FRIENDS OF MACEDONIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS TELEPHONE CONFERENCE

FEBRUARY 7, 2010  1 PM

Don Pattillo
Jeanne Smith
Laura Potts-Wihrt               
Martha Talburt
Michelle Morgan
Rich Gottschall
Sean Delaney
This is a quorum.    

Cambria unable to connect with Skype from UAE.
Jack Dougherty also unable to connect from Kabul, but he did send a written report.  
Josh Romberg has agreed to be a COS mentor, along with Sean. (Note: He intended to be on the call but had a family emergency).
Laura Potts-Wihrt joined the group by 1:20 pm.

The meeting was called to order at 1 pm.  The president intended on introducing Josh Romberg who had agreed to share mentoring duties with Sean Delaney.  According to Jeanne, a big task at hand is to keep the database up to date. Mentors will need to get contact information from COS-ing PCV’s.  Sean informed us that COS-ing PCVs have to ask for a mentor if they want one.  PCV’s and mentors fill out a profile and are then matched.  Jeanne said we have an excellent rapport with the PC in Skopje and they help expedite the mentoring process with FOM RPCV’s.  (Note: Sean will act on our behalf through NPCA as a mentor; Josh will act directly for us for Macedonia PCV’s.  Sean may assist with that as time permits).

FINANCIAL REPORT – Rich Gottschall, Treasurer

Rich offered to email a QuickBooks report of transactions.  Our balance at the beginning of 2009 was $3,818.  We have completed the year with almost $5,000 in the account.  Donations amounted to $3,800.  Three projects this year at an average of $900 each amounted to $2,600.  Administrative costs amounted to almost $700 and an additional $750 was donated by Don for his expenses to represent Friends of Macedonia at the first United Macedonian Diaspora Conference in Metropolitan DC. Projects accounted for more than 70% of the budget.

Our bank balance is currently slightly over $5,000, a healthy picture according to Rich.  Our database for members is coming along.  We are using QuickBooks for keeping records and donors now receive a tax receipt along with their donation.

We hope to do four projects this year.  We are increasing our budget.  Our policy is to keep $2,000 in our account.  Our goal at this time is to raise $4,000.

Jeanne thanked the board for their participation in the robust health of the organization.  Every board member has donated this year.


            Non Profit Registration in Georgia

Jeanne informed the Board that she has renewed the organization’s registration in the State of Georgia at Don Pattillo’s address.  Sean suggested that we not change the State of registration every time we change a president.
 

                PROJECT COMMITTEE REPORT -  Jack Dougherty

Jeanne read from a written report furnished by Jack prior to the meeting.  He reported that we had recently made an award of $900.  The next award will be offered in May of 2010 with awards going out in June.

Sean reports on the success of Karen Schaan’s program in Zrnovci.  It was a park beautification and renovation project.  He noted that the PCV and host organization had enlisted the participation and support of most of the community.  The mayor himself was out laying stone with the others.  The idea behind the project was to reclaim a community center, garner united support and pride in the community and promote tourism in the area.  Karen reported that there was enough support to make the project sustainable and would be a seed for other ideas.     

Jack has been communicating  with the VAC Advisory Council and their representative, John Bannon.   This puts us in direct communication with active volunteers while they serve.  It will expand opportunities for grants and perhaps lead to increased membership when the volunteers reach COS.  Jeanne will be furnishing John with brochures to circulate.


TIME LINE FOR EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Don reviewed Karen Schaan’s education proposal – a youth workshop for future visual designers to teach marketing skills, something lacking now in Macedonia.  This will take place at Ohrid University.  It would be in English and will address “inadequate training in marketing tourism.  She’s looking for about $993.54 from FOM.  Our contribution would go toward facility rental and computer updating.  Don and his committee (Michelle and Cambria) are impressed by the project.  This project was slated February but has not thus far.  This proposal is not competing with any other, as we do not have any other project requests at this time.  The education committee is recommending approval of this project.  

Jeanne suggests Don communicate with Karen for an update on the timing of this project.  
Martha moved that the board accept the education committee proposal to support Karen Schaan’s project in the amount of $993.54 provided the project is not completed yet and Sean seconded.  The board accepted the motion unanimously.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT – Laura Potts Wihrt

What would help with next round of fund raising is to get a time line regarding project funding, and to get the website set up better.   We need to coordinate in a better way.  Laura needs the most up-to-date info re. RPCV’s coming out of Macedonia.  Jeanne has four new names and will forward them to Joshua (COS mentor) and Laura.  When changes are made to the website, the fund raising will be far more efficient.  Everyone agrees that we need to get on this.

Jeanne mentioned that donation requests should not go out over the summer as people are not receptive at that time.  There was a question about whether June would be the best time to solicit projects.  Also, we need to get more projects. (Note:  Jack was not present to address the project committee’s schedule.  He may want to do that by email)  At the present time, we only have one, Karen Schaan’s project, on the docket now.

Laura suggests we approach fund raising by putting out a list of the three projects we have sponsored to give folks an idea of what we’re supporting.

Sean suggests getting the donation requests out by end of March and then a second request could be made later in spring.  This keeps us clear of the summer donation doldrums.  Laura agrees.


Rich says that Alexander Popovski  - currently a student at Purdue has volunteered to help us with the computer technology that has been a barrier to bringing our website up to date.  Jeanne suggests that she put Alexander in direct touch with our server.  

Sean suggests creating a blog spot on the website to create more interactivity among RPCV's,  and PCVs– this would need to be monitored – perhaps Alex could help us with that as well.  

REPORT ON BYLAWS – Sean Delaney

Sean is still working through the bylaws.  He thinks a few things are a bit vague.  We’re a little behind the 8-ball right now because we were supposed to have an election in October.  Also, there is supposed to be an annual meeting.  Sean suggests we formalize at least the month that we will have the annual meeting.  We can then tie the elections into that annual meeting.  It would make sense to have our election at that October meeting.  

Jeanne suggests that we consider a motion that all officers remain in place until we complete the review of the bylaws.  Sean moves that all officers remain in place until we complete a review of the bylaws and schedule an annual meeting for October 2010.  Don seconds the motion.  The board approved unanimously.  Sean says we should figure out exactly when every member came onto the board so we can figure out how we can rotate and/or stagger positions and responsibilities.  Jeanne agrees to research this information and circulate to the board.

Martha said she would stay on as secretary for the time being.

MISCELLANEOUS

Sean is looking for information regarding a possible sponsor that supports high school exchange programs for students from Macedonia.  He and his wife want to bring over a boy from Zrnovci who was one of his exceptional students there.  


MEETING ADJOURNED AT 2:20 PM EST

Minutes respectfully submitted by Martha Talburt, Secretary