HSYD General Membership Meeting, April 14, 2014

Board Members In Attendance: Brad Pritchett, Caroline Giese, Alex Steffler, Deanna Ward, Yesenia
Chavez, James Lee, Laura Beyers.
Meeting commenced: 7:05 p.m.
I.

General Welcome, Introduction of Elected Officials & Candidates

a. Official
i. Jeffrey Syptak, for Representative Sylvester Turner
ii. Daniel Vasquez, for Senator Wendy Davis
iii. Vanessa, for Senator John Whitmire
b. Candidate
i. Judith Snively for County Criminal Court No. 3

II. Officer Reports

a. President Brad Pritchett
i. News discussed in Old and New Business sections (below).
b. Vice President of Political Affairs Yesenia Chavez
i. Municipal Screenings
1. May 19: Questionnaires will be distributed to Democratic candidates on
the November ballot.
2. June 2: Due date for returned questionnaires.
3. June 7 and June 8: Date for in-person screenings, if necessary.
4. June 9 general meeting: Endorsement recommendations and vote.
c.

Vice President of Community Affairs Caroline Giese

i. April Social Event
1. Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m.
2. Bar Boheme (307 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77006)

d. Treasurer Deanna Ward

i. Bank balance: $1,606.45
e. Director of Communications Alex Steffler
i. NDO Promotion
1. Use our new hashtag - #HOUequality, for all things Houston equality
related, including the NDO.
ii.

HSYD Promotion
1. Like HSYD on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HoustonStonewallYDs)
to keep on top of the latest events and information.
2. Help spread the word: repost/share events on Facebook and bring
friends to future meetings, social events, and volunteer functions.

3. Update your email by joining our new website

(www.houstonstonewallyd.com), or by emailing us
(communications@houstonstonewallyd.org).
f.

Director of Membership James Lee

i. Annual membership dues are $20. Join/renew today!
ii. Please consider becoming a Sustaining Member for as little as $5/month. Easy to
set up through Act Blue (see www.houstonstonewallyd.org for link), and it gives
the organization a steady stream of income to depend on each month.

III. Old Business

a. Update on the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
i. Please ask business owners to sign the NDO ordinance.
ii. Final version is still in draft.
iii. Tentative schedule: a finalized version presented to Council Members by April
20, and then placed on agenda in mid-May.
iv. If the ordinance passes, a petition recall effort is likely.
v. Pushback is also expected for the public accommodation portion (Bathroom
panic).
b. Our May membership meeting will include a training for how to speak at City Council
meetings.
IV. New Business
a. HSYD Board Opening for Vice President of Community Affairs
i. Now taking nominations.
b. Featured speaker: Josephine Tittsworth
V. Announcements
a. University of Houston NDO: the Josephine Tittsworth Act
b. Rita Lucida is hosting a LGBT event on May 9
c.

Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit

i. August 8-9
ii. Texas State University-San Marcos
iii. $20 for students, $40 general admission

d. GLBT Caucus Fundraiser

i. May 1, Warehouse Live, $25 per person
e. Texas Young Democrats Youth Summit
i. June 25-29
Meeting adjourned: 8:21 p.m.