Fair Hill Nature and Environmental Center

Minutes from the Foxtrot Casino Night Meeting

September 26, 2006

Attendees:

xCahill, Paul

xGangemi, Mario (President)

Jentzch, Tracy

xLevia, Del

xHannum, Holly

Milburn, Ilene

xPerkins, Lisa

xPerkins, Ron

xSchneckenburger, Dan (Past President)

Jim Sopa (EXCUSED)

xSpeakman, Dan (Secretary)

White, Cindy

Zanes, Jeff (Treasurer) (EXCUSED)

Also in attendance: Guy Palmeri, Jr.

Mario Gangemi called the meeting to order at 7:15 P.M.

Minutes from all past meetings approved. (Blanket approval)

Action Items:

• Put article in the Buzz extolling the virtues of donating money through the United Way. In Cecil County the code is 260.
• Need Waterfowl coverage Nov. 11,
• Need to decide about old computer upstairs in Library. Janet Fallon needs MS Word on a computer. Dan Sp should email her.
• No more memorial plaques outside, but could keep them in the Nature Center
• Next Buzz: October 5, 2006
• Swat Cleanup Saturday, November 18, 2006 at 8am. Meet at Wesley’s. Takes approximately one hour.
• Seek Jim Sopa’s help in updating the content of our brochures.
• Need to update last year’s flyers for Foxtrot Casino Night.

Vice President’s Report: Ron Perkins

Ron did an excellent job describing the functions of the Nature Center and obligations of Board Members. He explained the history of the building, described staff and purpose. Explained the two major fundraisers, and what we were attempting to do now for Foxtrot. He explained that committees were chaired by Board Members but should be helped by members.

New Members Introduction:

Paul Cahill (elected last month) and Guy Palmeri introduced theirselves to the Board

DSS made a motion, Ron Perkins seconded, motion was approved unanimously to invite Guy to the Board.

Treasurer’s Report: Jeff Zanes (EXCUSED)

· I prepared a budget for CCPS for 2007/2008. I am requesting that we seek funding for teacher salaries and a minimum of supplies for grades 1-5 and use the donations that are subsidizing grades 4 & 5 as a reserve for repairs and unexpected expenses. The budget is included in this package

· I submitted the budget to United Way and requested $4,500 to help subsidize the Outreach program. The United Way voted to give us $3,600. The primary reason behind the lower allotment is because the United Way has experienced two declining years in collecting funds and had to cut nearly all of the member agency allotments.

· After reviewing our cash flow, I recommend to the Board that we open a line of credit. Since our cash flow is irregular and we have no reserve, we will need a line of credit to advance payment for our expenses in most cases prior to receiving funds. When we do receive funds, we will subsequently pay down the line of credit.

· County Bank accidentally drafted our operating account and paid off our term loan. The balance on the term loan was nearly $10K when it was paid off. The cash in our operating account is $6,285.00 as of today. Bill Pannill said that County Bank would be willing to give us a line of credit in the amount of $10,000 and a term loan in the amount of $5,000 to replenish our cash from the accidental draft. I recommend this option to the Board.

· I have started using the QuickBooks program with the aid of Lisa. I will now begin to do all financial transactions including deposits, billing, payroll, etc. This will allow me to keep track of our donations and expenses and allocate them QuickBooks according to their specific programs. This will also provide uniformity in our financial record keeping.

· I will need a key to the Nature Center so that I can get in to update QuickBooks and do payroll.

· We need to form a fundraising subcommittee so that in 2007 we can efficiently and effectively begin seeking donations. We need to complete a handout that effectively states our goal and mission so that we can communicate it to local businesses. Holly said that we do have a brochure but that it needs to be updated.

Fair Hill Environmental Foundation Inc.
2007/2008 Out Door School Budget
	2005/2006	% Increase	2007/2008
Grades 1-3
Teacher wages	$ 41,916.88	5%	$ 44,012.72
Supplies	$ 101.00	20%	$ 121.20
Total Grades 1-3	$ 42,017.88	5%	$ 44,133.92
Total students grades 1-3 that go through the program			3,391
Cost per student (grades 1-3) based on 2007/2008 budget			$ 13.02
Currently charging $6.00/student
Grades 4-5
Teacher wages	Not supported by CCPS		$ 20,000.00
Supplies	Not supported by CCPS		$ 100.00
Total Grades 4-5	$ -		$ 20,100.00
Total All Grades	$ 42,017.88	53%	$ 64,233.92
Total Students Grades 1-5 that go through the program			5,652
Cost per student based on 2007/2008 budget			$ 11.36
Grade 4 is currently being supported by a donation from the Cecil Soil Conservation District ($9,000)
Grade 5 is currently being supported (50%) by the Waterfowl Festival ($4,000) and other donations

Finance Committee Report: Dan Schneckenberger

· Aston Development check should be coming in any day, $1,500.

· Delmarva Power check should be coming in any day, $1,000.

Nature School Report: Holly Hannum

Class schedules have gone out for fall programs. Classes will begin on September 15 and run through November 17^th. A tentative spring schedule is prepared and will be finalized and distributed within the next two weeks.

In addition to Cecil County Public Schools we will host Greenmount School from Baltimore, Newark High School’s Marine Biology class and Bethany Christian School from Oxford. Home School Day will be October 18^th. We will also host a field trip for the Wildlife Habitat Council National Symposium on November 13^th. They will bring a group of biologists and corporate leaders to learn about the land use at Fair Hill and about the educational programs that we offer.

Outside of school hours we will have our fall Trail Day on this Saturday September 16^th. We welcome all volunteers. We will attend Family Farm Day at Rumbleway Farm on September 24^th and run a children’s insect program at the Port Deposit Library on October 23^rd. The fall leaf walk is scheduled for 10am on October 14^th to be followed by an earthworm program at noon.

Come join me as I pick up the Cecil County Arts Council Community Development Grant on Friday evening September 15^th. There is a wine and cheese opening of their members’ exhibit at the Arts Council building on Main Street in Elkton at around 6pm.

The United Way kick off luncheon will be on Monday September 18^th. I will attend with a Nature Center display.

The Fair Hill International has asked us if we would like to have a display at their event on the weekend of October 21-22. I will be out of town that weekend. Let me know.

Foxtrot Ball/Casino Night November 11, 2006

• We have a Sorority to help us during the function.
• We have a Fraternity to help with clean up. Ron will organize.
• Desperately need dealers.
• Dan Schneckenberger will follow up with wood carver to seek donation
• Discussed expectations of all Board members to solicit food and raffle items. This is urgent and critical to making our goal.

Next Meeting: October 10, 2006 @ 7 P.M., at the Nature Center.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by Daniel Speakman