EB 2012-05-14 transcript

 NOTE: all log times are in central time (Eastern time - 1 hr)

20:38 Cool, then we have a quorum, and I'll call the meeting to order. 20:38 RLim: Do we have minutes to get through? 20:38 < RLim> http://wiki.pirateparty.ca/index.php/EB_2012-05-07_minutes 20:39 Are there any corrections to the minutes? 20:40 < JMcleod> well 20:40 < JMcleod> wouldnt it be more precise to say we recinded last weeks motion and adopted the new one with aligns? 20:41 ah, yes, I missed that 20:41 we first rescinded the one from last week and then adopted the new one. 20:42 the amendment there was a subsidiary motion to the new one, so it shouldn't be recorded 20:42 Are there any other corrections? 20:44 Seeing none, the minutes are approved. The question is now on the motion, postponed from last week, to accept xmux's resignation from the IT Committee. 20:44 I have heard nothing from xmux and I don't believe that anyone else has either, so I believe that we should accept his resignation. 20:47 < JMcleod> Do we know who takes care of membership cards for sure now? 20:48 That's not relevant to the motion on the floor. 20:48 Seeing no more discussion, are you ready for a vote? 20:49 < JMcleod> sure 20:49 The question is on the motion to accept xmux's resignation from the IT Committee. All in favour, say aye. All opposed, say nay. 20:49 aye 20:50 < JMcleod> aye 20:50 < RLim> aye 20:51 The ayes have it and the motion is adopted. 20:52 Sorry for going a little fast there, JMcleod. If business is postponed, there's no sense delaying by asking "do we want to take up postponed business" or the like 20:52 so I jumped right in 20:52 < JMcleod> meh we dont seem to actually have quorum 20:53 TeamColtra checked in, and that's what's required. He's not required to actively participate. 20:53 < JMcleod> well anyways, do we know who takes care of membership cards now? 20:54 < TeamColtra> I am sorry I am on my second escalated call 20:54 < TeamColtra> in a row 20:55 < JMcleod> haha ur stuck with tech support 20:56 < TeamColtra> UDFjkdfkjkFjkldfjkfdjkjkdf 20:56 < TeamColtra> I seriously need the ability to force choke people 20:57 < TeamColtra> I would easily fall to the dark side 20:57 JMcleod: Jake 20:57 and Shawn will be helping I think 20:57 < JMcleod> And have they been sent out lately? 20:57 Someone posted on the forum that they'd be working through the backlog soon 20:57 I think they said a bunch were printed but not mailed? 20:57 'twould be nice if svulliez actually showed up... 20:57 JMcleod: do you want to follow up on that with them? 20:59 < JMcleod> Ill try, but no way to reach Jake, Ill see if I can bother shawn on fb 20:59 evening all. 20:59 < JMcleod> hi 20:59 one more round of bureaucracy, then bed for me. 21:01 haha 21:01 JMcleod: I'll send you his email. 21:01 < JMcleod> k 21:02 jhowell: how did the board meeting go? 21:02 (I assume it was for the Fund?) 21:03 this board meeting was for my condo's monthly directors meeting 21:03 i was just elected in the yearly GM a few weeks ago 21:04 it was okay, just absorbing. mostly boring condo stuff dealing with the renovations going on, the general contractors bitchign about the work they agreed to do 21:05 ah ok 21:05 what fund are you referring to? 21:05 PPCA fund 21:05 oh wait, you aren't on the board 21:05 whoops 21:05 anyway 21:05 < RLim> order! :P 21:05 We do have a funding request from PC to deal with 21:05 < RLim> jk 21:06 :p 21:06 TeamColtra: want to introduce that one? 21:08 < CCitizen> Ah we started 21:08 Ok, well, it was his motion at PC. PC unanimously agreed to ask for funding to buy merchandise on a bulk order through the Pirate Party of Sweden. 21:08 The order will also be used by various US parties, to save on transatlantic shipping 21:09 < TeamColtra> scshunt: one sec 21:09 < TeamColtra> Okay what are you asking? 21:09 Hopefully TeamColtra can describe it in a little bit more detail and/or make a motion 21:09 < TeamColtra> Oh 21:09 < TeamColtra> The funding request 21:10 < TeamColtra> The PC wants $300 to purchase a bulk order of merchandise including flags and buttons and such. By investing more now, we save on smaller order which keep dinging us for shipping and handling costs 21:10 < TeamColtra> especially when we are having them shipped transoceanically 21:11 < RLim> what merchandise are we buying? 21:11 < TeamColtra> We will probably have most of the funds buying the stuff from the PPSE store (at 50% off on most things) some of the money will also go into having flags made locally if it is more cost effective 21:12 < RLim> so are we officially switching our flags? 21:12 < TeamColtra> Bold black flag on purple will be our intra-nationally used flag, yes 21:12 PC decided on either signet being acceptable 21:12 < TeamColtra> I guess nationally works as the word for it 21:12 with purple being the color 21:12 I suspect the branding will tend towards the solid signet 21:13 < TeamColtra> Yes within Canada we use the solid 21:13 < TeamColtra> When dealing with international things like PPI and such we use our old one 21:13 < RLim> and when do we use the other one? 21:13 < TeamColtra> ^ 21:14 The only official word is that either is acceptable for any purpose 21:14 < TeamColtra> The old logo will also be acceptably used, of course. 21:14 < TeamColtra> I believe our letterhead for official documents will still use the other as well, as it is what we are registered with Elections Canada for 21:15 < TeamColtra> But anyway we are going off topic 21:15 < TeamColtra> https://butik.piratpartiet.se/ 21:16 < RLim> is yellow color used also? 21:16 < TeamColtra> No 21:16 < TeamColtra> Not officially 21:17 < RLim> it says Piratpartiet though? 21:17 The intent is to buy only merchandise that isn't lettered 21:17 < TeamColtra> ^ 21:18 < RLim> ok 21:18 < TeamColtra> I motion to give the PC $300 in available funds to use as they see fit to purchase merchandise 21:19 < TeamColtra> Unless someone would be okay with a higher number 21:19 < TeamColtra> Honestly the more we go the cheaper it is for us 21:19 do we make any profit off of this stuff? 21:19 < TeamColtra> We get more, and it also means less shipping costs down the road 21:19 < TeamColtra> jhowell: yes 21:19 whats the margins like currently 21:20 < TeamColtra> but with more product we can make our merch more affordable: right now we pay $25 per flag 21:20 < TeamColtra> and are selling them for $100 21:20 < TeamColtra> but that's a bit steep 21:20 < TeamColtra> (both our costs and what we are selling them for) 21:20 Actually, we're not selling them. 21:20 yeah how much product are we actually moving? 21:20 We're providing them free with donations. 21:20 < TeamColtra> Well you get them with a donation 21:20 There's a difference. 21:20 < TeamColtra> Yes, sorry 21:21 < TeamColtra> Most of the items we get we will be paying roughly a dollar to two dollars a piece for 21:21 < TeamColtra> meaning we can give them for $5 / 10 donations 21:21 okay 21:21 Or we can give them out free at events. 21:21 so either way, we make 5x to 10x profit 21:22 At some point we need to spend money 21:22 and we have promo material 21:22 < TeamColtra> We also can pick up those purple branded balloons for events 21:22 so, what are the margins for profit, in terms of scaling up.. say.. $300 gets us X price...what is the next price milestone? 21:22 500? 600? 1000? 21:23 < TeamColtra> It's not really a milestone 21:23 < TeamColtra> I mean each item 21:23 yeah but there's gotta be a sweet spot. 21:23 < TeamColtra> has it's own quantity 21:23 where cost vs roi meet a balance 21:23 < TeamColtra> Well probably at the $600+ mark it's cheaper to get our own suppliers 21:23 I don't consider this to be a profit question, tbh 21:24 < TeamColtra> Honestly though, the more you go in, the better your cost goes, it really doesn't level out 21:24 < TeamColtra> it's a curve 21:24 If you have merch, you want it for two reasons. 21:24 #1 to advertise, by giving it away for free 21:24 < JMcleod> Well how much do we have exactly right now? 21:24 < TeamColtra> Though we do want to get 15+ Kilograms 21:24 < TeamColtra> because that's the sweet spot or shipping 21:25 #2 augmenting the cost of giving away stuff for free, but recouping the loss somehow (and ideally making some extra) its just good economics 21:25 < TeamColtra> :( Sorry my American is showing and I don't know how much that is 21:25 jhowell: The key thing in my mind is that circumstances differ. 21:26 TeamColtra: I believe you said that there were 10 large flags? 21:26 < TeamColtra> yes, they are setting aside 10 flags of an old batch that they no longer release 21:27 I would expect us not to give those away, at least until we can get more flags made 21:27 < TeamColtra> Also jhowell if you are concerned, I also got the United States Pirate Parties to adopt purple and the same logo, so if we really have excess stock and need some cash, we can offload it to them 21:27 neat 21:27 < TeamColtra> :) There is an advantage to being the leader of one party and deputy leader of the otehr 21:27 yea ok 21:27 well the point of this was to make sure you've thought about it thoroughly 21:28 I don't know if anyone wants to add more than $300 21:28 < TeamColtra> Yes, we have been working with their store, also looking at other costs if we did it ourselves 21:28 I do not have an opinion on it 21:28 but i'm certainly not against this 21:28 < TeamColtra> What is the most we feel we can float for a big campaign to get ourselves in the public eye of Canadians? 21:29 < TeamColtra> I want Pirate Party supporters to be sporting pins and buttons 21:29 < TeamColtra> patches on their clothing 21:29 i would wear a hat. 21:29 < TeamColtra> Pirate Party hats if that's your thing 21:30 < JMcleod> My brother would wear a shirt lol 21:30 again, not sure how much we want to put into advertising :) 21:31 < TeamColtra> We can also use some of those funds to print more shirts 21:31 what outlets would we use to hand out this stuff? 21:31 < TeamColtra> it will be up to the PC to decide how the money is best spent and will optimize it so that the money is spent with maximum return in value 21:31 < TeamColtra> When I did the push on Facebook to get people to buy shirts, they sold very quickly 21:32 < TeamColtra> err 21:32 < TeamColtra> we got donations very quickly 21:32 < TeamColtra> and sent out shirts :P 21:32 neat 21:32 okay 21:32 what was the value of that campaign? 21:32 < JMcleod> Also, a lot of people would like stickers as promo items 21:32 < TeamColtra> I put them up at our cost 21:33 < TeamColtra> because they are not the greatest shirts and because I wanted to get rid of old inventory 21:33 < TeamColtra> so we just recovered our funds 21:33 TeamColtra: Actually, I believe we sell shirts. 21:33 could be wrong though 21:33 < TeamColtra> but honestly even if we only send things out at cost, having people rocking our gear 21:33 < TeamColtra> and recovering our money is a good thing 21:33 yeah, definitely 21:34 TeamColtra: do you care to present a motion on this? 21:34 < TeamColtra> Well I did, but I withdraw it in favour of a higher number if someone has one to present 21:34 yeah 21:34 < TeamColtra> also this is just available funds, not what the PC will spend 21:34 if we've been able to do this successfully before 21:34 no harm in doing it again 21:35 ah, sorry. 21:35 as long as it doesn't cost :) c'est la vie 21:35 < TeamColtra> Also people on FB would easily give $5 for a PP patch or something 21:35 Yes, the question is on the motion to give the PC $300 in available funds to use as they see fit to purchase merchandise. 21:35 < TeamColtra> I actually withdrew it 21:35 < TeamColtra> :P 21:35 < TeamColtra> I would like to motion to make the number 500 and go for broke, see if people are going to object to that limit 21:36 < JMcleod> How fast can we recup that money from sales? 21:37 < TeamColtra> to mix two quotes: takes money to make money and go big or go home. JMcleod it's not about immediate return, because if we only do small batches and sell out quickly and order again... then we are going to keep getting hit with shipping charges and higher costs for not ordering in larger bulk purchases 21:38 Is there any objection to changing the number to 500? 21:38 the motion has been stated so it's before the board now 21:38 no objection 21:38 < JMcleod> Is Nuitari avail to let us know how much we got in/out in the last quarter? 21:39 < TeamColtra> That will be misleading 21:39 < TeamColtra> we didn't push what we had very much, didn't have the newfound support, wont have the selection that we will have now, etc. 21:39 < JMcleod> well all numbers are misleading 21:40 < JMcleod> But I have no objections to 500 21:41 Seeing no objection, the question is now on the motion to give the PC $500 in available funds to use as they see fit to purchase merchandise. 21:42 Are you ready for the question? 21:42 < TeamColtra> Yep 21:42 < TeamColtra> :P should have went for 6 ;) 21:42 All in favor, say aye. All opposed, say nay. 21:42 aye 21:42 < JMcleod> aye 21:42 < TeamColtra> aye 21:42 < RLim> aye 21:43 < JMcleod> TBH, this has to net us 50 new members to make it worth it :P 21:43 < RLim> no way to satisfy you eh Travis. 21:43 aye 21:44 < TeamColtra> nope RLim :P 21:45 < TeamColtra> it technically isn't about members, we also have an obligation to our members to go after voters 21:45 The ayes have it and the motion is adopted. 21:45 < TeamColtra> Getting 50 members would be great, and I hope we do 21:45 I do have one thing I'd like to talk about, but not if anyone else has any important business 21:45 < TeamColtra> but it's also about recognition 21:46 < RLim> you know what I persoanlly like. An eyeglass clip that double as ID or badge clip. One side for sunglass and other for ID 21:46 < RLim> *personally 21:47 < TeamColtra> RLim: picture? 21:47 < TeamColtra> AND scshunt I do not have anything else persoanlly 21:47 < TeamColtra> except maybe to move our meeting to next sunday? 21:47 < TeamColtra> Unless you were going to discuss that 21:48 < RLim> don't have pictures. Have a brochure somewhere 21:48 I wasn't, actually. I wanted to discuss the PC-EB merger 21:48 < RLim> what PC-EB merger? 21:48 exactly 21:49 < TeamColtra> Well technically yours and mine are related 21:49 < TeamColtra> I just want us to have meetings at the same time 21:49 < TeamColtra> which will allow us to get more stuff done 21:50 Ok, well, let's get the brunt of it down: 21:51 This system was an experiment, and I think it's failed. 21:51 The split boards have caused us nothing but headache 21:52 In particular, it turns out that you can't really approve funding and that sort of thing separately from making campaign decisions 21:53 You /can/ split policy decisions off, and perhaps that is an option, but it seems that a large number of decisions should be made by PC and EB in concert 21:53 and this might as well be one governing body 21:53 < RLim> It was suppose to help when it comes election time. So PC don't have to worry about the admin stuff. We were cutting it close during the election and I was worried I am not going to get my letters in time etc 21:54 I think that separating off the duties will still be key. 21:54 The intent is to still keep the administrative positions and political positions 21:54 So that, ideally, there will still be a strong core that isn' running for election. 21:55 This idea needs to be fleshed out, but does anyone think that this isn't the direction to go? 21:56 < JMcleod> I'd actually support a merger, would save a lot of "who's business is this" 21:57 < RLim> sure, would that involve changing the constitution? 21:57 Yes. 21:57 < RLim> speaking of constitution, when is the deadline for voting? 21:58 the meeting Wednesday 21:58 might not be a bad idea to send a reminder 21:58 < TeamColtra> brb lunch 21:58 < TeamColtra> in the meantime though 21:58 < TeamColtra> I support moving our meetings to the same time 21:58 yes, this is probably also a good idea. 21:58 < TeamColtra> to avoid the constitutional issue in the short time 21:59 Sunday has been presented as an option 21:59 < RLim> SUnday night? 21:59 < RLim> make it earlier so that we don't run too late 21:59 yeah 22:00 < JMcleod> I might be less avail on Sundays than Mondays though, but we'll have more people in total 22:01 also we can do mumble then 22:02 since people are less likely to have conflicts 22:02 hopefully? 22:02 < RLim> so decide on time? 22:05 TeamColtra: you seemed most in tune with what PC thought was a good time. Thoughts? 22:09 * scshunt -> washroom 22:14 < RLim> I have to get up early. Going to bed in few minutes. Can we decide on this? 22:14 < JMcleod> Well just say the time, I'll try to make it, but im in Eastern time, so dont pick tooo late. 22:16 I move that the meeting adjourn to the call of the chair, who shall call a meeting on Sunday with at least 72 hours notice. 22:16 < JMcleod> Agreed 22:17 Any objections? 22:17 < RLim> ok 22:17 none here 22:21 < TeamColtra> None 22:22 Seeing none, the motion is adopted. 22:22 -scshunt:#exec- The meeting is adjourned. 

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