2021 Agenda & Minutes

Agenda/Minutes for PPA Business Meeting 2021

Called to order 12:35 by President Von Ahnen.Attending: Benjamin Mendelsohn, Jon Elvert, Mark Webb, Andy Kreyche, John Young, Karl Von Ahnen, Andrew Kerr, John Erickson, Mary Holt, Tony Smith, Toshi Kamatsu, Annette Sotheran-Barnett

0. Additions to agenda? [none]

1. Approve minutes of 2020 meeting

Benjamin: Correction to 2020 Minutes—Mark Webb is part of the IDEA Diversity Committee Andy moved to approve minutes; Jon secondedMinutes approved.

2. Reports:

Treasurer's: Treasurer presented income, expenditures, and balances of bank & Paypal accounts.

IPS representative’s report (Benjamin)
Board elections are coming up soon. Michele Wistisen is our Board Rep for IPS. vCon is next week. 2022 Conference is in St Petersburg. 2024 Conference in Berlin -- https://www.ips-planetarium.org

Committee reports:

IDEA Committee (Andy)
Mark Webb gave intro to IDEA Committees work yesterdayInclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility.Several members are on IPS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee alsoCommittee members are listed on IDEA web page https://www.ppadomes.org/business/idea-committeeFocus on one idea: indigenous land acknowledgement and collaboration with indigenous groups. Pilot project with Willard Smith Planetarium in Seattle. Develop best practices.

Mini-Grants Committee (Jon)
Last year had 10 submissions for grant. This year there were nine submissions and the committee selected three. $500 each. Awardees will be posted on the mini grants web page by August 5: Keith Turner (Indiana), Jacqeline Benitez (San Francisco), Rosemarie Walling (Juneau). The Planetarians' Zoom Seminar was a good platform for reporting from last year's awardees. https://www.ppadomes.org/business/mini-grants

History Non-committee
There is recording of an Old-timers' meeting from June 25, 2021 in the Planetarians' Zoom Seminar archive. https://www.ppadomes.org/events/online-seminars/ppsarchiveBing Quock is chair of this "non-committee"

3. New Business

Discussions:

3 mini-grants for this year. Ways to sustainably fund grants in the future. How much can we sustainably draw from the general fund? Karl: we can afford one $500 grant per year. Possible special donation fund for mini grants. If we can get donations, perhaps we could have enough for more grants. Could add a donation button in the website. Could we have an option to add a donation when paying membership dues? Should mini grants only go to PPA members? One person suggested that if only 1 grant it should be a PPA member. Motion: (Alan) PPA grant committee is authorized to give out at least one and up to three $500 mini grants each year, depending on the treasurer's analysis of the year's income and expenses. Tony seconded the motion. Passed with 10 yays, 1 nay.

Change bylaws to allow for committees to last more than 1 year? Karl officially reinstated IDEA, Mini Grant committees. No need to change bylaws at this time

4. Elections:
Nominations....Bob Pippin nominated via email:
Karl Von Ahnen for President
Mary Holt for Secretary
Alan Gould for Treasurer

Mary Holt nominated herself for Secretary.

Alan moved, Benjamin seconded to close nominations. Passed.

Andrew moved that we accept by voice vote the entire slate. Mary seconded. Motion approved unanimously.

5. next year's business meeting
WAC may be invited to join SEPA in Huntsville for 2022.

6. Announcements?

Andy: MAPS is voting on ratifying gender inclusive language. PPA Bylaws are already compliant.

Adjourn

[original] Agenda for PPA Business Meeting 2021

Additions to agenda?

Approve minutes of 2020 meeting

Reports:

Treasurer's

IPS representative’s report

Committee reports:

IDEAs Committee

Mini-Grants Committee

History Non-committee

New Business

Discussions:

3 mini-grants for this year. Ways to sustainably fund grants in the future.

How much can we sustainably draw from the general fund?

Possible special donation fund for mini grants

Change bylaws to allow for committees to last more than 1 year?

Elections:

Nominations....

Close nominations

Ayes and Nays for any running unopposed.

Form elections committee if needed.

Discuss next year's business meeting

Announcements?

Adjourn