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NATIONAL EQUALITY PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
MEETING MINUTES
Meeting Date:
January 28~31, 2015
Meeting Location:
B Ocean Hotel & Resort
1140 Seabreeze Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Approval:
February 9, 2015
Jerry Cunningham, NEPA Co-Chair
Melanie Davis, NEPA Co-Chair
Stampp Corbin, Secretary / Treasurer
Recorded By: Melanie Davis
National Equality Publishers Association - NEPA
Meeting Date 01/28-31/2015
1 ATTENDANCE
Name
Melanie Davis
Jerry Cunningham
Stampp Corbin
Tom Christ
Tristan Schukraft
Michael Turner
Robert Herbers
Topher LaFleur
Jason Parsley
Norm Kent
Leo Cusimano
Peter Clark
Mark Nagel
Michael Yamashita
JC McDonald
Tim Boyd
Chris Cash
Mark Segal
Rick Galggett
Jeremiah Catherwood
Title
Publisher
Publisher
Publisher
Sales Manager
VP Operations
Publisher
Advisor
Account Exec.
Publisher
Publisher
Publisher
Publisher
Publisher
Publisher
Co-Owner
Publisher
Co-Owner
Publisher
Publisher
Guest
Organization
QP Monthly
OUT FRONT
LGBT Weekly
HotSpots Media Group
Frontiers Media
Frontiers Media
NEPA
OUT FRONT
South Florida Gay News
South Florida Gay News
Dallas Voice
HotSpots Media Group
GRAB Magazine
Bay Area Reporter
OUT FRONT
Georgia Voice
Georgia Voice
Philadelphia Gay News
Watermark Orlando
Watermark Orlando
Present
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
2 MEETING LOCATION
Building: B Ocean Hotel & Resort
1140 Seabreeze Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Conference Room: Clipper Room A
Web Address: www.boceanfortlauderdale.com
3 MEETING START
Meeting Schedule Start:
Meeting Actual Start:
Meeting Scribe:
Thursday, January 29, 2015 – 08:00 AM
Thursday, January 29, 2015 – 08:14 AM
Melanie Davis
4 AGENDA
WEDNESDAY – January 28th (Travel Day)
5pm
| Check-in | Welcome Reception | Happy Hour
(cont.)
Meeting Minutes Template (v1.0)
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National Equality Publishers Association - NEPA
Meeting Date 01/28-31/2015
THURSDAY – January 29th (Cost Cutting)
8am to 9am | Full Breakfast (part of our $2100)
 Paper distribution / Swap
We encouraged publishers to bring 20 copies of their products
9am to 10:30am | Learning from Legacy - Mark Segal, Publisher PGN
 Mark Segal expressed the need for NEPA and the need for us to build revenue
10:45am to 11:45am | NEPA – Leo Cusimano | Melanie Davis | Norm Kent
(OFFICIAL NEPA BUSINESS): Roundtable – Our foundation, the steps and
Bylaws Discussion
 Norm Kent moved that we have a governing body to move forward with the
finalization of NEPA’s Bylaws and Policies & Procedures
 Mark Segal seconded the motion
 Motion passed with unanimous vote
 Leo Cusimano shared some concerns regarding Rivendell, promoting a
harmonious environment for all.
Noon to 1pm | SPONSORED Lunch
Dos Caminos, Modern Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Bar
 Presenter: Billy Looper
 Short Presentation about One Magical Weekend at Disney
1pm to 2pm | Peter Clark introduced Stuart Milk of the Harvey Milk Foundation
(STREAMED LIVE ONLINE via YouTube)
Presented their global strategy (Added value, a news story with photo opp.)
Norm Kent extended appreciation on behalf of NEPA for Stuart Milk and the
Harvey Milk Foundation
2pm to 3:30pm | Waking the Sleeping Giant – Leo Cusimano | Peter Clark


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(STREAMED LIVE ONLINE via YouTube)
Chambers and Business Organizations
Revenue development opportunities
Representation from 3 organizations (4 Executives)
o Billy Looper Converge Orlando/MBA
o Geph Scarr Greater Fort Laugretdale GLCVB
o Steve Atkins Miami/VADE GLCC
o Michael Farber Grater Fort Lauderdale GLCVB
2 LGBT Chambers, both members of NGLCC
1 Business Organization, a subsidiary of the main chamber of commerce
Working the relations in our own backyard
Supplier diversity do the math
5pm to 8pm | South Florida Gay News’ 5th Anniversary Party & Dinner
 Thanks to Norm Kent and the B Ocean Hotel
8pm to 10pm Publishers Dinner sponsored by J Marks Fort Laughterdale – Thanks to
Steve and Arial for hosting
(cont.)
Approval Date: <Date or 'DRAFT'>
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National Equality Publishers Association - NEPA
Meeting Date 01/28-31/2015
FRIDAY – January 30th (Revenue Development)
8am to 9am | Coffee & Beverages
9am to 10am | The Power of 20 – Melanie Davis | Robert Herbers,
International Business Analyst & Entrepreneur
| What the numbers tell us – Stampp Corbin a comparative analysis of
NEPA’s combined reach - opened discussion
(OFFICIAL NEPA BUSINESS)
1pm to 5pm | Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Yacht Excursion (8K to 10K)
 The CVB hosted NEPA upon an all-inclusive yacht excursion
 Presenter: Kim Butler
 (OFFICIAL NEPA BUSINESS): Outstanding question regarding Stampp Corbins
presentation of our combined numbers were answered at an impromptu meeting
in the main cabin of the yacht:
 Peter Clark (convention host) moved for an agreement around creating a national
media kit
 Mark Nagel seconded
 Motion passed with one (1) abstention, Chris Cash
10 to Noon
5pm
| Free for dinner & exploration
SATURDAY – January 31st
8am to 8:30am Roger Roa - Director of Development lead NEPA on a guided tour of
Pride Center at Equality Park of South Florida
9:30am to 10:30am
| NEPA Bylaws Ratification | Interim Board Elections
(OFFICIAL NEPA BUSINESS):
 Peter Clark was asked to lead and mediate Saturday’s session by Melanie Davis
 Peter Clark asked if there was a motion to have interim Co-Chairs of NEPA
 Leo Cusimano so moved
 Michael Turner seconded
 Motion passed with unanimous vote – NO abstentions
 Peter Clark asked if there were any nominations form the floor to serve as interim
co-chairs:
 Melanie Davis & Jerry Cunningham were nominated
 Leo Cusimano made the motion to accept the nomination
 Peter Clark seconded the nomination
 Motion & nomination passed with unanimous vote – NO abstentions
 Peter Clark asked if there were any nominations form the floor to serve as interim
Secretary/Treasurer
 Stampp Corbin was nominated
 Jerry Cunningham made the motion to accept the nomination
 Leo Cusimano seconded the nomination
 Motion & nomination passed with unanimous vote – NO abstentions
(cont.)
Approval Date: <Date or 'DRAFT'>
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National Equality Publishers Association - NEPA
Meeting Date 01/28-31/2015

Interim Board of NEPA Melanie Davis, Jerry Cunningham, and Stampp Corbin
extended an invitation to the group to serve as a board of advisors:
o Peter Clark
o Norm Kent
o Robert Herbers
o Michael Turner
o Accepted and consensus reached

Robert Boo - Chief Executive Officer – Addressed the Group
o Slide show presentation about the Pride Center At Equality Park of South
Florida
Noon | Lunch – at a local restaurant Travel day back home!
5 MEETING END
Meeting Schedule End: Saturday, January 31, 2015 – 12:00 PM
Meeting Actual End: Saturday, January 31, 2015 – 12:10 PM
6 POST MEETING ACTION ITEMS
Action
Assigned To
Deadline
Research & Recommend
Organizations Legal Structure
Melanie Davis, Jerry
Cunningham and Stampp Corbin
March 20, 2015
Appeal for Board of Advisors
Melanie Davis, Jerry
Cunningham and Stampp Corbin
72 Hours after the appeal is
made.
Recommend Board of Directors
Melanie Davis, Jerry
Cunningham and Stampp Corbin
March 20, 2015
Finalize Bylaws and P&P’s
Melanie Davis, Jerry
Cunningham and Stampp Corbin
March 20, 2015
Create a National Media Kit
Melanie Davis, Tristan Schukraft,
Michael Turner & Stampp Corbin
March 20, 2015
7 DECISIONS MADE



Create a governing body to finalize NEPA’s Bylaws and Policies &
Procedures
Establish Board of Advisors and Board of Directors
Create a National Media Kit
8 NEXT MEETING
Next Meeting: March 20, 2015 (Location TBD)
Approval Date: <Date or 'DRAFT'>
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