Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFBMINUTES100202Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. Board of Directors' Meeting Municipal Building Conference Room October 2, 2002 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:25p.m. Those in attendance were Joni Fichter, Charlie Henke, Chris Simon, Donna LaMond, Win Graham, Lynne Goddard, Danielle Kernell, Ross Frazer, Will Bertron, Cheryl Butler and Shannon Gardner 2. President's Report a. Whitney Walsh has been approved as a new Board Member, she will work on PR and Foundations. b. Pocket Park designation, move under new business 3. Approval of Minutes (Gayle Jackson - out of town) a. Chris Simon made a motion that the minutes of the September meeting be approved. Donna LaMond seconded. The minutes were approved. 4. Executive Director's Report - Danielle Kernell a. Danielle met with Whitney Walsh (new member) regarding help on press releases and Foundation & Large Gifts committee; met with Cheryl Butler regarding marketing plan for E-Store (ornaments at Christmas, t-shirts in the Spring) b. Non-profit mailing rate approved for bulk mailing. c. Kay Holloway at Karpas - photo op. Thursday $1,100. d. Shannon G. had Copy Dr. print postcards for board members to use to generate members. e. Shannon G. will have 2 banners made for $60. £ Cost of Newsletter insert in City Currents will be $1,400 instead of the projected $1,800. Newsletter is in the mail now. g. Village News brochure going out Oct. 15. Drafts passed out for review along with Newsletter and new membership info. h. She will provide notebooks to new members. i. Nothing to report at this time on possible donation of Houstonian play equipment - Mark Mailes is following up. Treasurer's Report - Ross Frazer a. Audit Complete b. Tax return was filed in a timely manner c. Operating Budget development - Ross handed out preliminary budget estimates and ask that all board members review the information and report back to him with any changes. d. By-laws state that Mayor is to co-sign all checks but J. Daugherty is checking to see if this is necessary as we have never done itefore. 6. Board Reports E-Store - Cheryl Butler Cheryl and Danielle met to discuss ways to push current merchandise (ornaments and t-shirts). They will work on plan to sell ornaments at local holiday functions and maybe coordinate with membership events. May also offer discount on bulk sales. Tax issue with E-store still pending. Foundations & Large Gifts - Chris Simon, Charlie Henke, Karin Dubose (absent), Beverly Loftis (absent), Danielle Kemell and Win Graham Chris gave udate on grant requests. The following foundations declined: Brown, Cockrell, Fondren, Hamman, Powell, Wortham. Still pending are: Cullen, Houston, and Hershey. Farish Foundation request will go out this week. Foundations that decline do not always give an explanation of why, but the feeling is that WUP are not a "needy" enough group in these tough economic times. Chris noted the same thing has been seen in other groups he is working with. Danielle has done some research on other groups to target, also looking into groups focusing on "beautification" projects. Possible groups to target in the future (especially after the new Rec. Center issue has been formally decided by City Council) are: Texas Parks and Wildlife, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Found., Earthshare, Moody, Rockwell, Elkins. The committee will meet to discuss plans to focus on "Large Gifts". Website - Donna LaMond Donna is working on adding new membership information to website to coincide with mailings, newspaper insert, etc. She is also still adding links to donors. She submitted a bill from her company ($1,059) for out of pocket expenses from the website (from start date to present). The Friends web page is being moved to another server and there will now be a small monthly charge, which she will add into her budget. Membership & Magazine - Patricia Rorschach and Shannon Gardner Shannon reiterated Danielle's information regarding the new membership drive. She also discussed yard signs to create interest in the campaign "Gotta Have Green". Signs will cost approximately $7 each and plans are to have about 20 signs. They will be put up for about 1 month and the idea is they will generate conversation about Friends and coincide with membership drive. Ross F. made a motion to approve $200 for signs, Charlie H. seconded motion. Motion approved. Shannon handed out postcards to Board Members (20 each) that urge joining Friends and give website info., and asked that they be sent out/delivered to friends/neighbors. F` Special Events - Shannon, Danielle and Leah have developed "Trick o Treating for Green". Small boxes with labels and instructions will be handed out to local children, Board Members, etc. and will be available at local business and organizations (JMH, Edloe Deli, WU Soccer, Shamrocks, Girl/Boy Scouts, Playgroups, etc.) Sue Hanna is working on idea to have a Tree Trunk or Leaving Tree (seen at Episcopal HS) to mark goals of fundraising, to be put at Auden and University. Park Lovers Ball - CeCe McCann (absent) Joni reported on CeCe's behalf. PLB preparations coming along. Committee continues to meet and needs auction donations, underwriting contacts and for Board Members to purchase table/tickets. Auction chairs needed for the following categories: Home, Jewelry, Ladies and Gentlemen Discussion on whether it was necessary to put Friends Board Member, Advisory Board and Parks Board members names on invitations. All present thought names should be on invitation. Wish List/Giving Tree - Vicki Grams (absent) and Maria Elena Herbst (absent) Joni reported on Vicki & Maria Elena's behalf: Vicki is following up with possible donation from a couple who saw the Wish List Board. Elena Chapel Funds Update - Marilyn Griffin, Vicki Grams, Mark Mailes, Sheridan and her husband will meet Saturday to discuss purchase of bench and tree. The committee is discussing doing a picture with Santa fundraiser. This should be of minimal cost to Friends. Business Partners - Lynne Goddard Everyone should plan to attend Chick Fil A Parks Night. October 14, 5-7pm. 10% of all proceeds to go to Friends. Shamrockettes will cheer and hopefully families will go before games scheduled that evening. Block Captain Liaison - Lynne Goddard Lynne attended Block Captain meeting and gave info. to 11 block captains. One person joined due to the meeting. Council Report - None Parks & Rec. Report - None 7. Old Business Joni reported that Council has designated the pocket park as a park. Meeting with the committee produced the attached statement to be presented to parks board tonight. This is a good time - work at Colonial is finishing up and the Rec. Center decisions have not yet been made; After presentation to parks board would like to let them proceed, meet with architect (possibly Tim Hanson, since he did original plans) to give them a couple of options for comment and then allow Friends to comment then begin raising funds. It was suggested that Joni and Will will do a letter to the Rotary Club for both boards. 8. New Business 9. Adjournment. Shannon G. made a motion to end meeting, Lynne G. seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30p.m.