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Minutes of the March 18, 2007 Board Meeting Board members in attendance were: Ann Brunswick, Phyllis Gates, Mary-Faith Healey, Betsy Jacobson, Loren Reich and Janalyn Travis-Messer. Non-Board member in attendance: Meddi Shaw. The business meeting was convened at 3:00 p.m. at the Center Fire House. Ms. Jacobson began the meeting by reporting that Ms. Carolyn Wilburg (sp?) has expressed an interest in being Treasurer of the LWVSI. Minutes from the last meeting: Minutes from the meeting held on February 11, 2007, were approved with no changes. In response to an inquiry by Ms. Reich as to whom beyond the Board members – if anyone – should receive copies of approved minutes, there was a discussion about posting them on LWV website. Ms. Travis-Messer stated that, while board motions on the New York State level are posted on the LWV website, minutes are not; however they are available to anyone for viewing. It was agreed that, as a means of encouraging transparency and member participation, minutes would be automatically sent to all meeting attendees and posted on the website; they will also be made available to any member requesting a copy. In addition, meeting announcements will state that minutes from previous meetings may be viewed on the website. Treasurer’s Report: Ms. Jacobson reported that an additional $260 was collected in February 2007 and $100 in March. These funds will be applied to the 07-08 fiscal year. There is a balance of $2,139 in the checking account and an additional $220 in the Education Foundation account. Ms. Jacobson also reported that all bill payments are current. More than $2,000 in donations has been collected this year, most of it going toward funding activities. Almost $1,000 from LeaderSpark is to be earmarked for future education-related initiatives. Committee Reports: Ms. Jacobson distributed a “Tentative List of Committees as of March 15, 2007” for review, as well as a list of members who would like to serve on a committee but have not yet chosen one. Ms. Travis-Messer suggested it might be beneficial to post the committees on the website once they have been finalized, which was agreed to. Membership Committee: Ms. Jacobson reported the names of several individuals and couples who have recently joined, bringing us closer to the LWVSI goal of achieving 100 members. Ms. Gates requested assistance from other members in producing/formatting the Membership Directory on which she has been working – Ms. Reich agreed to lend some assistance. It was agreed to distribute the Directory, which is to be updated on an annual basis, shortly after the Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 2007. Pending additional information, the initiative was tabled until the April meeting. At the end of the meeting, there was some discussion on how to encourage potential members to join and current members to become more actively involved. Observer Corps: The recent contributions of Ms. Shaw as part of the Observer Corps was noted. Ms. Gates indicated it would be beneficial to get a core group of 2-4 members with whom she might share the responsibility of attending Town meetings; she also stated her preference for having at least two members at each meeting. Ms. Travis-Messer volunteered to assist with proofing of draft meeting summaries. Ms. Gates also reported that the LWV will be publishing a guide for Observer Corps shortly and confirmed that she will order copies when it becomes available. Ms. Jacobson requested members contemplate the viability of posting Observer Corps summaries of Work Sessions on the website. The matter will be addressed again at a future meeting. In a somewhat related matter, Ms. Shaw stated she would like clarification from the Town on what they are required to report vis-à-vis Committee minutes on the Town website. Her experience has been that there is a paucity of information on those meeting work sessions. Ms. Reich stated she would follow up with Committee Clerk Danielle LiCausi and revert. Dr. Brunswick enquired why the LWVSI does not cover the Town Board meetings. Ms. Jacobson replied that they have been found to be more pro forma and that the Work Sessions, which the Corps has been covering, are far more informative. Ms. Jacobson stated she did plan to attend this Friday’s Town Board meeting, however, in light of the planned agenda. Education Committee Programs: Ms.Travis-Messer prefaced her report by distributing copies of the LWV of Suffolk County “2007 Directory of Public Officials.” She will also provide copies to Town Hall, the IGA and Dering Harbor Town Hall. In addition, Ms. Travis-Messer stated she has received the LWV t-shirts which we had ordered and which will be sold during voter registration initiatives, the annual meeting and other venues. Once she has determined precisely how many t-shirts she has received, Board members will decide on an appropriate price. With regard to the Mock Election initiative Ms. Travis-Messer is working on in collaboration with members Mary Dwyer and Cathy Kenny, the former reported on the preliminary agenda which has been devised, including the rationale, objectives, plan, activities and method of evaluation for the project. Meeting attendees offered several recommendations, and the matter will be further vetted by Misses Travis-Messer, Dwyer and Kenny for presentation at a future meeting. Students Inside Albany is taking place in April. Since no specific question has been formulated, the LWVSI may wish to choose one of its own. Since Ms. Travis-Messer is not able to gauge the interest on the part of Shelter Island juniors in participating, it was agreed not to pursue the initiative this year. Ms. Travis-Messer attended two more training sessions for LeaderSpark, which she found very beneficial. Ms. Jacobson suggested tabling the decision whether to pursue this initiative next year until a future meeting. Voter Services: Ms. Jacobson reported on the School Budget Committee (N.B. of which she is a member) meeting held recently. The School Board election will take place on May 15 – three seats are open, but none will be contested. COMPASS: Dr. Brunswick reported that COMPASS will be renamed to “COMPASS/Communities That Care.” At a recent meeting which Dr. Brunswick attended as a new member, School Superintendent Sharon Clifford expressed interest in getting more community involvement in preventing substance abuse among Shelter Island’s youth. The next COMPASS meeting is scheduled for April 19. Members agreed to invite Ms. Clifford to present the School Budget Review at a meeting in early May, prior to the vote. Voter Services: More members are needed to serve on this Committee, which represents the core of what the LWVSI does. It was agreed that Ms. Jacobson would ask Ms. Cathy Kenny to serve as Chair. Ms. Jacobson reported that various neighborhood associations have asked whether the LWVSI can publish a flyer on voter registration. In response, she drafted some key bullet points which the members reviewed. Ms. Jacobson will contact the associations to inform them that the document is available. It was agreed to make copies available at voter registration initiatives, as well. Social Policy/Youth-Seniors: Dr. Brunswick reported on her activities relating to the questionnaire that will be circulated amongst Island seniors as a means of collecting data for possible grant money. Know Your Town: Ms. Reich will provide an update on this initiative at the April meeting. Ms. Jacobson reported that a $21 anonymous contribution toward KYT had been received. Affordable Housing: Ms. Healey reported on the Community Roundtable held on March 17. Progress is being made on this initiative. Deer and Tick Committee: Nothing new to report. Other Initiatives: By-Laws: Dr. Brunswick expressed an interest in taking a close look at the LWVSI By-Laws with an eye to possibly updating them. Members agreed to form a subcommittee to do this, comprised of Dr. Brunswick and Misses Healey and Travis-Messer. Conservation/Environment: Ms. Jacobson stated that member Tullia LiMarzi has expressed an interest in scheduling a program on the environment as a segue to the LWVSI’s showing of “An Inconvenient Truth.” Ms. Shaw described one related initiative spearheaded by Deidre Imus in which she has particular interest. Ms. Shaw will do further research on the possibility of bringing a speaker to Shelter Island, and Ms. Jacobson will ask Ms. LiMarzi to contact Ms. Shaw with an eye to perhaps collaborating. City and State Conventions: Ms. Jacobson reported that the County Convention is scheduled for May 10 in Bellport and the State Convention May 18-20 in Westchester. She will see if Ms. Travis-Messer plans to attend either meeting. The next meeting will be held on Sunday, April 15, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Center Firehouse. Tentatively, the following meeting will be held on Sunday, May 6, at the same time/same venue. Members agreed to schedule the Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 9, at 10:00 a.m. Ms. Jacobson suggested informal dinner meetings be held at local restaurants in between business meetings so as to allow more comprehensive discussion. The idea was supported by the other attendees. Ms. Jacobson recommended Shelter Island Police Chief Jim Read be invited to speak at a future LWVSI meeting, to which the other members were amenable. She will check on a convenient date in early May and will revert. The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted. Loren S. Reich
Prepared by Adam Gaus
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