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DESERT SURVIVORS

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Berkeley Main Library, Central Community Meeting Room, Third Floor

2090 Kittredge Street, Berkeley, CA 94709

(cross street: Shattuck Avenue)

How to get there:

The Berkeley Main Library (also called the Central Library) is located one block from the Downtown Berkeley BART station, and there are numerous A/C Transit bus lines that run up and down Shattuck Avenue. There are also several public parking garages in the area. Street parking can be difficult. Another option is to park at the North Berkeley BART parking lot and take BART to the Downtown Berkeley BART station.

Agenda:

Please note:

Two pre-AGM planning meetings have been scheduled and are open to any and all who wish to attend. The first planning meeting will be on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 2043 Berryman Street, Berkeley, CA 94709. Ph. 510-528-3360. The second planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 1327 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA 94702. Ph. 510-540-7162. Both meetings will begin at 7:30 pm.

See WHAT YOU CAN DO for additional information on the PreAGM planning meetings.

Additional Information:

For additional information, please contact Dave Halligan (hallidave@yahoo.com)

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Whether and how Desert Survivors continues beyond September 25, 2010 will be determined by YOU, your willingness to participate, and your dedication to the cause of Desert Survivors.

Attend the two planning workshops to discuss the future of Desert Survivors . Two workshops will be held prior to the AGM. Your participation and active involvement is crucial if DS is to survive. The purpose of these workshops is to discuss and lay the groundwork for:

And attend the AGM ! And come prepared! The AGM will adjourn promptly at 5:00 pm.

POTLUCK AFTER THE MEETING

Dave McMullen’s House

1327 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA 94702

Ph: 510-540-7162

Last name begins with A-G: Bring Beverage

Last name begins with H-P: Bring Salad or Appetizers or Side Dish

Last name begins with Q-Z: Bring a Main Course

Getting to Dave McMullen’s house from the Main Library:

Head south on Shattuck Avenue. Turn right onto Dwight Avenue, heading towards the Bay. Turn left onto Sacramento Ave. Make a right onto Carleton Street. For those without cars, we will facilitate carpools to get everyone to Dave’s. For those who prefer walking, it’s about a 15 to 20 minute walk. Yahoo Map.

 

 

 

Special Emergency Board Meeting

The Board of Directors met on July 19, 2010, in emergency session to adopt a transition plan for Desert Survivors following Steve Tabor’s sudden and unexpected July 15, 2010 resignation from the Board.  Steve did not provide the reason(s) for his resignation, but he has indicated that he will be cooperating in transferring both his executive and clerical/administrative duties to new volunteers.  Steve also stated that he will lead his trips currently listed in the summer schedule but will not lead any DS trips this fall.


In response to Steve’s letter, the Board took the following actions:

· Accepted Steve Tabor’s resignation. 

· Adopted a transition plan to keep DS functioning on a day-to-day basis until the 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM).  In this regard, the designated Vice President, Dave Halligan, as set forth in the By-Laws as amended will assume the executive functions of the currently vacant president’s position until a new president is elected at the 2010 AGM.

·Set a date for the 2010 AGM of Saturday, September 25, 2010.  We are planning on a start time of 2:00 pm, and we are currently looking for a venue in the East Bay that can accommodate us.  Once we have a venue lined-up, we will let you know.

· Set dates for two pre-AGM planning meetings, open to any and all who wish to attend.  The first planning meeting will be on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 2043 Berryman Street, Berkeley, CA  94709.  Ph.  510-528-3360.  The second planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 1327 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA  94702. Ph. 510-540-7162.  Both meetings will begin at 7:30 pm.

· Accepted the 4th quarter financial report from the Managing Director.  Our finances are in proper order and we have a reasonably positive bank balance that should carry us through to the AGM.

· Determined that there will be two more mailings before the AGM.  One mailing will include the Fall 2010 Trip Schedule and include the required notice of the AGM.  There will be a separate mailing of The Survivor.

Over the years, Steve Tabor’s role in Desert Survivors became more and more central to the functioning of the organization.  His departure under any circumstances would have a left a gap difficult to fill, but under the current circumstances it is not an overstatement to say that his resignation places Desert Survivors in an existential crises. The current Board is willing to serve through the AGM, but the current Board is also looking for virtually a whole new slate of Board members to take on the duties of running the organization.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Attend the two planning meetings to discuss the future of Desert Survivors.  Two meetings will be held prior to the AGM.   Your participation and active involvement is crucial if DS is to survive.  The purpose of the planning meetings is to discuss and lay the groundwork for:

· Identifying new and vibrant candidates for the Board who are willing to get involved to continue the work of Desert Survivors. 

· Re-defining the activities of Desert Survivors to align with the willingness and capabilities of a new Board to implement these activities.  For example, do we continue publishing The Survivor?  Do we continue our trips program?

· Develop alternatives to the continued existence of Desert Survivors as in independent organization.  For example, should we approach another desert conservation non-profit and ask to be absorbed into that organization?   Should Desert Survivors be dissolved?

Attend the AGM.  Whether and how Desert Survivors continues beyond September 25, 2010 will be determined by YOU, your willingness to participate, and your dedication to the cause of Desert Survivors. 

 

Respectfully Submitted on behalf of the Board:

By Dave Halligan

Board Members in attendance:  Dave Halligan, Loretta Bauer, Paul Brickett, Elena Gogoleva, Neal Cassidy. 

Voting Members in attendance:  Bob Ellis, Karen Rusiniak, Lynne Buckner, Dave “Malakai” McMullen, Bruce Loeb, Gerry Goss, Judy Kendall, and Stacy Robinson