You are here
Mentor - Volume 33, Issue 295, May 2022
About the Next Meeting
The next corporate meeting of Arisia, Inc. will be held on May 22 at 2:00 PM via Zoom. The link to the meeting and corresponding agenda will be distributed over the corp-announce email list in advance of the meeting. The quorum for the April corporate meeting is 17, based on 51% of the average attendance of the last three meetings ((34+40+)/3×0.51)=16.32 ).
Please send all proxies for the May corporate meeting in advance by email to corp-proxies@arisia.org, and CC the proxy holder.
The May corporate meeting was called to order on May 22nd at 2:08 pm by Nicholas “phi” Shectman, President, via Zoom.
The quorum for the May 2021 corporate meeting was 16, based on 51% of the average of the last three meetings (Feb: 25, Mar:32, Apr:33). Thank you to _Jan_ for notetaking. Thank you to Vivian__ for queue minding.
Attendance:
Lisa Hertel
Claudia Mastroianni
Nicholas “phi” Schectman
Patricia Ballou
Ilene Tatroe
Vivian Abraham
EJ Barnes
Ken London
Michael Sprague
Jennifer Fitzsimmons-Gauger
Etana
Regis Donovan
Elliot M
Henry Leong
Jan Dumas
Michelle Wexelblat
David Silber
Inanna Arthen
Julia Austein
Joseph Andelman
Dr Karen
Sharon Sbarsky
Rick Kovalcik
Nick Brown
Rachel Tanenhaus
Rachel Silber
Proxies:
Nightwing Whitehead to Jan Dumas
Melissa Kaplan to Nick Brown
Danny Miller to E. J. Barnes
Alex Morgan to David Silber
Alan Wexelblat to Michelle Wexelblat*
Mike Tatroe to Ilene Tatroe
*time:
Agenda:
When I sent out notice of this meeting, I listed the special election and the bylaws amendment in that order. Our practice has generally been to do elections before new business, and the bylaws amendment is old business. So I went looking in the policies for where in the order of business it says elections go. I couldn't find anything in the policies, so I looked in Roberts Rules. It turns out that Robert's Rules say that elections come before old business (but after committee reports). So unless there is a motion to change the order, we will do the election first, and then the bylaws amendment.
Corrections to the minutes:
Minutes have not been sent out yet. Being worked on
Eboard report:
We voted to approve a late expense for Arisia 2022 in the amount of $265.44.
We voted to recommend passage of the bylaws amendment that this meeting will be considering at the start of Old Business.
We discussed how to make our Card to Culture policy permanent, but we didn't actually vote on that so I will be making the motion from the President's report.
Last Thursday, we received a request to borrow some coolers for a picnic yesterday. We discussed this and everyone who saw the request in time was in favor, but we did not actually get the request approved before the event in question.
Officer reports:
President's Report
I reported last month that I had authorized a small payment to ASCAP for the virtual Arisia 2021. But we were also overbilled for Arisia 2019 and 2020. After getting credits for these, we did not owe them money for 2021, and we have a credit towards 2023 as well.
MOVED to amend the list of No-Charge Memberships in convention policies V.d by inserting “Card to Culture” in between “Former Guest of Honor” and “Press Pass”. Neither of those two categories has any further explanation in our policies and I don't think Card to Culture needs an explanation either. We only say more about a comp type if we're placing some kind of restriction on it, which I don't think we want to do here.
Passes unanimously
Some discussion about whether to have a static description of Card to Culture on the policies page vs a hyperlink. We can discuss this after adjournment today.
--
Moved to hold the August Corporate meeting Tuesday August 16, 7pm via Zoom.
Passes unanimously.
Treasurer's Report
-
Dues of $8 paid today before the end of this meeting will grant voting rights for the next corporate meeting. They can be paid by check or paypal at corp.arisia.org/membership. If you would like to request a waiver for whatever reason, please send an email request to eboard@arisia.org
Committee reports:
Arisia 2023:
Has a concom meeting tomorrow, 7:30pm
Special Election: Member-At-Large
-
Nominees: Inanna Arthen
-
Inanna introduced themselves. IRMC had nothing to disclose re Inanna. We got a brief history of the purpose and creation of Members-at-Large, the IRMC in particular. Other things a MaL might do include clerk tasks and grant writing.
-
Inanna is elected: 21 votes for Inanna, 9 for None of the Above, one abstention
Old Business:
https://corp.arisia.org/bylaws
Move to amend the Bylaws numbered below in the manner described. For each amendment, the bylaw number is noted and the original text given first. Then “Change to” followed by replacement text.
In this document, the changed text is written in red. To improve accessibility, changed words are rendered in bold. To make the document a bit easier to read, each original text and the amended text are set off by dashed lines. These conveniences are not intended to be incorporated into the Bylaws and are not part of the actual motion.
----------
2.4(j) says: The announcement of the appointment by the Eboard of a Convention Chair including their name, ...
Change to: The announcement of the appointment by the Eboard of a Convention Chair or Chair team, including their names,
----------
3.3 says: The person approved as convention chairperson for a specified convention may not run for an office until after that convention.
Change to: Any person approved as convention chairperson for a specified convention may not run for an office until after that convention.
----------
4.1 says: The Executive Board consists of the officers; each convention chairperson and their treasurer are ex officio,
Change to: ...each convention Chair and the convention treasurer...
----------
6.2 says: Convention Chairperson
Change to: Convention Chairs
----------
6.2(a) says: The chairperson of each Arisia Convention is appointed by the Executive Board. All other members of the Convention Committee, with the exception of the assistant ConChair and the convention treasurer, are appointed by the chairperson.
Change to: The Chairs of each Arisia Convention are appointed by the Executive Board. All other members of the Convention Committee, with the exception of the assistant ConChair and the convention treasurer, are appointed by a chairperson.
6.2(b) says: A motion to remove the convention chairperson must be brought up
Change to: A motion to remove a convention chairperson must be brought up
----------
6.3 says: Unless otherwise determined by the Membership, the convention chairperson shall be appointed no later than three months prior to the convention before the one which that chairperson is to administer.
Change to: Unless otherwise determined by the Membership, convention Chairs shall be appointed no later than three months prior to the convention before the one which those Chairs are to administer.
----------
6.4 says: ...the chairperson of each Arisia Convention is responsible for administering the convention and has full authority to make staff and fiscal decisions
Change to: ...the Chairs of each Arisia Convention are responsible for administering the convention and have full authority to make staff and fiscal decisions
----------
6.5(b) says: The Executive Board may suspend implementation of a decision of the convention chairperson pending a vote of the Membership.
Change to: The Executive Board may suspend implementation of a decision of any convention chairperson pending a vote of the Membership.
----------
6.6(a) says: ...with the advice of the chairperson for that convention
Change to: ...with the advice of a chairperson for that convention
----------
6.6(a) says: The convention treasurer shall be directly under the authority of the convention chairperson...
Change to: The convention treasurer shall be directly under the authority of the convention Chairs...
----------
6.7(a) says: The Convention Chairperson shall assign duties to the ex-officio Assistant Convention Chairperson...
Change to: A Convention Chairperson shall assign duties to the ex-officio Assistant Convention Chairpersons
---------
6.7(b) says: This section does not limit the authority of the Convention Chairperson to appoint
Change to: This section does not limit the authority of a Convention Chairperson to appoint
----------
6.8 says: If the ConChair or Eboard wishes to appoint...
Change to: If a ConChair or Eboard wishes to appoint...
----------
9.4 says: Funds may be transferred from this contingency fund to another line item in the Convention budget by the Convention chairperson.
Change to: Funds may be transferred from this contingency fund to another line item in the Convention budget by a Convention chairperson.
10.1 Add new definition:
(i) “Chair”, “ConChair”, or “Chairperson” in reference to the annual Arisia convention means one person, or a group of people (team) serving together for that convention. <<end of motion text>>
Rick Kovalcik proposes a clarification to 9.4 (that Ben Levy would like to see but Ben isn't a corporate member at present). The amendment passes 20-1, and the end of the proposed new text of 9.4 is now “.. by a Convention chairperson of that year's convention.”
The bylaws amendment passes unanimously.
New Business:
Announcements:
-
Upcoming corporate meetings June 16 7:00 PM - 9, July 17 2pm, August 16 7pm
-
Arisia ‘23 ConComm
-
NESFA picnic Aug 21 3pm at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline. If you need a grill kept separate for vegan or other dietary purposes, please let the organizers know. The park is dog friendly, and therefore service dog friendly.
-
Relaxacon happened. Relaxacon ‘23 has been set for the weekend starting October 13.
-
Albacon has set a date for the convention September 16 - 18, 2022.
-
Malden Pride is June 18, 11am-5pm at Coytemore Lea Park.
The meeting adjourned at 3:39pm.
Chat log:
14:10:16 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Nicholas "phi" Shectman (he/him)(Direct Message):
nick brown is here
14:10:46 From Nick Brown to Everyone:
I am here, I believe I had a proxy
14:12:35 From Jan Dumas and Neelix to Everyone:
https://www.mass.gov/ebt-card-to-culture
14:13:33 From etana . to Everyone:
Links break though....
14:13:37 From etana . to Everyone:
Especially government links 🙂
14:13:58 From etana . to Everyone:
100%
14:14:01 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
Right, but at least it's a start
14:15:50 From Rachel Silber to Everyone:
Restate the motion?
14:17:28 From etana . to Everyone:
I think so
14:29:33 From Rick Kovalcik (he/him/his) to Everyone:
Vivian, I encourage you to run!
14:29:38 From Rick Kovalcik (he/him/his) to Everyone:
-Rick
14:29:42 From Vivian Abraham to Everyone:
thanks 🙂
14:32:51 From Jan Dumas and Neelix to Everyone:
I think you will be great Inanna
14:33:16 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
Now is the time for folks to find that email on voting
14:34:57 From Priscilla Ballou (she/they) to Everyone:
I apologize for misgendering you, Innanna.
14:37:20 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
FYI -- that's always an option. Or it can be brought to NESFA's clubhouse.
14:42:45 From etana . to Everyone:
I would do the checkmark, because it's really nice to have that anonymity
14:43:00 From etana . to Everyone:
(for continuity, to be fair)
14:43:05 From Claudia Mastroianni to Everyone:
Yeah, strongly prefer secret ballot.
14:43:23 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
That means secret ballot; if anyone requests it, we have it
14:43:30 From Jan Dumas and Neelix to Everyone:
The secret ballots allow for people to vote without being judged.
14:44:17 From etana . to Everyone:
Exactly, Jan. And it's just good practice
14:44:18 From Ilene Tatroe to Everyone:
Do we have the opportunity to ask questions of the candidate(s)?
14:44:25 From etana . to Everyone:
100%, Ilene
14:44:28 From etana . to Everyone:
Raise your hand!
14:45:01 From Jan Dumas and Neelix to Everyone:
I have to step away for a moment
14:48:00 From Rachel Tanenhaus (she/her/hers) to Everyone:
I have some concerns about the we/they dichotomy.
14:50:02 From etana . to Everyone:
same, Rachel.
14:50:32 From Claudia Mastroianni to Everyone:
The original thread two years ago was making the point that a contentious discussion thread consisted of a whole bunch of white people talking about the concerns of PoC without PoC participation. I think speaking we/they in that context can be valid.
14:51:30 From etana . to Everyone:
What is your conflict resolution styl.e
14:51:31 From etana . to Everyone:
yup
14:51:44 From etana . to Everyone:
both for colleagues, and for folks you are working with/for
14:52:52 From etana . to Everyone:
It's a really hard question
14:53:12 From etana . to Everyone:
I guess, what I'm going for is how would you resolve an issue with someone on the eboard, if you disagreed with them
14:53:24 From etana . to Everyone:
(sorry my mic isn't working)
14:53:56 From Rachel Tanenhaus (she/her/hers) to Everyone:
thank you, Claudia.
14:55:21 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
We'll put the URL for the vote in the Zoom chat once it has begun, but here it is for reference:
https://www.opavote.com/en/code/6561569918943232
14:55:34 From Nicholas "phi" Shectman (he/him) to Everyone:
https://www.opavote.com/en/code/6561569918943232
14:56:13 From Michael J Sprague to Nicholas "phi" Shectman (he/him)(Direct Message):
I don't have my voting token
14:56:54 From Nicholas "phi" Shectman (he/him) to Michael J Sprague(Direct Message):
RMGLJJNN
15:04:17 From Rick Kovalcik (he/him/his) to Everyone:
FWIW, I am against doing anything more than including a link to Card to Culture in the Pollices. The Policies are long enough as it is and hard to find things. Once we add more text about Card to Culture what else are we going to add more text about? People can always use Google. And making a snapshot as a separate page runs the risk of that info becoming out of date / wrong if for example they add more types of Cards.
15:06:37 From Michelle/pygment she/her to Everyone:
I thought we were on break. why are we having this conversation?
15:07:05 From Claudia Mastroianni to Everyone:
Because it was going to be discussed after adjournment anyway, not during the meeting.
15:07:33 From David Silber to Everyone:
I
15:07:36 From David Silber to Everyone:
I
15:07:50 From David Silber to Everyone:
I'm good with “burn that bridge when we get to it”
15:08:18 From etana . to Everyone:
burn that bridge tends to result ina ccessibility challenges, especially in tech
15:09:08 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
My thought was, put in a link in case someone has questions. I agree with Nick -- if the link dies, we hope someone will bring it up, and we can look to fix it.
15:09:21 From Nicholas "phi" Shectman (he/him) to Everyone:
https://www.opavote.com/results/6561569918943232
15:09:41 From David Silber to Everyone:
I think what is meant is don't overthink it now. Any problem that does arise is just as likely to be something that we didn't think of ahead of time.
15:10:06 From etana . to Everyone:
accessibility concerns aren't "overthinking it"
15:10:37 From Claudia Mastroianni to Nicholas "phi" Shectman (he/him)(Direct Message):
Could you give me the numerical election results again? The results page only shows us percentages, which is 70% Inanna, 30% NotA.
15:11:14 From Claudia Mastroianni to Nicholas "phi" Shectman (he/him)(Direct Message):
Oh, I guess that makes it 21/9/null
15:11:15 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
Yes, but a link that may break is better than no explanation at all
15:11:25 From Alan Wexelblat to Everyone:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PkvSVEHDQwPa2oQG1wmwc34B-ZoEKGTTejD8ABf7reA/edit?usp=sharing
15:11:30 From Alan Wexelblat to Everyone:
For people who prefer reading
15:12:41 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
tl;dr: changes to allow multiple chairs
15:13:14 From Alan Wexelblat (he/him) to Everyone:
Yes, and a definition for clarity
15:15:48 From Claudia Mastroianni to Everyone:
(I figure if we're reading the whole thing then nitpicking is in order.)
15:17:16 From etana . to Everyone:
thank you, Alan
15:17:21 From Ilene Tatroe to Everyone:
I now use that parenthesis thing when talking about on-screen test at work. Thanks Alan!
15:17:45 From Ilene Tatroe to Everyone:
(text, not test. I cannot type today)
15:19:10 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
9.4 says: Funds may be transferred from this contingency fund to another line item in the Convention budget by the Convention chairperson.
Change to: Funds may be transferred from this contingency fund to another line item in the Convention budget by a Convention chairperson.
15:20:53 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
"of that year" would mean the year the budget covers, not necessarily the current one
15:21:41 From Alan Wexelblat (he/him) to Everyone:
Proposed amendment as I understand it:
Funds may be transferred from this contingency fund to another line item in the Convention budget by a Convention chairperson of that year's committee.
15:22:21 From Claudia Mastroianni to Everyone:
I don't think the three words actually add clarity, unfortunately. It raises the question of "which year", rather than actually being clear about which year.
15:22:49 From Ilene Tatroe to Everyone:
Agree with Claudia
15:23:25 From etana . to Everyone:
“...of that year.” I would delete the “committee”
15:23:43 From etana . to Everyone:
(for brevity....but I'm too late!)
15:24:35 From Claudia Mastroianni to Everyone:
They're the chair of the committee. I like Wex's draft, if we're doing this.
15:24:48 From etana . to Everyone:
legit
15:32:07 From Jan Dumas and Neelix to Everyone:
I lost internet so I am on my phone
15:32:07 From Alan Wexelblat (he/him) to Everyone:
Thank you everyone. I have a tabletop group that I left on a cliffhanger so I'm going to drop off now
15:32:31 From E. J. Barnes to Everyone:
👍
15:33:19 From David Silber to Everyone:
Thank you.
15:35:30 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
FYI, for the picnic -- NESFA provides food, but potluck items are welcome. Not needed -- there's usually plenty
15:36:36 From Jan Dumas and Neelix to Everyone:
Is the park service dog friendly?
15:38:03 From Lisa Hertel (she/they) to Everyone:
https://www.brooklinema.gov/facilities/facility/details/larz-anderson-park-87