South Dade Chamber

4/9/2020
South Dade Chamber Exco and MAC
ByLaws 12.5 Meeting
Via: Zoom

Attendees: Joe Webb, George Marakas, Lisa Greer, Julio Guzman, Kerry Black, Roxanne
Jeghers, Emily Mejia,
Absent: David McKean

1. 4:02 Call to order

Roxanne requested that the meeting be recorded; Joe advised Lisa is taking minutes and
suggested Emily do the same. Recording was not approved.

2. Chairman’s Introduction:
Joe read Article 12.5 from Bylaw and identified those individuals on the call.
Joe indicated that two additional MAC members were invited by him; however, they did not
attend.
Joe provided a high-end review; going 2 years back and accounting meetings between
then SDCC operations chair Bill Duquette and Joe as Treasurer of both Chamber and MAC,
along with Tracy Hunt and others which resulted in agreements made for cohesiveness.
Since then he described the relationship as having declined, starting with Tony Fiori as
MAC’s interim Chair after Tracy’s move to another city.

3. Joe then described subsequent meetings during George Marakas’s tenure as Chamber
Chair, wherein Joe asked for additional time to work out differences, yet that hasn’t
happened. Joe described the relationship between MAC and South Dade Chamber as
not unified. Joe advised we will either move forward in unison with MAC as a
committee or not have this MAC. Joe accounted having received an email recent as
today about issues with Ron Mongol and Carlos Batista with SOCSouth, evolving to
emails involving JAG, with concern of possible individual to be removed from position at
SOCSouth to the point that SOCSouth was looking to disengaging from Chamber, which
is a strike against Chamber. The issue is being addressed by Chamber.

4. Joe summarized the 3/18/2020 letter sent to MAC members with proposed changes to
include a suspension of activities for 60 days in order to regroup. Since then, activities
and communications continue despite the suspension. We should understand protocol
and chain of command when serving the military and HARB, and to that we will change
the culture for the MAC to represent the Chamber with the Mac and Chamber to be one
unit.

5. Chamber Chair to address current issues:

a. Address current MAC conflicts of interests:
I. Membership Practices:
Joe advised that members of a MAC should be chosen because of their outstanding service
to the chamber as members and members of the community with an affinity toward
helping the military. They must be Chamber members in good standing for 1 year, so that
they understand the Chamber first, commitment to the community as a Chamber member,
then their interest and actions will be better served on MAC.
II. Fund raising:
Joe indicated fund raising by MAC will be coordinated and jointly hosted with Chamber
moving forward so as not to conflict with schedules or sponsors, in the same manner as all
other committees. Funds raised by Chamber MAC will continue to be used for military
purposes.
III. Only chamber bylaws will govern all committee activity, including MAC activity.
Joe emphasized this requirement. There may be procedures in place for MAC logistics
but not two sets of bylaws.

6. Chamber Chair will advise two MAC members, in writing, of a prorated refund of their
dues and subsequent dismissal from the MAC membership.
Joe advised that because of recent incidents between Ron Mongol and Carlos Batista, they
will be removed from the MAC. As such, they will receive prorated refund of MAC
membership for this year. Protocol would have and should have included that any issues
with military units and/or personnel be addressed with MAC Chair first, then SDCC Chair for
resolution and guidance.

7. Current 2019-2020 MAC members who wish to resign from the committee will be given
the opportunity to request a pro-rated refund of their MAC dues. Joe emphasized that MAC
members are valued and it is not the intent to lose valuable MAC members. However, if
MAC members wish to no longer serve MAC, then all such requests must be received by
SDCC no later than April 30, 2020. Notifications can be sent, in writing, to
sdccadmin@southdadechamber.org. All pro-rated dues reimbursements will be completed
in a timely fashion but no later than May 15 th, 2020.

8. Moving forward:
I.Joe advised that MAC’s PO Box will be closed and all Chamber committees’ mail
will go to Chamber headquarters address.
II.Chamber chair will establish a temporary MAC Restructuring Committee. To that,
Joe asked for Roxanne’s support to be aligned with the restructure as described.
III.Joe advised that MAC accounts have been frozen which was confirmed by
Treasurer Lisa Greer. While he understands the MAC operating checkbook is under lock
down because of the COVID pandemic, funds approved by MAC for disbursement have
been accommodated in a timely fashion. Current MAC funds will be used to support
military purposes. We will follow protocol for check writing, MAC budget, following other
committees’ behavior.

Following these guidelines, Joe asked for feedback from those in attendance:

Julio: Agreed that since his intro Chamber and the challenged relationship, it became
evident that these changes are needed. He voiced his support.
 Lisa : Voiced support of the change with no further feedback
George: Voiced his support, with no further feedback
Kerry: Voiced support without further feedback
Roxanne: Voiced no comment
Emily: Voiced no comment

Minutes will be provided. Joe expressed his excitement about the future with MAC and its
continued efforts, working together in unity and peace. To that, an email will go out to
MAC with what has been addressed and resolved, however, after observance of Good
Friday. Will follow up with SDCC Board to form the New MAC committee and to implement
changes.

Joe adjourned at 4:24 p.m.