May 2024 Board Notes

Date:

05/14/2024

Attendance:

Board Attended: Alli Cassel, Alyssa Johnson, Christina Kramer, Bruce Levine, Chelsea “Buttons” Lieser, Kristen Loth, and Nick Nelson
Board Absent:
Observers: Aaron Zeug, Amy Johnson, Anthony LaBerge (Labantnet ), Ari Aceves, Briana Johnson, Brittany Hecker (BrittanyBlue), Chase Wirth, Children Of Gielinor, Christina F, Cian Ghost, Dezzy Boswelll, emily haack, Emily Olp (Battle Bard), Eric Olp, Erick Hofer (Daysting), Fishay, Hope Kronen (Hope K), James C. Horvath (J.C.) (J.C. Horvath), James Lionberger, Jason Bruner (DJLiquid86), Jay Bottem (McCutrey/JayBottem), Jeannette Wallen, Jeremiah Keohen (Jerry Keohen), Jesus Zinn, JoLee Becker (Aura), Justin Paquette, Karen Loth (Inkmahm), Katherine Riemer, Kevin Ehrler, Kiana Herman (Kiana Herman), Kitlanya Pridemore-Bottem, kpk4803, Liz Spafford (Amusedbookworm), Lori Fischer (LA Fisc ), Lucas brown (MrRamrod91 or RuRuRamRod ), Miao, Michael Koos (Koosman23), Michael Nicchetta, Michele Jean, Nicholas Hinchliff, Rebecca Thelen (Bex), Ronald Melanz (FairseasX), Samantha Cozort (Samantha ), shellijean, Sheri Cleveland, Sheri Koos (sherickoos), Sherilyn Brown, Sky Dunn, Tabitha Kostiuk, Tessa Anderson, Tori Winkelman (Toriwink12), Troy MacDonald, Viktoria Magno (Sweet_Tori), Von hillner (Von keller)

Notes:

Anime Twin Cities Board Meeting Minutes

May
14th, 2024
6:30 PM

Board Present - Alli Cassel, Alyssa Johnson, Christina Kramer, Bruce Levine, Chelsea “Buttons” Lieser, Kristen Loth, and Nick Nelson

Public – Aaron Zeug, Amy Johnson, Anthony LaBerge (Labantnet ), Ari Aceves, Briana Johnson, Brittany Hecker (BrittanyBlue), Chase Wirth, Children Of Gielinor, Christina F, Cian Ghost, Dezzy Boswelll, emily haack, Emily Olp (Battle Bard), Eric Olp, Erick Hofer (Daysting), Fishay, Hope Kronen (Hope K), James C. Horvath (J.C.) (J.C. Horvath), James Lionberger, Jason Bruner (DJLiquid86), Jay Bottem (McCutrey/JayBottem), Jeannette Wallen, Jeremiah Keohen (Jerry Keohen), Jesus Zinn, JoLee Becker (Aura), Justin Paquette, Karen Loth (Inkmahm), Katherine Riemer, Kevin Ehrler, Kiana Herman (Kiana Herman), Kitlanya Pridemore-Bottem, kpk4803, Liz Spafford (Amusedbookworm), Lori Fischer (LA Fisc ), Lucas brown (MrRamrod91 or RuRuRamRod ), Miao, Michael Koos (Koosman23), Michael Nicchetta, Michele Jean, Nicholas Hinchliff, Rebecca Thelen (Bex), Ronald Melanz (FairseasX), Samantha Cozort (Samantha ), shellijean, Sheri Cleveland, Sheri Koos (sherickoos), Sherilyn Brown, Sky Dunn, Tabitha Kostiuk, Tessa Anderson, Tori Winkelman (Toriwink12), Troy MacDonald, Viktoria Magno (Sweet_Tori), Von hillner (Von keller)

For questions asked please refer to the May 2024 ATC Board Meeting livestream.

Agenda is available in the link in the description of the livestream, these meetings are counted for attendance for voting rights please comment your name in the chat and fill out the google form.
 

Recap off cycle board actions and votes.

  • Bylaws
    • We were going to make a change to the Bylaws but circumstances changed so we cancelled that meeting so there is nothing regarding Bylaws to vote for.
       

Open Session (First 30 minutes)

  • Any members of the community can bring new business to discuss with the board.
    • Accessibility team should be remaining the same at Anime Detour.
    • We will come back to the investigation.
    • Brittany- Accessibility could’ve used more staff engagement.
    • The parties we used to hold were put on by SOS we would love to start having those again, but we need to wait until we can find someone to plan them.
    • Convention group – Brittany- if there are members who would want stuff shared send to the Board and Brittany and if it is something that is in question and it may not align with ATC board core values she can run it by the board but since we don’t have a coordinator for some of those roles it is difficult to get content, but once we get more coordinators then Brittany would have way more to share. If anyone has that please send to Brittany who will get it out there.

 

Planned Discussions from scheduled visiting parties/ATC Partners

  • None
     

Coordinator Updates

  • Anime Detour -
    • Currently suspended so we don’t have one right now
       
  • Communications – Brittany
    • She had a cool idea for engagement since we don’t host or have a lot of other events.
    • If we host a livestream maybe something like a YouTube recommendation share and discuss social media content from other cons like an open monthly thing, since she is a coordinator that could be another thing to be involved in.
    • Could do 10-12 meetings in a year and if people attended 6 or more of them that would mean they have 60% attendance could mean more attendee voter rights and would get more people engaged and have it done virtually, to reach out on our social media platforms to engage. It could be hosted as an ATC monthly event.
    • Christina- We used to have clubs but that sort of went away.
    • Kristen- We do have attendee discord servers could stream or host jackbox nights or a game night.
    • Brittany- Can’t do active and involved stuff in MN since she moved out of state, but virtual content could make it the social media monthly meeting it would be a way to engage in the detour downtime. That is a concept to fill the media void.
    • Christina – if you want to do a writeup for that that would be great.
    • Brittany, she could plan three months in advance for some content, could start it up in two months and then would have time in the future for more ideas and would be nice to have a small team of people to help with coordinating it.
       
    • Christina will resend Brittany a reminder to share about upcoming elections.
       
  • Finance – From Sky
    • The total dollar amount in each of our accounts are as follows:
      • Business Checking - $344,335.85
      • Education Fund – 3,098.09
      • Business Market Rate Savings (Community Fund) - $14,505.93
         

15 Minute Break (If the preceding topics take little time, the board may vote to skip this)- skipped

 

Current Month Board Topics

  • Toshocon 2024 Proposal
    • This will be their 8th year it is a single day anime convention asking for funding help.
    • They are asking for a $3,000 dollar donation which is what we funded for them last year.
    • Christina is all for it, it is free, and it is a great little meet up for kids they had over 300 people last year.
    • We need to vote to agree to the funding request.
    • The group is called the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, its run by the people at the library and they have volunteer staff, we approved the funding last year as well for Toshocon.
    • Buttons has no problem with the 3K and Alli concurred.
       

Motion to pass the funding for 3K
Seconded
Motion passes
 

  • Annual meeting reminder, elections, 5/28
    • Two weeks same time same place 6:30pm on stream. We will have interviews and then elections will go live for voting for new board members.
    • 1 treasurer and 3-member at large positions are up for election.
    • We have received a lot of applicants we might schedule interviews before the meeting, but they will likely still be on the YouTube page so people can watch before they vote.
    • “The members at large are responsible for monitoring the performance of ATC Coordinators, appointing new officers if necessary and removing officers in cases of demonstrated failure to perform or conviction of a felony under state or federal law. The members at large shall consist of at least three members in good standing of ATC. Members at large will be elected for a two-operating-year term, with a minimum of one member at large not up for election each operating year.” (Taken from 2021 Bylaws)
    • Members at large also vote on funding Anime Detour and funding outside events like we just did for Toshocon. We approve coordinator positions and any budget requests they would have as well.
       
  • Investigation Results
    • And now for the much-anticipated topic for the evening. I know we were all expecting for the results of the investigation to be presented this evening.
    • Mr. Gravely of Halverson Legal had his investigator reach out to Mr. MacDonald to schedule an interview on multiple occasions. This invitation was not accepted until late Friday night. The interview was partially completed yesterday and was still continuing today as of this evening.
    • There will be multiple hours of transcripts for Mr. Gravely to review. Based on Mr. MacDonald's cooperation we are hoping to have the results by the annual meeting on 5/28.
       
    • That is all we have with the investigation at this time.
    • Troy is still suspended until the investigation has been completed which has been pushed out until the 28th. Troy has been talking with investigators, so we assume he knows why he is being investigated.
    • We will not be discussing the allegations of the investigation since it is an open investigation.
    • Kristen has been restored after her investigation was completed.
    • On the 28th we will have the information regarding the convention chair. We will not know anything further until then. Brian will go over the transcripts and will then present his report to us the Board and then we will be able to present it on the 28th.
    • Given the lack of information we knew there would be questions regarding it, so that was why we waited until the end so we could go over questions, and we could still get through everything else first.
    • We will not talk about the reasons for Kristen’s investigation unless she decides to talk about that openly we will not make that decision for her.
    • ATC does not currently have an NDA.
    • No, it is not a criminal investigation.
    • Yes, Kristen knows what she was charged with.
    • We will not be naming an interim chair since the suspension has been extended two weeks.
       
    • ATC definitely wants to continue having good events, would like to start having more events. We have only really had Anime Detour for a while.
    • We are closing the meeting for today at 7pm, we will be back in two weeks.


Motion to adjourn
Seconded
 

7:00pm meeting adjourned.


Please contact atcboard@animetwincities.org or atc_secretary@animetwincities.org if you would like to be added to the agenda for discussion items.