League of Women Voters of Butte County Board Meeting Minutes November 9, 2021   5:30 pm  Via ZOOM

Members Present: Mahalley Allen, Roxanne Ferry, Sandra Flake, Patty Haley, Claire Greene, Janet Rechtman, Toni Reid, and Satsie Veith

Guest Present: Marvey Mueller

1. 1.     Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 5:30 pm.

2. Approve Meeting Minutes

The minutes for the October board meeting were approved.

3. Financial Report

Sandra shared profit and loss budget vs actuals for the first quarter of the fiscal year. The league budgeted for $9,750 for member dues but so far we have only received $3,450, so we will need to remind members to pay their annual dues. Sandra will send an updated roster to board members. If we enter into a contract with the Registrar of Voters, that will bring in income we had not budgeted for this year. This year’s Week of Giving event will not include the same level of incentives as last year. Thus far, we are almost half way in contributions and sponsorships for the fiscal year. Sandra also provided a profit and loss previous year comparison, and board members could compare this fiscal year to last fiscal year.   

4. Vote on Contract with Registrar of Voters

Satsie shared the revised contract with the Registrar of Voters. The contract gives the LWVBC the responsibility for coordinating and managing the “High School Voter Education Weeks” in April and September within high schools throughout Butte County. The revised contract also specifies that LWVBC will assist the Elections Division in election night secure ballot box lockup, ballot retrieval, and ballot delivery to the Butte County Hall of Records. Satsie and Claire will meet again with the Butte County Registrar’s Office to learn more about what would be expected of the LWVBC for these duties. Satsie reported that the LWVBC would deliver materials to high school government teachers who are interested in participating.

Motion:

Toni moved and Claire seconded a motion to approve the revised contract with the Registrar of Voters. Motion passed.

5. Appoint Board Member to Nominating Committee

We need a board member to serve on the nominating committee. Claire Greene agreed to serve on the nominating committee. Thank you, Claire!

Motion:

Toni moved and Roxanne seconded a motion to appoint Claire to the nominating committee. Motion passed.

6. Holiday Party-Pick Date, Other Details

Board members discussed plans for the LWVBC holiday party. Claire will create Zoom polls about holiday movies to share at the event. The party will be held over Zoom on Wednesday, December 8th from 7-8:30 pm. 

7. Report on Hispanic Community Outreach & Environmental Activities

Marvey Mueller joined the meeting and reported about outreach to the Hispanic Resource Council of Northern California. Marvey and Roxanne shared that they are able to provide voter registration information at the Council’s activities and described several of the Council’s events.

8. Partnering on Program with Redding League

The Redding League is interested in partnering with the LWVBC in the spring to host a program on Plastics and the Environment.

9. Committee Reports: Natural Resources, Social Policy, others if needed

The Social Policy committee met last week and discussed focusing on the priority of homelessness. The committee reviewed the LWVC state policy on homelessness and proposes that the LWVBC host 3-4 programs with other partners, such as OLLI, the Butte County library, or the university.

The programs would cover these topics:

-Scope and challenges presented for people who are homeless

-How different communities are responding to the issue

-Financial, social, and faith-based organizations working on homelessness

-Exploration of what homelessness means in the real world

The committee is also exploring creating a list of resources, which could perhaps could be shared in a local publication, such as the Chico News and Review or the Chico Enterprise-Record.

Toni reported that the Natural Resources Committee met last week. She met with an expert in water issues and is working on a map showing local sources of water. Toni and Suellen Rowlison are meeting with other local experts on water issues and are working towards their presentation, which will probably be in late February. Sunday Cummins is helping to organize the presentation.

10. Website Issues: Posting Agenda/Board Meeting Link

Board members agreed to post board meeting agendas with Zoom links to the LWVBC website.

11. Google Drive/YouTube

Lori shared that the LWVBC gmail account can be used to set up a Google Drive account, which will help for organizing league materials. A LWVBC YouTube channel can be used to upload videos instead of storing them on Google Drive.

12. Tuscan Water District Research

Debra Barger is contacting the LWVC to determine if there is any basis in state positions such that the LWVBC could take a position on the formation of the Tuscan Water District.  Depending on results, the board would meet again to discuss whether this would be desirable. LAFCO is scheduled to take up the TWD on Dec. 2. 

13. Survey

Janet is working on a survey that will be sent to LWVBC members. Satsie will send the survey to board members tomorrow as a trial run. The goal is to send the survey to members later this week.

14. Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 7:02 pm.