Board Meeting Minutes - July 6, 2026

MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LEAD Foundation

1. Call to Order
The special meeting of the Board of Directors of LEAD Foundation was held virtually on 7 July 2026 at 18:00 via Teams. Belinda Contreras called the meeting to order.

• Directors Present: Belinda Contreras, Vice President/Director; Susan Sirkin, Treasurer/Director; Michael Smith, Director; Kenneth Parris, Director; Michelle Breig, Secretary/Director; Grace Edinboro, Director; Kenneth Cook-Askins, Director; Daniel Word, Director
• Directors Absent: David Dewbre, President/Director

This constitutes a quorum.

2. Agenda

Belinda Contreras requested approval of the Agenda.

• Motion: By Michael Smith to rearrange order of the agenda items and proposal of the following order: (1) Removal of all Officers; (2) Election of new Officers; (3) Adoption of the Membership Policy; (4) Directions from Board regarding current pending Applications; and (5) Appointment of a Membership Committee.
  • Moved/Seconded: Belinda Contreras/Kenneth Parris
  • Vote: Approved unanimously

3. Belinda Contreras recognizes Michael Smith as to Agenda item (1).

• Motion: By Michael Smith to remove all current seated officers of the board, without cause, effective immediately under Article 4, Section 4 of LEAD Foundation bylaws.
  • Amend: By Kenneth Parris to elect Belinda Contreras as President Pro Tem until a new slate of officers are elected.
  • Amend Accepted by Michael Smith
  • Seconded: Kenneth Parris
  • Vote: Approved unanimously

4. Belinda Contreras recognizes Michael Smith as to Agenda item (2).

• Motion: By Michael Smith to elect new officers of the board as follows: Belinda Contreras, President; Grace Edinboro, Vice President; Susan Sirkin, Treasurer; Michelle Breig, Secretary.

Belinda Contreras polls nominees as to their willingness to accept the positions proposed. All four nominees accept.

• • Seconded: Kenneth Parris
  • Vote: Approved unanimously

5. Belinda Contreras recognizes Michael Smith as to Agenda item (3).

• Motion: By Michael Smith to adopt new Membership Policy M-001 effective immediately upon board approval. The new Membership Policy M-001 includes the use of the new LEAD Foundation Membership Application.
• Discussion: New policy and application introduced to adopt clear, outlined procedures as the LEAD membership body grows. New policy addresses application approval procedures to prevent biased approval/denial of membership by removal of personal identity details page when the application is being reviewed by the membership committee. The membership committee will consist of current members selected and approved by the board. The membership committee will make recommendation for board approval. New policy further addresses requirements for continued membership and waiting periods. Members can have the privilege of the floor but only directors can make a motion and/or vote. Clarification that members only vote to elect Board of Directors. Noted that with the absence of David Dewbre there are only eight (8) active directors.
  • Moved/Seconded: Kenneth Parris/Susan Sirkin
  • Vote: Approved unanimously

6. Belinda Contreras recognizes Michael Smith as to Agenda item (4).

• Motion: By Michael Smith to direct Secretary to send the new LEAD Foundation Membership Application to any pending applicants as well as all current members immediately.
  • Seconded: Kenneth Parris
  • Vote: Approved unanimously

7. Belinda Contreras recognizes Michael Smith as to Agenda item (5).

• Motion: By Michael Smith to appoint Membership Committee that consists of at least two (2) LEAD members.
• Discussion: Prospectives can be any member, except for the Secretary as that person will see the personal identity details of the membership application. Consensus that Membership Committee have at least one board member. Members proposed: Casandra Smith, Roni Lopez, and Kenneth Parris. Committee Chair proposed: Casandra Smith.
• Seconded: Kenneth Parris
• Vote: Approved unanimously

8. Belinda Contreras recognizes Michael Smith. Discussion: David Dewbre is still a Director, but in his absence a ninth Director is needed as we should have an odd number. Bylaws state that there should be 5-13 directors and the board of directors decides that number; must be an odd number. Vacancies may be filled and approved by the board of directors.

• Motion: By Kenneth Parris to set the number of Directors at nine (9).
• Seconded: Daniel Word
• Vote: Approved unanimously

Belinda Contreras recognizes Kenneth Parris.

• Motion: By Kenneth Parris to nominate current member Will Hicks as Director. If he declines we will discuss new nominee next meeting.
• Seconded: Michael Smith
• Vote: Approved unanimously

9. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 18:34 PST.

Submitted By:

Michelle Breig, Secretary