Summary of BRC meeting September 17th 2001

Present: 18 members (including the Chair, Co-chair, Treasurer, Committee heads or designates of Environment/bio-regional, Communications/media, Legal, Fund raising, Land owners, Watch dog, Economic/cultural/historical), facilitator, public scribe, Floyd journalist, and a professor from Radford University.

Meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm.

Charlie, BRC Chair, called the meeting to order and agenda was set.

Meeting agenda:

Greeting - adoption of agenda - additions <Charlie>

Facilitators role <John Robertson III>

Presentation of recommendations to the BRC of Decision-making and meeting process <David S.>

Discussion and decision on proposed processes < All members present who raised their hand and wanted to be included in the decision-making>

Break/breather (10 min)

Committee Chairs - reports - assignments

Outreach - Networking - Landowners of Floyd Co.

Publicity <Penny and Mark>

Brainstorm-- a. BRC goals and b. 8214 voters in 7 days

Agenda items for next meeting

John III gave an overview of his role as facilitator and was empowered by those present to act as such. Those present were in agreement that he would keep things moving to meet the goals of the agenda in the time allotted.

David handed out printed copies of the recommendations made by the Process Work Group. It was decided by the majority of those present that decisions on the proposed decision making and meeting process would be voted on by those present who raised their hand and wanted to be involved. Let it be known that the proposal for Decision making and Meeting process was agreed to as follows:

Decision-making

A Working Council of the BRC will serve as voting body and be composed of: The Officers of the BRC (Chair, Co-chair, Secretary, and Treasurer), Heads of committees or designates (which have been or will be active in accomplishing tasks related to BRC’s goals), some number of individual BRC members (+/- 4) who are seen by the Officers and Heads of the committee to have shown consistent presence and or dedication and contribute additional view points of the community and are not serving in any of the official positions noted above, individuals of an Executive Committee (if different from the previous).

{There was a unanimous agreement of the BRC members present that the idea of an Executive Committee needs to be discussed and a decision on its need and structure as well as role still needs to be decided by the Working Council. The Process committees suggestion was that the Ex. Com. would serve as a smaller body (3 individuals) who would be empowered by the BRC working council to execute tasks related to daily management and to take action in situations that are time critical. Note also that the phrase “time critical” was raised as a concern by Pat being that the whole mission of BRC is time critical.}

It was agreed to use a voting majority of 2/3. It was also mentioned that when possible consensus of the group as a whole would be sought.

It was agreed that 2/3 of the Working Council will be present to have Quorum needed before taking a vote. Please note that there was one dissenting vote of the BRC members present.

Meeting structure and process

A proposed agenda will be prepared prior to the meeting.

Agenda items are to be submitted at the end of the meeting or prior to the next meeting when possible. {Note: There will be time at the beginning of each meeting to make additions and changes to the proposed agenda}

The Facilitator is empowered to maintain order, keep the focus on discussion items and in accord with the agenda and within agreed time limits so that respectful communication is maintained and that BRC goals are achieved.

The following agenda structure was adopted as a basic template for BRC meetings:

I. Opening and review of rough agenda

(regarding items, their priority, and time allotted)

II. Review of Decisions made at the last meeting

(allowing for concerns to be noted not discussed)

III. Committee reports

(uninterrupted time summarize accomplishments, goals and needs)

IV. Work time i.e., Agenda item(s)

(using the energy, creativity, diversity of the members present to address items of concern as guided by the goals of the BRC)

V. 5 min. Breather/Energizer

VI. Work time cont.

VII. Review of decisions made during current meeting

(assures that agreements are accurately recorded and that concerns of any dissenting votes are also recorded if desired)

VIII. Quick evaluation of meeting

(feedback of the meeting process - things that went well and things that need to be improved)

IX. Closing

It was agreed that discussion will seek input from BRC members present before taking votes allowing for uninterrupted presentation, questions for clarification, brief comments by everyone in a go around form, identifications of concerns, attempt to address and resolve concerns which are seen as important to the goals of BRC.

It was agreed to adopt the following roles and to have BRC members volunteer for the next meeting:

Facilitator

Timekeeper

Public scribe

Note taker

Peacekeeper

Doorkeeper

Committee Reports:

Environment/Bio-regional <Michelle and Marianne> Accomplishments: 1. Contacting Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for assistance; 2. Michelle spoke with Larry Yates who is based in DC and is willing to have a conference call to help the BRC figure out targets and ways to strengthen the group (and suggested working on getting Rick Boucher to represent us) (He works for the Center for Health, Environment and Justice). Need: help with thirteen (13) Environmental Reports in order to submit our own Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Federal Regulatory Commission (FRC).

Communications and Media <Penny and Mark> Presented: 1. Research and suggestions on ways to get information out and people involved; 2. Letter to landowners (approved as is by BRC members with allowance for wordsmithing and review by John Robertson IV); 3. Press release for Floyd paper (approved by BRC members present).

Legal <attending related meeting in another county will report 9/25/01>

Fund raising <not present>

Land owners <accompanied legal to other meeting will report 9/25/01>

Watch dog <Sue Robertson> Handed out information related to national push for increased pipe line safety and information on non-enforcement by the pipe line safety commission. Continuing to do research regarding Dominion’s past business practices. Wants to increase public awareness and suggested distributing information in front of stores and at events such as the up coming craft fair at the Floyd High School.

Economic and Cultural and Historical <Pat Sharkey> Shared information from Rick Boucher’s office regarding the importance of tourism and the value of our natural resources. Noted that there are some where around a hundred and fifty businesses which site tourism as an important source of income.

Secretary <not present>

Treasure <no report to make>

Outreach -- networking -- landowners of Floyd Co. <John IV and Amy> Both John IV and Amy weren’t able to attend so item will be addressed at next meeting.

Brainstorm focus was suggested by John III to address two ideas: first that there are 8214 registered voters and second what BRC could do in the next 7 days. This was dropped when BRC members reminded the facilitator of the earlier agreement to brainstorm the issue of BRC GOALS. The over riding goal was to STOP THE PIPE LINE. The additional statements are as follows and are listed in the order they were stated: to be so well organized that they (or anything like Dominion) will think twice; reform pipe line safety rules; assist landowners with plan B; maximize safety of citizens of Floyd Co.; support bio-regional opposition; focus on Floyd; give assistance/our expertise to people who are organizing against the pipe line.

Closed meeting at 9:15

The following BRC tasks were assigned:

John IV will facilitate the next BRC meeting on September 25, 2001

Mark will pass letter to land owners by John IV for legal ok and get it mailed out.

Mark will get approved brief press release including pipelines facts to the press.

Michelle will get personal letter to the Editor of the press.

T’aiya (scribe) will type up newsprint for minutes of the 9-17-01 meeting and Email them to David Sower for the web site and Mark for the Email list.

David will contact Doug regarding the Secretarial duties of note taker.

Charlie will contact Katie regarding Fund raising committees.

Sue is contacting the Women’s Club who is responsible for allocating space for the crafts fair at the High School.

Items listed for additional time at another meeting are as follows (in no particular order):

Report by Beth and Amy legal notes from meeting attended in other county

Report on VA organizing meeting

Approval of a Watch Dog leaflet compiled by Sue

Event at Jacksonville center on the 27th -- booths cost $10 ???

Ways to contact individuals who given us contact information to get them involved on committees and doing tasks

Organizing Tasks

Increasing out reach

Increasing fund raising

What is a BRC member

Logo for new signs (add web address? eliminate double negative?)

Donating sings for residents on Rt. 8 to raise awareness state opposition more assertively

HOW BRC CAN SUPPORT LAND OWNER INTERESTS plan A, B and beyond

Contact numbers

Solidarity of BRC’s goals and methods.

Arranging a speaker phone conference call with Larry Yates--Date/Time/Location

These minutes have been compiled by T’aiya Shiner who served as public scribe for the 09-17-01 BRC meeting. Please let her know of any additions or corrections that you would like to be made at the beginning of the next meeting. <taiyashiner@yahoo.com> 540-520-5994.

GREAT work BY everyone involved