Meetings & Minutes

Save the date! Sunday, June 7th at 10am

Agenda: Review updates to bylaws, endorsement survey, and website. Timeline for filing with Alaska Division of Elections.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84962000367?pwd=aEgcvt64stPIhGfe1AGNYj7FhSTWCe.1

Our meetings utilize, with permission, First Alaskan’s Institute Agreements:

• In Every Chair, A Leader
• Speak to be Understood; Listen to Understand
• Be Present; Be Engaged
• Value Our Time Together
• Create Space for Meaningful Conversation
• Challenges -> Solutions
• Takest Thou Hats Off
• Our Value of Humor Helps Us
• We are Responsible for Our Experiences
• Take Care of Yourself; Take Care of Each Other

Link to agreements: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/firstalaskansinstitute/pages/317/attachments/original/1696548927/About_Us_FAI-AGREEMENTS-POSTER.pdf?1696548927

Juneau (3), Gustavus

• Reviewed email about suggested changes to language on the website
  • Discussion about potentially updating language on about page
• Review emails about suggested changes to the survey
  • To do list: Update survey to reflect new open-ended questions about ethics/corruption and LGBTQ+ rights
• Review email about outreach to Independent legislative candidates
  • Discuss ways to potentially outreach to current independent legislative candidates
  • To do list: Write a second draft of an outreach letter
• Review bylaws
  • Heard back from APOC and others about reporting in-kind
  • Current political process requires “chair”, “co-chair”, “Treasurer”, “Deputy Treasurer” but many parties will register multiple people in those roles so we could maintain lateral
  • To do list: Update financial section

Juneau (3)

• Finalize finance section of bylaws- Reach out to MH
  • Get in paperwork to DOE in June
• Previewed Endorsement Survey
• July 17th Endorsement surveys form candidates due
  • Time to look over congressional & gubernatorial candidates
• July 26th Endorsement Meeting
• August 4th Press Release on endorsements
  • Candidates will receive permission to use a marmot with a flag “Strongly Endorsed”
• Reach out to forward party about joint meeting with Independent candidates
• Signal & Discord: Check-in about party and get feedback on endorsement process and timeline

Juneau (3), Dillingham

• Preview survey results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oq9DCbJ_I8CDeOTFPqDMckCW1zf0pceHYASXWG_90XI/edit?gid=1295573977#gid=1295573977
  • Create draft of endorsement process for candidates.
    • Short answer on top 5 priorities
    • 1-5 ranking on policy statements
      • Candidates will be invited by members to take survey before primary
  • Work on public report on policy survey
    • Work on compiling short answers
    • Work on general demographic data visualizations

Juneau (3), Dillingham

• Juneau Community Group Discussion: Mill rate cap
• Continue bylaw discussions: Candidate endorsement process/Process for Ballot measures
• Updated timeline:
  • Compile policy survey (January-May as legislature is ramping up)
  • Build application form before August 18th Primary
  • Candidate outreach – send out the application form after primary elections. September 1st
  • Candidates fill out endorsement application forms before October 1st
  • Meeting results Meet in early october.
  • Setup meetings to review and vote on endorsements
  • Press release detailing results of endorsements process. Mid October.
• Follow-up on finances section of bylaws

Juneau (3), Anchorage

• First draft of Faciltators slide for meetings
• Completed “Candidate Endorsement” and “Policy” sections of bylaws
  • Still need to flesh out by-laws
• Will need to follow-up with Bruce Botelho on campaign finances to finish off last “Finance” section of bylaws
• Next meeting, April 26th at 10am

Juneau (3)

• Re-opened survey link. Resend email to people to take Policy Survey.
• Reviewed and made updates to proposed bylaws
  • Clarified between “Active” and “Inactive” members to allow members of dual-partyship
• Started skeleton document of proposed policies and procedures
• Proposed creation of Meeting Facilitators slide showcasing the meeting agreements
• Next meeting date: April 19th, 2025 10am

Juneau (3), Dillingham

• APOC doesn’t have clear guidance around a wholly in-kind structure https://apoc.doa.alaska.gov/home/
  • IRS may have additional guidance on how time can be valued
• Need clarity on whether we need to register with: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/
• Recommendation not to do party support for federal campaigns (though individuals are still encouraged to) to avoid having to register with FEC
• Print out survey for No Consent Rallies next weekend/ Email folks and remind them to do it
  • Next steps: Survey Results & Candidate Evaluation surveys

Juneau (2), Anchorage

• Protect Alaska’s Elections (https://protectalaskaselections.org/) launched campaign to keep ranked choice voting
• Review proposed In-Kind Network as financial structure
  • Pros: Decentralized/Donors have ability to choose projects to fund
  • Cons: Not having a pool of not having funding for time-sensitive projects
• Updated timeline to complete bylaws by April/May for registration with State
• Next meeting March 22nd and moved to evening at 6pm

Juneau (3), Dillingham

• Tentative Candidate Evaluation Timeline
  • April/May: Create Primary Poll based on Policy Survey.
  • June: Poll all candidates quick turn around survey (Focus questions)
  • July: Evaluate survey responses/ Compile & append responses with notes
  • Internal feedback on report/ Publish to website
  • Primary Ballot- August 18th
  • Post-Primary Nomination Process
  • Update report for General Election
• Finished initial review of bylaws
  • Follow-up with APOC on finance questions
  • After bylaws are complete, political group can be registered with the state!
• No meeting March 8th: Folks will be attending https://c4aa.org/whisper/unleashing-unstoppable-voters-alaska/
• Next meeting March 15th 10am