REFORMA
EL CORAZÓN DE TEJAS CHAPTER

Wednesday, 2 May 2001, 4:30 pm.
Windsor Park Branch, APL,

Present: Adán Benavides (UT Benson); Patricia Clark (Waco-McLennan County Library); Paola Ferate-Soto (APL Terrazas); Irma Flores Manges (APL Oak Hill); Elva Garza (APL Terrazas); Oralia Garza de Cortés (REFORMA National); Margo Gutiérrez (UT Benson); Judy Horton (Waco-McLennan County Library/South Waco Branch); Jeanette Larson (APL Youth Services); Nohemi López (APL Windsor); Leslie A. Navarro (ACC); Jennifer Patterson (APL Windsor); Steve Reich (APL Spicewood Springs); Gustavo Soto (APL Central); Jennifer Thomas (APL Central)

Jennifer Thomas, chapter President, welcomed all and presented the agenda for today's meeting. First-time attendees included Adán Benavides of the Benson Latin American Collection, and Patricia Clark and Judy Horton, REFORMA members from the Waco-McLennan County Library.

A main topic of business was approval of the constitution and bylaws. A draft (using the Utah and Florida chapter documents as models) was
presented to those present and changes were made to Articles II (Purpose), V (Officers), and VI (Meetings). Bylaws were approved by acclamation. [Note: When constitution and by-laws have been accepted by the national REFORMA Board of Directors and chapter formation approved, copies will be made available upon request-MG]

The next topic considered was the adoption of a name for our chapter. The two names put forward were El Corazón de Tejas chapter and La Estrella de Tejas chapter. By a vote of 13 to 2, the name selected was El Corazón de Tejas. A very lively discussion then ensued as to the spelling of Tejas v. Texas. Adán Benavides noted that many Mexican nationals find the spelling of Texas with a "j" offensive, as it represents Spanish colonial hegemony. Nevertheless, by a vote of 13 to 1 (and one abstention), Tejas with a "j" was adopted.

One member noted that although the new bylaws state that meetings shall be held quarterly, it is important to meet more often, especially as the
fledgling chapter gets organized and grows. As a result, it was decided to meet after ALA annual when the chapter will, hopefully, be fully recognized by national REFORMA. Next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 12, 4:30 p.m. at the Benson Latin American Collection on the UT campus. A brief tour of the Collection and viewing of a sample of rare and unique items will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. Free parking is available adjacent to the Benson Collection in the lot at the corner of Red River and Manor (between MLK and 26th St.). An additional meeting has been scheduled for August 16 at the Windsor Park branch of the APL. Details to follow.

A special committee to draft a Mission Statement was appointed. Jennifer Thomas, Leslie Navarro, Steve Reich, and Gustavo Soto will meet to write a statement and will present it at the next meeting.

Leslie Navarro has volunteered to develop a website for the Corazón de Tejas chapter. She has already secured permission from her dean at Austin Community College to use their server. The page will include links to officers, mission statement, constitution and bylaws, members, minutes, calendar, membership application, and National REFORMA.

A discussion of REFORMA's advocacy role came up as a result of the current crisis faced by Austin Public Library ($250,000 cut in the acquisitions budget, a hiring freeze [27 positions], and travel halted). Jennifer Patterson noted that in an era of economic retrenchment, the role of libraries is more important than ever, providing information for job training and educational opportunities, as well as entertainment, etc.
REFORMA members need to keep libraries in the public eye by participating in public forums, writing letters to the editor, editorials, etc. Jennifer Patterson and Jeanette Larson will begin to draft a position paper/editorial that calls attention to the importance of funding
libraries. It is hoped that parts of this document can be submitted by the chapter as an editorial to local news media. In conjunction with this, Adán Benavides will draft a press release announcing the formation of the new chapter.

Finally, each and every member is asked to bring to the next meeting one or two ideas for possible fall fundraising activities.

Thanks to Jennifer Thomas for refreshments and to Elva Garza and Paola
Ferate-Soto for paper products.

Respectfully submitted by Margo Gutiérrez