The Chapter Anatomy Committee met in a Skype chatroom at 11:45 AM Pacific time, Sunday, November 29, 2009, with Elesia Ashkenazy presiding. Andrew De Carlo, Melanie Yergeau, and Ari Ne'eman were present. Additions to the draft Chapter Handbook were discussed. Meg Evans reviewed the transcript, made comments by e-mail, and prepared the meeting minutes.

Ari Ne'eman suggested adding bullet points to differentiate between what an ASAN chapter does under its social/autistic culture promoting function and what an ASAN chapter does under its advocacy/social change function. He further stated that the advocacy/social change function activity includes: protests, legislative testimonies, meetings with legislators, writing letters to the editor and op-eds, making alliances with other organizations to promote policy or social change, etc. Social/support/Autistic culture promotion activities include: social group meetings, Autistic Pride Day events with a purely social component, social activities, cooperative efforts around skills development in employment/education and similar arenas, mentorship activities, etc. Advocacy is to help defend and advance the Autistic community's interests in regards to the outside world, whereas social/support/Autistic culture - perhaps it would be best to refer to this all under the label of "Community" activities - is about helping to build a more welcoming and inclusive and helpful community amongst ourselves.

Elesia Ashkenazy inquired about the scope of mentoring activities. Ari Ne'eman stated that this would be up to the chapter.

Melanie Yergeau pointed out that some activities might not be easily classified under one category or the other, as they might have both community and advocacy aspects. She also suggested adding that ASAN strives to effect widespread change across the various communities that intersect with our everyday lives, in a variety of political, social, and cultural spheres—vocational, educational, civic, familial, and so forth. Andrew De Carlo agreed with this.

Andrew De Carlo stated that with respect to ASAN activity being nonpolitical and noncontroversial, "unrelated to party politics" is good wording and "community outreach" is involvement with allies and friendly groups in activities that do not directly affect the disability community. Melanie Yergeau suggested encouraging ASAN chapters to participate in community outreach activities that further ASAN's purpose and mission, unrelated to party politics, and not designed to purposefully stir up controversy. Ari Ne'eman pointed out that ASAN activities are inherently controversial because they involve a perspective as well as an agenda; activities should be oriented around Autistic community values, and outside agendas should not be mixed with the ASAN agenda. Andrew De Carlo then suggested saying that outreach is "unrelated to party politics and does not mix outside agendas with the ASAN agenda." The committee agreed to that wording.

Melanie Yergeau said that there should be more discussion of vetting, and she volunteered to add it. Andrew De Carlo stated that the vetting section should mention that the leadership needs to represent the needs of all Autistic people.

Elesia Ashkenazy suggested adding a sample agenda instead of a section on running a meeting, and she approved of the university meeting material written by Melanie Yergeau.


COMMENTS FROM MEG EVANS:

I agree with differentiating between community activities and advocacy activities, and with Melanie Yergeau's suggestions as to how they intersect. The wording on outside agendas looks good too. The handbook is taking shape nicely!