Community Forum for Economic Development Adopts New Structure
July 23, 2007
by LINDA WOLFSON
At last Tuesday's meeting of the Community Forum for Economic Development discussed, amended, and adopted the new Proposal on Structure.
The CFED began, last Tuesday, an official "membership drive." If you would like to become an official member of the Community Forum, so that you can participate in all decisions, including the election of the next Coordinating Committee, print out the membership application (attached below), sign it and send it and the $5. dues to:
Community Forum for Economic Development
2015 Western Avenue, Suite 209
South Bend, IN 46629
Download application form as PDF
Download application form as RTF
Checks may be written to the Community Forum for Economic Development.
You also may sign up at the monthly meetings (on the 3rd Tuesday of the month: August 21, September 18, October 16). Members of the current Coordinating Committee will also gather membership forms and dues.
Meetings of the Coordinating Committee, although not publicized, are always open to the membership. The committee meets twice a month, on Sunday evenings, at the Institute for Latino Studies Annex (1024 Notre Dame Avenue), from 7 to 9 PM. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for July 29, August 12, and August 26. If you think you might be interested in serving on the next Coordinating Committee you are encouraged to attend one or more of these meetings to help you decide if you are willing to be elected in October.
Structure of the Community Forum for Economic Development
Adopted on July 17, 2007
1. The Community Forum for Economic Development will develop a formal relationship with the St. Joe Valley Project, with SJVP acting as the fiscal agent for the CFED. This relationship will be reviewed annually. The CFED will not be a committee of the SJVP, subject to direction from their Board of Directors, but will be subject to the conditions of the SJVP 501C3 status. Funds that are raised by the CFED, including membership dues and grants, will be used for CFED projects.
2. The Community Forum for Economic Development has an identified membership that acts as the decision-making body of the organization. Members are those who agree with the CFED mission statement (see below) and pay a membership fee of $5. Monthly membership meetings are open to the public and individuals who attend may participate fully in discussions. However, only CFED members may vote on decisions.
3. A Coordinating Committee, consisting of nine members, will coordinate the implementation of the decisions of the membership. Members of this committee will be elected or reelected at the October membership meeting and will serve for a period of one year.
Members of the Community Forum who are interested in serving on the Coordinating Committee should communicate their interest to the Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee prior to the day of the election. They should also provide the Chairperson a short summary of their involvement in the CFED and in other relevant activities.
Election to the Coordinating Committee is by secret ballot. Members will vote for up to 9 members of the Coordinating Committee, and the top 9 vote-getters will be elected.
The Coordinating Committee will meet twice a month at regularly scheduled times. All meetings of the Coordinating Committee will be open to the membership. Formal decisions of the Coordinating Committee require the votes of at least 5 members.
The Coordinating Committee will choose a chairperson to organize and facilitate its work, a treasurer, and a recording secretary from within the group. The other six members of the Coordinating Committee will each assume responsibility for particular projects of the organization.
Community Forum for Economic Development Mission Statement
The Community Forum seeks to promote economic development, the process of increasing living standards and opportunities for area residents. We believe that our tax resources are best used to improve the quality of life in our community, and that this is also the best way to encourage business investment. Subsidized business investment should provide community benefits and be directed to areas of need. Through education, organizing, and advocacy, we hope to open up the economic development process to greater democratic participation.
Linda Wolfson is a member of the CFED Coordinating Committee.St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN