Planning meeting for 2010 activities of BTCB - January 24, 2010
 
Meeting called to order by Meg Sheketoff
 
Attending: Meg, Abbie Synan, Ron Marks, Nate Kleinman, Marsha Levell, Bruce Hanes, Connie Collins, Lucy Ryan
 
January event: Food Bank - We collected 172 bags of groceries, $50 donation, 2 $10 gift cards.  We will sponsor the food bank donation drive twice a year 
 
Financial Report - We have $414.29 in our  treasury.  
 
The Sestak campaign approached us to support an event for this Friday @ 5:30.  We need to secure a space for the event.  We approached Penny Cutler and Ed Foley to verify the availability a venue for the event.  We agreed to spend up to $200 to secure a venue for the Sestak town hall meeting on Friday.
 
Review the mission statement.  Bruce mentioned we may be to tweak our statement to avoid the perception of being personality cult driven.  So we began our discussion to revise our mission statement.  The revised statement is as follows:
"We actively support a progressive vision for change at the grassroots level by working toward economic and social justice, environmental sustainability, international human rights and issues that improve our community"
 
Financial - raising money and budget - we tabled this issue until we  finish the programming matter.
 
Programming for the year:
1. Once a quarter we should have a structure change.  First half hour we will feature networking, then one hour event, then last half hour is more networking and refreshment.
2. Venue - Elkins Estate limitations, finding alternative locations for political events
3. Political issues - supporting progressive candidates.  Tight races:  Rick Taylor, 6th Congressional District (Gerlach's seat), Senate race, Gubernatorial race.  We are going to facilitate meet the candidates.
4. Topics 
1. It's the economy stupid [Marsha will work on a speaker}  We will ask our network if they can propose a potential speaker. 
2. Solutions for the economic situation. 
3. Renegotiation of NAFTA. 
4. Accountability 
5. Drug policy reform. 
6. Campaign finance reform, 
7 Term limits
8. Power of lobbyists
9. Political system / Judicial system
10. Agricultural subsidies
11. Movies about issues - Food Inc., Sico, Future of Foods
12. Job counseling / Job security
13. Environmental
14. War
15. Health

We need to be issue oriented.  Meg attends CDC to identify local township issues.  Marsha attends ARDC to do the same.  We need someone for Hatboro/Horsham.  Kevin Shaw will alert us about Springfield issues.
 
February 25 - Meet the candidates
March 24 - Understanding local politics in honor of women's history month.  Who is running  in the primary  What are the elected positions job description. how to be involved in local issues. Discuss the BTCB offices and ask people to put forth their names
 [Connie, Luci, Marsha]  
April 28 - Environmental  with another group
May 26 - Prison Reform,  Election for BTCB offices [Ron and Nate]
June 23 - Pot luck / movie nite/ music Induction of BTCB officers [Abby] 
July 28 - It's the economy stupid and Health care [Marsha]
August 25 - Community Service - Food Drive [Marsha, Meg and Abby]
September 22 - Political & Judicial system [Meg & Bruce]
October consolidate with other groups
November 17 - Veterans & War
December End of year party  fundraiser
 
 
Communications
 
Send out a email about 2010 elections and positions.  Identify the positions, describe the position, briefly outline process and deadline  dates 

• Now that we have an annual plan Marsha will send our annual program, [DFA, OFA, Philly for Change, Springfield Dems, Hatboro Horsham Dems, ARDC, CDC, Buck Mont Progressives]
• identify media outlets. finding out the process for local access channels (Fios and Comcast], local papers [Glenside, Ambler, Times Chrionicle, City Paper, Gay News, Philadelphia Weekly, Metro, Norristown Herald Tribune], regional papers [Phila Inquirer, Phila Daily News], local free tv [nbc, abc, cbs, pbs]
• Website announcements and inclusion of web address in any group emails which go 
• Flyers
• Brochures
•  
•  
• Next steering committee we will discuss Communication and Budget for the year.