[Bookstoprisoners] [BtP] Minutes 7/29

[Susan Porter Bruce]

> Books-to-Prisoners
> Minutes of Meeting July 29, 2006
>
> 4:00-5:00pm
---------------------------
> Six members of the group were present: Jane M, Sandra, Yvette,  
> Susan B, Niloofar, Deb.
>
>
> 1) We discussed a possible plan for another book sale. Sandra  
> proposed the last day of the Farmer’s Market, November 11. (We  
> could in future have twice yearly sales, the first and last days of  
> the Farmers Market.) She suggested we run a sale from Tuesday until  
> Saturday. The IMC might be a good venue, though there was some  
> discussion about Lincoln Square being much better for visibility.
>
> Publicity is hugely important. Deb suggested printing up a bookmark  
> to distribute at other sales, thrift stores, etc.
>
> We agreed that we need to find someone to coordinate, for 10% of  
> the sales. Each of us should be thinking about a candidate. Susan  
> will check on the book sale dates of other groups. We didn’t make a  
> final decision.
>
> 2) We discussed some priorities for using our funds, beyond  
> postage. We decided that it might be appropriate to give $200 to  
> the IMC regularly each month. With the cash from book sales and  
> online sales, we believe this is feasible.
>
> We would also like to buy copies of the Ex-Offenders Guide to Job  
> Hunting. With adequate funds, we may continue to purchase  
> dictionaries, and later more African-American fiction and non- 
> fiction, almanacs, and the Prisoners Self-help Litigation Manual.
>
> In future, funds might also be used to hire a part-time staff  
> person, or serve as matching funds for grants.
>
> 3) We discussed the need to focus on our central mission, to get  
> books to prisoners. We decided that we would not do another zine  
> for a while, and take mention of that off our letter. Sandra  
> drafted a new letter to enclose with orders, with check-offs, and  
> room for a note. With some editing, we thought it would be good to  
> try, to maintain the quality of our work but increase the volume.
>
> 4) We discussed the possibility of an evening packathon, perhaps  
> aimed at church groups, or perhaps general volunteers. Jane and  
> Niloofar will figure out if they can find a day in the fall to  
> share this responsibility, perhaps 7-9 on Tuesdays.
>
> 5) It is working well to have orders that need entering on the  
> north shelves, and orders that need packaging on the south table  
> under the duct, but these areas need signs for clarity. Sandra will  
> get large rubber bands to keep orders together.
>
> 6) We were unsure where things stood with Meg’s work to update our  
> prison postal restrictions.
>
> 7) We are making an effort to use only banana and paper boxes for  
> storing sale books, to keep the avalanche room organized. We need  
> more of these.
>
> 8) Susan will send Deb a list of the kinds of books we are looking  
> for to meet requests, so she can pick these up as she travels to  
> sales.
>
> 9) We would like to find a law student volunteer, who might be able  
> to help us with appropriate legal books.
>
> 10) Susan will contact Nancy Griffin to see what the status is of  
> the Satellite Jail carts. Prisoners are now writing to us from there.
>
> Minutes submitted by Susan Bruce
>

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