Present:
Eric, Leigh, BlackLion, Nikki, Aree, Fred, Marilyn, Arwen, Jane

Supporting players:
Jane's awesome iPhone, Scooby the cat

Opening:
Marilyn did that beautiful singing circle-casting thing she does. It was beautiful.

Secretary's Report:
Nikki opened the meeting and deferred the issue of the previous meeting's minutes while Jane (acting as Recording Secretary in the absence of Raven) searched for them on her awesome iPhone.

Treasurer's Report:
The treasurer's report was also deferred, as Flo is away. "We have money," said Arwen, but it is unclear how much.

TODO:

• Nikki will follow up with her to get a report as soon as possible.

Common Ground Fair Report:
Eric and Rita report that we did very well at the fair, raising about $370 for EPN while encountering no one openly hostile to our presence. The open ritual did not take place for lack of participation. Despite our request for a double booth, we were awarded only a single one, which meant Tarot readings (which were very popular!) had to take place outside the booth.

TODO:

• Rita will follow up with MOFGA requesting better communication and a double booth this year, or permission to set up a popup outside the booth if we must make do with a single.

Interfaith Coordinator's Report:
Thea reported to Nikki before the meeting that she wishes to continue as EPN's representative to the interfaith community, and Nikki has provided her with a letter affirming our support for Thea's work.

Newsletter Report:
BlackLion reports that the newsletter is up to 20 pages! This is mostly thanks to him and Starcat – they've been assiduously recruiting writers. He has also updated the Networking section and is looking at producing the newsletter in color, which would be more expensive. Jane volunteered to be ad coordinator. A discussion ensued on building our newsletter subscription list. Jane suggested that in the interest of saving paper and reaching more people, we make the newsletter available as an e-mail subscription, with a higher rate for those who still want to receive paper copies. Those present unanimously passed this plan, and the new rates will be $15/year for print (still wicked cheap!) and $11/year for e-mail.

TODO:

• Eric will send new photos of our T-shirts and bags to BlackLion.
• BlackLion and Starcat will be in touch with Jane to consult about advertising and set rates.
• BlackLion will implement an online subscription via PayPal.
• Arwen will encourage members to use the existing "Maine Pagans" page on Facebook to promote EPN. (This was preferred to setting up a separate fan page for EPN.)
• Nikki and BlackLion will encourage writers to promote their own work online and in Maine Pagan community generally.
• All members are encouraged to tell their Pagan friends about EPN and encourage them to become members.

Web Site Report:
BlackLion has updated us to a Google calendar. There was a pause while those present admired said calendar on Jane's awesome iPhone. BlackLion has also updated the networking page and added cute little Maine maps to the site so visitors can locate events and networking members. Eric mentioned that some out-of-state friends had told him that Maine's Pagan community seemed remarkably close-knit and cooperative, and credited EPN as one of the public resources that helps create and sustain that. Nikki mentioned further online possibilities including an EarthTides presence on WitchVox and linking to The Wild Hunt blog. There followed some reflections on the swift advance of the electronic age.

TODO:

• BlackLion and Nikki will be in touch with Jane about Witchvox and other possible ways to use and abuse her expertise as a Web/social media person.

Jane moved a vote of thanks to Nikki and BlackLion for their work on the newsletter and Web site. This was passed by adoration. (That's like acclamation, but better.)

Beltane on the Beach at Popham Report:
BELTANE ON THE BEACH IS MAY 2. MAY 2, EVERYONE. BE THERE OR BE A GEOMETRICAL SHAPE OF SOME KIND.

Statement of Ethics:
This will replace the "Community Standards" section of the Web site. There was a brief discussion of past history around this issue, leading to the current version which is deliberately phrased in a positive fashion and encourages rather than binds. The key issue behind this document is the affirmation of the legal and ethical right of parents to raise minor children in their own religion. With some changes (including condensing the seven recommended behaviors to five), this passed unanimously. (See full text on the Statement of Ethics Page.)

Corresponding Secretary:
Nikki had planned to hold a vote to name Eric to the empty position of Corresponding Secretary. Arwen mentioned that this might violate the bylaws, which mandate that candidates be called for and voting conducted through the newsletter. Jane looked up the bylaws on her awesome iPhone and found that Nikki as president is empowered simply to name someone to the job. Unsurprisingly, she chose Eric.

TODO:

• Rita will draft an amendment to the bylaws to modify the election process.

Old Business:
The idea of a public ritual after Common Ground Fair has been dropped for lack of enthusiasm on the part of both fairgoers and EPN members. There was a brief discussion of conference calling technologies available for meetings, but it was agreed that if we could hold brief meetings at Beltane and Common Ground, this would make for three meetings a year which appears to be enough for now.

TODO:

• Nikki will contact Kevin to see if there is anything EPN can do to support his work with Pagans in prison.

New Business:
Books: Aree has two boxes of Pagan books given to her by an Immanent Grove member who moved out of state. She would like to find a good home for them. Options for this were discussed, but it was agreed that little could be done unless we knew what the books were.

TODO:

• Aree will compile a list of titles and consult Marilyn and Arwen to discover whether any of them are valuable.

Cherry Hill Seminary: Jane suggested a donation to Cherry Hill Seminary. Arwen suggested that this instead be a scholarship offered to an EPN member or at least a Maine Pagan. After wide-ranging discussion touching on EPN's mission and varying sets of values regarding Pagan education, it was moved that Jane be authorized to come up with an outline of such a scholarship program. This passed with two abstentions.

TODO:

• Jane will first draft a program along the lines discussed at the meeting and post to the EPN list for discussion.
• (AMENDMENT) BlackLion will add a donation button to the website specifically for scholorships to be sponsored by EPN.

Pagan Preserves Project: Jane then suggested a donation to the Pagan Preserves Project being organized by Immanent Grove. This is intended for the eventual purchase of Pagan land to be minimally developed (including access for people with disabilities) and made available to multiple groups for use as a gathering place, ritual location, and memorial park. After some discussion, it was decided to table this item pending accurate information on EPN's financial situation.

TODO:

• Eric will write an article about Pagan Preserves for the newsletter.
• (AMENDMENT) BlackLion will add a donation button to the website specifically for donations to the Pagan Preserves Project on behalf of EPN.

Adjournment
Marilyn took down the circle. Brief social time followed. For further entertainment, Jane delayed the departure of many of those present by getting stuck in a snowbank in the driveway.

Respectfully submitted,
Jane Raeburn