Minutes of LIADA Meeting of May 22nd, 2005

Board attendees:      Jack McNanie, Lita Kelmenson, Mark Finkel, Norm Maxwell, Manny Kelmenson, Muriel Finkel, Judith Maxwell, Mary McWilliams,, H.  Scottie Coads and Helen Maxwell

Member attendees: Judy Sanford Guise and Norm Salt.

Guest attendees:  Florence Zwerdling and Grace Marie D’Agosta.

Absentees:    Howard Werner, Don Scarl, Edith Pollack

10:05 a.m. meeting called to Order

Motion to accept minutes by Muriel and seconded by Mary.  Passed unanimously.

Judith - Elliott Spitzer is not coming to June 5, 2005 meeting.

Scottie will talk to Dan Perkins ask: when can Spitzer come in September?

Muriel suggests contacting Larry Levy, as a possible speaker at an open meeting

Motion by Manny to change open fund raising meeting to September, 2005, seconded by Lita and unanimously passed. Committee for September meeting: Jack McNanie, Norm Maxwell and Muriel Finkel.

Possible invited guests for September meeting - Schumer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., John Lewis, Charles Rangill, and Tom DiNapoli.

Lita will contact Robert F. Kennedy Jr for September meeting

After discussion with respect to presentation by Pat Maher, who is running for the 13th Legislative District, at March 26, 2005 executive board meeting motion by Mary to endorse Pat Maher in her primary run for Nassau County legislator, seconded by Scottie and unanimously passed.

Mary gave Treasurer’s report.  Motion by Helen to accept report seconded by Manny and unanimously passed.

Motion to send Jack McNanie along with Helen and Mark to the National ADA meeting in June - passed unanimously.

Bankruptcy Law Changes - there is no Federal usury law, asked for someone to write a proposal to National to start a Federal Usury Law.  Grace Marie suggested adding the proposal on to something for Americans for Disabilities.  NO ONE VOLUNTEERED TO WRITE PROPOSAL.

Judith agreed to write a resolution to give to National re Stem Cell Research and Judy G agreed to edit it: S. Korea has announced a break through in this scientific area, and now the USA is falling behind because of a “strange combination of politics and religion”.  This should not be a religious issue.  Judy will edit it.

Filibuster - is a part of our congressional system that helps maintain balance between the branches of government and the two political parties.  As such it is a venerable mechanism that should be maintained, especially in light of the potential of at least two U.S. Supreme Court vacancies turning the Bush administration.  Moveon.org is organizing against changes in the Senate rules with regard to the Filibuster.

Lita circulated the Nassau County Civil Liberties Group’s petition in favor of allowing Congress to sunset portions of the Patriot Act. This petition seeks to restore checks and balances in the government.

Motion by Mary and seconded by Scottie to have the June meeting at 8 Windsor Road passed unanimously.

Manny offered to do publicity for the meetings, contact Newsday, NY Times, Cablevision’s “What to do on LI”, Great Neck Record, and Long Island Press.

Scottie announced Wayne Hall’s (new Mayor of Village of Hempstead) Ball, June 10, 2005 at the Marriott

Jack wants to slowly work on the elimination of pesticides used on LI.

Motion to adjourn the meeting by Mary, seconded by Manny and passed unanimously.

Submitted by

Helen Maxwell

Recording Secretary