February 12, 2024
- Call to Order 6:30pm
Present
Bob Sterry, president
Aaron Erhardt, treasurer
Sherri Levine
Kate Ristau, Vice President
Juan Cervantes
David Goodrum
Sharon Johnson
Debra Elisa Wöhrmann, secretary
Resigned: Corine Hughes
- Approve minutes of the last meeting
Sherri moved to accept, and they were accepted.
- Sharon Johnson joined the board.
Aaron moved to appoint her to the board; David seconded this—and it was anonymous.
- Officer Reports
- President
OPA has a new bank account and $5000 have been left in old account just in the case expenses need to be covered.
Sue Crawford has been hired as bookkeeper for OPA
We will also be consulting with a CPA
All Classical Music: They are still in the process of moving to their new location.
Following up on Insurance coverage for all of us: The board will be covered, and the insurance will also cover the conference.
Dale is working on a cover for the next Verseweaver
Corinne has resigned.
b. Vice President
Youth Contest is live on Submittable, and all contests are updated.
c. Treasurer
45,725 is the current balance
Payment for Mile Post 82 has not gone through
A meeting will be rescheduled with the new bookkeeper to get books into good order
We will have a new members push when the 2024 Conference opens
302 current members
Dues to the national org $3/member
d. Secretary
Will meet up with JB to sign papers
5. Committee Reports
- Youth Contest
Sharon has offered to take over the contest
It’s open for submissions
Literary Arts will be having a Youth Poet Laureate
Since Corinne resigned, the other committee members will be working together, along with Sharon, on the Youth Contest
- Hispanic Contest
The president asked what Juan (coordinator of Hispanic Contest) would like in a letter addressed to poets, inviting them to enter the Hispanic Contest: Juan suggests something brief, and he will email ideas to Bob
The OPA is doing a special Hispanic Contest because we would like to include more voices.
Judges are being selected.
A link to Facebook should be published about the contest
- Adult Contest
Window for submissions is mid-June and the deadline is August 1
The committee plans to communicate ahead of time so poets have plenty of time to plan for submitting to the contest.
Judges have been contacted.
- Conference
Kate, Bob, and Sue Lick met as the conference committee
Too early to predict the cost of conference
Eight workshop leaders will be needed
Two keynotes are wanted: an energetic opener and a well-established ending keynote.
Theme: Lines in the Sand
Fee
Regular Members: $150
Non-Members: $200
Zoom Attendee: $99
Student: $60
Board Members: $150—there was discussion as to whether board members should be invited to attend at a discount since they are working to make the conference happen.
Session leaders: Comp
Contest winners: Comp
Keynote Speakers: Comp
Publicity should begin: Post a Save-the-date on website and social media
Lorna Rose is still doing Social Media, but the board is responsibility for website
Two Mixers, Sherri and Juan, will be available at conference to help introduce people to each other.
Catering is under discussion
Meeting with the Hotel ahead of time is a common practice, so the board members might all go out to Agate Beach in the spring.
- Finance
6. Other Business
We need a new board member, and the by-laws say nine members is the max.
When there is a vacancy, the president can appoint a new member
It was suggested that the by-laws be changed so the OPA can have 11 or 12 board members.
We need to communicate more clearly the advantages of belonging to OPA: A simple letter would be helpful.
Remember to talk up OPA at readings and other events.
Mail Chimp or Constant Contact can be used to communicate with big groups: Wild Apricot can do this kind of communication.
OPA can partner with April poetry events, especially libraries.
7. Future Meetings:
- Next Board Meeting: Monday, March 18
- Contest Committee will meet on Feb. 20 @ 7:30p
Meeting adjourned 7:47pm