Chapter Minutes--Nov. 18, 2005
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona

In attendance: Anita Blanco, Mary Bruce, Kristen Bury, Kevin Chase, Irv Coin, Sara Gjere, Dora Griffin, Amanda Kapp, Michael Lopez, Kay Lund, Silvester Mata, Robert McCune, Christopher Mims, Malcolm Parker, Lydia Perez, Amalia Prado, Eliot Schipper, Roselyn Stevens, Mary Tiradani, Jose Vaqueria, Lucia Wilson

1. Called to order by Michelle Figueroa at 10:17 am.  Explained that she is the new president since Rhonda resigned a month ago. 
1. Introductions of each person in attendance. Shared names and something interesting about us or the programs.
2. ASU welcome and the new initiatives (Access ASU).  Guest speakers from ASU present this information.  There is PowerPoint presentation with statistics about higher education in Arizona.  ASU wants to increase the number of students who have access to higher education.  42% of all children in Arizona live in low income families.  ASU wants to promote that an education is affordable.  They have increased gift aid by 193% since 2003.  Goals are to deepen the pipeline and coordinate resources.  ASU bilingual staff has increased by 115% over the past year.   Staff members are working in the community and not just on campus.  The program has found that even teachers at the school don’t know the admission requirements and that may keep students from attending universities.  School district partnerships include; Glendale, Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix, and Tolleson with ASU staff on site to leverage the resources.  Not only supporting counselors, but teachers as well.  Any family with less than $18850 income or less will be able to get direct costs (tuition, fees, books, and room and board) covered for eight consecutive semesters (income verified each semester).  There is no limit to the number that can be served and there is no application.  Package consists of financial aid and scholarships.  The Mesa cohort will have seniors take classes at ASU during their spring 2006 semester.  Rob asked if there is a GPA requirement, the answer is that it is based on Financial Aid requirements.  Work is also being done to support the students once they arrive at ASU.  The school districts were chosen because they have the lowest numbers of students attending ASU.   
2. Approval of minutes- Lydia motions to accept the minutes, Rob seconds, motion passes unanimously.
3. President’s Report
1. Lydia presents the report from the last BOD meeting that took place in October in Lake Tahoe.  The biggest issue is the bylaw changes, which Anita has done a great job communicating the changes to everyone.  Currently Irv, Lydia, and Anita are working to explain the changes at each PDS.  Voting will take place at the annual conference in March in Las Vegas.  A registration company is being used for a WESTOP event; which means you can pay with credit cards, checks or money order.  Reminders will come via email.  We can even use this for non fee events.  Reauthorization and budget appropriations are always excited.  Stephen Domingues is keeping us informed; you can check the WESTOP website for information.  Now on the floor there are talks of budget cuts given the disasters and war in Iraq.  This could require a budget cut of 5% to TRiO.  Which could be terrible since funding was left at level funding.  House and Senate have two very different bills and they will have to come together to reauthorize the bill.  It was supposed to be settled two years ago. There is talk about prior experience.  There is some talk about eliminating prior experience.  There is a new 10% set aside for each competition for new programs.  There are stimulations about defining post secondary institution.  There is wording in a house bill that any school is eligible (trucking, beauty, etc).  The house has an amendment by Foxx that sets up more levels of accountability for TRiO programs.  Senate has nothing about the Foxx amendment. 
1. Irv adds that yesterday the house rejected the bill and so we don’t where it stands.  The Government Accounting Office investigate PAT (Program Assestment Review Tool) and found that there are inconsistency in the PART process which is how Bush decided to remove the TRiO programs from his budget.
4. Treasurer’s Report
1. Profit and Loss is looked at.  We are told that the PDS rental has been paid.  Looking at the Balance Sheet we look at the Balance and everything balances.  Kevin is working to get Michelle added to our signature card with the bank. 
5. Old Business
1. Committee breakouts and reports:
1. TLC- (presented by Rob) wants to work with TRiO Day as a service day.  A theme would incorporate service.  Wanted the workshops to be arranged so the students walk away with tools. Leadership, ethics, or perspective workshop with an activity tied into it.  Starting to use a list serve to communicate where we are at and to get registration and paperwork out before students leave school.  We may set up a meeting outside of the PDS. 
2. TRiO Day (presented by Lucia) - nationally it will be a day of service.  Students at the TLC will try to find a service project to do there.   The committee is working t-shirts and publications.  For programs that can’t make it to the TLC, we want to know what they have done so that we can submit a report.  The purpose is to explain and publicize what TRiO is.  In the past individual programs have been able to recognize students, the venue this year won’t allow for this aspect.  Once idea is to do this at the PDS in January.  Sara suggests the TLC.  Silvester suggests to just set a date in February to have a luncheon.  Michelle adds that on the agenda she is requesting an additional meeting on February 10, 2005 and we could have a luncheon as well.  Sara suggests having something for the students to do during the day.  Kay mentions there could be a speakers’ bureau would be willing to speak to the students.  Kirsten suggests later on in the year would allow for us to get to know the students better.  Majority wants an April luncheon. 
3. State Initiative (presented by Lucia) - It is March 25, it sounds like there will be a good group going to policy this year.  Anita is putting together the policy book.  Waiting to hear from Stephen Dominguez as to when to contact politicians.
4. Membership (presented by Lydia) - finalizing welcome packet that will be sent out to any new programs or members.  This will based off the slate of funded programs.  There should be a mock one ready by the PDS.  At the WESTOP conference there will be a track of new member workshops.  Lydia needs ideas for workshops.
5. PDS (presented by Michelle) - registration packets are on their way, they were sent out on Monday.  It is going to the directors of your program.  Most of the primary sessions are confirmed.  Make sure if you have new members that they check new member status on the application and arrive early.  The theme is retention and TRiO Developing students too tough to quit.  Call for proposals are due December 2, 2005.  The silent auction might be more like a raffle.  We are doing a Texas hold em on the Thursday night of the PDS.  You receive a prize not money.  You should dress in appropriate Wild West Costumes.  The pre-conference activity is the Carls Caverns, it is underground.  We should be done by 11am on Friday.  Kevin says to please pay attention to postmark dates.
6. Nominations for President Elect are open.  Michelle will provide more information to those that are interested.  There is a timeline that is in an email that was sent out by Michelle.
7. Fiscal Procedures by Anita.  How do you get money or deposit money for Arizona WESTOP instead of going through your institute.  We operate under WESTOP and so we adhere to their policies.  (Policies are listed on the Pasticcio colored paper).   If you have questions on these forms, ask Kevin or Michelle.  Have a general sense that we have money and can use, but don’t overuse it.
8. Bylaw changes- (presented by Irv Coin) he wasn’t planning on being on the BOD, but he went to the PDS last January and he was convinced to stay on the board to continue with the BOD to do just what he is doing right now.  It has encompassed six administrations including this one to be resolved.  Irv is educating each of the members at the PDS.  You have until December 15 to make your comments. It is about constructive changed.  Before you can become a leader there are some things you have solidify within yourself first.   You have to care about the endeavor.  If you don’t care about it than you will have minimal effort.  It determines the dedication and willingness you will have.  Irv says his endeavor is than no child born in the US should not be kept from reaching their full potential and in the 21st century a college education is necessary.  The other part to be a leader is to be in the room where decisions are made.  It is your responsibility to read what is going on and voting.  In 1984 those that were a part of WESTOP determined that they had to move out of the state of CA and incorporate other states.  In 1998 Cathy Talakte in our little chapter looked at the Bylaws and decided chapter leaders needed to have appropriate names, a motion was made to change name to Chapter Presidents.  In 1997 was the first attempt to create a website.  In 1996-97 we had our first president outside the state of California to be elected.  There have been six presidents that have come outside of the state of Arizona. You have two documents.  The first is from Anita and she outlines the changes as to why and what.  There are also resources to help you see the changes and compare.  Anita is breaking up each amendment and sending emails.  We are in the first comment period.  The Board went item by item and discussed them.  The second reading will take place in January in Arizona.  The second packet Irv handed out has an organizational chart.  A portion of those that in the current board on the same committees and don’t get enough done.  The changes allows us to save money because of accommodating the travel, with less people, there will be more money.  The structure allows the board to address policy.  The service council will address the needs of the members.  There will be a parliamentarian with no voting rights.  We want the core board to make decisions and the service council will provide the services.  The service committees will have more representation.  Each committee chair will have a term of 2 years.  This will pull more and more people into leadership roles.  Irv’s challenge is that when you go and start looking at all this, look for 1) clarity 2) Foresee any pitfalls? 3) Is this change for change’s sake or is it constructive 4) is this proposal forward thinking?  It is subject to change, do we want to try this out or not?
9. Announcements
1. Programs should donate things to the Raffle as opposed to the silent auction.  More information is forth coming.
2. Additional meeting on Friday February 10, 2006 in Phoenix.
3. Next meeting is January 6, 2006.
10. Adjourned Lydia adjourns, Eliot seconds all in favor.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sara M Gjere