Van Slam Family Meeting Minutes
Feb 1 2011
Britannia Community Centre
Present:
RC Weslowski
Clint Wilson
Warren Dean Fulton
Mark Stienburg
Sean McGarragle
Chris Gilpin
Adrienne Smith
Angus Adair
Lisa Slater
Kyle Mallinson
Duncan Shields
The meeting was called to order at 640 pm
AWARDS
A Smith reported on the existing Van Slam Family Awards
The Van Slam Family will grant the following award each year at finals night beginning in April 2011:
1. Rookie of the Year
An Award open to a poet new to the Vancouver Poetry Slam who gave a poem (including slam, open mic, and sacrifice) on the Van Slam stage that year, provided they slammed in competition at least once. Special consideration will be given to poets new to slam poetry. This award is open to members of the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team, including the WOWPS an IWPS poets.
2. Spirit of the Slam Award
An award open to any member of the Van Slam Community who contributed to the betterment of the community that year. This award is open to poets and non poets, including volunteers. This award is open to members of the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team, including the WOWPS an IWPS poets.
3 Poet's choice awards- The 'Vladdy'
An award in memory of the Vlad E. Vostock, open to any poet who gave a poem (including slam, open mic, and sacrifice) on the Van Slam stage that year and who demonstrates the greatest growth of their craft or who served as an inspiration to our community. Special consideration will be given to a nominees who have not scored highly in competition.
Vancouver Poetry Slam Team members, including the WOWPS an IWPS poets are ineligible for this award.
Nominated for this award will be made to the awards committee only by poets who have given poems (including slam, open mic, and sacrifice) on the Van Slam stage that year.
M/ A Smith S/ A Adair
That the Van Slam Family Grant the Beauty Babo Award Innovation for an innovative poem performed on the Van Slam stage that year.
motion carries
TIE BREAK SYSTEM
A Adair reported for the rules committee on a new proposed tie break system where poet rankings in the case of ties are determined based on the number of poets they have beaten, rather than on the scored they received for their poems (as was previously the practice).
M/ A Adair, S/ C Gilpin
That the Van Slam adopt the new proposed system for resolving tie breaks.
motion carries, S McGarragle abstaining.
FINALS NIGHT AND VIP REPORT
S McGarragle reported on progress for these events.
M/ L Slater S/ C Gilpin
That the report be accepted.
NEW SUMMER FORMAT
A Adair reported for the rules committee about a proposal for the summer season to run 3, 2 and 1 minutes poem rounds to better prepare poets for 2 and 1 minute competitions at IWPS.
M/ A Adair S/ L Slater
That the proposed summer format be adopted.
FINANCIALS
S McGarragle reported that Van Slam has not received a Canada Council Grant this year and faces financial challenges due to a lack of fundraising ability.
M/ C Gilpin S/ M Stienburg
That admission for the slam be increased to a 6-10$ sliding scale at the beginning of semi finals.
motion carries
M/ L Slater S/ C Gilpin
That Van Slam cease the practice of providing per diem allowances to poets on the Van Slam team at tournaments
motion carries, A Adair abstaining.
M/ A Adair S/ D Shields
That a ways and means committee be struck
motion defeated
HONOUR CODE
M/ M Stienburg S/ A Adair
That Chris Gilpin (as webmaster) move the Van Slam Honour Code and Constitution from where it appears in the forum to the main page of the Vancouver Poetry House website.
M/ A Adair S/ C Gilpin
that the above motion be amended to read : and that the existence of the honour code be better publicized.
amendment carries
M D Shields S/ C Gilpin
That the above motion be amended to read: and that the honour code be posted on the slam sign up sheet at each slam
amendment carries
That Chris Gilpin (as webmaster) move the Van Slam Honour Code and Constitution from where it appears in the forum to the main page of the Vancouver Poetry House website; and that the existence of the honour code be better publicized; and that the honour code be posted on the slam sign up sheet at each slam.
motion carries
M/ A Adair S/ D Shields
That the rules committee be empowered to coopt to itself two additional members who must be female identified, and who's membership on the committee is to be ratified at the next Van Slam Family Meeting.
motion carries, K Mallinson, D Shields abstaining.
M/ M Stienburg S/ A Adair
That parts of section 7 of the BC Human Rights Code be added to the Honour Code.
M/ M Stienbug S K Mallinson
Referral to the rules committee
the motion is referred to the rules committee, S McGarragle abstaining.
M/ D Shields S/ A Adair adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 908 pm.
