Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 6:04 PM

ZOOM: https://umich.zoom.us/j/2190305831

Attendance

Board of Directors

Other Members, Visitors, and Guests

Voting Math

Called to Order: 6:04 PM

INTRO:

• Members of the Board introducing themselves

ROLES/DUTIES:

Seth: See the doc #2. These duties are based on our bylaws, the duty of attention/care, loyalty, obedience. Fiduciary duty - as a Board we’re responsible for keeping the ICC alive financially. We can’t put ourselves in a position for shutting down and withering away. We’re going to go into random breakout groups to discuss these duties + what they mean to you. We’ll come back together and share our thoughts, share your rankings.

CoCo doing math!

Everybody comes back from their groups.

Seth: Let’s talk about these things. Can one person share out from each group?

Room one - Josh: By the end of our conversation, we agreed that the duty of care was most important. If we could only have one, it’s the one we’d want to have. If you care about the org, then the other two values will follow. Pink said all three are legs of the same stool, this one is the strongest. Second was the duty of attention, sometimes being disobedient may be in the best interest of the org. It’s important to know what’s going on for the future of the org and for members. Loyalty last.

Room 2 - George: We discussed the three principles… Agreed that care was the most important even though obedience could have big legal repercussions. If we care about each other on a day to day basis, then things will prob work out in the best way. All are obv very important, though.

Room 3 - Aarti: When prioritizing the duties, we thought that care/acting in good faith was important. That being said, all are interconnected making it hard to operate under one and ignore the others.

Room 4 - Kyle: Our conversation was a bit lacking, people were focused on having more understanding. More individual ideas.

Room 5 - Grace: Like others said, all of them very important - duty of attention went first. We felt that everyone here has a vested interest in the ICC. Attention is a huge component to not let fall to the wayside.

Room 6 - Joseph: Loyalty is important. In co-op terms, understand it to be about working together itself and being co-op. Care important.

Room 7 - Azure: We also talked about loyalty in the sense of allegiance to the co-op vs loyalty to the house. As Board members we have to balance the needs of our houses vs the needs of the org. It’s a balancing, a mediation. Within our specific role, it’s most important for being a representative. After came attn and care.

Seth: I loved the ideas going around about all of these being connected to each other. Anything else people want to share? Reactions?

Lenny: So we also talked about the legal ramifications that are mentioned in the document. With legal proceedings, the Board minutes can be subpoenaed for legal proceedings if deemed necessary. Important to know that what you’re saying in the minutes might be reflected in a legal situation. Okay to joke around, normal, but note sarcasm etc. If you need something omitted, note that.

GOVERNANCE AND PROCESSES:

Seth: If you have any questions or comments as we go through this, please raise your hand. It’s gonna be lecturey. I’m sorry.

We’re gonna start by talking about governance structure. Legally we gotta have a Board. Changes go through the Board. Referendums occur. CoCo sets the agendas for the Board.

We have 6 committees led by the VPs who are responsible for them. Usually these committees will have an MA for chore hours. In addition to that, there’s CoCo. The teams aren’t required of BRs, but they can be on them. Alumni, DART, SMART. ICC-T. Some ad-hoc committees include IAC, election team - which starts in November.

President is elected by everyone, VP elected by Board. Guiding documents… Articles, Bylaws, Standing Rules. Policies, house constitutions. Staff are present, committee liasons.

Kyle: Why is the ICC a corporation? Think of it as for-profit…

Brian: All non-profit orgs are corporations and have to be. Our minutes are subpoenable + any charitable organization belongs to the public. We’re structured as a cooperative. We were incorporated under the MI co-op law of 1931

Seth: Okay, moving on to what Board meetings look like. Most of the time we cover proposals, presentations, discussions. Most follow a process… there’s a presenter. Board, you gotta read things - it shouldn’t be a first pass for you. You should be coming with questions + points of discussion. After the presentation, we move through different parts… clarifying questions. Only clarifying details. Then we move into discussion. We see proposals twice.

Second pass is asking for reconciliation. Whoever calls to reconcile has to chair that. Going over the table of motions from p7 of TOPBODICC. Here are the numbers of votes. Kwunsensus diagram. Amendment, if one person has an issue with it then it’s not friendly.

COMMITTEE SPEED DATING:

Went well! Keara took a rapid!

MANAGERIAL REPORT QNA:

Brian: What’s an operational issue?

Keara: Think there’s a definite lack of synthesis. Lack of communication that harms us.

Lenny: CoCo - what’s up with your projects this year?

Elliot: People knowing their rates when they sign.

Joseph: Reaching out to organizations on campus that are geared towards marginalized students and telling them about the ICC.

Sophia: Way more of a social media presence!

Alex: Lots of stuff, as well as the contingency planning for power outages.

Seth: Policy wiki!!!

Cody: Training videos - both for officer stuff as well as breaking down documents like the bylaws and articles. Might be ambitious but I’m so excited.

Annie: MLK scholarship - seems like you found issues with it, is this going to be amended?

Elliot: Working on a proposal to increase funding, doesn’t change criteria. Enables us to give money to people who have already applied.

BREAK

STRAT. PLAN:

Sophia:  every five years (or so) the ICC comes up with a stratergic plan. Stragtergic plans are a way to take large organization goals and break them down into smaller goals to achive over time. Theres a doc in the board pack that collected all the minutes and goals from meetings over the past year if you want to check.

The fall 22 board used dot voting to decide top prorities for the plan. These main goals are affordability, racism/equity, expansion, conflict resolution, and sustainability. One the day of planning we'll get to define the final goals for the plan based on these priorities as anything that comes up from this group, everyone will get a voice during this.

So why do we do this? There are so many new board reps this year. We have no repeating VPs. We've hired new staff members in the past 5 years. AND we're coming out of an altering global pandemic. The strategic plan is like our anchor when it comes to organizational goals. This way the ICC continues to thrive and grow with steady goals through each turnover. Future coopers will have guidance on where to start and how to make things happen. The beauty of a strategic plan is that each year we can take the goals set by the plan and achive them in ways that fit their priorities for the year. For example this past year goals like conflict resolution was achived by the re-writing of chapter 16 in the standing rules, and afforability was worked towards by increasing MLK and starting the solidarity fund (wink wink nudge nudge)

I keep saying we, we is the board, coco, staff, and the entirerty of the ICC membership. Anyone who wants to be involved is encouraged to do so. The board will approve the plan once written and be the body respnsible for overseeing the plan. The writing of the actual plan will be done at the board retreat. Keara will be talking more about planning the retreat after this.  And if that makes you panic a little, dont fret, we've recruited help!

We've hired Evren to come join us on the retreat to help us write out our plan! Evren is phenomenal, they came and talked to us at coco and immediately calmed every nerve I had about strat planning. They've done a ton of work with other coops creating their strategic plans as well as policy work. They work with the Theater of the Oppressed and have a background in advocacy groups that focus on policy change from a youth-led standpoint.

They will walk us through discovering our overarching goals and breaking them down into actionable outcomes. They want us to be pumped about our plan and for the actual planning to be a fun and enaged activity. Again, this will be taking place at the upcoming board retreat to be planned in the next agenda item.

ESSENTIALLY, welcome to strat planning. Start thinking about where you want to see the ICC in 5 years and how to help future co-opers get to those goals while offering flexibility (cause our last plan got a little wonky with covid).

BOARD RETREAT:

Keara: Strategic plan taking place during the board retreat. Fill out the form for the board retreat. Circle pines is open for oct 7-9 so we’d prefer that but let us know in the form. Fun ICC summer camp vibes but a little colder. There is wifi! When it gets closer we will do carpool planning. We will also note dietary needs and helping with cooperative chores at the retreat. Everyone fill out the form, including coco.

OFFERINGS AND ASKINGS:

Cody: Go around, say name and pronouns again. Say something you’re offering and something that you’re asking. We get to know people and know their expectations.

Offering: I bring fun vibes and an openness to chat. Asking… let’s take a step back and be vibing co-opers. I ask patience

Joseph: What I offer my own unique good vibes. I ask that we have a chill but productive year. We’re a big org and this year we get to work to make the ICC even better.

Raili: I’m offering a good vibe as well. I’m excited to be on the Board and all work together, being co-op and productive.

Seth: I offer a fun time while being organized. I have spreadsheet skills, anything organization, I love making Google Forms. If you want help w that, ask me. Ask that you put in the work you think that this deserves. We’re doing good work, give to it.

Keara: Respect time, don’t filibuster. No weird little hypotheticals. I bring WGS, ICC experience.

Grace: I offer enthusiasm, I was a summer BR and I’m excited to be back. I ask that people share knowledge. I wanna learn from y’all and those who have been around a while.

Elliot: I offer what I know about ICC finance. I’m a resource for anyone interested in that. I ask that people do their best. We’re all busy, but give what you can. I appreciate that.

Josh: I can offer is my passion for working for people in low-income housing. I want to help out people like myself who find it hard to live in an expensive city like Ann Arbor. Want people to be able to exist and live and go to school here. I ask that people get passionate about things. We’re the only affordable housing in the whole city for students, it’s a cool thing. We’re in a bubble, can feel normal but it’s not to the city and it’s a big deal.

Brian: What I can offer is an answer to every question. Ask them. I don’t know everything but I want to help you figure it out. Lots of good people on staff who can help us figure it out. I ask for perspective on what we mean to do in the world. Not just my house, but what should the impact of ICC be in the world? It’s why I’m here. ICC is that important in the movement. We have plenty of turnover and plenty of amazing people. Look forward to understanding all of you better.

Alex N: I offer enthusiasm. I’m a curious person, I’m keen to learn more about the ICC. I ask that we be good listeners and not talk over others. Hear from all.

Ruthy: I hope that I offer institutional knowledge. Third year on the board. I’ve seen some change. I ask everyone to be bold, ask questions, be analytical. The way we’ve always done it isn’t the right way inherently. Think about the bigger picture + mission driven.

Bryan: I offer the group a variety of POVs as a member and someone working to be involved in housing movement. Offer opinions and analytical POV. In return, listen to these different perspectives. There’s a lot of experience behind them. Important to be open.

Alex Z: I offer my big policy brain, love to dig into details. If you wanna know something, I might already know about it. Big on changing the policies. I ask the group for a sense of urgency with your engagement. I would like to see things happen - we know of tons of problems that happen in the ICC. ID’ing it is the first step, we need to follow through and address things.

Sophia: Remember the magic of the co-op, remember your fave house dinners and the memories with your fave housemates. We’ve stayed because we’ve fallen in love with the houses. After board meetings, I would go sit and talk with my house - educate them that way. Remember the simplicity and little moments of all of this. I’m a 5th yr, lived in three houses. Want to spread the magic everywhere. Hope you get to experience that as well.

Abiola: I bring teamwork - I’m excited to serve this year, for at least the semester. Want to do well on the Board and any committee I’m on. Had a great time this summer, wanna do more. Remember the communities beyond your house. I wanna invite people to Escher and head to other co-ops. Wanna see more of that.

Maya: I’m an architect, I think a lot about how space leads us to live cooperatively or not. Wanna talk about the houses physically. I want to ask that in most meetings, the discussions are dominated by the same people - I wanna hear every voice. Those who we don’t hear from tend to have a great POV.

Aarti: I bring a consistent open mind and respect for all in the committee.

Orpheus: I bring a willingness to help. I ask that if people aren’t understanding of something, that we work to explain things to them with different approaches.

Mary: Offer dedication, am an accountant, in finance for 6 years. Learning a lot of stuff. Learned a lot from previous staff. All the members rock. Understand that we won’t always disagree. Respect for everybody.

Kyle: I bring an interesting POV - I’m a SEAS Masters student… I’m in my 30s, previously went to UM for undergrad and lived at Luther. POVs from that. I ask for patience, I’m new to this role and learning as I go.

George: I will offer a chat, a convo anytime. I like to talk. Love to talk with others. Ask that we try to be humorous when we can be. Enjoy the long meetings we have - in our best interest.

Jorja: Ask for a lot of grace, first time in a co-op. Stoked to be here, there’s a lot to learn and I want to learn it all. Eagerness might take over. I can offer a health POV, it’s a big public health issue from my POV. that lens is interesting and what I can offer. I’m a STEM girlie.

Ani: I offer my love of writing, so I’m down to do any. What I would like is patience. My first time as a Board rep - senior members please help!

Annie: I offer passion, affordability and accessibility. I ask for respect. During meetings, for time, and for capacity.

Lenny: I can offer perspective as a very seasoned member. Can give history to why/why not policy changes have or haven’t happened. I’m a WGS masters student at EMU - can talk theory and social justice whenever. What I’m asking….. It’s in the duty, but I ask we assume best intent. Not just for board members but for staff. Especially… Just because someone’s older doesn’t mean they’re not as willing to be open minded or radical. If someone’s working at a co-op, then….. They probably are here for a reason.

Azure: I’m happy to give my time and attn - as much as I can with working in the coop. Excited to spend time bettering this place. I ask for patience with all the different POVs. Easy to rush a process and miss other people, but let’s be patient and understanding to what people who have to offer.

MEMBER TIME:

Maggie: I do fundraising for the ICC, work for NASCO. I’ve been involved with the co-op for a long time, have branched out into other parts of the movement. I would love to share that with people who want to get more involved and knowing what’s all out there. Am happy to talk about anything ICC with people. Lots of experiences here that have been special and difficult and enlightening and frustrating. Asking-  that the time you spend here at the ICC is really special. Hard to know it when you’re in it because so much is going on, but take time to appreciate how cool and radical this organization is. What we represent in a world that burdens us with capitalism, seeks to alienate us from community. Taking control of what we can and make beautiful things. This is a potent act of resistance.