All Star I Family Conference 2005

Saturday, July 2, to Saturday, July 9, 2005.

May, 2005

Dear All Star One family:

In less than five weeks, All Star One will be underway - and we hope to see many of you on the island on July 2nd!

This message comes from The All Star One Chairs Executive Committee, elected at the November, 2004 meeting of the All Star One Chairs. I am writing to tell you of our existence, of some of our actions, and to invite you into conversation with us. You'll hear more about the work of our committee at the Town Meeting which will be held on Star on July 4, but this will start the information flow.

Here's how this body was created: at the November 2004 meeting of the chairs in Madison, CT, it was Moved, Seconded and Voted to create an Executive Committee to act as an ongoing governance group for the All Star One chairs and through them, the All Star One conference.

Who we are: Bill Clegg, Paula Phillips, Henry Powsner, Jan Prochaska, Bill Tibbs, Jane Trudeau, Debbie Weiner Soule (convener), Elizabeth Yermack

Creating this new governance group has been a challenge, but a rewarding one in service to our conference and Star Island.

Here's an update of what we have done so far:

• We agreed that we would create committees and task forces to carry forward the work of the conference. We agreed that most committees would be open for staffing by members of the former chairs AND All Star One conference community at large.
• We created and tasked a Healing and Reconciliation Committee to strengthen the bonds of our community and create wholeness where there may have been ruptures. We further agreed that this committee would recommend such policies and practices as might best serve the community safety and health of the All Star One community. We agreed that, at least initially, this committee would be staffed by members of the former chairs group. Chair: Dana Powsner. Members: Estelle Best, David Osgood, Jim Prochaska, Pam Pierce and liaison to the Executive Committee, Jan Prochaska.
• We discussed communication to the chairs and to the conference as a whole, and agreed that the convener (currently Debbie Weiner Soule) would speak for the executive committee on matters of policy and ongoing finance and planning, but that the current conference chairs (currently Hal and Val Basdekis) would continue to speak for all ongoing matters pertaining to the planning and execution of the upcoming conference (and likewise with the chairs for the year coming). We also agreed that, where work of a task force or committee is convened, the liaison to the executive committee (which all such committees will have) will report on their activities.
• We hope to improve the conference's website communication capacity. We are very pleased that the website which Connie Lentz set up is now being beuatifully managed by Marc Soule, who redesigned it. Check in at www.allstarone.org for updates!
• We further agreed that, regarding an on-island "town meeting (as has been held for the past several years), it is appropriate for the former chairs, with the Executive Committee acting on its behalf, to act as convener of this meeting. The Executive Committee appointed Jim Prochaska to work with the current chairs to structure and convene the meeting during the 2005 conference.
• We are researching sexual harassment and non-discrimination policies with an eye toward drafting same for our conference. One such document (on children's staff conduct) has been drafted and affirmed by the Executive Committee; other documents will be researched and drafted in the coming months.
• We are reviewing a draft set of bylaws to delineate governance structures, being written by Jane Trudeau and Elizabeth Yermack.
• We have created (through Henry Powsner's good efforts) an email list for you to use in writing to the Executive Committee. The email address is AS1Comment@yahoogroups.com

More recently:

• We are continuing to work on bylaws.
• We are examining the structure by which scholarships are applied for and granted.
• We are examining the need for other committees, and the charge that would be given them.
• We are talking about further proactive communication to the larger All Star One community which serves all our interests
• We want to look at a process for 'sunsetting' previously enacted motions of the chairs which have run their course or are in contradiction with other motions.
• We need to consider the impact of financial guarantees to the Star Island Corporation from our conference, and other financial matters
• We need to develop a timeline for our ongoing work
• We need to talk about term limits and terms of office for individuals currently serving on the Executive Committee and those who would follow us.

As we said, this is the beginning. The Executive Committee has been meeting every four to six weeks since we were created, and we will next meet on the island and then again in early September. There is much to consider and put in place as we explore this new governance structure. We hope to keep you informed on a regular basis. In the mean time, we invite your suggestions for our work and your feedback. Please write to AS1Comment@yahoogroups.com to communicate with us!

With best wishes,

Debbie Weiner
For your All Star One Executive Committee