MINUTES (thanks to ceu martinez)

Participants:Aaron Shipp, Rodrigo Fuentes, Kevin Lezak, My Luu, Remie Christ, Ceu Martinez, Alberto Molina, Karen DiYanni, Marguerita Dolatly, Rashida, Mehul Patel, Jim Davoust, Amanda Taffy.

1. Introductions - all 15 mins
   • All in attendance introduced themselves to the group.
   • A brief description of YAAMNY and the Yale club was made.
   • NY has a total 15,000 Yale alumni. Yale club services about 3,000 YAAMNY members. 
   • The Yale Club of NYC It is a full service building with hired personnel, therefore it has a service fee for using the facility and becoming a member.
   • YAAMNY has an automatic enrollment granted upon graduation. It services all 15,000 NY members currently providing Yale alumni with a free membership.
   • In the past few years, YAAMNY has been active in promoting social events that foster a sense of community in metropolitan New York.
2. Update on organizational progress and initial strategic outline from AYA Club leadership Forum - Alberto and My - 10 mins
3. Review YAAMNY Proposed Initiatives - high level group comment/suggestion - 20 mins
   
   • Social events are a great way to connect people. However, they are not enough to serve the many interests of our members.  Reflecting upon the values that brought us to Yale and cultivated our sense of social responsibility, we need to add a new structure to make YAAMNY great.
4. Conclusions:
   
   • Remie Christ
     Key Theme:
     Think Bigger and beyond; starting with community service and social responsibility. Gave some examples of a strong local community church and their outreach towards the community. Thinking of building a structure to support and bring to realization, not just police and govern. Building connections; have our own events, yes, but also work on connecting the dots between things that are already happening.
   • My Luu:
     Explained more thoroughly the differences between a Club as a business structure and YAAMNY as a non
     profit who has a larger mission to impact the world in which we live. Consideration in partnering with the Yale Club.
     Discussion on the demographic differences between the members of the Yale Club and the active members in
     YAAMNY and what our services could be.
   • Discussion of proposed YAAMNY operational areas:
     
     • Intiatives to support Arts and Entertainment; Yaamny will not necessarily be producing most events.  Focus
       should be on connecting dots and support various alumni initiatives, endeavors and interests. Announcing events in which Yale alumni are involved.
       Other examples connecting a screenwriter with a director. Host a screenplay reading Theatre and the Arts.  Bringing people together to enjoy the humanities. Bring awareness of other existing groups: CYAN, Yale Mafia, Yale Caberet, Yale in Hollywood.
     • Lectures and Professional Development
       Building connections among alumni.  Connecting the dots. Check what is happening in other clubs = Seattle or
       other college clubs and what are they doing? Lectures on I-tunes. Targeted groups; book club
       Lectures= what type of lectures are needed. Publication to communicate events. Where would the venues be?  Can some be hosted at the Yale Club?
     • Initiatives for Public Service and Social Justice
       NYCares -Build something
       Unicef fundraising for international issues and causes
       Teach at a school for a day-  Yalies unite to teach for a day
       Graduation Day 2-3hours
       Volunteer for a day
       Yale Volunteer Day April 19th
       My: AYA already has a Day of Service on April 19
       Remie: Red Cross of Greater NYC- has a training program
       Check Yale Peace Corps, database for the school for public health
     • Social and Networking Events
       Providing opportunities to meet people casually for diverse reasons and possibly sparking interest in service with YAAMNY
     • Governance and Interclub/Association Relations:
       to write a new corporate charter
5. Initial collaboration on discussion of Mission, and potential new organizational structures - 20 mins
   • Mission and core values
     Questions asked for thought
     How do we structure dues?
     Do we bring on chairs for each department? Do we have 3 more roles to fill?
     What is our mission as Yaamny?
     Remie:  Very important because we need to think about connecting to community to each other and back to
     Yale. Online clearing house structure empowers enablers to deliver something great.
     Yale Sports to be added.
     Alberto: We need people to curate what is out there and empower contributors.  Identify them and talk to
     them.
     My:  Encourage them to take part in the opportunity to set a new path for Yaamny. Yaamny participants express areas of interest to devote time to.
6. Initial Interest in the YAAMNY Focus Areas
   • Aaron Shipp wants to support  Arts (but doesn't have time to lead it now)
     Rodrigo Fuentes wants to support Professional Development
     Kevin Lezak and Hugo agreed to join Arts Committee
     Remie Christ wants to support  Professional Development
     Ceu Martinez is open to supporting all/any areas
     Karen Di Yanni  Public Service & Entertainment
     Marguerita Dolatly wants to support Professional development, by laws, corporate structure
     Rashida and Amanda agreed to co-lead Public Service and Community Activities
     Mehul Patel wants to support Professional Development & Sports
     Jim Davoust is open to supporting any area
7. Discussion of YAAMNY Strategic Planning Retreat - possible dates April 11-12 - JEC
   • The group was in agreement with the March 31 and April 11-12 dates.

Action items

1. Social Service Group to begin ongoing meetings and report on plans at the next Council meeting
2. Arts and Entertainment already has a scheduled meeting March 10 and will report at the next council
3. Alberto to send a meeting invite to the next Council meeting scheduled for either March 19 or 26.
4. Ongoing discussion to be had on the format of the April 11-12 Retreat. 

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Agenda

Invited: 'Aaron Shipp'; 'J. Rodrigo Fuentes'; 'John Fitzgerald'; 'Kevin Lezak'; 'My Luu'; 'Remie Christ'; 'ceu martinez'; 'Mehul J. Patel'; 'Hugo Perez'; Alberto Molina; 'Karen DiYanni''; 'Marguerita Dolatly'; 'Melissa Wolff';

1. Introductions - all 15 mins
2. Update on organizational progress and initial strategic outline from AYA Club leadership Forum - Alberto and My - 10 mins
3. Review YAAMNY Proposed Initiatives - high level group comment/suggestion - 20 mins 
4. Discussion of proposed YAAMNY operational areas: - 20 mins
   • Intiatives to Support Arts and Entertainment
   • Lectures and Professional Development
   • Initiatives for Public Service and Social Justice
   • Ongoing Social and Networking Events
   • Governance and Interclub/Association Relations
5. Initial collaboration on discussion of Mission, and potential new organizational structures - 20 mins
6. Brief tutorial on collaborative workspace on YAAMNY.net - Alberto 10 mins
7. Update on Arts and Entertainment Team - Hugo 10 mins
8. Discussion of YAAMNY Strategic Planning Retreat - possible dates April 11-12 - JEC

Contribution for food and drink $15  :)