VADP Strategic Planning Meeting
May 7, 2010 at 4pm - May 8, 2010 at 4pm
Richmond Hill, Richmond, VA
PARTICIPANTS:
VADP Board of Directors: Jon Sheldon, Betty Gallagher, Jerry Givens,
Hunter Mabry, Matt Engle, Scott Vollum, Linell Patterson, Steve
Northup, Lynn Greer, Helena Cobban.
VADP Staff, Beth Panilaitis
NCADP Facilitator, Abe Bonowitz
VADP Allies, Jeff Caruso, Hope Amezquita
A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH:
1. Aim to Advertise position - Aug 15", interview or hire candidates -
October 1*.
2. Review of ED job description - Jon to email Beth and Board current
description to make changes and additions prior to advertising for
candidate.
3. Financial goal before hiring -
a. $30k in bank and secure $110/yr to hire
b. Board raises equivalent of $400/month (not $600 as stated in
the meeting) each to ensure ED job security. Tides grant is not
certain.
B. BOARD DEVELOPMENT
1. Committee Election
a. Executive Committee - Jon (Pres.), Scott (V.P.), Lynn (Sec),
Helena (Treas), Matt E. (at-large).
b. Program, outreach, communication, membership - Jerry,
Linell, Hunter, Greg, Lynn (PoC), Helena, Betty
c. Board development & fund raising - Jon, Steve, Lynn, Jerry
d. Legislative - (ask Aimee to consult with us on this), Steve
(PoC), Jon, Matt E., Allies.
e. Finance - Matt E., Helena, Marilyn. Jon asks Laura Ramirez of
VOP to make them her contact for monthly reports.
f. Hiring (ad-hoc) - Marilyn, Scott, Linell.
**Lori Baux, consultant from NCADP is available to all
committees**
2. Board member recruiting
a. Capacity is 15, current is 12 - future recruiting to emphasize
fundraising, law enforcement and generally fill in gaps of current
board (such as Republicans/conservatives). Jon to contact Mike
Middleton in near future to gauge his interest in serving on the board.
b. Board development committee will take lead but all members
responsible to recruit board members and to approve once found.
c. Prospective members include: Mike Middleton (Jon to contact
in near future), John Whitehead (ask Beth), contact Senator
McKeecham about board members.
3. Miscellaneous
a. Set up action calendar on google calendar - Jon, Matt Sellman
and Helena
b. Put board manual online - try google docs.
C. LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
1. Summer 2010 Thank you Campaign - Beth has identified targets;
Patrick Hope, MM Whipple, 9 senators from Courts of Justice, see
Beth’s legislative transition doc.
a. Need member support in districts to accompany us.
b. Phone banking (Matt S. has info)
2. Future legislation
a. Victims rights reform - see if Lorraine W. is interested in
working on legislation for appointment of defense based victim
liaisons.
b. Setting of execution dates - due process issue, Jon to create
Power Point to explain to legislators.
c. Narrowing of current legislation - who can be sliced out? (Jeff
Caruso suggestion).
3. Strategic contacts and relationships to build
a. Georgi Fisher - member of Richmond police and murder
victim family member
b. Lorraine Whoberry - mother of murder victim, Jon already
speaking with.
c. Conservatives/Republicans - next ED and Board to keep in
mind.
e. Eric Finkbeiner - governor’s policy person. Jon to get on
Eric’s calendar for
early July strategy meeting, email earlier.
f. Doug Smith - Jon to email
g. Laura Porter - conservative contacts. Jon checks in with her
onthe Regent event.
D. COALITION DEVELOPMENT
1. Maintain and strengthen connections with Hope (ACLU), Doug
(Interfaith Center) and Jeff (VCC). VADP expressed positive outlook
for ED search, capitalizing on legislative wins and board committee
development. PoC’s on committees for communications.
2. Consider using online grassroots outreach tools like Voter Voice,
Democracy in Action (available through NCADP). Tracks number of
responses and who responded to Action Alerts.
3. New ED meeting - as soon as new ED hired, meeting with Hope,
Doug and Jeff.
4. Meet with Cuccinelli this summer for possible collaboration on
common ground issues
E. FUNDRAISING
1. Appeals/letters
a. Spring 2010 Fundraising letter from Jon -
i. circulate to Board and Abe
ii. Matt S. gets mailed by June 1*
iii. Highlights legislative success, Beth’s transition from
ED to volunteer (with her P.S.), positive future,
etc.
b. Separate, but similar letter to John Grisham
c. Fall newsletter?
d. End of year appeal - more details later
2. Grants
a. Tides grant for the Fall -
i. Matt S. is PoC, informs Tides
ii. Deadlines in Aug
iii. Application written in June/July - Laurie, Abe, Jon, Matt
b. UU grant - Matt S. to inform of Beth’s status change
c. FADP - Funders for Alternatives to the Death Penalty -
action?
3. Board commitment - $400/per month for each Board member
(approx. $5,000/year)
4. Thank You protocol
a. Matt emails info. to board members, who write ty notes for
donations $100 and greater. Ask Matt if you need ty notes.
b. Phone calls made by board to donors over $500.
5. Contacts
a. Jon to ask Steve R to solicit Bruce
b. Steve to follow up with Gov. Kaine re: list of donors
c. Sandy Lerner - (who ?)
d. Jon to ask Janet Cooke to lunch, ACLU, in Arlington
e. Roberta Williamson - who asks her for fundrasing advice?
Anyone in C’ville?
f. g. Laura Porter - conservative contacts. Jon? to check with
her on the Regent event.
6. Miscellaneous
a. Jon, Matt S. Set up action calendar as google calendar
b. Make the board manual online - one copy - Matt S., Jon S.,
Helena.
F. MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & OUTREACH
1. Upcoming execution - Thursday, May 20, 2010
a. Jon to write message about Walker for Matt S. - done
b. Matt S. sends out to membership ASAP and 2 prior (18)
c. Betty or Matt Calls vigil coordinators - they should coordinate
d. Update web site - Matt S., Helena
e. Action Alert -forward to E. Wong at ACLU and Jeff Caruso
f. Send press release 2 days prior
g. Jon to write one-page statement, email to Frank and Dena,
give to Matt. - we are now reconsidering in light of fact that Walker
and his law firm want us to do nothing.
2. Starvin’ for Justice - end June/July
a. Matt S. to update web site
b. Encourage participation for members and Board
Board meetings every 6 weeks to follow-up on these items.
