The ENA Board of Directors will be meeting on June 8 at 7pm. Location and agenda TBD.
May 11, 7pm, Fire station meeting room (100 Eastside NE)
Present: Elaine Nelson, Chad Akins, Jenni Fleming, Don LeMaster, Bev Kooi, Ruth Middlebrook
Call to order 7:11pm
Chad presented a map with all individual units. Examined map, discussed uses.
Discussed this schedule – moved that we continue 2nd Tuesday, 7pm. second, voted all ayes. All potlucks to be general meetings: moved, seconded, all ayes.
Treasurer’s report (Jenni) – savings: $525.62, signs fund: $1288.62, checking: $843.27, certificate: $1004.04. Discussion of how people know when their dues are up. Bev suggested tracking, and sending reminders when dues are up. Discussion of solicitation. (bookkeeping rules? privacy rules?) I will find examples of soliciting dues renewal.
Non profit update (Chad) – waiting for electronic IRS filing, greatly reduced fee. Chad will send info to Don. Set to discuss at next meeting. Jenni will call sec of state about articles of incorporation.
Discussion of email lists, other electronic communication (Elaine): ena-announcement (ENA-only events, city notices relevant to n’hood), ena-discussion (open to all for notices & conversation). Can pictures be posted to the email list? Going to let Facebook lie fallow.
Picnic: Decided on date of August 21.
Newsletter (Bev): July 9 is story deadline. Ruth will have for delivery on July 27. Delivery by August 8. Stories: Lions Park? Picnic. Potlucks (Ruth). Meet neighbors. Survey? (Send CutePDF info to Bev.) Madison article (Ruth will talk to Yvonne). Gardening. Discussion of ad pricing. Jenni will write a draft letter.
Adjourned 8:43pm
Next meeting: June 8
Tentative agenda: 501(c)3 filing; dues renewal process; rough version of newsletter, specifically survey
The board will be meeting on Tuesday, May 11 at 7pm at the Fire Station at 100 Eastside (http://olympiawa.gov/en/city-services/fire-department/station-locations.aspx)
Agenda – tentative, please bring/send suggestions
* Meeting schedule (ie, does this work for everybody?)
* Notice posting process (Elaine is working on a process)
* Newsletter (?)
* Non-profit report
Reminder of notes from recent informal meeting:
1) Separating the board meetings from the potlucks. Tentatively, we
are looking at the 2nd Tuesdays for board meetings. We will try this
with our next board meeting, now scheduled for Tuesday May 11 at 7pm.
2) Discontinuing separate “general” meetings, since the potlucks are
open to all members. We do still need to have board elections at the
February meeting/potluck.
3) Don has agreed to take on programming for the potluck evenings.
Anyone who has ideas or connections should let him know.
4) Bev is TEMPORARILY serving as newsletter editor. We discussed
changing the timing and frequency of the newsletter.
April 15, 7pm, Light & Life Church (following potluck)
Present: Elaine Nelson, Chad Akins, Bev Kooi, Jenni Fleming, Don LeMaster, Yvonne Fish, Kerry Smith, plus several guests.
Called to order 7:04 pm
Sign distribution – request to put fewer words and bigger lettering. will make blanks to put on the website. suggestion of focusing on “third Thursday”, discussion of formatting for best visibility
Discussion of agenda process – post draft at the beginning of the potluck, have people review and add if necessary. Jenni will bring bulletin board, we’ll have a spot for announcements, signup sheet.
March minutes, moved, seconded, approved.
Business cards (Bev): if you have business cards, share with the people at your table. board members will get them, paid members can also get a set of 10 to have info to share with neighbors. put out sign-up sheets: who has signs, do you want biz cards, would you like meeting reminder call.
Picnic (Chad): had noticed that our picnic and the co-op’s were close together. should we pursue a joint event? need to start planning now. discussion of options. 1980 block party! picnic committee: Chad, Ruth, Don. they will set date, etc. Chad will check into whether we can coordinate with the co-op on a joint picnic. neighbors or more public?
Member outreach (Chad): incentive idea: reflective house number signs, make it easier for paid members to order from the fire department. ($15) He is willing to do that, thinks it’s a good marketing for the ENA. discussion: what is the value for dues-paying members. [missed a chunk of discussion, something about delivery, and which are legal and which are not. Chad is working on a manual.]
General meetings: move them to the potluck dates.
Newsletter, will have another meeting April 29, 7pm at Don’s to finalize dates, etc. If you’re interested, come.
Spring city grants (Chad): will be looking at, see if it’s something we can/should apply for. due at the end of the month. discussion.
501(c)3 (Chad): will have a presentation/report ready for the next board meeting.
Communications methods: streamlining, especially the Google groups. Elaine would like to have a get-together about the website. Bev is interested in using it as an incentive: able to post if you are only a paid member? Chad is only willing to set it up like that if/when we get our 501(c)3, doesn’t think we should limit our services.
CafePress: items with our logo? Have created some for one-off gifts for past board members. Yes, add to site.
Additional discussion. Chad: open to other ideas for bonus items/incentives at the picnic. Don likes the idea of putting something out with the house sign that includes an ENA sticker. (Chad will post pic of sign)
Adjourned 7:52pm
Minutes taken by Elaine Nelson, Secretary
Called to order 6:37, after potluck
Present: Don LeMaster, Elaine Nelson, Sam Schroeder, Chad Akins, Kerry Smith, Ruth Middlebrook, Bev Kooi
Absent: Yvonne Fish, Jenni Fleming (Nathan Allan submitted his resignation from the board by email earlier this month.)
Guests: Janine Gates, David Brune, Susan Haring, Heather Hansen
Introductions.
Janine asked if we could move the dinner later in the evening, and that was received well. [I don’t have written down what time: 6 or 6:30?]
Chipper coming to Ruth’s this Saturday.
Discussion of doing more advertising with potlucks, as well as email & Facebook generally.
A reminder article about graffiti on trash cans will be on Janine’s blog. Discussion of graffiti & other aesthetics issues re: trash bins.
Elaine is looking for someone to take on newsletter editing. Bev may be interested in assisting. Ruth may be able to help with distribution.
Chad brought up a project concept for redeveloping around 4th, State, Boulevard, that he is working on: “East end urban renewal project” Discussion.
Don brought up the issue of becoming a 501(c)3, to go to the next level, be available to receive grants. Big thing that came up at last meeting was desire for a meeting place, maybe even a building. How do we get more money? How do we get participation from the 1100 residents? Discussion of pros and cons. Chad and Don are willing to work on putting together the proposal to bring back to the board. Janine asked if any other NAs are 501c3s. Bev proposed having Chad and Don research and bring a proposal about nonprofit status back to the board. Moved, seconded, approved.
Slate of officers was nominated: Chad Akins for President, Don LeMaster for Vice President, Elaine for Secretary, Jenni for Treasurer. Moved, seconded, approved.
Discussion of publicity concerns.
Discussion of business cards. Chad will get the information to go on the cards and give it to Bev.
Garden walk. Heather will be planning the event, group decided on April 11, probably around 1:30 or 2pm. Suggestions for gardens were discussed, several individuals were mentioned. Elaine will post request for gardens on media.
Chad will get yard signs from Nathan.
We will have a meeting specifically for newsletter: Thursday April 1, Don’s house, 7pm. Elaine will bring all the materials that she has for both editing and distribution.
Adjourned 7:30pm