Board Meeting Notes 7-17-2025
- Peter McManus II
- Sep 17
- 3 min read
0. Priority Agenda Item Added to Meeting
Discuss & Make Decisions on Steve’s Proposal regarding migrant support
Steve to Lead Discussion
½. Other business
Nazeela to Speak at a UN General Assembly week side event. Steve to share video with the board
1. Discussion about interim board secretary including minutes from last meeting -
Unanimously Accepted Minutes from Previous Meeting
2. Steve’s Proposal Regarding Human Rights Program for Migrant Solidarity
Use our Human Rights Program bank account to accept donations for Migrant Solidarity Team (MST) actions like those listed below. tPC could then offer donors a tax benefit for their charitable contributions. Steve would have checks made out to tPC and would deposit them himself. Steve would also keep accounts and write checks for charitable purposes chosen by the MST.
Past actions by MST which similar to which the donations would be supporting - Per Steve’s email:
sponsored two families of Afghan refugees, helping them furnish their apartments, acquire cars, find jobs, get their kids in school, and providing modest financial support
managed an Immigrant Relief and Assistance Fund (IRAF), which, with funding from the church, has distributed over $25,000 in small (<$500) emergency grants for migrants needing immediate help in making rent, getting the car they used as Uber drivers repaired, buying clothes for a job interview, etc.
initiated a KYR program to provide migrants with Know Your Rights materials, so they can know what to do if federal agencies attempt to detain them without a judicial warrant
worked with local employers of migrants to inform them of how they can legally refuse access to their properties without a judicial warrant
trained migrant families with a Family Preparedness Package of information on how to prepare for the possibility that one or more parents is detained
cosponsored an Accompaniment Training to train volunteers to accompany migrants to their required hearings and appearances at immigration court
Would be managed & reported out by Steve to the board
Pending approval from partner organizations Asylum Works & All Souls Unitarian Church in DC
Steve poses that the majority of the donors would already be involved with the MST, and not be solicited or an appeal to a broader community & process of donating the funds will be well documented & transparent through the rules of the All Souls Unitarian Church, and the laws of the United States. This proposal fits within the major criteria of our bylaws.
Andy amends the proposal such that any public appeal for fundraising for this cause would require approval of the board.
Board unanimously votes to approve the proposal.
3. Volunteer to manage Conflict of Interest statements for 2025.
IRS Recommendation for all 501c3s annually, plus improved rating on charity navigator.
Bruce to share current form with board members to fill out.
Steve volunteers to manage, document, and ensure all board members sign and return. Statement that all board members have signed and returned conflict of interest forms to be posted on the website.
4. Update on three Rotary projects - Bruce
Vista Hermosa project with Annapolis Rotary has successfully fundraised for Phase 1 (clean water) and is working to fundraise for phase 2 (wastewater)
Panimaquip project has successfully fundraised for water via the Friends of San Lucas Mission and is working to fund sanitation with a rotary group out of Rochester, MN
The Las Canoas project is working with an investment firm to fund. AdP has done large portions of the design. Potentially servicing up to 1000 families, one of the largest projects tPC has been involved with to date.
5. Board Member Blog Contributions - 100 Word Essay with Photos
Jose’s is posted on the website (under the news section). Steve has provided a statement for comment - Bruce has posted on the website. Andy & Peter pending.
6. Discussion about a first draft of appeal to past donors (including Steve’s??) one month of your water and sewer bill each year - water for a rural Guatemalan for ever!
Andy to provide first draft, suggests having appeal to send out in December
Bruce suggests note to appeal to average cost of water/wastewater bill in the US
7. Promotions - email blasts or Google Ads - Alex's ideas - volunteer to follow up?
Discussion postponed to next meeting due to time constraints
8. Summit in 2026 :
Board to fill Google form to fill out best times to hold the summit. Andy mentions early January is not the best time for a summit.
9. Microscope for AdP to show microbes using tPC funds
Andy suggests a microscope with a projector system. Andy to look into a model to propose for the next meeting (or sooner).
10. Set the date and time for the next meeting.
Second Wednesday of December (12/10/25) at 7:15pm EST
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