Messages in ICG #boardofdirectors (Slack) <2019-09-17 2019-09-20>

2019-09-18

Betsy R. Marks 5:33 AM

As info: I just checked Slack and the archived board channel is no longer available for viewing at all. I request that all documents posted there be posted here, so that we don't lose our record of events and reporting.

This includes the draft minutes and the five-year plan documents, as well as any activity or financial reports.

Betsy R. Marks 5:34 AM

This also includes any draft of the Guidelines under discussion.

Mera Rose 7:49 AM
I am going to have to take a break for about a week as we have a farm and winter is coming (seriously) so we have to handle things for the annual large farm swap that occurs this weekend so that we have food for the winter, as our harvest was impacted by the hurricanes (last year and this year). For those that didn’t know, we are in rural VA. If there is something that I need to respond to between now and next Tuesday or Wednesday, please message me on FB through the ICG page or call/text 804-467-5636. I’m happy to have any discussion anyone would like to have, but as we have 5 kids and have to shore up the farm/food situation for the winter, it’s got to be my main focus for the next 7 days.

Thanks!

[3 replies Last reply 2019-09-18 10:18 AM]

Jacalyn Boggs  2 years ago
Good luck. I know it’s been hard this year. All of my other farm contacts are struggling as they, too, prepare for harvest. Right now it’s just the continued discussion on the guidelines prior to vote. I will keep the positive discussion going and message you if anyone says something useful. There’s been far too much distracting and unnecessary filibustering happening and you should absolutely avoid that in favor of real work. Good luck!

Mera Rose  2 years ago
Thanks.  Really offline now.  Goats have broken out and are attempting to free the chickens and ducks after liberating their swine friends.  

Mera Rose  2 years ago
It’s like an episode of Back to the Barnyard here right now. 

Jacalyn Boggs 8:02 AM
Topic of conversation regarding the proposed guidelines. Please keep all comments to this topic in this thread.

I am thrilled to see that large/oversized costumes is included. Our current guidelines are so far out of date for not including this, armor, thermoplastics, mascot/furry costumes, and advanced technologies like arduinos (and etc). It may be too late to properly draft amendments in these regards and should probably be put on the 2020 Committee’s docket. However, I thought it good to bring up for conversation in case someone competent in these areas had a possible chance to draft and propose an amendment. Any thoughts? Also, with so many things, handcrafting/sewing may not be the forte of a judge so should we consider this as an additional section?

Please discuss.

[4 replies Last reply 2019-09-20 8:57 AM]

Mera Rose  2 years ago
I proposed a section on thermoplastics, foam crafting, and armor, as well as one on costumes including tech like LED lighting, computer components, electronics, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, fiberoptics, etc.  They were removed for brevity.

Jacalyn Boggs  2 years ago
Yeah there maybe should be a separate document for these things maybe? I would like to hear the board’s thoughts. Many contests have set up, years ago, guidelines for these things to help promote fair judging. It is important to have information out there. Likewise, we could also have this put on the website blog as further recommendations or some such. If you would like them to be added in that fashion, I think we should do it. I can, of course, facilitate this, though I would think that the Vice President should have that sort of posting power.  Let me know if you need aid.

Vicky Assarattanakul  2 years ago
I think a separate document may be good.

Jacalyn Boggs  2 years ago
I kind of think we need to break up the guidelines so that there’s a document for directors, one for judges, one for contestants.  It would make things far easier for people to get through and for organization. Perhaps a fourth document for types of costumes such as historical, larger than life, etc. But that should be for the next revision with the 2020 guidelines committee formed after this one is accepted. That’s a massive change of pace and it would be the wrong thing to make that move at this juncture. The 2010 guidelines are so far out of date and needed the professional tone of third person white pages such as done with this proposal.  One step at a time and all that.  :)

Jeanine Swick 6:07 PM

We have a PayPal account for receiving dues payments and it is linked to our accounts at Digital Federal Credit Union. The only problem has been is that depending on how the payment is made we get slapped with the PayPal fee even though we are listed as a non-profit. No policy for dealing with the fee was put in place when it was first set up long before I became treasurer.

My job is not that difficult as I have a system in place for it. Chapters changing the reporting spread sheet from the required format or insisting on sending .pdf files that I specifically have asked them not to send is the biggest issue outside of not doing the monthly report. I spend one day a month on doing the updates and that is not a big deal to me.

Our biggest problem is that we approve new chapters but they get no support afterwards. Some make it as a chapter becoming very active and others struggle and end up fading away. The three newest chapters have not been heard from in almost a year. We should be focusing on retaining the new chapters and finding out what they are in need of to keep things going. I will have to look up how many chapters joined the ICG and faded away within a few years. Was it because they needed help but didn't know who to ask or was it for other reasons That we will never know?