| Minutes of the SFTGG General Meeting |
| Monday, June 15, 2009 |
| Meeting was held at Aquarium by the Bay, Pier 39. President Michele McCurry called the meeting to order at 6:15. She welcomed the members and introduced the board. |
| Beth Graubart (Membership Chair) read the names of the twenty-one new members who had joined since the last meeting and introduced those in attendance. She also announced that three new business members had joined. She announced that we now had the capabilities to list member who were CPR certified on the roster. However, it will be the responsibility of the membership to keep their CPR up to date and to keep us posted. |
| Michele McCurry then introduced the first speaker: Brenda Hepler of ECPAT and TassaTag. She spoke on sex slavery and trafficking and provided a handout as well as a code of conduct. Tassa Tags were available for sale to benefit ECPAT. The board will discuss adopting the code of conduct. |
| Michael Stortz (Certification Chair) introduced and congratulated the newly certified guides: Virginia Ferraro, Pete Wilson, Laure Spiers and Michael Purcell. He thanked Nancy McCormick for her help with the records as well as the guides who had helped out during the study sessions. He announced the next exam would be held on November 4. |
| Don DeLaura (Program Co-chair) gave a report on the programs so far offered and those upcoming including: June 25-Angel Island, July 22-Monterey, and August 27-Airport Training. Don then introduced out next speaker Donald MacDonald, an architect involved with the retrofitting of the Golden Gate Bridge. |
| Donald MacDonald provided a slide presentation on the Golden Gate Bridge using illustrations from his recently published book. He is also involved in the new Bay Bridge span, projected to open in November or December 2012. |
| Jeanette Arevelo (Treasurer) presented the treasurer’s report. Copies were available for the members. |
| Michele McCurry introduced Diane Maier, an attorney and labor law specialist. She spoke on several legal issues pertaining to tour guides and answered questions. She provided a handout further detailing labor laws. |
| There were several announcements about various things going on the city this summer. Michele asked members to contact Save Our State Parks. Ulla Kaprielian asked for articles to the Guidepost. Sunny LaGardo asked that step on rates be raised to $200.00. DMCs present were recognized including TBA Global, Manna, and Cappa and Graham. |
| Meeting adjourned for refreshments provided by Boudin Bakery at 8:15. |
