Minutes of General Meeting 27th April 2009

Minutes of General Meeting 27th April 2009

PRESENT: ZATS Nordlicht; Dijek Reichman; Sara Long; Starrr Michigan; Elborath Gelfand; AlienShaman Constellation; Lizzy Renard; Tamara Pau; Elizabeth Spieler; Manon Clary; Soothsayer Pleides; Arawn Spitteler; Xe Parx; Maura Sahara; Sharma Sahara; Mamalou Mayako; DeHomely Tigerpaw; Urantia Plutonian; Mobius Turbo; Hokon Cazalet; Sheena Fairey; Jacob Bearsfoot; kathy Frenburg

AGENDA

1) New Staff Members

2) Class Times

3) Upcoming new classes

4) Greeters

5) Joining Mystic Academy

6) Consulting Rooms

7) Feedback

8) Bans

9) Schedules

10) Newsletter

1) New Staff Members: Elborath told the group of new staff members Draco Amaterasu and Wiccan Blackheart. Draco is going to take a class in Dragon Lore. Wiccan set up a class teaching candle magic and despite notices being posted nobody came to the class. Firestaar now has the lead for Wiccan and Elborath hopes that Wiccan will be persuaded to set her class up again.

2) Class Times: Class times are not always convenient for those of our members who come from the Antipodes. Sharma reported that for those members times like 5pm SLT and on are the best. ACTION: StarRose/Elborath to see if any new teachers would be prepared to run their classes at those times.

3) Upcoming new classes: Dragon Lore with Draco, hopefully Candle Magic with Wiccan; a monthly EFT workshop to enable people to reduce stress levels with Elborath and Yoga Tradition with Sara at the end of May.

4) Greeters: Members felt it to be important to have people around MA as much as possible to greet and help new visitors. Elborath asked for volunteers and Samara Sahara, Maura Sahara and Tamara Pau volunteered. Members also thought it a good idea to source a reception desk with key staff on online indicators for those times when a greeter couldn’t be present. ACTION: Elborath to ask the group for more volunteer greeters and to source a reception desk. Samara/Maura/Tamara to liaise to work out a schedule.

5) Joining Mystic Academy: It was confirmed that Mystic Academy has open enrolment.

6) Consulting Rooms: Samara would like a consulting sky box as she does not feel the lounge is private enough. Manon was in agreement – Arawn to liaise with Samara to site one.

7) Feedback: The new Academy Building is liked by all. The ‘paths’ between them though need some adjusting. People would like to have more dances and fun.

8) Bans: If someone is genuinely disrupting a class it is the guide taking that class who has the authority to eject/ban them. Differences of opinion do not constitute griefing unless it is done in an insulting disrespectful way or if it seriously derails the class and the person doesn’t stop despite being asked to leave their comments til the end of the class. Remember that things may not always be as they seem – Elizabeth banned someone from a voice class after warning her then found out she was deaf. So please give warnings in text as well as voice. Our policy is to give two warnings then eject and ban.

Please send a notecard to Elborath of bans stating when and where it happened, the nature of the offence and confirmation that warnings were given. This is important because disputes often arise following bans. On MA land the ban lasts for one week then the person is unbanned and given another chance. The record card is also helpful for making sure they are unbanned after the week. For sim wide bans Manon Clary has the authority. On your own land what you do is your prerogative. You do not have to unban the person unless you wish to.
9) Schedules: Elborath asked for someone to visit the prim calendar on Sundays and send her details of the class schedule each week so she can easily update the website and the Google Calendar. Elborath hopes that all teaching staff will get involved with the Google calendar and therefore be able to edit their classes themselves. Then it may be possible to dispense with the prim calendar. Samara volunteered – she will also send out a notice reminding staff to get their classes on the schedule. ACTION: Samara

10) Newsletter: Elborath asked for contributions to the newsletter – Xe Parx contributed an article on Mandalas; Samara will contribute a piece on healing; Elizabeth will contribute an article on the Four Agreements by Don Miguel; and Kuel Tardis will contribute a piece on his dream class. Contributions to Elizabeth by Sunday next (3rd May) at the latest please.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Monday 4th May at 2.30pm SLT