Present: Eve Webster, Jessica Peterson, Barbara Wilson, Janet Petri, Marcia Walters, Ann Ness, Karen Gervais, Allene Moesler, Clare Muffly.
President Eve Webster called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Janet Petri took minutes, as Helene Haapala was not able to attend.
Karen Gervais presented ideas regarding a health care forum she is organizing. The board discussed ways for LWV to participate, co-sponsors, etc. The topic is “Our Health Care Future.” The date will be April 18. The speakers are Anne Neale and Michael Culliton. Karen said that the forum would benefit from assistance with publicity and from a connection to LWVMN.
Eve suggested that Jan Malcolm, director of Courage Center, is also a good speaker on the topic of health care. The board discussed possibly having Ms. Malcolm at a League salon or in some other venue. Karen has the presentation on DVD.
Action: Board members will look at and review the presentation on line, in order to discuss this program in more detail at January board meeting. The website is:
Barbara Wilson presented the treasurer’s report:
1. We are anticipating return on funds from voter educaton. LWVMN wants to see every receipt for every expense. We get reimbursement for these itemized and documented expenses only. Ann Ness is working to get this together. We will not lose anything.
2. We have two more PMP checks to go. This will amount to $1060.
Allene Moesler moved to accept the treasurer’s report for filing, and Jessica Peterson seconded. The motion was approved.
Eve Webster reviewed member recommendations from 08-09 from the program planning meeting. We have accomplished a lot of it, and more is in process. She will include this review in the E-Catalyst communication with members.
Fundraiser: Jessica Peterson and Marcia Walters proposed sending out a fundraising letter this month to members and friends of League. This was enthusiastically received.
Action: Marcia and Jessica will send out a fund raising letter to members and lapsed members before the end of the month. They will come up with a plan for further fundraising and present it at the January meeting.
2009 Calendar: The board went through the calendar laid out most of the schedule for the rest of the year. Board meetings will be on first Tuesdays.
January: no Salon; Jan. 24: program planning. February 13: appreciation party for elected officials, in lieu of salon. Feb. 21 or 28: Roberts Rules of Order Education Event. March 10: League Salon, health care, Janet Malcolm DVD? Education event (Diane Cirksena) – no date determined. April 18: health care forum. There was considerable discussion of a possible date for the annual meeting. The annual meeting would not work on April 18. Is April 4 too early? Could Janet Malcolm be a speaker? LWV bylaws constrain the timing of the annual meeting.
Janet Petri presented the membership report. The official tally is 117. Board members are continuing to work on getting people to renew.
Clare Muffly presented a report on her student internship. She will be overseas next term. She suggested more targeted recruiting of students next time.
Clare will contact Nate Jacobi regarding recruiting the next intern, and also will contact Dan Hoffrenning and Dr. Fure-Slocum (Poli sci and American Studies Departments) to get information out for recruiting the next intern.
Allene Moesler reported on Cannon Falls events. The Walkabout got good coverage from the newspaper in CF. The big crisis is membership. She will brainstorm with other CF members. Three or four people have expressed interest. They would like to tie in a membership appeal with some of our events - Jan Malcolm, or Robert’s Rules of Order, for instance. They need to get some events going in CF. They could replicate the Salon, for instance. Allene thanked those from Northfield who came to the Walkabout.
COMMUNICATIONS: The committee met. (Marcia, Pat, Eve, Catherine). Got good comments about e-Catalyst.
Board members are asked to keep an eye out for good articles from reputable sources on the topics that are coming up (health, education) to put on the website.
Think of other groups we can partner with.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Bonnie Jean Flom has agreed to be on the board as an at-large person. Ann Ness moved that she be nominated to replace Summa. Marcia seconded. It was approved.
Thank you and good-bye to Clare Muffly.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Petri, acting as secretary
