FL Area Stewardship Council

Look for messages from the Area Stewardship Council

Stewardship Council Meeting Minutes Sept. 26, 2015

Attendees:

David Roelant	Area Steward
Mari Guas	Leader Body Representative
Lee Berman	Treasurer
Lucian Kragiel	Gainesville Community
Chris Boser	Gainesville Community
Frank Faine	Central Florida Community
Mike Wolf	Central Florida Community

Men checked-in and we had multiple circle rounds expressing what each of us wants personally from MKP and what each of us wants for the Florida Area, moving forward.

Financial:  The Florida Area does not have its own financial balance.  All money had been consolidated into MKP USA’s finances.  MKP USA expects of us to at least break even on all events, trainings, and events.  MKP USA will cover shortages.  We do maintain a budget however.  The budget is simplified; NWTA’s, next level trainings, membership and scholarship funds.  Berman, Roelant, and Boser will work as a team to finalize and clarify the budget.  Perhaps also send out a visionary budget out to the Area members.  This type of budget may also help justify contributing toward membership. 

Organizational:  Mike Wolf will work on an organizational chart for thee Florida Area.  We discussed need for clarity around who serves on the Stewardship Council and their roles.  The Area Steward is elected by the Council.  Individual communities select their community coordinators. 

We discussed the Area Steward position and whether or not Roelant wishes to remain in it.  Berman suggested we solicit nominations for an Area Steward Elect, for a vote in December.  Under this model, the Area Steward Elect would have one year to allow time to learn the role and be mentored by Roelant, so that he may step into the Area Steward role in 2017. 

The Florida Area will hire a paid Area Administrator.  A donor has offered funds to cover this position for the next three years.  Guas, Roelant, and Greg Gongdron will write up a job description and it will be posted to the Area.  Applicants will be asked to step forward.  

Kragiel has stepped forward to be the new I-Group Chairperson. 

Kragiel may go to the I-Group facilitation training.  The funds are in the budget.  If Kragiel decides not to go, another man will be selected. 

Enrollment and new brother retention:  Enrollment challenges of filling up NWTA’s were discussed.  Open Circles and Open I-Group meetings are viable methods to increase exposure to potential initiates.  Many communities are doing them. 

New brothers should be well-engaged after the NWTA in order to keep them engaged and active.  Drop-out rate has been very high the last few years.  Mari suggests the community coordinator call each new brother and invite them to I-Group and to help ensure that the men feel welcome.  Mari’s want is that community reps should be responsible for: homecoming, inviting man to a Pitt, invite a man to I-Group, educate them about membership.    It was discussed that PIT training attendance makes a new brother more likely to incorporate into an I-Group and to stay active. 

Communication and Technology:  Mike Wolf and Joe Badalamenti have been on the technology team, working on the website.  Wolf’s want is for more help.  Boser volunteered to help on the technology team, and he has another brother in mind who may also be interested.  Wolf’s intention is to continue with making website improvements, and to make updates timelier.  Boser’s want is to increase use of social media via the website and other means to help spread our message and increase exposure.  

Many men may not know about the MKP FL calendar, which shows upcoming events and trainings.  Wolf and Boser will send out an educational piece to the Area with links to online resources.  Wolf has created a blog for MKP FL which possibly could help with messaging and posted information issues. 

For the monthly council meetings, Roelant’s want is for each community coordinator and constituency group attendee to submit a paragraph summarizing updates, to be included in that meeting’s agenda. 

Mari suggests polling the warriors to ask for what they want out of the area.  It was agreed that it would be a good idea.