Author: mcmadmin

Ham, MaineBob, Tom B., Carl, Frank, Matthew, Joss present.

1. Frank says thanks to the program committee.
2. Ham saw a film in Brunswick with Carl about veterans coming home after being in Afganistan. The film is not yet at theaters. The film is about vets and their therapists. The vets are dealing many things, one of which is with having killed people for no reason. Ham talked to the director about showing the film here. MCM could produce a poster. Carl spoke about IEDs and lack of armored vehicles and disabled vets he works with. Carl reports he and Ham thrive on intensity.
3. The program committee is alive and well with Matthew, John McBee and Tomas doing good work.
4. Jesse at Tanglewood has not much to say and not much concern.
5. Ham feels Tanglewood is important to MCM and we might give money to Tanglewood.

Submitted by JossCoggeshall.

Ham, Tomas, Tom B., Dave, Matthew, Joss present.

1. Those with positive Covid tests include Ham, Dave, Ivan and Dan. Tom reports there are six men with covid.
2. A facilitator will be needed 11/16. It will be Ham.
3. The minutes from the last MCM board meeting are approved.
4. The question is asked were there enough workshops about fear?
5. The bocci was good. Ham thinks the workshops were sufficient, there could be more. Dave there could be more pop in the workshops.
6. Maine Bob likes a program Czar.
7. Tom — a separate email could be used to invite men to run workshops. When we show up, we can come up with more workshops or the week before.
8. Ham suggests we put out a feeler in December or January.

Submitted by Joss Çoggeshall.

Business meeting with all men present. Tom Beal facilitating the meeting.

1. Thanks to all the volunteers for the next spring weekend, May 3-4-5, 2025, the weekend before Mothers Day.
2. Tom Jamrog will contact the Tanglewood liason and stay in touch.
3. Weekend facilitator Dennis will do it again.
4. There are funds for workshops. Ham thinks the workshops are the most meaningful part of the weekend, and Tom Jamrog says ditto.
5. Daniel and Ham met with the new men. Thank you to the new guys.
6. Brad does a geat job as chef, food master, and at a very reasonable price.
7. The auction raised $374.
8. Ham will organize the clean up this weekend.
9. There is a list of men and the photo. These minutes will be sent to the MCM board.
10. Tomas will be the keeper of the bocci balls, it was a good time.
11. Brad will be the keeper of the scroll of members who have passed.
12. Tom will continue being the registrar, he is rocking.
13. Maine Bob will be co-registrar.
14. This weekend there were 35 men.
15. John will be treasurer and Ham co treasurer.
16. Next retreat jobs are all assinged.
17. Ham was impressed with his COMEGA experience.
18. Covid testing went well on arrival. MCM will decide about the next weekend on the spring.
19. There will be a board meeting next Thursday at 6 p.m.
20. There will be an email with number and pass word for the Zoom.
21. The photo will come to members in one week.

Submitted by Joss Coggeshall.

Tomas, Matthew, Ham, John B., Tom B., Dennis, Dave, Carl, Maine Bob, Joss present.

1. Ham a a great time and saw diversity. Veterans were identified and are vulnerable. MCM could connect with Vets.
2. Carl’s application did not go well.
3. Benjamin is in UK and antiwar 2 weeks ago.
4. Tom wording about scholarship.
5. Vote was positive.
6. Tom will get a list together.
7. Use face book
8. What therapists think about men. Carl says we should make it clear we do not do therapy.
9. MCM has 19 men coming to the retreat by online and 1 by mail.
10. Tomas has enough materials for the weekend.

Submitted Joss Coggeshall

Maine Bob, John B., Tomas, Joss, Tom Beal, Carl, Holbrook present.

1. Tom presents several things for tonight’s meeting — vote on Frank to be on the board, deadlines for next weekend. Tom will get more email addresses on the mailing list. Tom asks if we should make a greater effort for publicity. We have had 24 coming to the weekend. 16 to 19 is the break-even number. There is money in the bank to offer free to new men. Marketing can be done with Facebook and posters. Tomas considers sending to men to put up posters. He would like to talk to Dan to liven up the posters.
2. There is a vote on public vs. private Facebook. MaineBob asks if we should combine the two groups.
3. The vote to have Frank on the board is unanamous in favor of.
4. The minutes of June 15, 2023 are approved.
5. mainecoastmen.org is discontinued. MaineBob reports MCM domain is in Iceland. Tom is the administator for the website and the provider for domain.
6. John reports the bill to tanglewood for the spring is paid. There is $100.10 in the PayPal account. There is $6,274.52 in the bank account.

Submitted, Joss Coggeshall.

Tom B., Tomas, Dennis P., Carl S., David H., Ham, Joss present. Tomas is facilitator.

1. Ham talked about going to the Connecticut Men’s Gathering, (COMEGA) September 14-17. It would be to do more spying on how to do good weekend events for men. Also Mainly Men would be a good event to see. Tom said he might go in the spring and shared his impressions of Mainly Men back in the early 90’s as did Tomas and MaineBob.
2. Workshops — Dennis prompted to give his take on the last weekend at Tanglewood, said he would like more workshops. MaineBob said shorter workshops could allow for more possible options to add. Variety and space for less formal discussions of them. Ham is adding workshop ideas to the Facebook Page.
3. Fall theme will be”Take a vacation from your fear.” There will be three people working to set up the theme.
4. He also talked about doing a work shop on co-counselling.
5. Tom has launched a Public Facebook page and has sent links to everyone.

Respectfully submitted Joss Coggeshall

Tom B., Tomas, Phil, Dennis, Carl, Mathew, Joss, MaineBob present

1. The minutes from the last meeting were approved.
2. A facilitator for the June 15 meeting, Tomas will do the job.
3. Carl reports the last weekend was the best ever. Tomas excellent, good participation, no one had too much to do. The responsibility for jobs was even. Dennis observed that perhaps Tom B had to work too hard and was not able to participate. Tom feels he was fine with the work load. He did not sign up for jobs. He ran the general meeting.
4. Dennis enjoyed the weekend very much. The open circle was good but long. Matthew asked how do larger groups do it. Tomas it is longer, 3-4 hours by history. Mainebob thought the improvization theme was great. The closing circle going clockwise worked better than random. Carl did not like men talking while the smudgeing was going on. Matthew noticed the silence after stepping into the building.
5. Tom asked what do we own such as carafs, quilts, poles? Perhaps it could be put in the guide.
6. The quilt did not get put up at the last weekend. Dan K. brought the quilts and came late without the poles to hold up the quilts. Tomas will find a quilt keeper.
7. Tom is working on the guide for MCM.
8. Tanglewood must know what are the correct dates spring and fall.
9. Dennis and Program Committee will plan the future weekend. The program committee will be John B., Tomas, Matthew, Dennis. The theme will be written by mid-July.
10. The topic of of delegations to Mainely Men and COMEGA is tabled as Ham is not here. The goal would be to collaborate and improve.
11. Joss got a call from John B. about the filing for mcm as a nonprofit corporation in Maine. There has been a need to update the officers, directors, and agents. He is going away this week and when he gets back he will present directors, officers, and agents as filed.
12. MCM still asks the question of how to rally more men to come to the weekends. Matthew, a new man, was asked how did he hear? He heard from a new man that the MCM weekend was wonderful and he looked it up online. We should make it clear what we do in the website. There is a facebook which is private. There is a public radio program where someone from MCM could call in to.
13. Mainebob went to Quebec City and found a museum in the lower city which had very interesting information about and their self identity.
14. MCM may send flyers to therapists and counselors.
15. Covid policy is discussed. Joss mentioned Tanglewood, U. of Maine has a covid policy and we might consider following their policy. Phil — most important is to test. Dennis thinks test only is a good compromise. Tom asks is covid policy up to the board? Vote for test no vax is passed.
16. Jobs appear to be arranged for the fall weekend October 13-15
17. Tomas will facilitate next board and mini-meeting, June 15, 6 p.m.
18. Tom will email Jessica at Tanglewood about fall dates.

Submitted Joss Coggeshall

Tom Beal leads the meeting.

1. Jobs for fall are assigned: brochure, Tom B.; artistic Dan K.
2. There will be one zoom link for both board and mini
3. A booth at the Common Ground Fair was discussed. There has been no results in the past. Will we do it again? Dave H., it does get the word out. Maine Bob suggests an ad could be put in the Common Ground brochure. This will be discussed by the board.
4. There is a checklist of men who do press releases and posters.
5. Dan K. will do photos
6. The quilts have been made by men and need to be hung up.
7. Apppendix D is completed jobs and tasks.
8. The mini series has been something men really enjoy.
9. We will be needing hosts, themes, and a homepage.
10. The cleanup coordinator is Dennis and we will clean up really well.
11. The new guy mentor will be Brad.
12. There are suggestions forms for good, bad and other suggestions.
13. Covid policy is discussed. Tanglewood has the same policy as MCM which is a good consistency. There will be the vaccination, booster and test the day of arrival. Three men did not come because of Covid policy.

Respectfully submitted — Joss Coggeshall

MaineBob, Tomas, Tom, Lee, Dennis, Carl, Joss present.

1. Joss raises the question about do we need to continue to be a non profit corporation. We have not had donations. The corporation was formed to attract donations, and indemnify board members from being sued. We have insurance which is required by Tanglewood. Are there other structures such as LLC which might work? Tom thinks we might get donations and the corporation gives us a sense of purpose. Joss agrees with that as we have to perform the purpose as described in the document submitted to the Maine Secretary of State.
2. Joss mentions Dave has retired as President, and others are no longer officers and we need some new ones. MCM files annually and the office of secretary of state recommends adding the officers ar that time. John did it last May when Dave, John and Joss met. An email will go out to members asking if anyone is interested in becoming president or an officer.
3. The topic of covid policies. Tomas likes encouraging masks. Joss mentions men over 65 are more vulnerable. Tom mentions being careful serves the vulnerable. The consensus is a test either at home or at the parking lot, a photo of the test or the test itself will be required. Also the card with vaccination with a record of vaccine and boosters will be required.
4. Tomas asks does the registrar need help at the retreat.
5. Tom gives confirmation that the letter is ready to go out. Thanks to Tom for all his work

Respectfully submitted by Joss Coggeshall.

Maine Bob, Tom Beal, Tomas, Joss present. There is a quorum.

1. Tom spoke of the changing covid situation. A new plan could be we would no longer demand testing on arrival at the retreat. Men could test themselves and tests would be available. If men are sick they would stay home. It could change. It was agreed this is a reasonable plan.
2. Brad says the potluck is a go.
3. Brochures will go via mail chimp. There is an amendment for online registration.

The next board meeting will be March 16 at 6 p.m. before the miniseries.

Respectfully submitted, Joss Coggeshall