October 2, 1999

Benny Torres (Program Coordinator), Patty Cardenas (Social Worker), Rudy Rodriguez (Counselor), David Velasco (Engineer), Alma Flores (Teacher), Mateo Latosa (Teacher/Publisher), Maria Cervantes (Teacher), Alicia Mercedes Fletcher (Teacher), Mauricio Martinez (Sales), Andre Vasquez (UCSD Student), Ivonne Cardenas (looking for a job), Cristina Saucedo (Teacher) , D.D. Perez (Teacher/Writer and Producer), Abel Gutierrez (Teacher).

Personal Introductions and expectations of the Alumni Association- Everyone discussed what they were currently doing and why they were at the meeting.

• Andre discussed El Congreso having a banquet to make a connection between the older students and the younger students.

• Andre has constructed a list serve to get people to communicate with each other.

• After the banquet Congreso held a "platica" to get information dispersed. At the platica it was suggested to meet again to discuss the development of a foundation.

• Joe Ortiz has offered setting up a Website for the Association.

• Benny discussed fundraising $3000.00 a year by getting 150 people to donate $20.00.

• Benny talked to Nancy Weiss at the Fund for Santa Barbara to hold the money. Francisco and Sonia also offered to hold the money. The rationale for having the Fund hold the money is because we do not have a 501C3 (non-profit status). That may be something that gets done down the road.

• Mateo suggested doing monthly workshops with students around organizing, developing, grant writing, how to conduct a meeting, etc.

• Luis Pinedo is Congreso's Chair this year. He has some concerns about student cohesiveness, different student backgrounds and different type of student coming into UCSB. Andre is concerned that the Association not come in to tell them what they need to know. He suggests the Association be a resource for the students and a tool for continuing communication.

• Alma suggested offering ourselves as a resource to the group and developing a list of the areas we offer expertise in.

• Mateo suggested giving written materials to the students so information cannot be misinterpreted.

• Benny suggested following the Ingenieros model because they have an alumni association that "makes you feel guilty" if you don’t give back after you graduate.

• Alicia talked about setting up real clear guidelines for getting money. Making sure that we make a decision about who and what we are giving money for.

• Mateo suggested being clear on who the leadership of Congreso leadership. Not just the Congreso officers, but the Mesa directiva.

• The only thing that binds them to us is the criteria that we develop.

• David discussed how the Ingenieros set up their Alumni committee. Rudy explained how the Ingenieros are supported by National Organizations.

• How are we going to raise money?

• Board Members:

• Name of Organization?

• Developing the El Congreso Alumni Association Committees

• Strategic Planning

• Leadership Development

• Resource Development

• Career Guidance

• Events (ie. Career Day, During STEP doing a workshop "How to survive Activism")

• Develop a community Data Base

• Guidance

• Distribution of money – screen

• Developing the RFP

• Reviewing proposal

• Developing forms and documents

• Accountant of money – liaison with the Fund for Santa Barbara

• Data base of membership

• Letter to the SB community

• Keeping minutes

• Monitor Web Page (Andre, Joe, Mateo)

At the next meeting we will break into small groups to set up the documents and committee goals and objectives.

Andre asked for people to share the information with the list serve.

The MISSION

The Mission of the El Congreso Alumni Association is to provide technical assistance, support and economic resources to members of El Congreso and the Chicano/a Latino/a student community at UCSB for the purposes of academic success, political action and community service.