Hey there Icaristas -

We just had a phone conference meeting of national organizers trying to figure out what is going to happen with national finances as

a)the national structure shifts to a more decentralized model with local groups, regional hubs, and the web community becoming more prominent, and a "national collective" dissolving or reshaping (no more paid staff members)
b) Annie, who's been holding down a lot of responsibility for Icarus national's finances, steps back from that role.

in the interest of more transparency and communication with folks who weren't able to be at the meeting, I thought I'd go ahead and post these notes in the fundraising working group.

PRESENT:
Jacks
Annie
Molly
Will (at end)

$ MATTERS/IDEAS:
• Legacy - passing off work (Annie)

• Split financially into "working/regional groups"
- obtain state-based non-profit status - for $30, register with secretary of state, can then get no-fee non-profit bank account, EIN number with which can later file for 501C3 if eventually desired
- incorporate regionally as real entities. some larger regional hubs may want to seek fiscal sponsorship from other incubator/umbrella non-profits
NE and web
Bay Area

• FJC - use as national account, for grants, major fundraising drives, etc.

CONCERNS:
Who is the decision-making body? Whoever shows up? How do we work this out?
Participatory democracy style instead of collective?
If splitting into more decentralized groups, how do we stay connected? Secure dedicated reps from each group? what does accountability look like in this structure?
*Have some kind of seasonal pow-wows - once a season, a real time meet-up, local group reps who can make it do, others can teleconference or skype in from other locations. Aim to have first one in early spring.


ROLES:
By end of November, Annie will officially pass on reins of financial responsibility. Still 100% committed to being a part of the collective/organizing body, but in different capacities (esp. interested in developing NE regional hub).

FJC liasons - Will and Jacks (and Angel until distro set-up resolved)
Butler grant (Dec) - Jacks
Semi-annual FJC reports (Jan, July) - Eric and Will
Holiday fundraising drive - ?? BREAK INTO PIECES AND TAG-TEAM
Major Donors - Annie (with Sascha and Anita)


ACTIONS ITEMS:
- Annie: 1. put together and send out $ "legacy"
2. FJC liason updating with Amanda

- Jacks: send out email re: Butler grant and Scarsongs

- Eric: What are the pieces that go into the holiday fundraising drive? So we can divide and share the work.

- Molly and Christan re: local end of year fundraising efforts (how to use new poster design, what incentives can be put in place?)

- Use new poster/design for holiday fundraising drive?

- Will: follow through with web design group about out barebones budget, so then we can determine how much to allot from FJC funds to support this effort

- Early spring and mid/late summer "pow-wows" in different regions: start brainstorming


NEXT CALL: MONDAY, NOV. 22, 3PM EST/ 12PM PST
1. fundraising drive components delegation
2. distro!

FOR INSPIRATION:
Molly just bought a Winnebago! and it's going to be the mobile mad-lands for folks from Asheville who need some relief and a vacation...
Jacks is going up to the Human Dignity Film Festival to speak after crooked beauty screens there this week, and is planning a NW tour with Kiran after folks at Evergreen, in Portland, and in Vancouver & Seattle have asked us (either jointly or individually) to come do workshops. It will probably happen in January
Bay Area Icarus is having Ethan Watters (author of crazy like us) as a speaker in December.
Asheville has an amazing mutual aid network going on, complete with things like helping folks out with in-home hospitalization alternatives, helping each other with grocery shopping, etc. And they are starting a book discussion group on Navigating the Space.