July 22, 2008 (McNamara residence)

Present: Michael McNamara, Scott Sweeney, Michael Berman, Kevin McMahon, Michelle Wilson, Bill Engleson, Jenny Brown, Masoud Zadeh.
Regrets: Joanne Ovitsland, Erin O'Brien-Hornsey, Ian Thomson (Recorder: Reina LeBaron)

Call to order: 7:35 pm

1. Minutes accepted as presented by general consent

2. Agenda accepted

3. Conflict of interest

a. Does ISLA need a sub-committee to work on this? Do we need a written conflict of interest policy?
General discussion: doesn’t seem to be an issue now, but could come up in the near future. I.e. Board members as potential owners, who will get contracts to design, build, etc. We should start thinking about a policy now. It should be separate from the Constitution. May want to have public discussion around this. In six months or so we will need a more detailed policy.
There was general agreement to work on this at the Board development retreat in October.

4. Constitution

a. Michael B reported: Revenue Canada says our Constitution is too wide-ranging for charitable status. It needs to be reworked, made simpler. Needs to resemble Salt Spring’s Constitution, which received charitable status. (Michael B handed out copies of ISLA’s and S.S’s constitution, for comparing and contrasting.)

b. Michael B’s changes and suggestions:

-narrow the stated goals of ISLA

-emphasize hold land in perpetuity for provision of long-term affordable housing

-may want to schedule separate meetings to work on re-doing Constitution.

c. General discussion: comparing and contrasting ISLA’s Constitution with S.S.’s is a positive. General good feeling about S.S’s constitution, except it doesn’t include “in perpetuity”, which ISLA needs. Question: Does “in perpetuity” need to be in ISLA’s written Constitution?

d. Point raised by Michael B: ISLA has not yet committed to low-income exclusivity. Discussion: If someone qualifies for an ISLA home based on their income and then their income increases, what happens?

ACTION: Michael B will ask CRA about low-income: How do they monitor and administer people’s incomes? Will resume discussion of this at next meeting.

5. Quilt update

a. Michelle reported: going well. Judith and Lu have been handling their duties very well. Tina is taking over until Aug 7^th, when Scott and Masoud will take over.

b. The money received is currently being received and held by HIES, the organization which holds the gaming license. A percentage of the proceeds which is yet to be negotiated, will be earmarked for ISLA.

c. Suggestion: A big chart showing the statistics that were put out in the recent Grapevine insert would be a great public education tool and useful for those working the quilt raffle.

ACTION: Kevin and Michael M. will produce this.

6. Separate Charity

a. Discussed under ‘Constitution’. ISLA may need to consider forming a separate organization, a charity, to encompass the non-profit, low-income sector of our housing goals. To be discussed further at future meetings.

7. Bernhard Weiss update

a. Michael B spoke with Bernhard and reported that he is not opposed to higher density on the land and is warming up to the idea of low-income, rent-controlled rentals as a percentage of the housing. Bernhard also suggested that ISLA adopt Salt Spring’s method of staggered Board elections, as a safety net against losing an entire Board all at once.

b. Discussion: General agreement that staggered elections are a good idea. The issue of Bernhard’s possible influence on the Board was discussed. General agreement that the ISLA board has the power to accept or reject any of Bernhard’s suggestions. Agreement that relationship building continues to be the key to success for this venture.

8. Board Development

a. General agreement that a workshop in the fall is a good idea.

b. The sub-committee of Bill and Kevin hasn’t met yet. Bill hasn’t yet heard back from Tony regarding names of possible training facilitators.

c. Discussion: Are there other Hornby groups, such as Elder Housing, that may wish to share the training with us? Opinion voiced that any shared training would need to be with a compatible group (such as Elder Housing) and include breakout sessions for ISLA. Suggestion of a six hour training day, followed by a next morning follow-up meeting.

ACTION: Michael B will ask HIES if money might be available to fund retreat and will ask April for names of possible facilitators.

ACTION: Bill and Kevin will work on a proposal for the money.

ACTION: All ISLA Board members to brainstorm what we would like to get out of the training and state when we are available in October. Undeclared who to send this info to.

9. Budget

a. We need to create a budget. We need money.

ACTION: Michael M will help Kevin develop a draft budget for the next meeting. Understanding that is will be an evolving process.

ACTION: Bill will look into deadlines for Real Estate Board grant and the possibility of applying for it during the next quarterly cycle.

10. Membership

a. Kevin reported that ISLA currently has about 40 paid-up members, with 74 in our database.

b. Discussion: How do we increase membership and ensure yearly membership renewal? Public education, awareness, and excitement greatly needed. Understanding that membership drive will be a continual and ever-evolving process.

ACTION: Each Board member will email Jenny some creative prose on the loose theme: “Why am I inspired to be part of ISLA?” (Why am I here?)

ACTION: Jenny will assemble submissions and email back to Board to get the PR campaign rolling.

ACTION: Scott is interested in helping to manage database and possibly help increase renewals. Michael B. will assist with this..

11. Staff person

a. No action taken by committee on this yet.

b. Discussion: Administrator position could develop into Exe. Dir. Position. We need a job description.

ACTION: Jenny will email Sandy Bishop and other contacts from Housing Conference for possible job descriptions from their organizations.

12. Other business and next meeting

a. Michael M has spoken with Bill Rapanos and Peter Elkins regarding their interest in helping ISLA. Peter Elkins is especially interested in fundraising. Suggestion that they might by good folks to have in working groups, but not necessarily on the board.

b. Jenny mentioned her enthusiasm for a fundraising show around the holiday season, something with mass appeal.

c. Kevin reported that ISLA has $3,777.00 in its treasury as of the date of the meeting. He made an application to the Community Fund for $2,100, half of the proposed staff person’s salary. Grants are awarded in late summer. Thanks, Kevin.

d. Next meeting: All ISLA members voted for no August meeting. September meeting to be announced.

ACTION: All Board members to email Jenny with dates of availability.

Adjourned: 9:35 pm