Minutes of Meeting - 11th September 2001

In attendance: Six of the usual suspects, 3 apologies

Finances: Due to the recent and successful pot luck dinner the debt has been covered for September. However further strategies need attention for the immediate future. (See agenda item below).

Video library: The video library is now autonomous and a contribution will be suggested to people who would like to use this resource. Many more recent videos will soon be added to the collection.

Propagation Fund: The national fund is in severe deficit. All centres are asked to submit their financial plans before the end of September. The meeting specified the points to be submitted and these will be finalised and forwarded by A. Please see appendix attached to the minutes for this plan.

National propagation contact: Lee M has been appointed to this position.

Aspirants: A brief information session with Lee will be held on Sunday 7th October following the video event. This is an opportunity for people who would like to prepare to receive the gift of Knowledge to meet Lee and be clear about the process and any other relevant particulars. People with Knowledge are also welcome to attend this information session.

Fundraising event: This meeting agreed to organise the following, upon receiving the support and endorsement of those people who attend the next planning meeting: Purpose: To strengthen and promote the lending library by building up funds through: conducting a fundraising event on Sunday 4th or 11th November with the following format: pot luck dinner after the video event; followed by an auction of assorted items (donated by anyone who would like to do so) and older videos from the video library (PR issues to be checked) concluded with dessert and beverages. If you would like to help with this, please let Anita know if you are unable to attend the next planning meeting.

Global Satellite Day: A global special event is planned for Sunday 21st October that will focus attention on direct access and further promote this initiative. The broadcast will run for two hours with refreshment breaks. The meeting looked at various ways of putting this into place for the Gold Coast area. Plans will be finalised soon and then made known to everyone. Footnote: The event will be held at the Life Education Centre starting at 5.30 pm.

Regional Initiatives for Public Broadcasting: The Pacific Broadcast team wants to encourage any viable initiatives which will increase exposure and increase propagation in the region, whether they be by satellite, cable or public broadcasting. Please see Mary if you are interested in knowing more about this.

Direct Access: This has been effectively promoted through Mary's efforts with ongoing information displays and personal communication. Many sincere thanks to Mary for her diligent efforts supporting this initiative.

Knowledge Introduction Training: The people who attended these trainings recently (Amaroo and Byron Bay) will meet to initiate steps that will support propagation at the local level. Footnote: A K.I.T. is planned for 17th and 18th November on the Gold Coast. Full details will be forthcoming.

Many thanks to P. for his hospitality and the use of his house for this meeting. The next planning and update meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th October at 6.30 to 8 pm at ???. Everyone is warmly invited to attend.

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Appendix

Current Financial Planning - Gold Coast - September 2001 The Gold Coast team meets regularly each month primarily to review the current financial situation. This has always been and remains as the main agenda item of every planning meeting, as it is pivotal to maintaining quality events and everything else that this entails.

The person who looks after local finances always presents a comprehensive and accurate report of that month's financial situation. From this picture, the team then plans strategies to maintain the necessary level of commitment. For example in August we found the donations and contributions sorely below the level of expenses to be met. We therefore put the following strategies into play: made a brief announcement at the conclusion of a PWK/Asp event which reminded the audience that 'these events need your support' (approved wording); displayed a slightly different wording on a new sign at the contributions/welcome table (approved wording); and conducted a pot luck dinner at the conclusion of a PWK/Asp event (promoted discreetly and appropriately). Although this was a stopgap action, it achieved the desired result.

Direct Access has been very well presented and promoted (via the DA table for several months); people who do not attend video events have also been well informed with thanks to the diligent efforts of the contact for satellite broadcasts.

Material resources are always presented with very high quality; the MR contact continues to make an outstanding effort in this area.

Brochures for sponsorship at local and national levels are available at the information table.

At the planning meeting in September, further fundraising activities were discussed and a function has been planned for November. The meeting agreed to strengthen and promote the lending library. The purpose of the fundraising event in November is to increase funds so the lending library can expand further to be a more prominent propagation tool.

We plan to continue in this manner until changes to the structuring of the propagation fund occur and at such time will immediately review our approach and take necessary steps to remain in a viable and expanding financial position.

A.
for the Gold Coast team.