Online Chat with Trustee Jose Arteaga

Indiana, Kentucky-Tennessee, Ohio, and Pacific Northwest Districts

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Jose (7:09): we will begin by discussing the proposal from the special committee... You can download files at this link ---> http://www.box.net/shared/8treb1h1mk

Jose (7:10): since we do not know who each other are...i will ask that when you would like to speak on a topic that you state your name and want to speak

Kenneth (7:10): should we go around with quick intros first?

Jose (7:10): when you are done speaking...type "yield"

Ahmed (7:11): 'sup party people?

Jose (7:11): that is ok...if you would like to state your name and district at this time that will be fine

Kenneth (7:11): kenneth kuan, pacific northwest

Darren (7:11): darren page, member of pacific lutheran university of the pacific northwest district

Ashley (7:12): ashley thompson, pacific northwest

Helen (7:12): helen mak, pacific northwest

Brian (7:12): brian egger, willamette, pnw

Jose (7:12): i'm trustee jose arteaga from texas a&m university

Tracy (7:12): tracy meyer from university of washington

Brianne (7:12): brianne hoover, ohio

Ahmed (7:12): ahmed osman, snoqualmie pnw

Kevin (7:12): kevin sullivan, ohio

Raymond (7:12): raymond miller, purdue university, indiana district

Terry (7:12): terry d. Williams, member, ohio wesleyan university circle k chapter

Oliver (7:12): oliver chung, pnw alumni

Zach (7:13): zachary davis, iu, indiana district

Jose (7:14): ok...to so we'll start with the proposal...if you have any questions we will begin...please indicate the article, section and page before your question

Jose (7:14): i'll open the floor to any questions

Brian (7:15): hand

Darren (7:15): jose can you clarify which document you are referring to?

Jose (7:15): yes...let me clarify

Jose (7:16): the special committee on the future of cki has proposed bylaw changes "exhibit c"

Darren (7:16): thank you

Jose (7:16): the i-board will be reviewing these at the upcoming board meeting

Jose (7:16): if you have any questions about the document now is the time to bring those up

Brian (7:17): article 11 (sub-regions) pg 14

Jose (7:17): brian

Brian (7:18): why does the i-board feel it is necessary to define what the sub-regional standing committees shall be? Wouldn't it be more purposeful for each sub-region to define which committees/task forces will benefit their member clubs?

Brian (7:19): for example, some sub-regions may not find the need for a public-relations manager.

Jose (7:20): the idea is to have a consistant committee structure...these committees are general ones that should be in each but i understand your point that some may not apply to all regions

Brian (7:20): not only that, but do the belong in the bylaws?

Brian (7:21): they would be better served in the cki policy code which is amendable at anytime by a 2/3 vote from the iboard

Zach (7:21): i agree

Jose (7:21): point well taken...i will bring that up to the board. Thanks

Brian (7:22): are we allowed only one question

Brian (7:22): at a time?

Jose (7:22): lol...no feel free to continue until others say they would like to speak

Brian (7:23): article 21 revenue pg 29

Brian (7:23): the annual club fee as presented in this document seems to be based on all clubs in the organization having 20 members, yet insitutions with less than 1,000 students only have to maintain 15 paid members

Brian (7:24): why isn't the annual club fee being prorated like it is for countries with a gnp less than $10,000

Darren (7:25): hand

Brian (7:25): i can see why community colleges will not like the annual club fee it is not amended

Brian (7:25): yield

Jose (7:25): great question...

Jose (7:26): i'm not sure if this point was considered by the special committee/executive committee

Jose (7:26): i will bring it up for consideration and inquire with the staff about this

Jose (7:27): thanks brian, for your questions. You bring up good points

Zach (7:27): article 19 section six page 26

Zach (7:28): why are immediate past area coordinators not allowed to be dals

Zach (7:28): we have always allowed ip govs?

Helen (7:29): are area coordinators elected at icon?

Zach (7:29): if i am reading it correctly currently it would not include the past area coordinators, but rather the dals at icon would be the international board and the current area coordinators

Helen (7:29): no wait. Nevermind

Kevin (7:29): your answer is article 19 page 25 section 5

Kevin (7:29): ip ac's are allowed to vote

Zach (7:30): yes, but only as a rep of a club

Zach (7:30): not as a dal

Jose (7:30): zach you are correct in your reading

Andy (7:31): question not pertaining to this conversation directly and not meant to distract the current conversation: but could a copy of the bylaws be put online that doesn't have pages with text cut off on the bottom?

Zach (7:31): haha. That is a great point andy

Jose (7:32): was an online version cutoff?

Zach (7:32): yes

Andy (7:32): the version you can download from the website, yes

Zach (7:32): and the version with the link as some cut off as well

Andy (7:33): actually, every version of the bylaws i have looked at for the past year have been cut off at the bottom of some of the pages

Jose (7:33): sorry i didn't notice that in my copy

Brian (7:33): hand

Jose (7:33): brian

Brian (7:34): when the new graphic standards were incorporated into the website, some of the pdf files were altered, i believe it will address this once a new staff person is hired full time

Brian (7:34): the website is lacking in a number of areas

Brian (7:34): the copy you provided jose is formatted correctly

Brian (7:34): thanks!

Brian (7:34): yield

Jose (7:34): thanks for clarification

Jose (7:35): lets continue with questions....anyone?

Brian (7:35): hand

Jose (7:35): yes brian

Andy (7:36): yeah, let's fix that before a new staff person is hired, your governing documents should be readily accessible in its complete form without any errors for all general members to view

Andy (7:36): without a time delay

Brian (7:36): article 20 (committees) pg 28

Zach (7:37): just to interject, the website is not controlled by the board or jose, that would be something to speak with casey about, but is a very valid point

Andy (7:37): i'm sure the board or jose can speak to casey

Brian (7:37): why does your iboard feel empowered to change the standing committees for the incoming board of representatives? Would it make sense to evaluate them once the new structure is implemented?

Jose (7:39): these committees are in essance the same with some changes

Brian (7:39): i disagree

Brian (7:39): why are the changes needed?

Jose (7:40): distributing the work into these five committees would allow more flexibility for each committee to specialize in one area

Brian (7:40): but how do we know that when the new structure has not been adopted?

Jose (7:41): the only committee that is changing would be mkfr which would be split up and the addition of resources committee

Darren (7:41): perhaps there has been a problem on this year's committee structure that the i-board felt the need to change the committee's

Brian (7:42): thank you jose for clarifying

Brian (7:42): second question

Jose (7:42): one second

Jose (7:42): these committees were not a suggestion from the board...they were proposed from the special committee...i will inquire what about their thought process in making the changes

Jose (7:43): continue brian

Brian (7:43): article 10 (areas) pg 10

Brian (7:43): section 3 (a)

Brian (7:44): if sub-regions are supposed to be based on the geographic location of chartered and potential clubs why can't areas span across more the one kiwanis district?

Brian (7:44): it seems arbitrary to not base our boundaries on our clubs not kiwanis which have been changed since 1931

Brian (7:45): is this in their to prevent people from ultimately realizing districts wil be elminated eventually if we regionalize?

Brian (7:46): yield

Jose (7:47): i believe this was included to ease some of kiwanis' concerns but i am not entirely sure what the thought process was in making this restriction

Darren (7:47): hand

Jose (7:48): i'll inquire with the committee about their logic

Jose (7:48): brain are you finished with this section?

Jose (7:48): *brian

Brian (7:48): yes sorry i thought i wrote yield :-)

Jose (7:49): darren...

Darren (7:49): article 14 section 1

Darren (7:49): page 20

Darren (7:50): executive committee is being striken

Darren (7:50): to clarify does that mean the whole executive committee is being dissolved

Darren (7:50): if so, which body will make recommendation for bylaw changes and complete all the duties the executive committee does now?

Darren (7:51): yield

Jose (7:51): no, the executive committee will consist of the entire international board

Brian (7:51): hand

Jose (7:51): brian...

Darren (7:51): so i am a little confused then why would the president still not be the presiding officer of the ec

Darren (7:51): ?

Jose (7:52): the exec comm is essentially the board which he already presides over

Brian (7:52): this is consistent with the case for change, however, it needs to clarified that the president is still the presiding officer of all board action

Brian (7:52): and ensure this is consistent with the articles of incorporation

Brian (7:52): this is vague as it is currently written

Brian (7:52): and confusing

Brian (7:53): yield

Darren (7:53): i see...so the duties of the ec will be consumed by the whole board

Darren (7:53): yield

Jose (7:53): correct

Jose (7:53): thanks

Jose (7:53): questions?...

Brian (7:53): hand

Jose (7:54): brian

Brian (7:55): article 21 revenue

Brian (7:55): pg 29

Brian (7:55): section 2

Brian (7:56): how was the iniation fee computed?

Brian (7:56): don't you think it seems a bit excessive especially for clubs with 15 members?

Brian (7:57): shouldn't outgoing key clubbers be given a discount to promote the transition between kci and cki?

Brian (7:57): its already hard enough to get them to pay $25 to international

Brian (7:57): when the currently pay no more than $15 total

Brian (7:57): in most instances

Brian (7:57): yield

Andy (7:58): and it's easier for non-key clubbers to pay that $25?

Brian (7:58): i agree andy

Jose (7:58): very good questions! All numerical figures were done by staff since they are the most knowledgeable about the finances.

Brian (7:58): i am just interested in the point on how this will get more key clubbers as i was told

Jose (7:58): i haver personally been working on a directive to allow key clubbers to have a reduced fee

Jose (8:00): i am looking into this as one of my directives; however, this isn't looking very promising for budget concerns

Brian (8:00): to clarify

Jose (8:00): i completly agree that this is something that should be looked at to become more attractive to key clubbers

Brian (8:00): is $25.00 per person plus the club fee the minimum amout needed for the organization to operate in the black?

Brian (8:01): if so, it needs to be shown to the membership in portland, saying staff supports the amendment is not enough (sorry)

Jose (8:01): correct!

Darren (8:02): perhaps this is something the scotfocki committee should develop

Jose (8:02): i agree with you brian

Tracy (8:02): i also agree with you brian

Jose (8:03): i unfortunately can't tell you all of the logic behind the proposals because i was not on the committee...

Jose (8:04): however, it is very important that we bring up these concerns and discuss them as a board before final amendments are adopted by the board

Brian (8:04): understandable, but it doesn't seem that logic has been made available, just the amendments as they will be submitted for the board meeting have

Jose (8:04): i guarntee you that the proposal as seen will have changes before final amandments are passed by the board

Brian (8:06): hand

Jose (8:06): you are correct...

Andy (8:06): has there been any research into how a reduction of the international dues would affect membership growth?

Jose (8:06): we should be able to answer some of these questions after our board meeting

Jose (8:07): could you clarify your questions?

Brian (8:07): hand

Brian (8:07): to respond

Andy (8:08): clarify: has the board looked into how reducing international dues by a certain percent would increase or decrease membership dues?

Andy (8:08): sorry, increase of decrease membership numbers

Andy (8:08): my bad

Jose (8:09): logically, membership would increase with lower dues...if we look at past trends, membership has decrease each time there has been a dues increase

Andy (8:10): so? Why aren't we decreasing dues? Why operate with only a little over 12,000 members the same way key club operates with over 240,000?

Jose (8:10): lowering membership dues would not fix our budget deficit.

Andy (8:11): would lowering staff members?

Jose (8:11): most staff salaries are paid by kiwanis already

Kevin (8:11): or lowering extraneous spending by the international board?

Andy (8:12): or lowering international board members all together?

Jose (8:12): that's what amendments have done already...

Jose (8:13): next year there will only be seven representatives

Jose (8:13): this is down from 9 trustees

Kevin (8:13): or lowering how the iboard spends our money; ie going to ny for their board meeting; seeing a broadway play on cki; eating at $100/plate meals

Andy (8:13): so if you're lowering board members, decrease dues

Tracy (8:13): hand

Tracy (8:13): just to clarify jose

Tracy (8:14): i thought the number of trustees would go from 9 to 6

Tracy (8:14): correct me if i'm wrong

Andy (8:14): wow, haven't heard the ny or broadway thing, i would have loved to have used my $25 to go see a broadway play

Tracy (8:14): yield

Jose (8:14): no, there will be 7 sub-regions

Tracy (8:14): oh okay

Tracy (8:14): thanks for letting know!

Tracy (8:14): :-)

Jose (8:14): kevin...you have been misinformed

Andy (8:15): is there going to be clarification?

Jose (8:15): board councelor tom dejulio subsidized most of the spending for our board meeting in new york...expenses for entertainment were done exclusively out of his own pocket

Kevin (8:15): hand

Jose (8:15): he and his wife made arrangements for us on their own expense

Jose (8:16): yes kevin

Brian (8:16): hand for the second time

Kevin (8:16): has the international board thought to disclose expenses to the general member of cki

Kevin (8:16): example: "general and administrative expense, $430, 029"

Jose (8:17): one second brian

Kevin (8:17): what is general and administrative?

Terry (8:17): expensive, that's what it is...

Kevin (8:17): obviously

Jose (8:18): g&a expeneses are expenses incurred in the everyday operations not included in the other accounts

Kevin (8:18): such as...

Jose (8:18): anything incurred in the operations of the office which we do not work in

Jose (8:19): let's continue with the proposal and we can return to other concerns later

Jose (8:19): brian please continue

Andy (8:19): and jose, do understand that these questions are not pointed at you directly, they are pointed at the institution itself; with that in mind, do not feel the need to have to defend the institution (not saying that you are)

Kevin (8:19): agreed

Brian (8:20): the new structure does not allow for extraneous spending furthermore a regional structure is a new of operating that requires less money (i.e. lower dues)

Andy (8:20): is that actually going to happen?

Brian (8:20): way

Andy (8:20): or is that just an empty promise to get people to buy-into the new system?

Brian (8:20): it has to otherwise the organization will go bankrupt when you decrease revenue you have to do something

Brian (8:20): i resent that comment andy

Brian (8:20): if the organization is intentionally decreasing revenue

Brian (8:21): under your analysis the organization would simply seek another dues increase but they are not

Brian (8:21): they are trying to do what you have askes, create a structure that doesnt operate like key club and has lower membership dues

Kevin (8:22): nothing has been said about lower dues

Brian (8:22): i admit there are a lot of questions and amendments, but the idea is consistent with the intent of what you asked before we got into the expenses of the december board meeting

Brian (8:22): the lower dues results from the annual club fee

Andy (8:22): and i appreciate that, and as you know through our talks i am in favor of a restructuring of some sort, do not take offense to my comments because they were not directed at you

Kevin (8:23): well it essentially stays the same for the members

Brian (8:23): the annual club fee will result in ppl paying less than $

Brian (8:23): 32 a year

Brian (8:23): over four years

Brian (8:23): right now you pay at least $32 every year regardless of the size of your club

Brian (8:23): that does not encourage growth

Brian (8:23): in fact everyone stops when the hit 20 because that is the minimum

Brian (8:23): yield

Jose (8:24): brian is correct in his comments...thanks!

Terry (8:24): yes, thank you brian

Andy (8:24): thanks for the clarification

Jose (8:25): any additional quesitons about the proposal?

Andy (8:25): is it posted on the website?

Jose (8:25): no, i sent out the link in email and early in the chat. Do you not have it?

Jose (8:26): http://www.box.net/shared/8treb1h1mk

Andy (8:26): thanks, jose!

Jose (8:27): if no further questions on the porposal, i'll open the floor for any questions on anything from the board book.

Brian (8:27): hand

Jose (8:27): yes, brian.

Brian (8:27): article 10 (areas) section 6

Brian (8:28): if the organization is going to assume the responsibility of training area coordinators and club officers, why doesn't the bylaws call for a sub-regional leadership summit where that training can take place after the sub-regional co

Brian (8:28): nvention

Brian (8:28): i think that would put to ease a lot of fears about the organization abandoning officers

Brian (8:28): ncsc does this and so does deca epsilon chi

Brian (8:29): the organzation subsidizes so it is offered at a nominal fee

Brian (8:29): and it last for two days

Brian (8:29): yield

Jose (8:29): thanks for the comment.

Jose (8:30): comments or quesitons on the entire board book?

Jose (8:31): anything?

Kevin (8:31): hand

Jose (8:31): yes, kevin

Brian (8:31): hand

Kevin (8:31): article 10 page 11 section 12

Kevin (8:35): did that go through?

Jose (8:35): no

Kevin (8:35): how will it be possible for clubs to be represented at the sub-regional convention?

Kevin (8:36): for instance, if the convention is held in philadelphia, it is nearly impossible for ck'ers in ohio, tennessee, kentucky, and west virginia to drive and/or fly to the convention due to time and monetary issues...

Kevin (8:36): therefore, how will votes be fairly represented by areas, and in turn, how will elections be fairly represented?

Kevin (8:36): had to break it up

Jose (8:38): this is a good concen; however, it would exist regardless of where conventions are held...in addition, the board is currently considering alternate methods of voting to take place

Jose (8:38): it would certainly require much more fundraising on the part of each club

Jose (8:39): brian do u still have a questions

Brian (8:39): yes

Brian (8:39): agent point 13: article 13, section 6

Brian (8:40): i am greatly concerned about this agenda point. Regardless of the whether or not there was an oversight your board does not have authority to make changes to the bylaws

Brian (8:40): only the policy code

Brian (8:41): this year delegates at large will only vote for president and vice-president unless they are a club delegate than they can vote for their sub-regional rep

Jose (8:41): correct...i think the wording is confusing.

Brian (8:41): this agenda point is rightfully due for the membership's consideration in portland not the international board's

Jose (8:42): if passed by the board, this agenda point will come to the hod in portland

Brian (8:42): well i dont support it as written

Terry (8:42): well this makes the second time the board has decided to render the bylaws optional this year, the first being the refusal to appoint a replacement trustee for christopher laubenthal of the ohio district...

Brian (8:42): and will be speaking with president alec about it

Brian (8:43): "just get it into the bylaws as quickly as possible" sounds like the mdb committee feels it has the right to speak for the organization

Jose (8:43): i agree and don't like it as written either

Brian (8:43): as a reminder it doesn't

Brian (8:43): thank you jose

Brian (8:43): i am glad u understand my concern on that agenda point

Jose (8:44): it was very poorly written and i have many questions of my own to bring up about this agenda point

Jose (8:45): any further questions?

Terry (8:46): hand

Jose (8:46): yes, terry

Terry (8:46): for thoe of us who may have more questions after hearing everything that was said tonight, when is the next chat session scheduled for?

Terry (8:46): *those

Jose (8:47): the next chat is scheduled for tuesday night at 11pmeastern/10pm central/8pm pacific

Terry (8:47): thanks jose!

Terry (8:47): yield

Jose (8:47): if will be unable to attend that chat, you can always email me your comments and questions by wednesday

Jose (8:48): i will be leaving thursday for our board meeting so i need all comments emailed to me before that to josearteaga2@yahoo.com

Jose (8:49): any questions for the last time?

Jose (8:50): alright...well thank you all for attending. Great comments and questions.