Board Minutes

Download the Board Meeting Minutes (.doc) from 23 April 2010

AAUW-Wisconsin State Board Meeting Minutes

Saturday, January 16, Best Western Hotel, River Falls, WI

Present: Elma Anderson, Margot Bouchard, Carol Ebel, Marian Seagren Hall, Lois Helland, Rachel Hirsch, Joyce Hoffman, Kathy Ignatowski, Roberta Rohdin Killian, Carolyn Krebs, Anne Lee, Mary Jo McBrearty, Kay Montgomery, Jan Robertson, Nancy Schulz, and Kim Wellnitz. Guest: Ann Gustafson, Association Membership Chair and former state president.

Welcome and Call to Order

Marian Seagren Hall called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM. Introductions made; Agenda approved.

MOTION: Minutes of October 17, 2009, meeting approved with corrections.

Board Reports

President: Marian Seagren Hall

1. AARP/AAUW Partnership (Volunteers so far are Carolyn Krebs asking Janesville Branch & Branch President Barbara Lodde of West Suburban)

2. College/University Partnerships and Coordinator: Association fees are waived for e-students at partner C/U.

3. Charity/Service Learning: AAUW is a service organization

Bylaws: Lois Helland reported on a number of items:

1. Lois has received revised bylaws from 24 out of 33 branches. District Coordinators to contact delinquent branches: Baraboo, Hartford, Janesville, Kenosha, Marinette-Menomonee, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee, Watertown, and Wausau. Each branch can send electronic copy and Lois will update with mandatory changes and return revised bylaws to branch electronically.

2. Association required changes have been made in State Bylaws and will be sent to Association.

3. State proposed changes were presented by Lois and recommendations were made by the board. Final changes will be communicated via email and then revisions will be voted on electronically by board members.

4. Policy Revision Committee Appointed: Lois Helland, Mary Jo Mc Brearty, Kay Montgomery, and Anne Lee were appointed by Marian to revise Wisconsin Policies.

Public Policy: Barbara Peterson sent report electronically and joined board by teleconference. WI Two-Minute Activist: Barbara recommends. Cost is $1,000 for the second half of 2010 and $2,000 per year thereafter. Association to pay startup cost of $500. Rolling startup. Barbara offered to research issues with help offered by Carolyn Krebs. Possibility to offer other organizations such as WI Alliance for Women’s Health, to use first year for free.

MOTION: Made by Barbara Peterson, second by Kay Montgomery that we sign up for WI Two-Minute Activist using remainder of public policy grant and supplementing with more funds to make $1,000 for July through December of 2010 and $2,000 the second year. MOTION DEFEATED.

MOTION: Elma Anderson moved and Anne Lee seconded, provisional approval signing up for six months to WI Two-Minute Activist, provided answers to series of questions to be submitted to the Association Public Policy office in Washington agree with our understanding. MOTION PASSED.

Leadership: Mary Jo McBrearty reported there are two $500 scholarships available for attendance at NCCWSL. Each branch can nominate one candidate, state board chooses two recipients. Branches could be encouraged to cosponsor. Mary Jo to do email and Marian send to presidents. Deadline for applications to Mary Jo is March 30, 2010.

Program: Elma Anderson reported plans for 2010 Wisconsin Convention. Theme: “Making New Realities”.

Nominations: Jan Robertson reported that Kim Wellnitz will run for Educational Foundation VP. Janet Quail is considering running for Finance.

Membership: Joyce Hoffman presented on the following:

1. Joyce introduced “Chapter Leader’s Playground”, a Webenar series offering online events on various topics. Anne Lee clarified that the password is “Volunteer.”

2. Branch Membership: Joyce reported the percentages of branches with new members. One quarter had no new members. Joyce expressed her concern over low rate of on-time renewals. Reported 498 MAL. Total of 2,180 members in Wisconsin.

3. Promotions and Goals: Joyce talked about population shift throughout the state. Goals to get branches to create an action plan for age and other diversity.

Finance: Kay Montgomery emailed membership and finance reports. Student Affiliate Fee: MOTION: Made by Roberta Rohdin Killian, seconded by Anne Lee, “There will be no state dues for Student Affiliates and Student Affiliates will receive Badger Briefs online.” MOTION PASSED.

Educational Foundation/LAF: Kim Wellnitz reported on a number of items.

1. Kim recommends VP of Development as title of her position.

MOTION: Made by Kim Wellnitz, seconded by Kay Montgomery to change title of the position to Development VP. MOTION PASSED.

2. Named Gifts Recognition: No longer tracked by Association. Consensus that Wisconsin can stop tracking.

3. Sheboygan to handle basket sale at convention. Kim questioned whether to keep basket sale as LAF fundraiser. It was agreed that it would continue to be for LAF this year. Kim to write about possibilities of changing in future years in Badger Briefs and talk about in her session at convention.

4. Fellowship Funds: Kim reported three funds yet to be completed. Kim will research strategy for starting new fellowship funds.

Diversity: Barb Munson was excused but emailed a report.

District Coordinators: District Coordinators have arranged for an article to be submitted for the upcoming Badger Briefs as part of their planned article rotation.

· District 1: Carolyn Krebs shared six reports from branches in her district.

· District 2: Kathy Ignatowski will contact branches about issues from today’s meeting.

· District 3: Roberta Rohdin Killian reported on communications and programming from branches in her district. Roberta will contact Milwaukee.

· District 4: Margot Bouchard reported about branches she has contacted.

· District 5: Pat Hinckley excused.

Badger Briefs: Carol Ebel set February 19, 2010 deadline for submissions.

Webminder: Rachel Hirsch reported she has been updating branches and asked for more updates. Rachel plans to do an “About Us” page and Nancy Schulz will work with her to compile history.

Unfinished Business: None

Badger Briefs: Spring issue deadline, February 19, 2010

Next State Board meeting: Friday, April 23, 2010, Blue Harbor Resort, Sheboygan

AAUW-WI Spring Convention: Friday – Sunday, April 23-25, 2010, Blue Harbor Resort, Sheboygan

Meeting Adjourned at 2:40 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy L. Schulz, Administrative Services Coordinator