March 4, 1997, Monterey, CA

Meeting of the Members
San Francisco Airport Marriott
Burlingame, California
March 4, 1997

Note: Any statements attributed to any member are not intended to serve as a verbatim record but rather as an accurate reflection of what was said.

Meeting was called to order by Adrian Tanakeyowma (AT) at 9:13 a.m.

Quorum was established by Allan Bee, secretary.

AT reviewed the agenda, the purpose of the Meeting of the Members, and the procedures to be followed during the meeting.

Leonard Woods presented the 1996-97 budget. Stated the Board of Directors (BOD) had been very frugal in expenditures and that the Association entered 1997 in sound fiscal condition. Reminded the members that our FY is January 1 to December 31. Woods detailed how the budget is laid out in terms of design and procedure for revisions. WESTOP maintains a balanced budget. Woods entertained questions at this time.

Janice Dirden-Cook: Asked why there was no break out of expenditures of the 1996 Conference.

Woods: The BOD is working on it.

AT: The 1996 Conference final report and budget was not accepted by the BOD, and the BOD is still pursuing resolution.

Cook: Concerned about when there might be a date for resolution.

AT: States that the issue would be addressed later under Old Business. AT then introduced Lilia Powell, bylaws committee chair, to go over proposed Bylaws changes.

Powell: Introduced her committee members and reviewed their charge to pursue the requests from the members at the '96 meeting to make the proposed revisions. The proposals were mailed out to all the members prior to the meeting. Powell then reviewed the four proposed changes to the bylaws. The changes under consideration included: Section 4.5Removal of Directors for Cause; Section 7.5Duties of the Past President; Section 8.10Committees of the Members; and Section 12. 2Procedure for Submission of Proposals for the Amendment of the Bylaws.

Stephen Ruth: Asked if the definition of the Executive Committee included five or six officers?

Powell: The Executive Committee consists of the five officers and the Fiscal Affairs Chairor six persons total.

AT: Introduced Connie Baker, president-elect and chair of elections committee.

Baker: Introduced the procedures and times for voting to take place during the conference. Membership has to be current as of March 1997 in order to vote.

AT: Introduced the procedures for the rest of the meeting. Powell will serve as Parliamentarian and Sergeant-at-Arms. Members were given 3 minutes to address the BOD.

AT began by addressing Cook's question and stated that because of the possible legal issues he preferred not to make any further comment at the time.

Munyiga Lumumba: Asked that it be clarified that those entitled to speak during the meeting must be current members.

AT: Confirmed that was so and also stated that any voting would be limited to members only.

Lumumba: Felt that in spite of the proposed litigation, it was important to address the problems of the '96 Conference. What were some of the major mistakes? What were the implications for this year's committee? The Association? And what steps have taken place to rectify this type of situation?

AT: One of the mistakes was the opening of a separate checking account with only one signator who was not the Treasurer or the President. Not meeting the proposed income, and the gift of $4,200 to NCEOA were also mistakes. We have not received complete bank records to date. The consequences have been that this year's BOD and Conference Committee have been much more vigilant on expenses, and AT questions more readily whenever checks are presented to him for signature by the treasurer. There has been more of a burden placed on the Conference Committee this year to earn a profit and be more fiscally responsible and forthcoming in giving updates to the BOD on a regular basis. The '97 Committee will present a snapshot of budget tomorrow and a full report will be completed by May with all receipts attached. There will be further revisions of the fiscal policies, and he will try ensure that they are followed by this year's committee.

Keith Hori: The problem isn't our fiscal policies. It is a matter of human trust and reliability. The problem is that we didn't have enough money to defend our students and our clients. That was the crime. We shouldn't have to wait over a year to receive records. A lot of members want to know why we haven't received records. Our chapter coordinator took our concerns to the BOD at great peril to himself. I would hope that the BOD would at least pursue the records so that we can file taxes and be able to stand for an audit. We should at least have some honor.

Baker: This has been a difficult year and the BOD has acted with diligence on your behalf to explain the situation from the 1996 Conference. When we get the information together, it will be presented to the membership in order to bring about resolution.

Denise Benton: I was President during the 1996 Conference. I agreed with everything that was said today. I have presented everything that I have. I took my lead from prior experiences. There are many who boycotted this conference. I am not perfect and no one else is. I didn't have anything at the end of the '96 Conference. I will work with the upcoming BOD to bring resolution. Some of you may no longer respect me. There were things said during the course of the year that were disrespectful, but God will take care of me. The things that need to get taken care of will not get taken care of through name calling. I will continue to work, but I will not allow this to go on too much longer without seeking legal counsel.

Marguerite Heinrichs: Asked what effect this will have on our non-profit status since the records are not complete?

Woods: We will be able to file our 1996 taxes. The concern is that we have to get documentation for back up.

Donald Towns: I have a simple question. What is going on? You are speaking very delicately to these issues. We should have an outline so we know what is happening. This is being reduced to a level of rumor.

AT: Donald, I'd like these rumors to stop. We had a Conference Report submitted to us that had overexpenditures in every category by 40-60%, and that was not accepted. I concur with Denise. I do not allow name calling at the board and always tell them to walk away from the table and remain friends. The minutes are on the webpage, nothing is watered down, and they are also sent out through newsletters. All members are encouraged to attend any meeting and get involved.

Towns: It is obvious that things are getting hot. There are things that have taken place so that folks feel they have to get up and defend themselves.

AT: There isn't any more than what's in the minutes. I can't control what goes on outside of the meetings. I am being hurt by this. People are concerned by the fact that records are not being turned over and it shouldn't have gotten to this point.

Lumumba: We should all be responsible for pursuing knowledge and the truth. We see a symptom for depending on others to interpret events for ourselves. We have lost the drive to seek information. This discussion has been going on all year. If you can't get the information electronically or from your chapter representative, then you must seek out the information from whatever source available. I don't know of any BOD that has had to wait so long. [Addressing past-residents in the room] Did you get your report on the preceding conference prior to August of your term? When we hit obstacles, then we get into this sort of discussion.

Heinrichs: This is about what we need to do as professionals. If you don't know what is going on, you should seek out the truth and disregard personal feelings.

Romeo Garcia: I want to offer something to the membership of WESTOP, which to me is about taking care of us and our students. We still have a lot of work to do together. [Read a passage from Marion Wright Edelman.]

Yoichi Rengiil: I am from the Pacific Islands Chapter, which probably is one of the fastest growing chapters. Next year, WESTOP will be in Hawaii and we will be working to provide the best Conference possible. We ask that whatever decisions that are being made, that you grant us respect by presenting us with whatever decisions that are being made, and not dictating what is going to go on.

Kolondra Harvey: I feel this situation has overshadowed this conference. I feel that our Chapter Coordinator has done a good job in keeping us in NorCal informed and that it is sad that there are members who don't know what is going on. It is sad that the Pacific Islands Chapter is asking that this be cleaned up before the next year. This has gone on too long.

Towns: I am not asking for information. I am asking for what happened to bring us to the point where people are having to defend themselves. My concern is that this not be a breach so wide, that we become fractured and lose the love with each other. I don't want this to overshadow what we have to do .

Member: We have heard that this is an administrative issue. What is going on is that we have a lunatic in the House who tried to de-fund us. We have a Bubba who has broken a contract with 13 million mothers.

Tony Anderson: I hope that next year we can include our families a little more and that there can be serious price reductions on meals so we can include our families next year.

Hori: We inherited a contract that was signed by the BOD. We are charging $35.00 for dinner, and last year it was $60.00. We listened to the membership and made this meeting at a time that was more convenient for the membership. We are trying to leave a manual for the next committee.

Emalyn Lapus: Each BOD has listened to the membership during my tenure with the Association. We need to remember the good done throughout the year.

Roxie Downie: Wanted to mention that the new brochure is lovely, but there are errors.

AT: It was announced that Diana Banuelos' campus has agreed to reprint at no cost.

Rowena Andrade: Wanted to thank whoever brought in Les Brown last year and Mr. Rainer this year. It made the 13-hour flight worthwhile.

Irv Coin: Pointed out that the Research and Evaluation Committee report was included with the NorCal Chapter report and that members should move it over.

Hazel Ralston: NV Chapter will sponsor its first PDS April 24-25, 1997, in Reno. Jane Jarrow will present a day-and-a-half seminar on disability issues.

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