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Home My WebLink AboutF Minutes050410Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Friends of West University Place Parks Board met on Wednesday, May 4, 2010, at the West University Place Recreation Center located at 4210 Bellaire Blvd in the Friends Board Room. The following were in attendance: Board Members Executive Director Guests Staff Joni Fichter Donna LaMond Jennifer Debow Tim O'Connor Judy Bouillion Adrienne Vanderbloemen Amy Sahely Leah Ragiel Susan Sample Arlene Harper Veith Matthew Foytlin Chair's Welcome - Joni Fichter • Welcome and while my term really doesn't end until the end of the month, this will be the last board meeting that I preside over. I can't believe it has been close to 15 years since I worked on a PLB committee for the first time then began serving on the board soon after and a decade since became chair. My kids have grown from park babies to teenagers who will soon go off to college. While the Rec Center and the new Colonial Park pool will not be things they remember from childhood, maybe they'll have park babies of their own one day and we'll tell them what it was like when I was a little girl then what it grew into when Evan and Kylie were children and as we look around and see what we have created now, it is with pride and thanks to each of you that we can say we were a part of it! Thanks not only for your dedication but most importantly, your friendship! While I am sad to be stepping now, I know the Friends Board is in strong and capable hands with Leah and Donna at the reins. • Rec Center fields and playground are coming along and Colonial is looking terrific. Please try to come to the Ribbon Cutting there on Thursday, May 27 starting at 5:30. Approval of the Minutes and Sign-In Sheet - Judy Bouillion A motion was made by Adrian Vanderbloemen and seconded by Arleen Harper Veith and the motion unanimously approved the April 2010 minutes as written. Parks and Recreation Report - Tim O'Connor • 1500 memberships sold - 1 in 10 residents. • Working on punch list and will not effect function of facilities. • Can use Rec Center as Shelter In Place in emergency situations. • Lights are in at the ball fields. • Irrigation and grading, fencing and turf going in soon. Tri-Sport is shooting for soccer season in Mid- August 2010. Must keep people off the fields to mature the turf. • Playground structure has been delivered and hope to complete installation by Memorial Day. • Colonial Park, hoping to fill the pool today! Supercharge in 2 hours. • Edloe Deli has received the concession contract. • Come and enjoy the water at the Open House on the 27'h of May from 5:30 - 7:30 pm • Water structures have been delivered. • Shade structure was removed, engineered incorrectly and being corrected. Guild Tour on the 19" of May, hope the party room will be a huge hit. 3 of 4 party areas can be used year round. • Community Building and Senior Center being remodeled in August or September. Kitchen, floor interior and exterior painting facelift. • Friends Park is back up at 98%. Executive Director's Report - Donna LaMond • Attended ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for Rec Center on April 8. • As a co-host, participated in planning meetings for the April 17th Crawfish Boil held at the home of Vicki and Dana Grams as well as helped with set up and other preparations • Co-hosted the April 17 Crawfish Boil, it was well attended, and will definitely be offered as a sociable for PLB 2011 • Attended City Council Meeting on April 12 where funds from Friends were officially offered to City for Rec Center Playground and Colonial Park shade structure and water features • Meeting and tour at the Hyatt downtown on April 13 as a possible venue for PLB 2011 • Meeting and tour at the Hilton Post Oak on April 16 as a possible venue for PLB 2011 • Meeting on April 15 with Anne Freeman, Courtney Archer, Leigh Ylanan, and Susan White regarding planning for Fathers & Flashlights 2010. Also met with Anne yesterday May 3, to work on revisions to the underwriter and sponsorship amenities. Plan is for the first underwriting letters to go out next week to past sponsors and underwriters. • Met with David Woodward and Tim O'Connor at Colonial Park to discuss and plan pavers for Colonial Park on April 26, then met again with David on April 28 to see proposed option for the Colonial Pavers. He is working up the inscription parameters for the new pavers to be added to the existing pavers which will be reinstalled. We are meeting again Tuesday afternoon, today, to finalize everything and we will be able to start taking paver orders. • Attended and presented speech on behalf of Tim O'Connor at Eagle Court of Honor ceremony for Anthony Scheller on April 22 at West U Methodist. His Eagle Scout project was focused on a component at Judson Park. • 1 am continuing with post PLB2010 action items, including distributing items purchased and not picked up at the ball, collecting payments both for the auction and for underwriting. Money is still coming in because of the three sociables sold at the ball which are continuing to sell slots. Our net is still projected to be in the $165k range. • Met with PLB 2011 chairs, Jennifer and Amy, on Monday, May 3. Leah Ragiel joined us for the first part of the meeting as well. They are making great strides in planning and plotting and will share the latest with you in their report today. • Amy Sahely, our treasurer, and I worked with the City Auditors to provide information as requested regarding the Friends component of the audit. • We have one more sociable remaining of the three offered at PLB 2010. The Cinco de Mama party is tomorrow night at the home of Stephanie Davis and I understand that it has been sold out for a few weeks now. I already mentioned the Crawfish Boil on April 17th and the other sociable was the Block 7 Wine Tasting on Saturday, April 24th. This was hosted by Stephanie Roman and Katy Holt and I have not gotten the final results of this party yet. • As I mentioned at our April board meeting, I have set up a Friends Fan page on Facebook, but have not progressed much beyond that. Susie Boyce promises to work with me to get this fully operational so that we have yet another way to get Friends info out there. • The Friends website has been updated a little more, but there remains a lot to be done. • Spent all last week in jury duty. Treasurer's Report - Amy Shaley - • Amy has been working with the Auditors, many thanks. • Distributed the Financials. Amy to have lunch with Donna, Tim and the Financial Director to discuss books. Board Reuorts PR/Marketinq - Elizabeth Karkowsky & Susan Sample • Ribbon Cutting • Colonial Park upcoming • Please submit Cinco de Mama photos and others to keep the community aware of all the activities Friends enjoys • Press has been covered in a timely manner Membership and Marketing & Newsleter - Debora Connelly & Sue Hanna No report Development. Grants & Foundations - Stephanie Roman & Susie Garofolo No report Fathers & Flashlights - Anne Freeman & Courtney Archer No report Park Lovers' Ball 2010 - Jennifer Gatto, Daryl Hoover & Kara Samples No report but still getting stuff in. Park Lovers' Ball 2011 - Jennifer Debow and Amy Reeves • Post Oak Hilton likely venue, great size and space. Recently renovated. • Theme - An Evening in Cupid's Garden • Working on Committee's • Looking for Auction Coordinator • Meeting next week with volunteers • Joni, will you be Honorary Ball Chair? Special Events and Projects - Susie Boyce No report. Business Partners - Arlene Harper Veith • Working on reforestation plan • Working on Sponsorship Opportunities Pavers - Matthew Foytlin Meeting with Donna on Friday to discuss new paver contractor. Steve Primrose - WLPBMA • To get City Council comfort level, dollars to date and how to recognize, through the paper, trees, pick organizations around town, pick a best practice. • What organizations do we want to pinpoint, divide tasks, take photos, meet wit their development directors. • Send photos showing naming rights to Steve and/or Donna • Look for parallels, Hermann Park, Children's Museum Stork and E-Store - Beth Lane & Stephanie Roman No report Pavers - Matthew Foytlin No report. Friends Guild - Adrienne Vanderbloemen • Next meeting, May 19th at 9:30 am at the Colonial Park Pool where we will have a preview and tour Janine Schuppert and Tim O'Connor to give overview. • Hoping to get playgroups and tennis up and running • Members who are interested in helping with the PLB Robin McGowan - Administrative No report. Parks Board Liason - Leah Ragiel No report but Leah brought in champagne and cake to thank Joni for her years of service to Friends. City Council - George Boehme No report. Old Business None New Business The next Friends board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, 2010 at 11:30 at West University Place Rec Center in the Friends Board Room. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Judy Bouillion, Secretary