Feb 9.  
  • Encourage departing folks to join the 33rd District Democrats, contact person is their Chair, Terri Lindeke. 
  • Incoming PCOs are not yet identified by the state. We know of 4 incoming PCOs so far.
  • Incoming members from other LD’s may be shared by the state via Miinivan
  • PCOs MAY vote on whether to reorganize during the March meeting 
  • Reminder: upcoming Caucus uses the new district boundaries 

2022 Delegate Caucus 

  • March 26, virtual caucus, details still under discussion 
  • 32 Delegates, 16 Alternates
  • Approve Caucus Rules at March membership meeting (Caucus rules provided by the State and can be amended by the district to some degree) 
  • Members and PCOs vote, must be a member by Feb 25, same as last year’s process 
  • Those running to be Delegates must register
  • Voting ballots will be offline (open 10am – 5pm) 
  • June 25 State Convention (either virtual or in-person)
  • Voice in: convention rules, Platform and Resolutions
  • Affirmative Action goals (gain delegates if met) 
  • Contact Rachel Glass if you know folks who would be open to an invitation to be a Delegate.  Particularly looking for minority populations with the goal of being as diverse and inclusive as possible for our delegation.  There were questions about a previous list from the 2020 Caucus.  
  • Deadline to provide the State a list of which Delegates will attend in person and who will attend virtually – April 1st

July Fundraiser 

  • Gina Topp is chairing the event. Will be held at Arthur’s Restaurant in Admiral, hosting free of charge, plus discounted price for food and beverages. Planning on serving heavy appetizers.  Planning meetings are underway.  March 24th at 7 pm is the next planning meeting.  

Bylaws and Endorsement Rule Changes/Updates 

  • Carla explained the behind-the-scenes work that has already taken place, and requested meeting time focus on material changes.  
  • The document must go to membership 30 days prior to endorsements. Ergo, Board must approve by March 13 in order to maintain required timeline.  If another board meeting is required, it will push the timeline past the endorsement cut-off requirement.  
  • Bylaws are much harder to change, so important to stay somewhat high level.  Rules are easier to change and are the place to make more frequent updates.  
  • Sarah Koch presented the edited documents for review. 
    • Discussion about membership and voting changes
    • Language around PCO and precinct coordinator and additional clarification
    • Clarifying “resident” and voluntary membership
    • Remote participation will be covered in rules, voting is covered in the bylaws 
  • A vote was held on: 
    • A. 4.1 and 5.2 changing to “voluntarily submitted a membership form” by hand-raise, received 5 votes
    • B. 4.1 and 5.2 would say “is aged 16 years or older” received 4 votes
    • Option A received more votes.  Not everyone present voted. 
  • Section 8 through the end will be deferred to the next meeting due to time constraints. 
  • Article 12 is new content. 
  • Please review the document in detail for the next board meeting.  

Good of the Order 

  • DCE (direct contracting entities) and Medicare; DCE’s sometimes send patients to private care unbeknownst to the patient.  May be an item to be brought to the membership at some point. 

9:04 Adjourned by Carla Rogers, Chair