Location: Telemeeting (via Zoom)
Time: 7 to 8:25 p.m.
In attendance – John Wooding, chair; Richard Carr, vice chair; John Reese Thomas, Treasurer; Alison Raffalovich, Secretary; Bart Glaser; Marta White; Ted Herr; Koreena Malone and Preston Tyree, chair ex officio. Not attending – Ed Dorn, Taylor Youngblood.
1. Greetings and Pleasantries [John]
2. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes [Alison Raffalovich] – These were approved and posted.
3. Treasurer’s Report [John Thomas] In September we got 11 new memberships, which takes us to 150 members for the year to date, and had a net total profit for the month of $20.73. Our balance sheet remains healthy with a good cash balance and very few liabilities.
4. MNA Committee Updates and Reports:
4.1. Neighborhood Engagement & Inclusion – [Koreena Malone] [Note: Bart Jacob had to depart during this discussion and was not present for the balance of the meeting.]
4.1.1. A Groundwater Analysis of Racial Inequities Course – This is similar to training on undoing racism. We would be able to participate from our homes on Saturday, November 7, at a rate designed for small non-profits. Dr. Joyce James is the trainer, owner of Joyce James Consulting, from whom we got a quote and proposal for training for 12 Steering Committee members and 5 members from the community. A motion to hold the proposed training was made and passed with one against and two abstaining.
4.1.2. AISD Accountability Session, October 17 at 11 a.m. – We have sent questionnaires to 6 AISD Trustees and one candidate, all of whom have responded. Topics include middle schools, equity, LASA, etc. We’ll have an overall introduction/welcome, an introduction for each the candidate, hear the candidate’s story, then remind people to get out and vote. We’ll let people know about open block captain, Steering Committee and School Committee positions and adjourn. There will be a run through October 15-16 from 5-7 p.m. (speakers just need to attend one of the two sessions). Spanish and/or ASL interpreters are available, and they are contractors based in our local community. For $140 for the month, we can opt to add interpreter/webinar support for our Zoom account for up to 500 attendees. There was a motion to accommodate interpretation with our Zoom license plus budget for interpreters for Spanish speakers and the hearing-impaired at a cost of $250, including the preparation session in the Accountability session. Both motions passed unanimously.
4.2. Nominations – Elections via Zoom [John] – We have the nominating and election process using Zoom vetted out.
4.3. Fall Festival – Postpone? [John] – John W suggested and the MNA agreed on the necessity to cancel this year’s fall festival.
5. Halloween Decoration Map [John Wooding for Taylor Youngblood] – People who want to decorate homes for Halloween can be included on a map that families can follow in advance of Halloween (though we
6. General Meetings via Zoom – Scheduling and Coordination [John] The October meeting will be pre-recorded and published at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 17 prior to the Accountability session.
Marta reported that we have sold about 75 neighborhood-themed face masks.
7. October General Meeting Agenda [John] (5 min)
7.1. Treasurer’s Report
7.2. POA Review
7.3. Mueller Commission
7.4. Local Business Spotlight: Frost Bank
General Meeting 10/17 10 a.m.
Accountability Session 10/17 11 a.m.
Steering Committee Meeting 11/4 7PM
Respectfully submitted 10/30/2020,
Alison Raffalovich, Secretary