Meraki Meeting took place in person at Rebecca's April 22 2026, 7-9PM
Attendees: Rebecca (Ingathering), John (Notes), Kari, Mellen, Jimmie, Elise, Blair (Timekeeper), Tasja, Andrew, Nate, Deb, Brian (Facilitating), Marion, Devin, Shelagh
Meeting format
Choose roles (Ingatherer, Facilitator, Notetaker, Timekeeper, Vibe Checker)
Ingathering
Briefly review How We Roll
Summarize previous meeting notes
Gather new agenda items
Set order and time for items
Attend to agenda items
Schedule future meeting(s)
Evaluate
Outgathering
Known agenda items
Retreat Report: Kiara (Elise)
PCD sponsored Workshops: Brian
Code of Conduct: Emily G
Where Can We Dance update - Tasja
Proposal: Meraki Meetings to be regularly scheduled for after dance - Kari
Discussion about raising price for dance - Tasja
Proposal: Share PCD’s PA speakers with Common Floor Contra Dance - John
- Survey Proposal - Devin
Additional Agenda items
Meeting content
Retreat Report: Kiara Elise
Ferry Beach: $235/personOceanwood: $265/personMedomak: $315/person
Nate: We could survey the community, but proposes that we give it a try. Would be a risk. The retreat committee would need to have some kind of guarantee of support from PCD in the ballpark of $2000 (amount of deposit). As in the past, they're planning to do sliding scale.
Marion: How many people paid supporting amount previously? (Nate: 4 this time, as well as last)
Nate: The number of people who can afford covering costs doesn't change dramatically; the low end would be a little higher ($190) than before.
Jimmie: Would PCD be willing to subsidize a higher amount? Nate: That's what we're thinking. John: that would increase the "membership benefit."
Devin: We can also offer scholarships, even with the multi-tier approach at a limited amount.
Outcome: No definite action was taken, though the mood of those assembled were supportive. (Ed: Based on this support, and because another group is considering the same weekend, John requested approval from board members, and got PCD Board (Brian, Marion, and Jamie) approval to move ahead with a signed contract and deposit.
PCD sponsored Workshops: Brian/Tasja
Tasj: It's been tabled a few times, do we want to keep tabling? Went to a workshop last weekend with Devorah. Feels that there are people in the community that are happy to offer workshops to the community. Doesn't want to see the idea dropped. Great idea; can we keep it on the agenda.
Brian: Started a new job, hasn't had the space to do more with the topic. Jason in a similar space. Brian/Jason created a structure, had several conversations. Would love additional support and someone to take lead.
Marion: Is this in service of teaching people about the PCD Way? As in aligned with the Code of Conduct?
Shelagh: Remind us that a long time ago we decided to not partner with other organizations.
Deb: A Visioning question was how to uphold and maintain culture of consent, safety, etc. This was part of that.
Tasj: How do we get the ball rolling?
Outcome: no action taken; let the Visioning committee follow up.
Code of Conduct: Brian update
Brian read note from Emily:
Please tell the folks that I’m not feeling well and sorry to not be there!
The Code of Conduct will continue to be worked on by a newly formed group, Devin, Shelagh, and Emily.
Before the COC committee begins meeting, it’s important that the Wiz takes some time to get aligned around our willingness to support and implement the Code. For it to truly work, it will need all of us to actively uphold what it outlines in our participation in the community.
We’ll be gathering in the next couple of weeks to talk together about how we want to care for the community moving forward. As part of that conversation, we may also explore a possible shift in our structure, so that Wiz members can focus on the areas of responsibility where they feel most resourced, supported, and able to contribute.
Mellen: I assumed I was on the committee, but didn't hear about it. Shelagh expressed similar confusion. Not all interested are aware of meetings that were held.
Nate: Mellen can reach out directly to Emily for clarification/coordination
Brian: Emily has experienced it as a difficult process, feels like she's somewhat alone in leading, and would appreciate more support.
Tasj: we were going to write a script we'd take to prospective facilities, with all the questions we have (square footage, floor type, parking, etc. etc. etc.). Tasja, Devin, Todd, and Sunshine investigated 36 places we've looked at, ruled out 18, leaving 18 possibilities. From their perspective, there are 3-4 possible candidates:
NYA
John, Devin, Tasj visited. Available Sunday mornings. A gym. (Tasj has pictures). Expensive ($200/hr). Scattered free parking. No A/C. (No A/C or windows in any of the gyms) Outdoor space (not private) we could use. Really nice (John takes issue with that characterization).
Assuming same number of dances, etc. Did number crunching. If we had 3 dances month, charged $12/dance, we'd break even. Devin: $450/dance is breakeven based on current participation and $10/dance.
Falmouth Community Center (Mason Motz Community Center),
Beautiful newly done hardwood floating (not sprung) floor. Arched ceiling w/ acoustic tiles. Large ceiling fans; we'd have to keep the doors closed. Not available in the mornings; not available every Sunday afternoon. 6 weeks in April has indoor soccer. Parking 50 on-site, 25 on street, not a lot of flexibility. $50/hour; Tasj paced out estimate 3000 sq. ft. Court is 60x40.
South Portland Middle School
Brand new middle school 10 minutes from Portland Regulation basketball Gym. Available Sunday AMs pending custodial staff. 1 time/quarter booking fee + hourly: $275/dance including custodial fees (check with them next time).
Holy Cross School
Church competes for parking in the morning. Gym has windows, but noise competition. 2720 sq. ft., with storage. Didn't get a price yet, but seems affordable. Lot could accommodate all of us, but parking across the street.
(Devin Possibly: Portland Public schools) Reiche (pronounced RI-KEE) is a possibility, East-End also, both pending custodial availability. Each would be $315/dance. Other schools would be $236/dance. Deb: Liked Reiche the most. Deering High another possibility. Devin following up with Portland schools. Mellen: school custodial availability is an ongoing risk. Private schools would be a better option.
Deb questions about negotiability of the rate with NYA; we checked, and there's no flexibility.
Tasj is going to be off the committee starting in June, leaving Devin as lead.
Discussion about features and parking, etc.
Deb happy to be DJ point person for the in-person meetings. Before June if possible.
Nate: Hearing strong candidates NYA, South Portland. Let's start with those two, not worry about the other ones.
Outcome: We'll pursue NYA and South Portland as primary candidates. (Ed: Devin is also continuing discussions with Portland Public School system.
PROPOSAL LINK
Kari: Last meeting in person after dance was lovely. In a practical sense, we didn't have to schedule another date and time. Noticed lack of attendance for in-person hosted and Zoom meetings. (Summarized proposal,)
The idea would be to have meetings every 2 months, always holding after dance.
Deb: likes the idea of every other (instead of every). There's a benefit of having meetings in a smaller gathering.
Beck: Likes the idea of doing more meetings in person after dance. Also: Read notes! When we skip a month, we pay for it. Every other meeting at Beth El?
Brian: like after dance, and we do need monthly meetings. Never a lack of things to discuss.
Tasj: I'm implicitly hearing that Zoom meeting are less effective - should we eliminate them?
Shelagh: I don't like this idea; history: We used to always be in person on Tuesday night. We wanted to widen the umbrella. Trajectory: Have as many roads in as possible. As neurodivergent, the bigger meeting, the more horrible the experience. Goes against what the intention was to make meetings accessible.
Beck (to Shelagh): Would you be interested to do Zoom at an in-person meeting? Shelagh: Doesn't like Zoom meetings, but easiest for her to attend.
Marion: Important to have some smaller meetings
Brian: Am I hearing that you would like Zoomable meetings? Shelagh: 2 questions: What I would like as compared to the group intention. (Lives on an island, so in-person in evening is a late night home.)
Brian: goal is to increase participation
Deb: vibe check break
Mellen: Zoom hasn't met the purpose
Nate: Hearing lots of good ideas, but no support for the proposal. Let go of it, and there are a lot of good ideas like getting rid of Zoom, etc. There's not support for this proposal.
Nate: I can offer a tidy proposal. Every other Meraki meeting after dance. Smaller, in-person meetings could have a Zoom-in option. Deb: Let's start that in September.
Outcome: Proposal not adopted. Not resolved. We'll keep it on the agenda.
Out of time - tabled. John threw a wrench in the works by suggesting that we couple this with where can we dance; we don't need to raise fees until we need to.
PROPOSAL LINK
John presented proposal as written; discussed; Outcome: proposal adopted with the caveat that we revisit in 6 months to see how it's going.
Survey Proposal - Devin
Presented the idea, but discussion tabled. Questions about understanding the community better. Vibe check feels important. A lot of things in the work now with the new space discussion. Outcome: Devin will put together questions to bring to the next meeting.
