Minutes for Meeting - 30th August 2000

In attendance: 9. Apologies: 2

Finances: J. provided a comprehensive report detailing July's financial situation. Expenses have been greater than income. GST has added to the ongoing costs. Expenses are also incurred through couriering satellite broadcast tapes each week from Sydney, the downlinking costs and the monthly propagation fund. Donations at the door have been much lower recently at the satellite broadcast events. Is it again time to consider the possibility of renting our own venue in the light of how much is paid out in room hire each week?

Filling of various contact and service roles: P. has been caretaking the local contact role for over three months and is unable to continue due to a heavy commitment in other areas of participation. This and several other positions are vacant. For example, program managers, assistance at events, contact for low key advertising, contact for propagation, contact for the phone tree, fundraising contact are all roles seeking expressions of interest. M. has been diligent in informing people of these and other opportunities and following up with information for anyone who has expressed interest in a role. Several people are currently busy outside of the Gold Coast doing other service. It was suggested that when these people return, a further meeting be arranged to concentrate on filling many of these vacancies. How will we proceed with the role of local contact? It was suggested that a group of four people look after this role - one of the four taking the active role as the contact while the others support that person. This could be rotated throughout the year, each person being in that primary position for three months at a time. It has also been suggested that the meeting consider in the future, a comfortable process for implementing and monitoring satisfaction with the positions being filled. Several centres now conduct formal interviews with applicants. Proposal for the next meeting: that the Gold Coast meetings are informed of who has offered to fill a position; the meeting accepts this if there are no concerns; then after a period of three months the situation is evaluated as to how it is progressing and whether or not it remains comfortable for all concerned. This safeguard gives the person applying time to evaluate their comfort and provides the opportunity to reconsider it.

Schedule of events: It was decided to conduct an introductory event on Sunday, 24th September at 5.30pm. The satellite broadcast event will be screened at 4 pm on Sunday 24th. Refreshments will be served following the introductory event. At the beginning of October it is possible that two satellite broadcast tapes will be screened on the same Sunday - a double feature from the events in England and Rome. Footnote: At the end of October it is possible that one of the satellite broadcast tapes will be suitable for guests to attend. This is still being finalised.

Invitation cards: The small cards that have been used for eighteen months are now depleted. It was decided to have these cards reprinted with the appropriate changes to the contact numbers and to include the website addresses.

Next meeting will be held at P. F.'s house which is at nn Harrison Street, Mudgeeraba - phone 5522 nnnn. Everyone is warmly invited to attend. The meeting will begin at 6.15 pm and end by 8 pm. Please pass any agenda items to B.