Live! From The SCA BoD Meeting (AM).
Oct. 15th, 2011 11:55 am.....We're here at the Embassy Suites in Tukwila in attendance at the public gathering of the Board of Directors Meeting of the SCA. The Embassy Suites make the hotel guests pay for connection to the Internet. But those who attend meetings down in the Conference Rooms get free access. A win!
.....The Board Meeting itself follows protocol via some form of Robert's Rules. But in actuality is rather loose in format, which makes it easier to ask questions and feel yourself to actually be part of the meeting, rather than as an 'audience' member. Which is the intent. I was here for the last Board Meeting in Tukwila and this one feels a little more loose, which is surprising. Mainly because as introductions were made it was easy to see the ongoing trend to have more of a corporate / business / technology background to be an effective member of the Board.
.....This meeting will be Master Ljotr's last as a Board member. He will turn around and become An Tir's Kingdom Seneschal come Twelfth Night. He's ready as he is not necessarily a Corporate Wonk and I get the feeling that the cumbersome process of being a Board is wearing him out.
.....Just some quick and loose notes as reminders. I may miss things, but I'm sure that others can fill in the blanks.
.....We spent the first half hour or so with introductions around the room, both Board and audience. All regions are rather well represented. And, as mentioned, the trend towards corporate / business / legal professions as members.
.....There was some discussion of the upcoming change to electronic Kingdom Newsletters. The IT folks are about to start play-testing the system now for the launch in the new year of 2012. Things are on track. A link will be sent to subscribers with password information to a central repository. I asked about the role of the stipend when the newsletters go electronic. Starting in January stipends will no longer be given to the Kingdoms. Which, if you think about all the details involved, will become a nice increase in income for Society in the larger picture. So I asked if there were any provisions for Society to provide funding to the individual Kingdoms to upgrade their technology / software to produce newsletters. The Board thought this a good question, but not for this setting and asked me to submit it formally. Which I think I'll do.
.....There is currently one formal proposal for a 50-year celebration from the West Kingdom, and a verbal one from Calontir. The Board needs to put together the criteria requirements for proposal submittals. There is a growing chorus of questions about 5YC, so the Board will step up the pace of putting together the requirements.
.....There was a flurry of approvals for incorporation on the state level. Maine, Mississippi, New York, and Rhode Island were incorporated on the State level. This doesn't mean any changes to the Corporation. The same Board covers the state as covers the International Board. But it does mean additional reporting requirements.
.....Some miscellaneous resolutions for the International branches and newsletter access. Most of it procedural.
.....Nice attendance. Almost all available seating was taken in the audience.
.....Just heard an IT report. Ensuring that the Corporate Officers all have appropriate electronic devices to keep and control data. Renee showed first hand the amount of paperwork that used to be involved in holding meetings and maintaining status. It is an incredible amount. And when you discuss copying and mailing costs, moving these expenses over to electronic media makes sense. But then I am not one that needs convincing. It has been many years since anyone has been heard to say that hard copy will always be a requirement. The keeping, storage and e-mailing of data was also a concern, in regards to future possible litigation and ability to acquire data as required.
.....Gulf Wars is incorporating in and of itself due to the amount of income it generates (in excess of $25,000). Maybe something to keep in mind for June Faires of the future? A reminder was made that Corporate income and financial statements are available for viewing online.
.....A reminder that Wiki-Media images cannot be used within SCA publications as their ownership cannot be nailed down. Every image used in SCA publications, no matter what the source (even a photograph of a primary source), must have a signed statement allowing its use.
.....The University of California, Riverside, is acting as a repository for SCA publications, especially those of an Arts and Sciences variety.
.....There was discussion on the use of private sites as platforms for SCA publications. If the owner leaves for some reason, it can be difficult to recover the publication, data, etc. SCA Corporate, or SCA acquired, web-sites should always provide the platform for official SCA hosting locations.
.......Knowne World Dance Symposium is scheduled for Midrealm in the middle of 2012. Also looks like there will be Symposiums on Glass and Metal-Working in the next year or so. I might be interested in attending one or both of them.
.....The Board makes effective use of Conference Calling, which again makes me want to at least try this method for the Western Regional Pelicans. I need to step up the pace on this one.
.....The Consolidated Doomsday Report is still coming together. As usual, extension to the IRS reports have been requested and accepted.
.....And then the Board broke for lunch. :-) The morning went by rather quickly, actually.
.....Aaron / Arontius.
.....The Board Meeting itself follows protocol via some form of Robert's Rules. But in actuality is rather loose in format, which makes it easier to ask questions and feel yourself to actually be part of the meeting, rather than as an 'audience' member. Which is the intent. I was here for the last Board Meeting in Tukwila and this one feels a little more loose, which is surprising. Mainly because as introductions were made it was easy to see the ongoing trend to have more of a corporate / business / technology background to be an effective member of the Board.
.....This meeting will be Master Ljotr's last as a Board member. He will turn around and become An Tir's Kingdom Seneschal come Twelfth Night. He's ready as he is not necessarily a Corporate Wonk and I get the feeling that the cumbersome process of being a Board is wearing him out.
.....Just some quick and loose notes as reminders. I may miss things, but I'm sure that others can fill in the blanks.
.....We spent the first half hour or so with introductions around the room, both Board and audience. All regions are rather well represented. And, as mentioned, the trend towards corporate / business / legal professions as members.
.....There was some discussion of the upcoming change to electronic Kingdom Newsletters. The IT folks are about to start play-testing the system now for the launch in the new year of 2012. Things are on track. A link will be sent to subscribers with password information to a central repository. I asked about the role of the stipend when the newsletters go electronic. Starting in January stipends will no longer be given to the Kingdoms. Which, if you think about all the details involved, will become a nice increase in income for Society in the larger picture. So I asked if there were any provisions for Society to provide funding to the individual Kingdoms to upgrade their technology / software to produce newsletters. The Board thought this a good question, but not for this setting and asked me to submit it formally. Which I think I'll do.
.....There is currently one formal proposal for a 50-year celebration from the West Kingdom, and a verbal one from Calontir. The Board needs to put together the criteria requirements for proposal submittals. There is a growing chorus of questions about 5YC, so the Board will step up the pace of putting together the requirements.
.....There was a flurry of approvals for incorporation on the state level. Maine, Mississippi, New York, and Rhode Island were incorporated on the State level. This doesn't mean any changes to the Corporation. The same Board covers the state as covers the International Board. But it does mean additional reporting requirements.
.....Some miscellaneous resolutions for the International branches and newsletter access. Most of it procedural.
.....Nice attendance. Almost all available seating was taken in the audience.
.....Just heard an IT report. Ensuring that the Corporate Officers all have appropriate electronic devices to keep and control data. Renee showed first hand the amount of paperwork that used to be involved in holding meetings and maintaining status. It is an incredible amount. And when you discuss copying and mailing costs, moving these expenses over to electronic media makes sense. But then I am not one that needs convincing. It has been many years since anyone has been heard to say that hard copy will always be a requirement. The keeping, storage and e-mailing of data was also a concern, in regards to future possible litigation and ability to acquire data as required.
.....Gulf Wars is incorporating in and of itself due to the amount of income it generates (in excess of $25,000). Maybe something to keep in mind for June Faires of the future? A reminder was made that Corporate income and financial statements are available for viewing online.
.....A reminder that Wiki-Media images cannot be used within SCA publications as their ownership cannot be nailed down. Every image used in SCA publications, no matter what the source (even a photograph of a primary source), must have a signed statement allowing its use.
.....The University of California, Riverside, is acting as a repository for SCA publications, especially those of an Arts and Sciences variety.
.....There was discussion on the use of private sites as platforms for SCA publications. If the owner leaves for some reason, it can be difficult to recover the publication, data, etc. SCA Corporate, or SCA acquired, web-sites should always provide the platform for official SCA hosting locations.
.......Knowne World Dance Symposium is scheduled for Midrealm in the middle of 2012. Also looks like there will be Symposiums on Glass and Metal-Working in the next year or so. I might be interested in attending one or both of them.
.....The Board makes effective use of Conference Calling, which again makes me want to at least try this method for the Western Regional Pelicans. I need to step up the pace on this one.
.....The Consolidated Doomsday Report is still coming together. As usual, extension to the IRS reports have been requested and accepted.
.....And then the Board broke for lunch. :-) The morning went by rather quickly, actually.
.....Aaron / Arontius.