ADLA-Chicago Meeting Notes of April 2, 2016 at Salem Lutheran Church

What follows are our notes from the ADLA-Chicago general membership business meeting of April 2, 2016, 2-4:30 PM, at Salem Lutheran Lutheran Church, S. 74th & Calumet.

1. Treasurers Report.  Treasurer Pro tem Fred Gittens reported that the promotional steering committee that organized the Black History Month special event of February 6, 2016, under the heading "Sankofa Gathering," started with $750 seed money (from the Metro Chicago Synod African American Strategy Team?).

1.1. Hospitality expenses (including "religious entertainment") totaled $905.00.

1.2. National and Metro-Chicago ADLA dues totaled $605.00 for 19 registered members (half of which went to National ADLA as required for official Chapter recognition).
  
1.3.  Current ADLA-Chicago balance then totaled, after all disbursements, $450.00.

2.  President Pro tem's Report.  Pastor Maxine Washington gave an outline of the schedule of meetings (dating from the 2015 Metro Chicago Synod Assembly) that have culminated in the reorganization of the ADLA-Chicago Chapter.

3.  Secretary Pro tem's Report.  Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) reported that, according to ADLA Midwest Regional Organizer, Pastor Lester White as well as the report of Treasurer Pro tem Fred Gittens, the February 6 special event recruited 19 registered members (9 over the critical mass of 10 needed to be recognized as an officially reorganized chapter in good standing-according to National ADLA). 

4.  Nominations Committee Report.  Pastor Lawrence Clark reported that to date the business of the Nominations Committee (Pro tem?) has not gotten underway therefore no nominations for permanent ADLA officers have been received.

5.  Organizational timeline decisions.  It was decided that:

A) The Chapter Pro tem officer structure would stay in place for at least the next 60 days ('till either the scheduled June 4th meeting or 'till the June MCS Assembly).
  
B) That because the process of nominating permanent officers is contingent upon an established Chapter constitution, that said document is needed ASAP to advance the Chapter reorganization process.
  
C) Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) volunteered to do a first ADLA-Chicago constitution draft, based on existing ADLA models, for further development by the the local re-grouping meeting process-due at the next scheduled meeting.
  
D) The next ADLA general membership meeting was scheduled on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 at Bethel West Lutheran Church, 2 PM.
  
E) Pastor Booker Vance joined Pastor Maxine Washington as Co-Convener Pro tem of the Chapter.

F.  An agreed upon goal was set to get each of the 21 identified Black Lutheran congregations of Metro Chicago to register a minimum of 10 ADLA members that would bring the ADLA-Chicago general membership strength to 210 active partners in African descent ministries. 

6.  New Membership registrations.  Seven (7) additional membership registrations, with appropriate dues payments, (added to the 19 reported above) were reportedly submitted to Pastor White (membership registrar) and Mr. Gittens, Treaurer Pro tem.

7. Oral Attendance Report.  About 30 African Descent Lutherans were estimated to be in attendance (Pastor Maxine is cobbling together the official list). 

After announcements and Good & Welfare, meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) of Historic Reformation Church-Chicago ("Young Barack Obama's sanctuary for community organizing") and Secretary Pro tem of ADLA-Chicago Chapter, 4-13-16.