Board Meeting Minutes

08/01/19

Attendees: Carla Rogers, Karen Richter, Les Treall, Ben Reilly, Dawn Rains, Jordan Crawley, Steve Butts, Chris Porter, Ted Barker, David Ginsburg (left early), Gina Topp

7:05 Gina started the meeting with an exercise for the group.

The group shared their goals for this meeting. Also each member provided their goals for the year.

Goals for the rest of the year:

Improved Resolution Process
Bylaws Updated
Glen Morgan matter settled
Finalize Code of Conduct
Plan for Caucus Cycle (financial and logistical)
Begin Monthly Socials (like debate parties) to help us expand membership
Increase PCOs in preparation for next year
GOTV for this election cycle
Increase members who are working with committees to help chairs accomplish all their goals/responsibilities

7:13 Issues unresolved from June Endorsement Meeting

Response to Lou Frillmans Letter
Reaction or response to David and Lou’s letters to Westside Herald
Response to Marcee Stone-Vecich’s letter
The component of our resolution regarding David and Lou’s unrepaired relationship not being fulfilled

Board agreed to remove the 4th item.

Members of the board asked David Ginsberg to leave the meeting for the remainder of the discussion. David departed.

Lou’s Letter to the Board

Carla read Lou’s letter to the board
Board stands firm in our decision to make the 34th a safe place, and it will not revisit the consequences from our July executive board meeting.
Reviewed the area of the Code of Conduct which were broken by Lou’s behavior
Must separate the incidents: letter in Westside vs. board meeting incident
It was resolved that Gina will respond to Lou’s email.

Marcee’s Letter to the Board

Carla read Marcee’s letter to the Board
Chris shared Marcee’s main concern regarding David and Marcee’s relationship
Les stated that our job is to elect democrats, not to govern or repair relationships between members
Marcee needs to decide if she is going to bring Code of Conduct violations against David
It was resolved that Gina will respond to Marcee’s email

David and Lou’s letter to Westside Seattle

Carla read both David’s and Lou’s Westside Seattle letters
Beyond an intrapersonal fight; letters were in the public domain
Chris wants the chair to regain control of being the voice for the organization
Jordan read a written statement referencing David’s code of conduct violations
Jesse shared his position regarding the code of conduct violation
Ben shared that he felt that both letters violate the code of conduct
Les provided his take on the letters
Carla shared that Lou had already been punished and didn’t believe we should add another set of consequences for his letter to the paper. David however, should be considered differently as he is a chair/executive board member, higher standard of behavior.
Jesse wants to make sure that whatever we decide, we speak as a board and back Gina as chair 100%.
Gina stated that David has been a significant help to her during the transition.
Rachel is concerned about how this reflects on the board and how David remaining on the board might have adverse effects.
Dawn feels a lack of trust in David, given the events and how they transpired.
Several members of the board shared that they had a trust issue with David and some felt uncomfortable working with him.
Chris suggested that the next chair’s message include clarification that the chair is the only person able to speak for the board.
Karen and Ted stated the need to not make this a further public issue that makes the 34th look badly.

After everyone had time to state their position on the matter, Gina made a suggestion for how to move forward:

Gina will include mention of the chair having the voice of the 34th in the next Chair’s message, calling out the Bylaw which speaks to that point
Gina will find someone to take over as co-chair of the Bylaws committee so that the work on bylaws can be voted on and finalized by the end of the year.
David will be suspended from attending events and activities of the 34th District Democrats until the November 2019 Election. This will allow for the Executive Board to do some work to try and repair working relationships.
Gina is going to have conversations with board members who have concerns about David’s behavior
Gina to speak with David about his behavior and how members of the board feel about working with him.

Board voted 10-2 to move forward with the above proposal.

Gina mentioned that Glen Morgan has offered a settlement in the lawsuit. This will be discussed in full at the August board meeting.

Chris shared the Affirmative Action Resolution regarding Referendum 88. Members approved the motion to take the resolution to the membership in the August meeting, as written.

9:20 Adjourned