Non-profit Organization

Attended by: Robbie, Stephanie, Liv, Terri, Georgina, Aaron, Riley Jane, Luisa, True

Robbie prepared the minutes! May 6th Meeting Minutes: 1)Many things discussed but important to focus on 3 goals: -Awareness of the needs of Autistic Adults -Advocacy for ourselves -Acceptance from neurotypical communities.

2) Non-Profit Requirements: -3 board members, some discussion was had about whether the three board members should be formally diagnosed, topic is still being discussed. -1 AGM (Annual General Meeting) required per year. -Define committees and member requirements and goals of the organization. -Registration fee is $180 and the annual renewal fee is $50, approximately 30 day waiting period to hear back. 3) Current tasks: -Robert is the meeting secretary and will distribute the meeting minutes after each formal meeting. -Terri knows a lawyer who can help up with the paperwork needed to start a nonprofit and will talk with him. -True and Jane to write a first draft of the organization’s mission statement. 4) Resources: -Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce, MRSB and United way offer courses on running nonprofits and being a board member. -Terri and Aaron have been a part of nonprofit boards in the past and have experience doing this. -Think of Starsforlife and the Autism Societies as resources and not competitors even if we don’t agree with parts of their philosophy. -Fiscal sponsorship possible from the Northstar fund, Makeway and Launch Pad. 5)Proposed advocacy activities/strategies: -Offer information sessions so employers can better understand how to support autistic employees. -Making a list of ‘rights’ for disabled people to advocate for to keep the group on task. -Work with ‘Autism consultants’ or as an alternative to ‘Autism consultants’ in schools to help with the transition to adult hood, finding appropriate supports and teaching how to self-advocate. -Focus make presentations on ‘Autistic Success’ to demonstrate a life well lived as an autistic adult. Stephanie and Luisa were very interested in this. -Establish communication between autistic parents and parents of autistic children. 6) Other considerations: -There is a significant overlap between the autistic community and the LBGTQIA+ community and we could possibly have a vendor booth at the pride parade (July 24-31, doesn’t need to be every day) -Do we want to cover the costs of running a non-profit with membership fees or should this be by donation or according to funding.