Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFBAMINUTES010704Friends of West University Place Parks Board Meeting Minutes January 7, 2004 Friends of West University Place Parks Board met on Monday, January 7, 2004, at 6:15 p.m. The following board members were in attendance: 1. Joni Fichter 2. Donna LaMond 3. Sue Hanna 4. Katherine Kardesch 5. Cheryl Butler 6. Mark Mailes 7. Vicki Grams 8. Stacy Speier 9. Pearce Hammond 10. Cece McCann 11. David Klutts 12. Lynne Goddard 13. Leah Ragiel 14. Maria Elena Herbst 15. Karin Dubose 16. Cindy Hassler Chairman's Report - Joni Fichter The Board meeting was called to order by Chair Joni Fichter. The Chair's report was given and the following items covered: A welcome was given to Cindy Hassler, the Board's new secretary. It was brought to the board's attention that Gayle Jackson's father had passed away on Dec. 26. The board agreed to earmark a donation in his honor toward the tree in Colonial which will be named in honor of Gayle, Beverly Loftis, and Ross Frazer. A thanks was given to all who had helped with the details of the upcoming Park Lovers Ball including getting tables together, donors, auction items, write-ups, etc. There was a reminder to the Board to periodically update their job descriptions/chronologicals as the year progresses. Any updates should be emailed to Donna LaMond for the record. If Board members do not have a copy of their job descriptions, Donna can email most of them upon request. December's minutes were sent by email and a few corrections were made and distributed at the Board meeting. A motion was made by Lynne Goddard and seconded by Maria Elena Herbst to approve the minutes. The motion carried. Executive Director's Report - Donna LaMond The following items were covered: It was noted that a significant amount of public relations coverage occurred this past week. An article appeared in the Village News and The Examiner on the Web site. A picture of Leah Ragiel's children after the tree lighting appeared in The Village News. Danielle is working on an article about Gayle as Honorary Chair of the Friends Park Lovers' Ball. Letters were sent to Gayle Jackson, Ross Frazer, and Beverly Loftis thanking them for their long-term support. Tiles will be placed on the Donor wall at Colonial Park. Cheryl Hoyal is handling and working to get samples. It was reported that a check was received from Ross Frazer to complete the tree project in honor of Linda Gray. The Web site has been completed and looks great. The NFL award, given by the Houston Texans, is a new award that requires nomination forms to be filled out and nominees must meet certain criteria. The winner wins a large sum of money which is donated in their honor to a charity of their choice. Overseeing the nomination process will be Charles Henke. Donna will fill him in on the additional information. It was announced that the new rosters for the Friends and Parks Boards are complete and everyone should have a copy via email. Treasurer's Report - Sue Hanna The Treasurer's report is attached and covers the following data: The Friends of WUP Parks Fund has collected $46,050 to date. Expenses total $36,217.92. Ordinary Income/Total PLB Income came in at $21,450. Net Income came in at $20,788.43. It was noted that the main budget had been approved. Board Reports Park Lovers Ball - Leah Ragiel PLB Chair Leah Ragiel requested that Board members volunteer time to help with setting up the Ball. She requested that everyone come from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, to help with set-up and bring a stapler from home. Everyone will be served lunch. They also asked for a number of SUVs to help pick-up auction items from the Storage USA location. x David Klutts then volunteered to have a Freeman Decorating truck transport the items so there will be no need for SUVs til after the event. Board volunteers also will be needed to help with various jobs before, during, and after the Ball such as check-in, check-out, moving items not taken home after the Ball, etc. There are always a number of loose ends to handle such as making calls to successful bidders next day who didn't pay the night before, thank you notes, etc. Underwriting slots have done very well $114,000 so far. 372 seats have been sold to the ball. Berings has offered to provide the underwriter gifts. Pappa's has agreed to provide the wine for the Ball. The committee is still looking for donations for the champagne for the VIP reception. The committee has been working hard on the auction - Jan. 16 is the last day to accept auction items since it is the last day auction items would still be able to be listed in the program. West U Elementary sent home flyers on the Park Lover's Ball with all the children this past week. Ball invitations will be sent to all homes in West U the week of Jan. 11. Leah collected volunteer names from the Board to help with all the volunteer projects. City employees will help with check-in. Donna LaMond was given the authority to spend no more than $300 to hire Auctionpay to help with credit card purchases at the Ball. It was discussed that auction items will be placed randomly instead of putting into selective categories like for women, men, children, etc. as it has been determined that you tend to make more money that way. During the party, Leah suggested that Board members take turns working the Sociables (sign-up for home parties/dinners ) area and Parks Corner area to encourage people to sign up for the parties and purchase park items. As part of a wine cellar package - members of the board were asked to contribute a bottle of wine or pay $20. Checks can be made out to Friends and given to Donna LaMond. It was announced that February's meeting is usually a working meeting, but if everything is done, then the meeting will be canceled and Board members can save their energy to help with the Ball. Before the Ball, from 6 to 6:30 p.m. a VIP reception for underwriters will be held. All members of the Friends and Parks & Rec board and their spouses are invited to attend the reception. A maximum of 80 people would be in attendance. There will be a Parks Corner at the Ball where there will be park items available to buy or a donation can be made toward an item. No bidding on these items. Pavers will be available for $300 in this area. Sambucca is giving a number of gift certificates that can be used toward a dinner purchase. Leah had the idea to give the gift certificates to those who raise their paddle during the auction and give $100 to the Parks or those who donate $300 for a paver. The Board agreed that this was a good idea. Leah shared with the Board that the dress this year was different from last year. The invitation stipulated Cocktail sheek. She will be wearing a cocktail dress not a ball gown and her husband will wear a suit, not a tuxedo. Sociables (Dinners/parties) - several have been donated so far. Three are looking for additional host couples - Texas Style Rib Night, the Crawfish Boil, and Sip and See Art Gallery E-Store Report - Cheryl Butler E-store - all items have come in. Pavers have all been installed with the exception of two or three paver orders that have just arrived. Admin/PR Committee Report - Rosemary Leach & Katherine Kardesch No news Rosemary will be helping with Ball packets Development Committee - Charlie Henke (Chair), Karin Dubose, Stacey Speier, Pearce Hammond, Jon Shoebotham The master plan will be updated by Mark Mailes' office to reflect the Rec Center and Pocket Park. Looking for help on the NFL grant project. The following areas are either under consideration or are being worked on: Lisa Grotten Boren memorial to family, Parks and Wildlife, Houston Endowment, Lewis Foundation, Rotary, major neighborhood donors. Membership & Marketing - Shannon Gardner It was suggested that although in the past, the Friends Board has done a newsletter twice a year, it might consider going to once a year on the newsletter at the opposite time of year when the PLB mailings are happening. The Board agreed to talk about this issue at the next meeting. Special Events & Projects - Whitney Walsh It was announced that Whitney is back as person in charge of the Stork market. She is the person to contact when a new baby is born and friends, neighbors, or family want to get a stork placed in the yard of the new baby. Wish List - Maria Elena Herbst & Vicki Grams Friends raised $60 from photos with Santa this year at Tree Lighting Ceremony. They plan to do it next year as well, but may investigate new locations and plan to announce the photo opportunity earlier. They also will look into a home holiday decorating contest. Business/Community Partners - Lynne Goddard Another opportunity to investigate is a recycle bench program that was held at the West U Elementary School. David Birney, manager at Solvay America, did a recycling project with the school and donated recycled benches. PLB would like to investigate this opportunity as part of its Business Partners program. As part of the Business Partners program, Roger Martin was called about putting a link to the Parks Web site on his Web site. No call back yet. The committee plans to look at other retailers for partner situations - one scenario would be to get some of these retailers to make a % donation from a purchase to the West U Parks Fund such as a grocery share card. Letters will be sent to local retailers discussing partnership relationship with Friends. Block Captain Liaison - Lynn Goddard No report given Contracts, Nomination, and Bylaw committee - Jon Shoebotham Patricia Rorschach has resigned from the Board. The Board will be looking for a replacement. Parks & Advisory Liason - Cece McCann Cece asked Mark Mailes about some broken equipment in Colonial Park. It was thought to have been fixed. Parks Rec Report - Mark Mailes Mark reported that at the Rec Center, a complete investigation of programs was going on to determine uses and needs. In addition, fences are being painted at Huff ington, Colonial, and Wier Parks. Mark will be asking City Council to approve sending out a survey to West U residents to ascertain what they would like to have done with the Rec Center. Some of the issues that need to be answered are: do we want to have a full blown Rec Center, do they want a Chevrolet, Cadillac, or Mercedes Rec Center. Would they like to hold Saturday activities there. City has agreed to pay for some clean-up around the Rec Center. Old Business There was no old business to discuss. New Business It was announced again that a February Board meeting might not occur. Adiournment No further business was established and a motion was made by Stacey Speier and seconded by Vicki Grams to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 7:23 pm.