Board Meeting on September 7-8, 2019
Board Resolutions
Resolution Nr. 1
The ALA Board authorizes Vice President Martins Andersons to further explore the possibilities of producing a documentary or film on ALA history with producer Undine Buks.
Resolution Nr. 2
Taking into account that the next meeting of the Diaspora Advisory Council will take place on October 1st and that council’s working groups are currently being formed, the ALA Board recommends the following board members as candidates for council’s working groups:
- Committee to strengthen Latvian identity, language and culture outside Latvia: Elisa Freimane
- Committee to promote civic and political participation in the diaspora: Tatjana Žagare-Vītiņa
- Committee to involve the diaspora in the development of Latvian economy, and science, public administration: Pēteris Blumbergs
- Committee to support for emigration: Mārtiņs Andersons
- Committee for media and information: Una Veilande
Resolution Nr. 3
The ALA Board assigns all board committee heads to work with the office to create a list of all ALA representatives, consultants, and designated assistants prior to the December meeting.
Resolution Nr. 4
The ALA Board approves Eriks Lazdiņš as the local ALA Representative at JBANC meetings, taking over the seat left by N. Timrots, and authorizes Dzintars Dzilna to replace ALA Board President Peteris Blumbergs at JBANC meetings as needed.
Resolution Nr. 5
The ALA Board resolves to support the Latvian National Opera Guild Charity Event at New York’s Carnegie Hall with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 18, 2019, with a $1,000 donation from the current Culture Office Budget.
Resolution Nr. 6
The ALA Board assigns the ALA Culture Office and ALA office staff to come up with guidelines for a new “Artist Visa Arrangement Service” (P3 performance visas only) within the current budget boundaries by the December meeting.
Resolution Nr. 7
The ALA Board resolves to support both projects recommended by Sanita Sumane on behalf of the Latvian Institute Foundation with full requests:
- $2,000 to the Latvian Organization of Washington DC for the “One Hundred Years of Latvia” project.
- $4,350 to the Latvians in the World Museum for the “Valiant” documentary project.
Resolution Nr. 8
The ALA Board assigns the Education Office and ALA office staff to investigate possible changes to the “Sveika, Latvija!” program to promote gatherings and bonding with Latvian peers; and to address the inequalities in Latvian language skills of the participants.
Resolution Nr. 9
To fully implement Resolution 8 of the December 2018 ALA Meeting which named 2019 as “Sveika, Latvija! year” with a special fundraising campaign for the educational travel program, the ALA Board has resolved to continue this campaign through the 2019-2020 school year.
Resolution No. 10
ALA Board resolves to hold the next board meeting in Rockville, MD, on December 6th – 8th, 2019. The finance meeting will begin on Friday in the early evening, and Saturday’s meetings are planned to be held at the Latvian Embassy.
Resolution Nr. 11
The ALA board accepts the financial reports (Statement of Financial Position and Budget vs Actual) as presented by the Treasurer without changes.
Resolution Nr. 12
The ALA Board resolves to close the Bank of America (BAML) and Congressional bank accounts and move all funds to the Sun Trust account. Marisa Gudrais is authorized to make the change and perform all the necessary steps to make the transition.
Resolution Nr. 13
The ALA Board resolves to remove M. Duhms from access to the Vanguard investment accounts and replace his access with the Treasurer’s, Anita Grivins.
Resolution Nr. 14
The ALA Board resolves to appoint Peteris Abuls/Pauls Jesinskis from Raymond James as the new financial advisor and instructs the Treasurer to work with them to transition the funds to Raymond James, as well as to revise the Investment Policy Statement to be adopted at the next Board Meeting.
Resolution Nr. 15
The ALA Board resolves to switch over to the new ALA webpage this week and instructs all committee heads to promptly review their sections and submit new text or changes in both languages.
Resolution No. 16
The ALA Board nominates Andrejs Jansons as the ALA candidate for this year’s PBLA award.
Resolution Nr. 17
The ALA Board requests the Culture Office explore prepare more up-to-date and clear guidelines for the nomination process and award of the annual ALA recognition certificates, especially exploring changes to application deadlines, by the December board meeting.
Resolution No. 18
The ALA Board approves 22 submitted candidates in the US to receive ALA’s recognition certificates. The certificates will be presented at Latvia’s Independence Day celebrations in November at various Latvian centers, at which time the recipients will be announced.
Resolution No. 19
The ALA Board resolves to hold the 69th Annual Congress in St. Paul, MN, on April 24-26, 2020.
Resolution Nr. 20
The ALA Board resolves to support the Laiks newspaper with the following amounts:
- $3500 towards ALA advertisements in the Laiks newspaper
- $1200 towards ALA advertisements in the 2021 Laiks calendar
- $3600 towards subscriptions (recipients chosen by ALA)
- The office will submit 50% of the advertising fees on January 1st and the other 50% on July 1st, adjusting the total as needed based on actual advertising costs.
Taking into consideration the usual, ongoing $3,000 donation from the ALA Culture Fund, the total contribution to Laiks newspaper in 2020 should total $11,300.
Resolution Nr. 21
The ALA Board resolves to support the PLEIF conference in Valmiera with no more than $5,000 from the ALA Latvian Economic Development Fund (established at the March 2018 board meeting).
Resolution Nr. 22
The ALA Board accepts the list of 25 candidates for the annual ALA recognition award.
Resolution Nr. 23
Taking into consideration the kind offer to host the Saturday, December 7th meeting at the Latvian Embassy, the ALA Board resolves to hold the December board meeting in Washington DC rather than the Rockville area. The Friday, December 6th budget meeting will be held at the Hyatt Place, Saturday’s meeting will be at the Latvian Embassy, and Sunday’s meeting will return to the Hyatt.