Board Meeting on March 1-2, 2019
Board Resolutions
Resolution Nr. 1
The ALA board accepts the financial reports (Statement of Financial Position and Budget vs Actual) as presented by the Treasurer without changes.
Resolution Nr. 2
The ALA board accepts a modification to the ALA Expense Transaction Form submission guidelines to allow ALA Expense Transaction Form and relevant documentation to be submitted by mail (current requirement) or by e-mail.
Resolution Nr. 3
The ALA Board agrees to follow the Financial Consultant’s advice to take a more conservative approach with our Vanguard investments and approves a transfer of $200,000 from the Extended Market Index Fund (VEXAX) to the Dividend Growth Fund (VDIGX) and a transfer of $200,000 from the Growth Index Fund (VIGAX) to the Intermediate Investment Grade Bond Fund (VFIDX).
Resolution Nr. 4
Based on the decision of the ALA Board to announce 2019 as “Sveika, Latvija!” year, the ALA Board decides to establish a working group involving the Information office, the Fundraising office, the Education office and the ALA office to organize events, campaigns and publicity for “Sveika, Latvija!” funding and to encourage “Sveika, Latvija!” alumni to join in these ALA efforts.
Resolution No. 5
Taking into account that the Latvian Ministry of Culture expects a response by March 15th regarding the funding that was allocated to (the now cancelled) Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the ALA Board proposes inviting a musical group from Latvia that would interest both Latvian-Americans as well the general American public. If this proposal is approved, the ALA board would take on coordinating such a tour, with the cooperation of Ministry of Culture, the Latvian Embassy in the US, and a music production company, as necessary.
Resolution No. 6
In order to promote the attendance of more individual members’ delegates and the number of organization members at future ALA congresses, the ALA Board intends to present the following needed changes to the ALA Statutes at this year’s 68th Congress. The Board instructs the members of the Statutes committee to prepare a presentation to inform all delegates before the statute changes are voted upon.
The ALA board also wants to raise the discussion to shorten the 90-day notification deadline for amending the statutes.
(Excerpt from the ALA Statutes)
Chapter III
Congress
2. The members of the association shall elect delegates of the congress of the association.
a. (Current) Every 100 individual members (not associated with an organization) have the right to one delegate.
(Proposed) Every 60 individual members (not associated with an organization) have the right to one delegate.
b. (Current) Members of Organizations are entitled to one delegate if their membership is 60 or less than 60, but not less than 20 persons. Organization members are entitled to two delegates if their membership is between 61 and 120, and for each of the next 60 members, one (1) delegate is added. Two or more member organizations may, by mutual agreement, unite their total number of members of the Association in order to jointly acquire one or more delegate mandates using the same formula as a single member.
(Proposed) The ALA Statute committee will calculate and send an e–mail to the ALA Board of Directors on the proposed changes to the number of delegates per organization.
Chapter VII
Statute Changes
The Statutes may be amended by Congress by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast if the proposed amendments have been sent to all organizations 90 days before the Congress.
Resolution No. 7
ALA Board resolves to support the Spotlight Latvia business conference organized by the Latvian American Chamber of Commerce in Denver on May 2nd with $10,000 from the ALA Latvian Economic Development Fund.
Resolution No. 8
Taking into account Resolution Nr. 9 from the 67th ALA Congress, ALA Board resolves to raise the fundraising goal of the Century Bequest Fund from $5 million to $7 million (and asks that the change be documented in all relevant guidelines/financial records).
Resolution No. 9
ALA Board resolves to participate in the XV Latvian Song Festival in Canada (Toronto) with an information table and to send M. Gudrais as the ALA representative to man the booth. The board also gives the office permission to make the necessary upgrades to the display stand. Board members attending the festival are invited to help man the information table.
Resolution No. 10
Taking into account the unexpected distribution of 1099-MISC “Miscellaneous Income” tax forms to the 2018 ALA summer interns and some Cultural Fund grant recipients, the ALA Board resolves to contact the individuals involved and offer up to $145 each to those who express financial difficulty due to the unexpected taxation. L. Ejups has been tasked with sending out the written notifications.
Resolution No. 11
ALA Board resolves to hold the Fall 2019 board meeting on Saturday, September 14th and Sunday, September 15th in New Jersey.
Resolution No. 12
ALA Board confirms the following persons as individual member delegates for the 68th congress in Denver:
- Ivars Berzins, New York
- Vija Berzins, New York
- Eriks Krumins, Milwaukee