Meeting opened at 6pm South Australia time 17th October, 2010.

Present:

Amethyst

Chequer

Saphira

Pheonix3

Anna

Butterfly Spirit

Serenity

Desertwoman

 

The meeting took place in the chat room.

The chat room “ate” the recorded text from the commencement till 6:49pm

 

Amethyst opened the meeting by thanking the outgoing Council and welcoming the incoming Council. The incoming Council were elected unopposed and we welcome Serenity as part of the Council.

 

Amethyst updated everyone on the bank account situation. O & M has no bank account to save fees and the Council have agreed to either open a fee free bank account if possible or hold O & M money as an O & M fund in the CCIWI bank account. The PayPal donate button had to be removed because the funds from it were going to the Mystic Oak bank account (as posted earlier in the year to save money) but this contravened PayPal regulations. The PayPal button will be put back up and funds will be held in a fund for O & m by the CCIWI bank account.

 

Amethyst updated everyone on the CCIWI tax concession situation. CCIWI has applied for tax concessions as a religious institution so that they won’t need to pay tax and that anyone who donates funds will be able to claim their donation back as a tax deduction. The application has taken over a year and the expected positive outcome should be made by the ATO before the CCIWI AGM on 7th November. The extended timeframe is because this application sets a precedent and no Wiccan group has ever applied before hence the ATO needs to thoroughly examine our right to the concessions as a religious group.

 

For O & M this means that in the event it gets very large, they too can apply for tax concessions as a religious institution either under the umbrella of CCIWI or in its own right.

 

Amethyst then updated everyone on the release of the clergy exam by CCIWI. This means that for advanced O & M students, they can now apply for clergy status when they meet the requirements and sit the exam.

 

Amethyst then updated everyone on the proposed changes and advances for O & M members. These include monthly online rituals in the chat room with the first one commencing on Saturday 23rd October at 7:30pm South Australian time.

 

Amethyst then congratulated Pheonix3 for developing the other major advancement which is the proposed online rituals in Second Life (SL) and the chat sessions which are already occurring. Pheonix3 was unable to comment (temporary absence) so Chequer updated everyone on the progress made.

 

Chequer explained that the chat sessions are happening twice weekly and that these will be discussing the weekly discussion point as additional means of learning Wicca and engaging with fellow students. Chequer also explained that {Pheonix3 has created a place where O & M people can meet a d special discussion group for this purpose. In addition, there is another group as well which will  be where online, real time rituals can occur once the preparation is complete. These include ensuring we have only students from lesson 3 and above in the rituals, safety and so forth.

 

The following text is the  record of the remainder of the meeting.

 

(Oct 17-18:49) Amethyst: spot on Chequer

(Oct 17-18:49) Chequer: Maybe that will help keep it over 18 because I know you don't accept under 18s

(Oct 17-18:49) butterfly_spirit: all good points 

(Oct 17-18:49) Amethyst: so there's one or two things to work through but it so exciting!

(Oct 17-18:49) desertwoman: mmm i dont really see it as a physical or virtual space but a mental one

(Oct 17-18:50) Amethyst: indeed Chequer

(Oct 17-18:50) Chequer: Phoenix has pushed it very far very fast.

(Oct 17-18:50) Amethyst: indeed Desertwoman which means we need to equally make sure it's protected psychically none the less

(Oct 17-18:50) butterfly_spirit: thanks Phoemix (whereever you are)!

(Oct 17-18:50) Amethyst: he has Chequer and he's a brilliant darling!

(Oct 17-18:50) desertwoman: yep i understand

(Oct 17-18:50) Chequer: I'm trying to find a way to make the visual effects of circle casting something that will really provide a mental link.

(Oct 17-18:50) Amethyst: great stuff

(Oct 17-18:51) Amethyst:  so that's where we're at with that everyone

(Oct 17-18:51) Amethyst: There's also a few more things in the wind but these need to go through Council first

(Oct 17-18:51) Amethyst: so lots happening everyone

(Oct 17-18:51) desertwoman: its coming along so quickly very exciting.

(Oct 17-18:51) Saphira: so when are we going to do a ritual in Sl

(Oct 17-18:51) Amethyst: indeed

(Oct 17-18:51) butterfly_spirit: good progress! I'll get my name to you guys

(Oct 17-18:51) Chequer: And a bright future for O&m!

(Oct 17-18:52) Amethyst: not sure yet Saphira

(Oct 17-18:52) Amethyst: still working on the prep for it really

(Oct 17-18:52) Amethyst: indeed Chequer

(Oct 17-18:52) Chequer: There's a lot of tweaking still to do Saphira.  I'll chat some of it through with you sometime soon on Sl.

(Oct 17-18:52) Amethyst: I think we can officvially now say we are the biggest online school community in Australia

(Oct 17-18:52) Amethyst: we have over a thousand forum members although sevceral of those don;t post

(Oct 17-18:52) Saphira:   

(Oct 17-18:52) Chequer: May I ask how many enrolled students we have?

(Oct 17-18:52) desertwoman: Yay good on you Amethyst

(Oct 17-18:53) butterfly_spirit: excellent! good stuff 

(Oct 17-18:53) Amethyst: currently we have exactly 100

(Oct 17-18:53) Amethyst: that number seems to stay fairly constant which is good at this stage becasue we have some excellent tutors but need more

(Oct 17-18:53) Chequer: Exactly Dw, this wouldn't be possible without your leadership Amethyst.  I would like to thank you for providing your time, expertise and love!

(Oct 17-18:53) Amethyst: Thanks darl

(Oct 17-18:53) butterfly_spirit: here! here! Chequer!

(Oct 17-18:53) Serenity: I will second that

(Oct 17-18:53) Saphira: me too

(Oct 17-18:54) Amethyst: The website support fee didn't slow the application numbers down eitehr which is good and the first fees have already been paid by some folks which is sensational

(Oct 17-18:54) Amethyst: That really hekps keep us on track and paid for

(Oct 17-18:54) desertwoman: wow thats blowing m y mind 100 active students

(Oct 17-18:54) Saphira: great

(Oct 17-18:54) Amethyst: I don;t thionk folk really udnerstood how much it cost to set O & M up, hosting fees, upkeep, software charges etc

(Oct 17-18:54) Chequer: Phoenix might have to push the walls out a bit...hee hee

(Oct 17-18:54) Amethyst: hee hee

(Oct 17-18:54) desertwoman: ha ha

(Oct 17-18:54) Saphira: ha ha

(Oct 17-18:55) desertwoman: yes expandsion happening i think

(Oct 17-18:55) Chequer: Are you managing on the finance front, Amethyst, if you don't mind me asking?

(Oct 17-18:55) Amethyst: As you all progress through the first degree program,, you can always also ask to be a tutor too

(Oct 17-18:55) desertwoman: yes perhaps we could do something more to support the side as a group

(Oct 17-18:55) Chequer: Are you covering costs ok with the additional donations.

(Oct 17-18:55) Amethyst: Saphira is one, Jamie Stone Bear (who is a living legend)  and a couple of others

(Oct 17-18:56) Amethyst: The gorgeous Saphira will be here for our next full moon at the covenstead and was intitietd here with me so she has real experience in a ritual setting with us too

(Oct 17-18:56) Amethyst: Makes her a sensational tutor!

(Oct 17-18:56) butterfly_spirit: lucky Saphira!

(Oct 17-18:56) Saphira: and so looking foward to it

(Oct 17-18:56) desertwoman: i want to  help but i still feel like ive so much to learn

(Oct 17-18:56) Amethyst: Yep Cheuer, we are covering costs at the moment which is great

(Oct 17-18:56) Amethyst: give it time darling desterwoman 

(Oct 17-18:56) Chequer: I do too Dw but I finally feel that we have a good support group going on in Sl that will really help us all move forward.

(Oct 17-18:56) Amethyst: Oh Desertwoma, sorry, terrible typos on my part 

(Oct 17-18:57) Amethyst: it will Chequer

(Oct 17-18:57) Amethyst: Ok so that's all my news for the AGM

(Oct 17-18:57) desertwoman: yes yes i know (giggles ) i used to be so good at patence till now there is so many eciting things going on

(Oct 17-18:57) Amethyst: We havie nothing to vote on

(Oct 17-18:57) Amethyst: does anyone have anything they;'d like to bring up/suggest/express a concenr about?

(Oct 17-18:58) butterfly_spirit: things are really exciting the school is going so well! I'm glad there is good news everywhere 

(Oct 17-18:58) desertwoman: your just too effectient Amethyst

(Oct 17-18:58) Chequer: Me too, woohoo!

(Oct 17-18:58) Amethyst: hee hee

(Oct 17-18:58) desertwoman: nope  not really

(Oct 17-18:58) Serenity: proud to be here during such a progressive time.

(Oct 17-18:58) Saphira: me too   

(Oct 17-18:58) Amethyst: I must admit that I had a vision for O & M and eveything is going exactly accoring to plan and to my dreams. I;m so blessed to have you all here with us

(Oct 17-18:58) desertwoman: Oh me  too me too

(Oct 17-18:58) desertwoman: ha ha

(Oct 17-18:59) Serenity: pleasure is ours!

(Oct 17-18:59) Amethyst: 

(Oct 17-18:59) Saphira: and I feel blessed to be here

(Oct 17-18:59) butterfly_spirit:   

(Oct 17-18:59) butterfly_spirit: and I feel blessed to be here with you all too.

(Oct 17-18:59) desertwoman: yes it is it is such a wonderful grou p to be a part of

(Oct 17-18:59) Amethyst: So anyone got any suggestions/anything they want to bring up and discuss/ideas/worries?

(Oct 17-18:59) desertwoman: feel the love every one ?

(Oct 17-18:59) Amethyst: hee hee

(Oct 17-18:59) Serenity: no Im good

(Oct 17-18:59) desertwoman: nope

(Oct 17-18:59) Amethyst: always

(Oct 17-18:59) Chequer: I'm good too.  Glowing inside!

(Oct 17-18:59) Saphira: sure do   

(Oct 17-19:00) desertwoman: isnt it  true though

(Oct 17-19:00) desertwoman: wonderful

(Oct 17-19:00) Chequer: If we were in Sl, I'm sure I've got an effect for that somewhere.....

(Oct 17-19:00) Amethyst: May I ask you all one question please?

(Oct 17-19:00) desertwoman: im smiling at the computr screen

(Oct 17-19:00) Amethyst: ha ha Chequer, laghing and falling off my bean bag (Oct 17-19:00) desertwoman: ha ha feel a bi silly but ....

 )

(Oct 17-19:00) desertwoman: yes

(Oct 17-19:00) Chequer: Ask away Amethyst?

(Oct 17-19:00) Amethyst: me too Desertwoman

(Oct 17-19:00) Saphira: of course

(Oct 17-19:01) Amethyst: For the sake of the record keeping, I need to copy and paste our chat here and post it to the forum as a record of the AGM. Does anyone have any ob jectiosn?

(Oct 17-19:01) Amethyst: objections I mean

(Oct 17-19:01) desertwoman: no of course not

(Oct 17-19:01) Serenity: None from me

(Oct 17-19:01) Saphira: no, I was wondering about the record

(Oct 17-19:02) Chequer: No.

(Oct 17-19:02) butterfly_spirit: lol, typo's will be funny, no objections.

(Oct 17-19:02) Saphira:   

(Oct 17-19:02) desertwoman: yes they will

(Oct 17-19:02) Amethyst: excellent, thanks everyone

(Oct 17-19:02) Amethyst: Ok, that's it from me

(Oct 17-19:02) Amethyst: Last orders folsk, anyone need to bring anything else up before I officially close the meeting?

(Oct 17-19:02) Saphira: Wonderful, see you Friday   

(Oct 17-19:02) butterfly_spirit: Thanks, and apologies for being late

(Oct 17-19:03) Chequer: Thanks everyone.  Lovely to be here with you all again tonight.

(Oct 17-19:03) Amethyst: No probs gorgeous Butterfly Spirit

(Oct 17-19:03) butterfly_spirit: 

(Oct 17-19:03) Serenity: I have nothing to add

(Oct 17-19:03) desertwoman: yes thanks but i have to fly good  night everyone

(Oct 17-19:03) Amethyst: Bye darling

(Oct 17-19:03) butterfly_spirit: goodnight desertwoman

(Oct 17-19:03) Chequer: Bye Dw, see you soon.

(Oct 17-19:03) Saphira: night

(Oct 17-19:03) Serenity: goodnight

(Oct 17-19:03) desertwoman has left.

(Oct 17-19:04) butterfly_spirit: Looks like I'll be seing you all very soon in Si. see you then.

(Oct 17-19:04) Amethyst: Ok then honeys, I officially decalre the 2010 AGM closed