Bylaws and Elections

Download the attached PDF to read the full Dragonfest corporate bylaws.  Dragofest Bylaws 2006

2011 Election

We mailed out 643 Annual Reports with ballots. We received 94 returned ballots as of Monday, November 28, 2011. Of those the results were as follows:

• Christine Childs received 72 votes
• Tanya Lewerk (Tanna Sage) received 22 votes

Christine Childs was elected to the Board of Directors.

Annual Report & Voting of New Board Member.
Ballots are mailed by Oct 31st and are due back by November 15th as per our bylaws:

Dragonfest 2011 Annual Report

This report will cover the significant events over the last year. Once again Dragonfest had a very successful retreat. With a budget of $42K, Dragonfest was successful enough to have over 440 adult attendees, over 20 vendors and managed to save enough for seed money for next year’s festival. Our Land fund is currently at $111,355.66.  Once the Dragonfest Foundation obtains its 501c3 determination that it is a non-profit, we will be able to transfer the land fund money over there for safekeeping. Right now it remains safe within our current accounts as it is already designated as purposed money for land. All of the many rituals and workshops were all well-attended and those volunteer-driven events were once again a success. The kitchen served a continental breakfast which was well received and the Stone Soup Supper also had a good showing. The Annual Cooperate Meeting was held on Saturday morning and was moderately attended. We continue to encourage and solicit your participation in the Dragonfest retreat, including how this event is run. The corporate meeting is the main face-to-face forum for discussing the affairs and issues of the Corporation and the Retreat.

One of the items we discussed at the Corporate Meeting was the subject of possibly moving the dates the retreat would occur. We started the discussion there as we felt open face-to-face communication was key to understanding our members’ needs and desires. It had come to our attention that specifically school start dates have been encroaching upon our sacred retreat which has affected both member attendance as well as staff volunteerism. Other items worth at least considering were the effect weather patterns may or may not have had on bringing us a wet or dry retreat. We continued the discussion online via the website, our forum, and on Facebook. We listened to all suggestions and comments about whether or not we should move or keep the dates the same. The three choices we had to choose from were as such:

• Keep Dragonfest on the first full week in August
• Move Dragonfest to the last full week in July
• Move Dragonfest to the first weekend in August

The Board of Dragonfest heard, deliberated and voted. The choice was unanimous to move Dragonfest to the first calendar weekend in August. The 2012 dates for Retreat are August 1 – 5. Please save the date!

Other Significant Events This Year:

• The land owner improved the roads and opened up a couple of new sections to us such as the location for the Drawing Down. She and her wonderful family of animals are a welcome addition to our spiritual retreat both as a member and a merchant.
• The Board and Staff made excellent use of the free services offered by Google Docs to streamline communications and create a central electronic location for all of Dragonfest’s important documents. Special thanks to our website guru, Trevor and our Director of Ops, Tres who lead the way in making this happen.
• The Board has created a new corporate position – the Safety Officer. Safety for Dragonfest members is one of our biggest concerns. In order to make sure we are doing our part to make Dragonfest a safe place for everyone, we needed to empower the Safety Officer to take on a little more responsibility. This position works hand in hand with our Medical Officer and the Director of Ops, in addition to the Board, to make sure your experience is a safe one.
• We are pleased to present 2 candidates for election to the Board of Directors. Please see the ballot page attached for more information and to cast your vote.

Thank you very much to the 2011 Dragonfest Director of Ops and all the Staff, workshop and ritual presenters, merchants and all our members who worked together to produce the magic that is Dragonfest and make it a true COMMUNITY event!

Margaret Johnson, President        Sheana Heartsong         Dona Carroll        Joseph Davalt            Cecelia Thomas

Candidates for 2011 Board Election: Christine Childs and Tanya Lewark. Full Bios below.

Christine Childs

Dragonfest is a very important part of my life and I look forward to the opportunity to honor its mission as an educational and spiritual organization dedicated to fostering the acceptance of diverse cultural, social and religious viewpoints. I see Dragonfest as a vibrant, living, spiritual gathering that brings people together each year for rebirth and renewal. As a Board member, I hope to help identify and tackle the challenges that come with maintaining and growing our community in today’s world.  I see a future for Dragonfest that includes a permanent home through a long term lease that would allow our Landfund to be used to improve a site as much or more than just obtaining one.

Previous experience as a volunteer for Dragonfest:
2002-2010 Setup Crew, Setup LT., Setup Co-Coordinator, and workshop co-coordinator (2003), Dragonfest Site Search committee (2009-2010), Site Facilities Director (2011)

As a volunteer for Dragonfest I have enjoyed being involved with the day-to-day workings of the retreat. I try to take any opportunity to help make sure the retreat goes smoothly. When we lost the Wellington Lake site, I was pleased to participate in finding the best site available so that the retreat would continue without interruption. I have worked to ensure that the needs of our community were met by the sites we located. As a Board Member I would continue to ensure the needs of the community will be met as I value each member’s contribution to this wonderful organization.

Other non-profit volunteer experience:
Feastcrat (Kitchen head), Seawinds Shire, SCA, 1985-1987
University of Montana Peer Advising Program Peer Advisor 1993-1996
Milehicon (literary science fiction convention) Staff 1997-present;
co-Founder and Command Staff Menage’aMaquis (science fiction fan club), 1999-2005; Command Staff Vendix Siren (science fiction fan club), 2008-present.

In 1984 I was one of the founding members of the Seawinds Shire (SCA) in Corpus Christi, Texas. My official title was Feastcrat, where I helped plan and produce feasts for up to 500 attendees. Since that time I’ve been involved in a number of other non-profit recreational groups, most of them science fiction related. Cecelia Thomas and I founded and ran the Menage’aMaquis as way to bring people together in an inclusive community that fostered social activities including playing games, dressing up for fun, and singing.  Out of the Maquis came the Harvestfest feast, an inclusive celebration of people and food that continued until 2009. In 2007 I joined the Vendix Siren and was selected to be a member of the command staff. As “Chocolate Officer” I work to improve moral and participation in group activities within the group. My duties also include improving relationships with other fan clubs and providing a general atmosphere of fun and inclusiveness.

Relevant employment history:
1987-1995, USN Active Duty and Naval Reserves, OTA2 (E-5); 1991-1996, University of Montana: Senior office staff-ASUM Programming, Asst. Curator-Department of Fine Arts,  Virology-Research Asst.

As a member of the US Navy I was placed in a leadership role both in my job as Subsystem Supervisor for our watch team, and as the Evaluations ‘officer’ – I wrote evaluations for our watch team and counseled members on proper behavior and how they could both better meet their own needs as well as the needs of the Navy. I later used this skill as part of the University of Montana’s Peer Advisor program, where I advised undergrads on how to achieve their BS/BA in a fairly timely fashion based on their interests, time available and the requirements of the University.

Present employment:
University of Colorado Cancer Center Flow Cytometry Shared Resource, PRA (MT, ASCP) 2004-present, (University Hospital, 1997-2002)
Education: University of Montana 1996 BS Microbiology, BS Medical Technology, Benefis Hospital Medical Technology Internship 1997 MT(ASCP)

Dragonfest is a very important part of my life and I look forward to the opportunity to honor it’s mission as an educational and spiritual organization dedicated to fostering the acceptance of diverse cultural, social and religious viewpoints.

Thank you for consideration
Christine Childs

Tanya Lewark (Tanna Sage)

Hello, my name is Tanya but most of you know me as Tanna Sage. I have been attending Dragon Fest for many years now (about 9). First as a guest, brought by my bff Audry, secondly on staff as set-up crew. Then met Elisabeth where she introduced me to being the Adult Teen fest Sponsor. After being the Adult Teen Fest Sponsor for three years I then did double duty as The Adult Teen fest coordinator and public relations officer. Last year I volunteered as the Lt. for kitchen. I also have been helping with many rituals including my personal favorite Flower Frenzy, and Girls Coming of Age. So some would say I am deeply rooted.

At first I attended with my friends only but when my husband (Big Blind Daddy) saw and felt the energy change in me he said he had to go. So for the next two years it was just us enjoying the festival together. When we felt it was good we started brining our son and now it is the one family vacation we all love, volunteer on staff and look forward to.

In my muggle life I have worked with many non-profits so working with volunteers and festivals is nothing new to me. I have experience working with the city, state and federal authorities with organizing events and honing my listening abilities.

As a board member my very first thing to do is listen. Margaret is a wonderful person and I am very sad to see her go, I was there when she was given her staff. I want to be the board person that actually attends meetings, answers emails, and really listens to what this community is wanting. I want to be your voice so you can known that what ever it is you are wanting the board to know or consider it will not go missed. You really matter.

I really want you know I will work for you. You need to know I have the experience working with other groups, city, state and federal offices as well as with Dragon Fest of Colorado, so I am very qualified. I also want you to know how much I appreciate you reading my bio and considering me for this most important position of Board member.

Tanya AKA Tanna Sage

2010 Election

Per the bylaws, no formal election was required because only one candidate was running for the Board and there were no proposed changes to the bylaws.  However, we took the opportunity to run a test of online voting with volunteers who signed up at the event.

2009 Election

There were 67 returned ballots. Of those the results were as follows:

Joseph Davalt was elected to the Board of Directors.

58 yes for the change in the by-laws,
9 no for changes in the by-laws.

2006 Election

The by-law change passed.

The change removes the ability for the board to be able to require specific qualifications for candidates who wish to run for the board beyond those already defined in the by-laws.

There were:
147 votes in favor (yes)
45 votes opposed (no)
This was 77% in favor which is over the required 2/3 (66%) majority of the returned ballots.

The board would like to thank those of you who took the time to vote and return your ballot.

Thanks to the candidates for this years election. Without members like you who are willing to commit themselves to time and energy all year, this festival would not be able to exist.