March 2005 Board Minutes Piedmont Sunrise Coffee Shop
Members Present: Don Edwards, Irv Omtvedt, Walter Mientka, Dan Lutz, Wilma Crumley, Francis Haskins, Jerry Petr, Delivee Wright, Lee Jones, Ted Hartung, Jim Kendrick.
President Don Edwards opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m.
The minutes of the February 3, 2005 board meeting were approved as submitted.
Walter Mientka presented the treasurer’s report as of the current meeting date. Principal items: Maude Wisherd Fund: balance--$54,966.83; spendable earnings--$30,229.40. Checking account total: $2,364.99; expenses since Feb. 17, 2005: $136.47. Balance to date: $2,228.52.
While membership committee chair Dick Boohar was not present, Mientka reported 658 members currently on the master roster, of which 217 have paid dues, including 25 of the 160 life members.
Donations, above dues, of $250.00.
Lutz reported that he had not made contacts with prospects to assume duties as co-secretary, to replace Jack Botts, who declined to continue in this position. Lutz said he would contact possible candidates before the next board meeting.
Discussion ensued regarding life membership proceeds and the possibility of reinstating the life membership option. It was suggested that life membership accumulated funds be set up in a separate account with the NU Foundation. Other discussion centered on the Wisherd Fund account. It was suggested that if currently idle Wisherd Fund dollars were used for courtesy expenditures, it would save $300 of budgeted operating funds.
It was moved by Lee Jones, seconded by Irv Omtvedt, to re-establish the life membership option in the amount of $100, with proceeds going directly to a new UNL Association Foundation account. Upon consultation with the NU Foundation, it will be determined whether a portion of the Spendable Earnings from the Wisherd Fund could be transferred to the new proposed Emeriti Foundation account, including at least the initial principal required to establish the account. Accumulated interest in the new account would be earmarked for the UNL Emeriti Association operational spending. The motion was approved, with a stipulation that the board decision be reported to the membership at the March 17 meeting. Mientka was requested to confer with Foundation personnel to determine how to set up an account as described..
Mientka raised a question for discussion as to how proceeds in the Wisherd Fund might be spent for new purposes. Lee Jones, chair of the Wisherd Fund committee, reviewed current guidelines for research project requests and assistance in meeting health care costs. Research proposals have a $1,000 cap. Regarding health care, applicants must have a $30,000 annual income cap to qualify for a $1,000 maximum subsidy for health care premiums. A maximum of $1,000 per applicant is in force for financial aid to meet expenses of home health and nursing care. Expanding the definition of eligibility for Wisherd Fund subsidization of health care should be considered.
Treasurer Mientka presented a proposed budget for 2005, with estimated total income of $3,900 and estimated expenses of $2,100, which if were to materialize, would result in a carryover of $1,800 to 2006. One difficulty is estimating, as an expense item, costs of printing and mailings, because of changes back and forth from mailing a monthly newsletter or equivalent information sheets, minutes of previous meetings, etc., vs. sending a postcard notice. Another variable relates to whether monthly mailings go to the total Emeriti membership or only to those with Lincoln zipcodes. No action was taken.
In reference to a recent request by Deanna Eversoll on behalf of the OLLI program, that five recently-designated Emeriti serve on a “think tank” panel generating ideas for OLLI classes, moved by Jerry Petr, seconded by Irv Omtvedt, to approve; carried. Petr was asked to consult with Deanna about her selection of five Emeriti members to serve on the panel.
The inclusion of OLLI information in Emeriti membership mailings was discussed. A recent mailing included OLLI materials going to Emeriti members with Lincoln zipcodes. It was decided that it would be better for OLLI to utilize the Emeriti mailing list to do its own mailing, rather than including materials in Emeriti Assn. mailings. Moved by Jerry Petr, seconded by Francis Haskins, approved.
It was decided that the Emeriti mailing for March would be in the form of a postcard, listing the topic, speakers and other details of the March 17 meeting at the College of Dentistry. The mailing would go to members with Lincoln zipcode addresses. Prior to the meeting, Lutz e-mailed to the board and officers a list of several Emeriti whose February mailing was returned because of wrong mailing addresses, continuation of a troublesome problem within the master roster. While first class mailing is more costly, it does identify Emeriti with out-of-date mailing addresses. A need for assistance from board and at-large members is needed to provide corrected mailing addresses.
Concern was again expressed regarding the low attendance level at monthly meetings when related to the large number of members with Lincoln zipcode addresses. Twenty-eight Emeriti attended the February membership meeting. It was noted that in addition to possible transportation problems, there is a need to determine whether specific program topics influence attendance or non-attendance at meetings.
Jim Kendrick reported on behalf of the Online Committee that CIT technicians have been tied up with work on a national Extension initiative contract, and have not been available to work on the Emeriti project to shift records, data and communications to online/website status. However, it appears that they will be freed up soon to proceed on this project.
A high noise level in the Piedmont Sunrise Coffee Shop board meeting venue was noted. It was suggested that suitable meeting rooms are apparently available at C.Y. Thompson Library and this possibility should be looked into.
There being no further old, unfinished or new business, the meeting was adjourned at 3 p.m. The next board meeting will be held on April 7, with location to be announced.