Regular Meeting -- November 22, 2015
The Board of Directors held its regular monthly meeting at 2007 Bert Avenue, Austin, TX 78704, starting at 2:30 pm. The following directors (constituting a quorum of the full board) were present at the meeting: President Kathy Lee, Secretary John McGarey (by phone), and Treasurer Penny Chambers (by phone). The following directors were absent: Tamara Vogt and Lesleigh Ellinger. Robert McGarey (Executive Director) was also present at the meeting.
The Mission Statement was read aloud at the beginning of the meeting. Minutes from the previous meeting were read aloud and approved as read.
Resignations. Resignations from Tamara Vogt and Lesleigh Ellinger were received and accepted. That means there are currently 3 board members, and that 2 board members constitutesa quorum.
Temperature Reading. Bob suggested that the Board try the Virginia Satir exercise called a Temperature Reading. Notable comments were that bills are still not able to be paid with existing funds, and that several people repeated the proposal for paying more to the people who are running the Center.
Blossom Room. We decided to call the room Pam used to stay in the "Blossom Room," which is simultaneously an attractive name to appeal to renters, and a personal tribute to Pam (sort of an inside joke). We will wait as long as it takes to get the right person, and everyone on campus has the right to veto anyone they don't feel comfortable with.
Insurance. The rate for insurance just raised to $550 per month, which is difficult. Bob will explore getting a policy with a different company ASAP that is better and more affordable.
Finances. There was discussion about what to do with all of the abundant excess funds that the Center will obviously and inevitably receive. It was unanimously
RESOLVED, that instead of investing all of that excess income into paying off the mortgage, we invest it instead into trying to increase income and reduce expenses.
Penny said she thought our priorities ought to start with getting to a profitable point, and then starting to pay Bob and the people who run the Center better salaries, and when that is achieved start paying into the mortgage. There seemed to be general agreement with those priorities.
Volunteers from High Schools. Teachers and administrators from the high school were contacted but have not responded. A volunteer worked to put the email together, had the principals approve them, and there were no responses. Possibly the lack of responses was a problem of timing with semesters and when volunteer hours are needed. It was suggested that Kathy follow up with certain teachers directly, perhaps even cold calling them.
Outreach. Bob is starting to do more outreach than he has ever done, including with professor John Jones at St. Ed's. He also attended his Mother's 95th Birthday Party in Phoenix, and there might be some contacts from that experience that could help the Center. We are looking forward to what this might produce.
Elevator Pitches. John asked for a succinct way to describe the Cener. We decided to discuss this in more detail next meeting. John offered to write some proposals.
Since there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at around 4:30 pm.