Board of Directors’ meeting minutes
Directors
present: Sherry Gordon, John Hulsebus,
Tyler Merren, Sue Fluri, Mike Branch, Mary Lou
Brooks, Tom Coyne, Frank Wolf, Tom Vance, Richard Hodges and John Boes
Meeting was
called to order by Chair Boes. Minutes from the January 2009 Board meeting
were approved as distributed.
Treasurer’s report. Hodges reported that
during January, there had been $200 deposited into the bank account. As of the end of January, we have $28,922
between the checking and savings accounts.
Report was approved unanimously.
Gordon
presented a funding request for the
Gordon
presented a second funding request for 3 goalballs
which will be used for practices. These goalballs are now $100 each; therefore the request is for
$300. Request was approved
unanimously.
Coyne
brought up the concern that since our budget is so tight this year—we need to
make sure that when we approve a funding request that we do have the money to
support that request—even though sometimes the requested amount is higher than
the actual expenses. The point was made
that for all three sports activities—those being goalball, bowling and the
Sports Ed Camp—we need to keep tabs on expenditures.
Discussion
and clarification was held regarding what would happen if one of our 3 sports
activities—realizing that they were only going to receive 80 percent of their
2008 budget this year—went out and got donations from a source. What would happen to this money?? Answer given was that any donations given to
the MBAA—over and above the existing money we currently have—could be utilized
as match and that donation could be “ear marked” for a certain sports
activity. That donation would be
considered for utilization for that event—over and above the budget which the
MBAA had allowed that activity. In other
words, that donation could be utilized as that activity’s 20 percent of what
they need to come up with—if they need more funds than just the 80 percent
figure the MBAA has allowed. Hodges noted that all we can count on is the money
we “have in hand”—noting that many foundations are having financial
difficulty—so Hodges wonders if we will ever get our match money. Gordon asked if it were possible to turn in
match money which we have already collected right now and then get that match
which we could utilize. Hodges explained
that we really do not have much match money (approximately $700 from goalball
tournament t-shirt donations) and that it usually is a slow process, in terms
of getting that money from Gilmore. Hodges
also noted match is for money only; not for in-kind donations. Hodges noted that for this fiscal year, we
are utilizing last year’s match money; this year’s match money will be utilized
next year—that is how slow Gilmore is in getting the match money to us.
Brooks
noted that WMU’s President John Dunn has been invited
to both the
Discussion
was held regarding the money which the SEC obtains from the
Brooks went
on to say that the Michigan Braille Transcriber’s Fund (MBTF) contact person is
now Tyler Colton.
Brooks also
announced that in the WMU news was an announcement that Sue Ponchillia will be
retiring this December.
Wolf
reported that he had contacted the Kalamazoo Foundation, asking about the
possibility of an “emergency Loan”. Wolf
indicated he was informed that the Kalamazoo Foundation does not give money to
make up for budget deficits. Wolf also
is getting an application from the Fetzer Foundation. He indicated that in his discussion with one
of their staff, it appeared that we should consider applying to Fetzer. This money
would be for next fiscal year, not this fiscal year. Discussion ensued regarding the fact that
most, if not all, foundations these days may assist in getting an organization
started; then that organization is expected to go out and raise funds from
other sources and not to depend on that initial foundations’ support. Coyne noted that it is clear that this is
Gilmore’s intent—to gradually “wean” us away from their support. MBAA should be very concerned with financial
resources over the next 4-5 years. Coyne
asked if we might consider trying to get the MBTF folks to consider being our
major sponsor for the SEC. Brooks and
Paul Ponchillia—due to their prior involvement with the MBTF would be our
contact persons for this. Brooks also
noted that the MBTF does have an “emergency fund” where an entity can request
up to a $2000 grant.
Branch
presented a funding request for the Midwest Bowling tournament, being held in
Boes
indicated he had been working with Nikki Buck, one of our goalball athletes,
regarding obtaining a raffle license.
Nikki has been collecting donated items and would like to have a raffle
at the Kazoo goalball tournament.
Discussion ensued regarding the fact that in order to obtain a raffle
license, it is a legal nightmare. In
addition, most raffles are for large, expensive items—like a car or a
boat. Since the items Nikki has been
collecting have been donated, it was suggested that these items be part of a
drawing. By doing this, persons could
just put their name into a “hat”; if they were willing to put in a donation
toward the drawing that would be fine; however, tickets to the drawing would
not be sold for profit. Gordon will
speak with Nikki Buck and will ask her to destroy the raffle application and to
run the giving away of these donated items as a drawing with the opportunity of
folks to donate, if desired.
Merren
wondered how the NFB was supposed to handle the acquisition of the pizza and
other food for the goalball social event—since someone needs to pay for this
food. Would that be paid for by the MBAA
and if so, a check would be needed from the MBAA that evening of the
event. Following discussion of this
topic, it was decided that someone from the NFB would need to purchase the
pizza and drinks utilizing their credit card and then would be expected to send
a receipt for this food and drinks to Hodges, in order to request reimbursement
for these costs. Merren also noted that
although the original intent for the NFB was to donate $300—their budget is
limited. Therefore, Merren indicated
that the NFB would pay for the food and drinks for the social event and then
would donate that amount of money—which they had spent for the food and
drinks—to the MBAA. This donation could
be used as match—which was the original intent of this venture.
Boes
asked if we needed to have an MBAA Board meeting in March. Decision was that Boes
would let us know—one way or the other—as to whether we would or would not be
having a meeting in March. Plans are to
definitely have a meeting in April, which would be on April 8.
Meeting was
adjourned.
Respectfully
submitted,