DVM ExComm Minutes for 19 Sept. 2004
Meeting called to order, 4:10 pm, at the home of Pat Horsley and Jere Lull.
Present were: Pete Stevens, Yvonne Brownlee, Jere Lull, Pat Horsley, Jon Zucker, Mike Fisher, Elaine Brody, Steve Polsz, Steve Kaess, Carol Zimmel, and Jessica Weingarten.
Three actions had been postponed from August meeting for lack of quorum. :July minutes approved. August Treasurer’s report accepted. Elaine Brody confirmed as a Member- at-Large.
August Minutes, accepted as submitted.

Reports:
Treasurer: Carol’s report reviewed, accepted, and filed for audit as usual. Discussion of possible investment.

Membership: Steve Polsz reported 11 new members and 9 renewals (5 reinstating and 4 regular renewals). Steve has designed DVM stationery to be used with a program set for individual addresses. Discussion. Steve Kaess suggested adding website address. Steve P. has set up files for ExComm use. He is sending birthday and anniversary greetings over the net with 10% replies to his messages, and wants to start sending three-month letters to new members.

Program Coordinator: Steve Kaess reported. Oct. speaker changed at the last minute. Jeanne Zucker got us a speaker on UFOs for Oct. at Raymond’s in NJ. Possibly, for Nov. - a state representative or a state senator; for Dec. - a speaker on electronic voting. Discussion of ideas. Steve is looking for another location for meetings; discussion.

Proteus: Jessica reported. Annual postal form has been filed. Aug. bill for Proteus was higher because of the newsletter exchange. Some questions have come in to Proteus on general info about DVM and Mensa.

Some members suggested the ExComm produce a new member handbook to be on the Website for definitions of terms and on what’s available in DVM. This was generally considered a good idea. Tabled for discussion at a future meeting.

Discussion of a survey on what people like or don’t like about Proteus, and on how many and what kinds of events people attend. This could be done in Proteus or on the website. To be discussed at future meetings.

P.R.: Mike Fisher reported. He will be sending out notices for newspapers for National Testing Day at the RG. For other P.R., have the info to Mike by the 7th of the previous month to be released to newspapers.

R.G.: Pete reported that the RG is progressing quite well. RG committee meets immediately after this meeting. As Hotel Liaison, Yvonne is handling questions on hotel reservations.

Webmaster: Yvonne reported that the Website calendar is improving. Work is underway on putting up more full pages.

Old Business:
1. 40th Anniversary events: Two events in Oct. : WHYY Radio’s Fall Fund Drive and the RG with National Testing Day event.
2. Programs to Retain Membership: Projects tabled until after the RG.
3. Obsolete EIN number and Incorporation issues: Tabled until after the RG.
4. Needy Members Program: Is this a possibility? Guidelines and criteria? Discussion.
5. WHYY Fundraiser: Steve Kaess reported. Radio Fundraiser Wed., Oct. 13, 5:00 pm. Date for TV Fundraiser is not yet settled.

New Business:
1. Voice Mail: Service costs about $30 monthly. Carol will check on costs of our present service. We must get on the “do not call” list to reduce junk calls on that line. The loss of our directory assistance listing might be a drawback to new service. We could have overlapping service for a year. Tabled for discussion at a future meeting.

2. Elections: We need to appoint a nominating committee with a minimum of three members by Jan. 2. Planning needed, but it is not an immediate problem.

3. Guideline for Membership Scholarship: Discussed under old business.

4. AEIOU List: AEIOU List is a calendar list of cultural and social activities with 1600 members. The current list-owner is looking for someone to take over. Discussion. Pete is interested in whether DVM could take it on. Pete will inquire into what is involved and when the list-owner needs to hand off the project.

5. Oct. Proteus, available on-line Sept. 18 and identical to the issue to be printed.:
Jere Lull stated "As a former Editor of Proteus, I strongly object to Jessica’s editing of the July minutes and to her statement of policy change on minutes, both in that issue. Neither was authorized. Modification is never allowed after the ExComm, as a whole, amends and approves minutes for publication. The editor never has that authority. This is a serious violation of long-standing Proteus and ExComm policy and DVM By-Laws."

Pete Stevens, Yvonne Brownlee, and Pat Horsley also strongly objected to these actions. Yvonne, who received her copy of the original approved minutes in the same e-mail as the Editor (Aug. 22), stated that the minutes published in Oct. Proteus were different from the original. The disregard for the facts concerned her deeply.

Discussion. The full and correct July minutes will appear in the Minutes section of the DVM Website, <dvm.us.mensa.org> . Tabled by Pete Stevens for further discussion and action.

Next ExComm: Oct. 24 at Yvonne’s at 2:00pm.

Adjourned at 6:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat Horsley, Recording Secretary