Annual Meeting minutes June 19, 2020

The meeting was held remotely via “ZOOM” and called to order at approximately  7:15 pm.

Call to Order
Review and Adoption of Nonpartisan policy (annual requirement)

Report of the Year’s Activities (Steering Committee)
(See separate report posted)

Report of the Treasurer
Proposed Budget – reviewed and approved.
Noted that we are having income expense deficits and need to raise dues.  In addition, we will look into getting more sponsorships (Eastern Bank and Cambridge Savings Bank)

LWV of Melrose Dues Change Proposal

Motion to:
Increase regular dues to $75.00 with a hardship clause*
Introduce Sustaining Membership for $100.00
Remove Family and Senior membership designations.
Pro-rate dues for members who join after January 1st.
Moved and approved.
*We will ask members to let us know if membership is hardship and will make adjustments.

Goals for the Coming Year — Directions to Steering Committee
Suggestions:

  • Might want to look into having students form a junior LWV?
  • Ask PTO to post on Facebook page
  • Get sign that shows registration web-site to show at rallies
  • Is a student internship possible?
  • Suggestion to move our fiscal year to match that of the LWVUS (January to December, not June to May)
    • Louise will look into plan to see how this can be done.
    • Anne will look at bylaws about our fiscal year.
  • Joan Moore Scholarship
    History: The Joan Moore scholarship comes from proceeds of a fund of  approximately $10,000, established to honor Joan Moore who returned to college after raising a family, and went on to an active and distinguished career as a local politician and League Leader.  It is given to a Melrose High School senior who has taken a hiatus from school and wants to return for a further degree.
    This is administered by the Melrose High School Permanent Scholarship Fund. There have not been members available to advertise, accept applications and choose an annual recipient for a few years.  It is believed that Jeff Pitcher, David Lucas, and Mark Hutchinson are on the MHSPS board.
    The way this used to work is that applications would be posted in strategic areas, and, in March, a League committee would review the applications and choose a recipient.  They would notify the Melrose High School Permanent Scholarship Fund to make the award.
    Both this year and last year, we did not offer this Scholarship, and we need to assess what is happening with this process.

Action Items:

  • Mary Beth McAteer and Susan Baron will assemble information
  • Joyce Zeiner will give Susan Baron information she has on this that should include an application form.
  • League Archives digital conversion, storage
    • Library is not taking paper archives anymore – need to scan in documents
    • We have several people with scanners
    • Can we get underwriting for project?
    • Melrose Historical – Jim Bennet of historical society- Eileen will contact Jim Bennet of the Melrose Historical Society to see if he has suggestions.
    • Storage might be found at the Upham house – Kathy Gibson is caretaker
    • Sally will start look through archives with Anne to evaluate what should be kept.
    • Note June also have studies done by the LWV of Melrose from 1994 to 2005
    • Ask State League for recommendations.
  • Membership- we are always looking for members
  • Sponsorships – mentioned above
  • 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment- hope to do this in the fall
  • Voter registration
  • Voter information (candidate forums and information activities)
  • Facilitating voting during pandemic restrictions
    • A bill was recently passed by the House, H4768 which facilitates mail in voting during this pandemic, and gives more leeway in counting mail in ballots. This should be voted on by the Senate this week. This will be a topic of discussion at the upcoming LWV Regional Meeting on June 20th. Susan will go and report back
      • When a final bill is signed into law, we will want to get word of support out about new way of voting.

Meeting adjourned at 8:53pm.