June 2, 2026, Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
On Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88140632164?pwd=GVZ3QoasTclIWaLEUWLiVsXjyAiMBz.1
Meeting ID: 881 4063 2164
Passcode: 149204
A quorum is a minimum of five voting members present.
Attendees: David Harris, Nirmy Kang, Alisha Willis, Miera Rao, Vibha Akkaraju, Maragaret Nalbach, Tim Flood, Jenifer Raver, Sue Barizon, Tice Swackhamer
1. Vibbha noted that the CD amount noted in May minutes should be $3,500 not $3,700.
Motion: To approve the May meeting minutes. Passed.
2. We have an extension at the Sequoia Yacht Club until the end of this year. We need to start looking at new locations. Vibha, Tice, and Sue will form a subcommittee to spearhead the search. It was suggested that everyone keep a lookout for suitable locations.
3. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. We would need to provide twenty judges for this contest for 7th–12th graders with two to three backups/alternates. Judging period is from 12/17/26 to 1/7/27. To participate, we would need a strong point person, and all judges would need to take online training in November. Four to five other CWC branches currently participate. Submissions are judged on originality, writing skill, and the emergence of personal voice. On July 1, Scholastic will distribute agreements. We need to let them know by September 1 if we would like to participate. Our CWC branch would receive an honorarium of $2,500.
Motion: To move forward with educating ourselves about the Scholastic judging as a means for contributing to the coffers. Passed.
4. The board discussed increasing the monthly meeting fee. We will go back to the original fee of $15 in September 2026. We had decreased the price to $10 in February 2025.
Motion: To increase the fee to $15 per meeting beginning in September 2026. Passed.
5. Fault Zone 2027 Talking Points: How much should we charge? Each piece? Poetry vs prose? Will charging a fee increase expectations? Since submissions start July 1, is that too many price hikes at the same time?
Motion: The Fault Zone 2027 submission charges will be $10 per prose piece and $5 per poem. Passed.
6. The board agreed that messaging around all the forthcoming price increases should emphasize everything that our club offers.
7. The board discussed opportunities for increasing revenues including fundraising and a silent auction. We might ask at the June meeting what members can contribute.
8. Margaret presented the Fault Zone Editorial Guidance Document. She will meet with Carol Ann Lapeyrouse to review this document.
9. For the July picnic, Sue and Megan are going to send out invitations with a link to preregister. No refunds for no-shows. Fifteen dollars per person at the door. Ten dollars per person if you pre-register.
10. June Elections: we are ready to go.
Meeting adjourned at 8:34 pm.
Secretary Nirmy Kang (standing in for Colleen Olle): Notes taken June 2, 2026
ADDENDA:
1. On June 12, David Harris forwarded a June 11 email from CWC State President Roger Lubeck about the new MRMS system the organization will start using in September. To assist with the rollout within the tight timeframe, Roger wrote, “We are proposing that future renewals will occur on the anniversary date of the member’s last renewal or on the date they joined as a new member in 2026-2027.” He requested that each CWC branch board discuss dropping the two-month fixed renewal and change over to an anniversary system. Our CWC-SF-Peninsula board members took a virtual vote and agreed to support this change.
2. On June 17, David emailed the board regarding a new submissions platform Fault Zone editor Carol Ann Lapeyrouse had found called Subfolio to replace the current Submittable platform. The board took a virtual vote and agreed to pay $10 per month for Subfolio.
3. On June 27, David asked the board to take a virtual vote to approve moving our branch’s monthly meeting location to Hope Lutheran Church in San Mateo. Board members voted yes.
4. On June 28, the board voted virtually to approve David’s nomination of Andrea Christensen to become the Northern California state representative. Andrea will replace Geri Spieler.
Colleen Olle (Secretary) June 28, 2026