Board Minutes: July 14, 2021

MINUTES

OF

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WMCC

A Zoom meeting of the board of directors of Western Mass Climbers Coalition (WMCC, a Massachusetts Nonprofit corporation), was held on July 14, 2021 at 7p ET pursuant to notice given in accordance with Article 11, Section 3 of the WMCC’s bylaws.

All of the directors were present at the meeting:
Stephanie Giguere, President; Dolci Mascolo and Sara McFadden, Co-Vice Presidents; Danielle Rao, Treasurer; Pamela Matsuda-Dunn, Secretary; Wayne Burleson; and Rob Sullivan.

Stephanie Giguere called the meeting to order. Based on the number of directors in attendance at the meeting and the Non-Profit’s by-laws, the Secretary determined that a quorum was present and stated that the meeting could proceed. Topics discussed and decisions made follow below.

Bylaws:
The first order of business was to note that the updated bylaws were passed by a vote of the Board over email. The next step, approval by WMCC members, began on July 12. Members will be able to vote on the new bylaws until August 10 via a one-time link emailed to all members.

Board changes:
Michelle Lloyd-Dedischew notified the board via email that she needs to step down from the board and her duties as chair of the JDEI committee, which was accepted by Stephanie.
Rob Sullivan has been appointed to the board to serve out the remainder of her term, which ends when new board members are elected later this year.

WMCC T-shirts:
The board voted to use the design that Dan Jazwinski submitted. This will be one of a number of designs that the board will approve for sale through printify.com.

Tabling for Central Rock Gym, Hadley’s Summer Send series:
The Board will do a tabling event for the first day of the series, Friday July 23, and the last day, Friday August 20. It will be staffed July 23 by Stephanie and Rob and August 20 by Pamela and another volunteer (to be determined).

WMCC Nominations for Board:
We have 4 seats which were filled within the last calendar year. This leaves 3 seats open, with a possibility of 5 seats open if the new bylaws are passed (which will then allow for a maximum Board size of 9).
The Board asked Danielle Rao to run for re-election and nominated Rob Sullivan to run for the board.

Timeline for election process:
9/15 Deadline for nomination submissions, including from WMCC members
9/16-10/14 Potential nominees to be vetted by Board
10/15Nominees to be presented to the general membership
10/15-11/15 Voting by WMCC members on Board nominees
11/17 Board meeting to vote for officer positions

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission/First Light (FERC/FL):
WMCC Priorities:
1. To request the transfer of lands where WMCC-managed crags exist within the area up for re-licensing, i.e., Farley Ledges and Rose to the Access Fund, who would in turn transfer the land to the WMCC.
2. If land transfer to the Access Fund is not an option, our priority will be to gain free, public access to climbing in perpetuity in an informal agreement.
3. WMCC does not want climbing to be formally recognized.
It was voted unanimously that WMCC will try to buy the land and that WMCC will submit its own letter to FERC requesting our priorities.

There being no other business to consider, the meeting was adjourned 8:57 pm.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 18 at 7p via Zoom.

………………………………………
Pamela Matsuda-Dunn
Secretary