Public Education Enrichment Fund
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 17, 2008
1. Meeting called to order by Judy Nielsen at 6:03 p.m. A quorum was present.
Attending: Judy Nielsen, Jack Meeks, Susan Rogers, Chip Carman, Elisa Parker, Chuck Scimeca.
Absent: Holly Hermansen
Staff and project directors: NCTV Executive Director Michael LaMarca; PEEF Executive Director Lew Sitzer, Leslie Smith (science project consultant), Gayle Martin, Children's Festival.
Others present: Buck Stoval, Cassandra Walstrom, Paul Shampay.
2. Adoption of the Agenda; Motion (Rogers/Scimeca) to adopt the agenda. Passed unanimously.
3. Adoption of the minutes of June 20 retreat minutes, 2008 and May 15, 2008 meeting minutes. Judy made an addition to June retreat minutes: “A Strategic Planning committee meeting was formed, to include Judy, Chuck, Elisa and Lew.” Motion (Rogers/Carman) to approve both sets of minutes as amended. Passed unanimously.
4. Public Forum. Buck Stoval stated that he felt the Board's characterization of the June retreat as a “retreat” was inaccurate. He felt it was a meeting.
Reports
5. Introduction of possible board members. Lew introduced Cassandra Walstrom and Paul Shampay, two potential board members. He presented their backgrounds and invited them to attend a few meetings before making a decision to join.
6. NCTV report: Michael LaMarca reported that his first few weeks on the job have gone well. He reported on some changes to equipment at the station and plans in the works. Email addresses for staff members have changed. The station no longer gets tech support from NCSOS. NCTV will owe NCSOS for rent, maintenance, utilities and other expenses.
Chuck asked Michael to ensure that good records are kept on all property acquired by the station, including who owns the item, the name of the donor (if applicable), a copy of the receipt sent to the donor, etc. Lew suggested that Michael ask NCSOS for a list of what they consider to be their inventory.
Michael is considering options for different phone service, email service and other revenue sources for the station. He is working with ROP to prepare the classroom for first day of class on Aug. 13. He is seeking more ways of informing the public about the program schedule.
7. Children's Festival: it is being held tomorrow.
8. CABY report: Leslie gave a project overview, and a positive report on the project status. Lew asked Leslie to consider how there might be cross-over with NCTV activities, such as videotaping some activities, involving ROP students, etc.
9. Imaginarium Report: Judy reported on the summer camps run at the Imaginarium.
10. PEEF Report:
· Lew reported on upgrading PEEF accounting procedures. An accountant has recommended we change our bookkeeping procedures to match our project structures. We should anticipate some increased expenses in this area. Judy reported that all accounting since 2002 has been completed and reported to the State.
· Lew reported on a letter received from Buck Stoval, and presented a response that will go to Stoval. Lew noted that he had contacted many non-profits, none of which have open meetings or allow public comment or are subject to the Brown Act. Chuck and Susan supported the idea of a public comment period, since PEEF supports community involvement and free speech via NCTV. Judy stated that the Board is taking the points in the letter seriously and will work with Lew in responding to them.
· A County RFP for creating a video training program is an opportunity for PEEF to generate revenue, if Lew can find people to submit a proposal.
11. PEEF Flow Structure discussion:
· Chuck handed out a revised Operational Flow Chart of the PEEF. The Creek Monitoring Program will be changed to CREEC Network.
· An updated Funding Flow Chart for Dedicated Funds for NCTV was reviewed.
· A draft Funding Flow Chart for Dedicated Funds for Programs Other Than NCTV was handed out and reviewed. Lew and Judy suggested some changes. Chuck was thanked for his good work on all the charts.
12. By Laws Revisions:
· Chuck reviewed proposed changes which will become an action item for the August meeting. Several Board members suggested that details on the Executive Director duties not be included By Laws but instead go in PEEF Policies.
Discussion/Action Items
13. Change of signatories on bank accounts.
· Motion (Rogers/Parker) to remove David Kyle, add Judy Nielsen to all PEEF accounts. Passed unanimously.
· Motion (Rogers/Parker) Add Michael LaMarca to the PEEF/NCTV account. Passed unanimously.
· Motion (Scimeca/Rogers) to approve the Imaginarium's request to obtain a credit card to accompany their Citizens Bank account, with a $1,000 limit on any one purchase. Passed unanimously.
14. Agreement with Sierra Presbyterian Church: Tabled; no update.
15. Action; Finish adoption of by laws changes from Article 7 and 8. Tabled.
16. Elisa's grant proposal: Elisa described her project concept and asked how to proceed in terms of requesting that PEEF be her fiscal sponsor. Lew will work with her.
18. Next meeting to be August 21, 2008, 6 pm at NCTV classroom.
19. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
