Thirteen were in attendance for LFS’s May meeting 6pm at Isaac’s Restaurant on Manheim Pike, Lancaster, PA.
Scott Rhoades began the meeting by reminding attendees about the donation box placed at the front of the room. Suggested donations equivalent to what you might tip the dinner waiter will be used as product funds. Scott further reviewed membership dues/benefits.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Lancaster Pride Festival, Saturday, June 16th at Buchanan Park, Lancaster, PA, 12-6pm
LFS will provide representation at this event supporting/welcoming the LGBT communisty. Regular admission will be $5/person. LFS intends to have 10′ message banner made for use at this event. Two wristbands have been provided foir use by Scott Rhoades and Claire Larson. Parking for this event may be available at a lot near the intersection of James Street and Lancaster Avenue.
Summer Solstice Picnic, Saturday, June 30th, location TBD
This will be a potluck event, games provided for kids and adults. Family and friends are invited, but must RSPO on MeetUp.com by 6/15. Those who RSVP will be given directions to the site.
Scott Rhoades discussed that group structure will be more important as we continue to work toward 501C3 incorporation. Non-profit requirements and recommendations include the following:
1) Separate persons are required to hold each available board positions. Current Board Members are as follows:
Scott Rhoades – President, Communications Director
Claire Larson – Secretary
Lisa Mercer – Treasurer
Dan Mercer – Director (Charitable Work, etc.)
Samantha Murphy – Director
2) Currently, Scott Rhoades will handle all press releases, (in order to verify presentation of a clear and unified message from the group).
3) Board members will remain as listed for the course of one year, after which elections will be held. Any dues-paying member can run for any board position. Currently there are five positions on the board- we anticipate there will be more in the future.
4) Committees will be formed for delegation from board members. (For example, we may, at some point, create a Public Outreach Committee, or a committee to handle a one-time fundraiser or party, which may be dissolved following the event.) Directors have discretion to form committees and may lead or join same. Committee meetings will be open to anyone, (although membership is required to be a committee member).
No official board meetings have been held, but these will be posted on the MeetUp site when they occur.
Scott estimated 105 online site members including 10 dues-paying members.
CONTINUOUS TRAINING
Scott Rhoades discussed Darrel Ray’s writing on handling transitions within a group. Scott intends LFS to be handled with transparency. Business are sometimes unprepared for change when it occurs, and Ray has coined the term, “Baptist Church Syndrome” to explain the group dynamic when a charismatic leader controls all its aspects- (a loss of said leader ends the organization). The LFS Board of Directors must be prepared to take leadership- emergency elections may be held to replace board members, if necessary.
OUTREACH
Lisa disussed volunteer opportunities available at the Clare House. The facility currently houses five single homeless women in one building, five homeless women with children in another. Volunteer opportunities may include work babysitting, landscaping, Wednesday evening meal prep., etc. Concerns about male volunteers were discussed, as were concerns that the organization may be/have been faith-based in nature. (The facility was named for a Catholic saint, and a quote from Mother Theresa appears on their web page. The organizaion may have utilized this association to qualify for faith-based organization funding under the Bush Administration.)
Jeanette Wolf discussed PAN’s involvement with a local abuse center. Fees were required for volunteer training sessions. The community Action Program also sponsors a Lancaster SHelter for Abused Women listed on PAN’s web site.
LFS’s application for highway clean-up sponsorship has been submitted but not yet approved by PennDOT. Dan Mercer is looking-into it.
LFS may choose to partner with PAN for volunteer work. PAN will also have representation at the upcoming PRIDE Fest, (selling merchandise at a booth).
