2023-03-12 AGM Meeting

Northwood Gottingen Street Space

Dan's Intro

OK people we have a slightly complicated afternoon ahead of us, and not a lot of time.

Please sign the attendance sheet. If you're not on our mailing list but want to be, please also add your email address or if you don't have email, your phone number.

Feel free to get snacks during the afternoon.

We are having two member general meetings back to back. The reason is that you are only allowed to do one thing at an Annual General Meeting, and that is, reports and elect a new Board. So we’ll do that, end the meeting, and then have what’s called a Special General Meeting to adopt the new By-Laws we’ve been working on for the last year.

There are two copies of the By-Laws floating around if you haven’t seen them. There is also a copy of last year's AGM minutes which we will vote on - that's the rules.

Then we are going to have a very enjoyable time with artist and author Lynette Richards, talking about her new book.

So, people, load up your cups and your plates, sit back and enjoy.

Annual General Meeting

People:

• Attending: Erick Bickerdike, Stephanie Brown, Rev Renée Clark, Wayne Collette, Richard Crooks, Kevin Dadouses, Pauline Fedrick, Daniel MacKay, Ronda Moulton, Lynn Murphy, Janet Murray, Edith Pahlke, Cecil Publicover, Lynette Richards, Nadia Tymosheake, Marlin Unger, Dee Wilde
• Regrets: Barend, Heather Burke

Last Year's AGM Minutes

Motion to approve last years' minutes. Seconded. Passed.

Chair's Report

The Elderberries Chair's Report for 2022

In January no salon was held. February on Zoom we discussed what were red flags and green flags we used when meeting a new person. March on Zoom we discussed What's your favorite movie and why. April our first in person Salon at Radstorm. We discussed our making a "time capsule" to mark the 50th anniversary of the official founding of the G.A.E. in 1972. We decided it would be best to entrust it to an established archival institute to better secure its preservation.

April Our first "No Talent Show!" Songs were sung, jokes told. Dan played his theremin.

June Pride Halifax provided us with a High Tea of goodies and treats. Adam Reid and Patrick Maubert presented what the festival would look like that summer.

July 17th We participated in a Youth and Elders Storytelling Salon during Pride, organised by the McPhee Centre for Creative Learning. Barend and Stephanie were asked to address preset questions with six youths. It was well received by a large audience of mostly young people.

July 19th Halifax Pride paid for us to hold an Elders Hangout Salon under a big tent at the festival site. There was a big celebratory cake, free eats and beverages. People came and went as they pleased. Groups of six gathered at coffee tables. Reg Giles inadvertently ended up narrating a long replaying photo montage of Halifax's colourful queer history. Others sometimes added information about some events and people.

August Despite an impressive threat of rain we held our first outdoor picnic at Black Rock Beach, Point Pleasant Park.

September we had our last and a successful picnic at the same place. A walking group from the Untoxicated Queers happily mixed in with us.

October our AGM Back at Radstorm. Dan brought in a cooked turkey to share. Eastlink's Morgan Jessome interviewed Stephanie and Barend. That morning Mike B and Dan had called in to CBC Radio to promote it.

November The discussion topic was "the most Interesting person I ever met."

December 3rd A very well attended RSVP Xmas Potluck at Dan and Paul's.

Dec 11th Richard Crooks held an RSVP Elders Brunch at Le Bistro by Liz on South Park St.

Membership Report

By Dan.

• As of the end of 2022, we had 326 emails on our list and 8 people who we should phone, but don't.
• We added 38 in 2022, compared with adding 23 in 2021.
• We've added 16 so far this year.
• It would be very nice to have a volunteer to phone those 8 people each month.
• And, as always it would be very nice to get more people to these events. Please, everyone here, please try to think of ways to get more people out for our Salons.

Treasurer's Report

Welcomed Stephanie as new Treasurer

• Taking over from Anita
• TD bank authority in progress
• Books expected to be up to date by this week (w/e 17 March
• Stephanie gave a breakdown of revenue and expenses
  • $930.63 in bank as of September.
  • Estimate $1300 at present
• Stephanie asked for questions
  • Erick asked about eTransfer account - in progress
• No further questions

Motion to accept report: Erick, Seconded. Pauline. Discussion: None Vote: Motioned passed

Election

Anita Martinez is stepping down for now. Anita has been on the Board since the very beginning, has helped run countless events and we're hoping she'll be back next year.

We have a new boardmember, Wayne Collette. Welcome, Wayne!

Introduction of slate of directors for 2023: Dan, Pauline, Erick, Stephanie, Barend, Richard, Lynn, Kevin, Wayne.

Motion to accept the slate of directors, Seconded: Janet, Discussion: none, Vote: Motioned passed

Motion to adjourn. Passed.

Special General Meeting

People:

• Attending: (same as AGM, above)
• Regrets: (same as AGM, above)

Motion by Kevin: to accept the new By-Laws as distributed in email last month. Seconded, Vote: Unanimously passed.

Motion to Adjourn: Erick

Lynette's Presentation

Talked about her work as an archival stained glass artist and her graphic novel Call me Bill.