|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Meetings
& Minutes
Return Main
Page
| .. |
REFORMA DC METRO AREA CHAPTER
Minutes from the September 5, 2003 meeting
at the home of Mario Ascencio, Washington, D.C.
Attending: Mario Ascencio (George Mason
University), Toni Bissessar (Arlington County Public Library),
María E. Díaz (Commission for Labor Cooperation), Katherine
Faulkner (University of Maryland), Everette Larson (Library of
Congress), Maria Elisa Martínez (Prince George’s County Public
Library), Elissa Miller (Arlington County Public Library), Elena
Tscherny (D.C. Public Library), Juan Carlos Ortega (Arlington
Public Library), Bill Wilson (University of Maryland)
I. Welcome and Introductions
II. Status of the Chapter
- Mario asked if the chapter is going to try to
recruit more members, get new officers, and become active again. If not,
paperwork should be filed with the national chapter to say this local
chapter is “inactive.”
- Elissa suggested that we establish a couple of
meeting times in the future. General discussion followed regarding when
and where to have the meetings. We agreed that the next two meetings
will be held on Fridays at 7 p.m.
III. Update on Chapter Elections
- Elena noted that there were only three nominations
for officers during the last formal voting process and the three members
could not accept the nominations. General discussion followed regarding
options for changing the leadership of the chapter. We agreed that
interim officers should be appointed. The formal process of voting for
new officers will begin in April 2004, so the new officers have been
chosen in time to submit the correct paperwork to the national office in
June 2004.
- Everett nominated Juan Carlos to be interim
president. Katherine seconded the motion. Toni nominated Mario to be
interim treasurer. Elena seconded the motion. Toni nominated Katherine
to be interim secretary. Mario seconded the motion.
- Everette Larson will collect the votes at the
April election.
IV. Chapter financial update
- The chapter can not maintain a banking account
with Chevy Chase Bank without paying a $5/month service charge, so Mario
closed the bank account. Maria Elisa explained that she called several
banks, but could not find one that would allow a balance of less than
$500 without a fee. Everett asked about the possibility of a credit
union. Mario said he asked the credit union affiliated with George
Mason; it allows each person to have one “membership,” and it would
consider him opening an account for REFORMA as a second “membership” for
him.
- Elissa asked if the national office could offer any
advice. Mario said the national chapter is now willing to manage the
accounts of local chapters. General discussion followed regarding the
pros-and-cons of sending the money to the national office. The primary
concern is that anything involving money must be planned further in
advance, because the money must be recalled from the national office.
The second concern is how easy it will be to get the money back if we
decide to go back to managing our own account in the future. Mario said
he will talk to Ramona Grijalva (national office treasurer) regarding
the procedure for getting the money back if we decide we want to
maintain a local bank account sometime in the future.
V. REFORMA participation in 2004 Maryland Library
Association Meeting
Mario explained that
Margaret Carty (Executive Director of the Maryland Library Association)
expressed interest in REFORMA attending the MLA meeting in Ocean City, MD
in May 2004. Bill pointed out that program proposals were due this week.
General discussion followed regarding what kind of program we could
present. We agreed that it should be about acquisitions. Elissa was
nominated to attend the meeting and she accepted. Toni volunteered to help
and Maria Elisa noted that she is planning to attend the meeting, as well.
Mario, Elissa, and Toni will work together to draft a proposal to submit
next week. Mario will call either Margaret Carty or Kay Bowman to let them
know REFORMA is interested.
VI. Tentative agenda for the next meeting
- Discuss the possibilities for REFORMA becoming
active with helping local libraries translate basic outreach material
(pamphlets, etc.) in to Spanish.
- Discuss the possibility of the national office
providing us with disk space for the local chapter web page.
- Discuss the wording of a letter to be sent to the
board of the D.C. Public Library urging them to keep Spanish speaking
patrons in mind as they search for a new director.
VII. Future Meetings
- 7 p.m., Friday, November 14, at the home of Toni Bissessar, Alexandria, VA.
- 7 p.m., Friday, January 9, 2004, at the home of Maria
Elisa Martínez. Cheverly, MD
- Everette Larson said he will host a future meeting
in the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress
|
