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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING FAIR HILL NATURE CENTER May 6, 2002 6:00 P.M. |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING FAIR HILL NATURE
CENTER May 6, 2002 6:00 P.M.
Attendees:
Bob Carroll, Mario Gangemi, Holly Hannum, Doug Hill, Larry Klevans, Dan Schneckenburger, Nancy Simpers, Barbara Snyder, Dan Speakman, Rebecca Taccone, Rick Waterhouse, Ralph Young
Vice-President Dan Schneckenburger called meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Please note address list at top of email includes all new members and Dan Schneckenburger's new address - (is no longer with Basell); they are also listed at the end of the minutes. Please take a minute to fix your address books and groups.
Minutes: Stand approved as emailed and mailed. Ralph moved to approve and Nancy seconded, all approved.
Financial Report: Larry Klevans reported: Finance Committee Report as of April 30, 2002
1. In April 2002 expenses exceeded income by $1148.
The majority of income items were $5673 for summer camp, $2875 in donations ($1926 from United Ways of DE and Cecil Co., $823, general, and $125 for a memorial for Barbara O'Neil), $2120 for Memberships, and $485 from out -of-county schools.
Major expenses were $6697 for staff, $2720 for repairs for the plumbing project, $793 for office expenses, $220 for a grant writing contract, and $1007 for taxes, which includes quarterly State and Federal withholding.
2. The April 30, 2002 Fund Balance was $22476. This includes $2275 of SpringFest monies that are in our account.
3. Year to date Income (YTD) totals $41206 vs. budget of $37286, while YTD expenses total $36613 vs. a budget of $37286. Thus, our YTD net income stands at $4592.
4. The tentative Cecil County Budget for 2002-2003 has appropriated $5000 for the Nature Center.
Old Business: Meeting times have been discussed - Proposed 2nd Tuesday of each month.
Next meeting will be Tuesday, June 11, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. (second Tuesday of each month). Will discuss at June meeting ways to use video. Josh Brown was introduced. Nancy motioned and Larry seconded that Josh become a board member for a three year term.
Nature School Report: Ralph talked about BEPAC letter asking for increase in allocation by $400,000 from commissioners. Encouraged board members to attend budget meeting scheduled at Cecil Community College on Wed. May 6.
Holly Hannum reported:
"Envirothon testing has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 16. This will conflict with 5th grade classes, but we will work out the space.
As of Friday, May 3rd, we have 110 children registered for summer camp. Flyers are still going out to schools. Penn State student, Alanna Zentz, has contacted me with an interest in volunteering to help with summer camp. I will be meeting with her when she gets home from school.
Frostburg University student, George Yorkin, has spoken with me about opportunities for a paid internship. He needs 450 hours. He is an adult student in Parks & Recreation.
Two volunteer opportunities have presented themselves recently. Coordinators of Volunteer Services of Cecil County will have Help Wanted Ads for Volunteers. We would need to fill out requests and send in. Volunteer Connection/RSVP of Harford & Cecil Counties will recruit, screen and refer volunteers to us. We need to sign a letter of agreement and have a contact person. I spoke with Taffy and she is interested in fielding this responsibility. Board members and staff could make requests and Taffy would write it up, field questions, and coordinate volunteers.
Karen and I have been working on a proposal for a Youth After school Environmental Club. Karen has written up our proposal and I made copies. Please read and make comments.
I have been in touch with Rebecca Bell from the MSDE. She has included us in the statewide NOAA grant. I gave her additional information. The grant deadline is May 23. I don't know when she will expect an answer. If it goes through it will cover the cost of adding the 6th grade into our schedule to do a water quality program, the cost of new test kits, substitutes, and bus transportation for all the grades for the next school year. I gave her information on existing programs to be added if she is able."
SpringFest: At 9:00 Thursday will have brief meeting at Fairgrounds to determine spacing. Will need a tractor driver from 12-3. Have 9900 in SpringFest coffers. Will approach 10-12,000 in monies.
Bob needs help with plant sale. Has $1300 worth of plants from Ag Day-which will be pure profit. $3500 of plants from Botanical Gardens, will get 50% of that. Will start moving plants on Friday starting at 1:00 p.m.
Personnel Committee: Dan discussed a difficulty recently encountered due to a teacher touching a student to pull on his hood to put him back in line with other students. Letters have been written to parent (after parent threatened to call the state police). School is OK with decisions that have been made. Do we need to establish a written policy? - teachers will be talking about that on Wednesday. Rebecca added that teachers may want to add a statement about if a child is in imminent danger that teachers have the right to handle the students.
Dan said it's definitely an isolated incident, something that makes us look at how we handle things and wants to turn it into a positive thing. Doug added that Holly make sure that teacher knows that the board is behind her.
Buildings and Grounds: Dan brought an article about memorial garden. Dan addressed the policy of the memorial garden. There is a committee of Ralph, Jerry Newman, Jerry Hendricks, and Dan. Jerry Hendricks has taken lead on arranging for stones, trees, etc. Will have something written by June meeting.
Building rental (additional insurance) is in question. Jerry Newman had looked into insurance cost and it was substantial. Let Dan know about any new inquiries for building rental. Perhaps write a contract letting renters know they are at their own risk as they use the building and grounds.
Nominating Convention: Nancy Simpers presented the following names as executive board: President Dan Schneckenburger, VP Mario Gangemi, Treasurer Larry Klevans, Secretary Rick Waterhouse. New members of Board of Directors Dan Speakman, Josh Brown, Hinda Smith, Laurie and Lou Morris as a possible member (Executive Director of Fair Hill International), Doug moved and Bob seconded that Lou become a member. Karen Aspinwall felt that she would like to be on the auxiliary board, not board of directors.
Mario moved to adjourn at 7:16 p.m., Barb seconded. All approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Snyder
jbrown@yahoo.com (Josh Brown-American Home & Hardware)
speakman@iximd.com (Dan Speakman-McCrone, Inc.)
hsmith@ccps.org (Hinda Smith-Cecil County Public Schools)
mgangemi@duffnet.com (Mario Gangemi-Duffield Associates)
dschneck1@msn.com (Dan Schneckenburger)
Program Committee: Barb Snyder reported the following dates have been set for programming:
Butterfly Gardening - June 8, 10:00 a.m. Joe Tropp will speak (suggested we label plants in butterfly garden)
Bees - June 12, 7:00 -Jennifer and Laura Linton will present program.
Crab Appetizer Recipe Swap: July 17, 6:00 p.m.
Fish Walk - July 20, 10:00 Parke John will lead.
Fox Hunt Talk - Sept 18, 7:00, Erlene Michner
Fox Trot Activity - Sept 21, crab feast - Ralph would work with us. Need to pin down by May and sign contract. Need liquor permit.
Leaf Walk Oct 19 - 2:00 p.m., Hayride 4:00
Wreath Craft -Nov. 16 10:00, Katherine Straughan and Janet Fallon
Santa Hayride - Dec. 7 - need rain date of Dec. 8
Holiday Party - Dec 11 Bd/Staff Holiday party