FFCF Board Minutes - Corrected

5/20/08

 

In attendance:   Rych Withers, Marc Scalzo, Dave Gendron, Vic Bedoian, Gerry Bill, Vickie

Fouts, Jan Slagter, Mel Sanders, Ali Rezapour, Sue Kern, Lillian Koenig, Mark Hernandez, Devoya Mayo, William Raines

 

2.      Agenda:     Delete IX(b) as duplicative.  Move “Partners in Focus” up to after Public Comment.  With those changes, agenda adopted.

 

3.      Excuse of Absence:          Alex Vavoulis, Rand Stover

 

4.      Minutes of 4/15/08:  No changes requested.  Vickie moved, Jan 2nded approving minutes.             Motion carried.

 

10(a):   Partners in Focus  Presentation by William Raines.  See written proposal.  Has started a project in the Big B Villa Apartments and wants FFCF to act as fiscal receiver for a grant they’re applying for through the Fresno Arts Council.  Big B Villa Apartments is providing $900 matching funds to qualify for the Arts Council grant.  They’re asking for up to $18,000, and may apply to the California Arts Council for additional funds.  Working with kids from the Apartments on art projects including “Postcards from Home” and will be planning an art show for displaying their work.  May also do an exchange with kids in Hong Kong, England and Nebraska.  None of the funds will be used for salaries; just supplies and equipment.  The apartments will supply space for the project.  Gerry moved and Jan seconded approving proposal to act as fiscal receiver.  Would mainly entail banking the funds and disbursing it as receipts come in for goods purchased.  Marc wanted more information on what FFCF staff would be expected to do, and Ali requested a project report to the Board periodically.  William explained that we’d have to fill out a one page form that includes our mission statement, but it probably won’t be hard since FFCD has previously received funds from the Fresno Arts Council.  Grant application not due until 6/4/08.  Working with West Fresno and United Way to finalize grant application.  Motion carried.

 

5.      Public Comment:  Mark Hernandez asked why board accepted Ali’s resignation and decided his replacement in closed session.  Claims it violates Open Meeting laws, but it was pointed out that we are not under laws that apply to government or quasi-government agencies.  Gerry noted (at end of meeting after closed session) that Fresno City College had a similar situation recently and that the hiring committee learned of another resignation after applications came in for an open position.  Legal counsel told them since there were sufficient number of applications and the 2nd resignation happened in the same time period it was OK to use the existing application pool to choose the 2nd replacement.  Mark also asked Rych to clarify which people in the Bay Area wanted Mark removed as KFCF’s LSB rep and when they said it.  Board thanked Mark for his comments.

 

6.      President’s Report:  See written report.  Discussion of streaming status.  Still not resolved.  Vic suggested we could mitigate the problem by streaming our local public affairs programs, and be having a link on our website to the KPFA website where they could stream KPFA programming. Would have to work with Tim Pozar on this.  Sue suggested that Vic and Tim meet and come up with written proposal of what’s feasible for next month’s agenda.  Vickie moved and Mel seconded asking Vic to make a proposal next meeting.

 

7.       ED Report:  See written financial report.  Opened account in United Local Credit Union.  Started with $24,000 in checking and $1000 in savings.  Just got our checks and now can start applying for credit card machine through separate company.  Vic is getting together with Laura from accountant’s office to go over procedure for reconciling bank statements.  Will start the “budget to date” column in financial reports next fiscal year (9/1/08) so we don’t have to go back and re-do past records.  Vic has been keeping Vickie informed on these procedures as Treasurer.  Once get new credit card machine we can close down the Wells Fargo account.  Vickie asked if Vic heard back from Good Search on our application to be listed as a non-profit to receive funds, and he said he’d check on this and get e-mail to board.  Vickie asked that Vic put his resignation as ED in writing so the Board knows when the new ED will start.  Vic said he’s trying make sure a new person is hired before his effective resignation date which will probably be end of June.  He’s waiting to see what happens with the hiring process.

 

8.      Regular Reports: 

A.      Community Outreach:  Ali gave verbal report from the last meeting with him as chair of committee.  Still trying to find someone to take over Common Ground Program.  Lillian Koenig expressed interest and Ali will talk with her after the meeting. Dan Yaseen has agreed to try to keep the Circle of Peace meetings going.  Jean Hays may keep some KFCF literature at the regular WILPF tables at Fresno State and Jan said she can cover the tabling occasionally but not regularly.  Anyone else able to help with this can contact Sue until someone else takes over as Chair of outreach committee.  Ali gave her a $75 gift card from Phoenician Restaurant to use for upcoming meetings there.  Health Care event went well.  Over 100 people attended and there was lively discussion so they didn’t even have time to show portions of SICKO as planned.  Ali reported that he wasn’t able to go to last month’s LSB meeting but the time before they gave him 2-5 minutes to report on FFCF/KFCF.  He’s willing to go to the June LSB meeting and Board agreed by consensus that he should represent us in June.  Selection of replacement will be on our June agenda.

B.     Fundraising Committee:  See written event report for Amy Goodman event.  We netted over $5000.  Netted over $1000 from David Gans event.  Sue will prepare event report on that for next meeting.  Vic asked Sue to send him copy of Sierra Star article on David Gans event.

C.     Programming Committee:  See written report.

D.     No other committees met.

 

9.      Old Business:

A.      Waverly Update: 

Fran has completed paperwork for transferring title.  Appraisal was done (appraiser who is member of the Democratic Club in Oakhurst brought his wife and had dinner with Fran).  He lowered his fee by $25 as donation to Foundation.  He appraised it at between $15,000 and 20,000.  Fran listed $20,000 on DMV form and that’s what she’ll be listed on tax forms.  Bruce Kennedy’s friend in Oakhurst had offered $17,500.  DMV says we need insurance bond, and a peace officer has to look at car and confirm it’s existence since it was made before DMV records and there’s no VIN.  Peace officer will confirm the lack of VIN number and then DMV will assign one.  DMV suggested with use CHP to do the inspection.  We could alternative have the purchaser do this, but it was noted that Foundation has to take title in order for Fran/Berry’s estate to get the tax deduction.  Sue discussed the fact that Fran received a bill from Bruce for $1000 in legal services for questions asked by Vic and other KFCF Board members.  It was agreed that Fran shouldn’t have to pay this and that someone should talk to Bruce about either billing KFCF for this or waiving the fees as a donation to the Foundation.  Dave will talk to him first and if necessary, Sue will write a formal letter requesting this.

B.     Implementation Proposal (see Vickie’s written proposal): Wants to make this a policy that all Board members try to comply with.  Any time a Board member makes a proposal it should include to extent possible the specifics of who and how it will be implemented.  Will place this policy in policy manual for new board members.  Proposals should also include how it will be funded if relevant.  Vickie moved, Sue seconded.  Motion carried.

C.     Other Old Business:  Rych reported that we have been reinstated by the State as a non-profit corporation.  Attorney’s bill for work on this was $156 and $246.

 

10.  New Business:

A.      KNXT-TV proposal (See Vickie’s written proposal and materials).  She proposes we donate $500 from our Amy Goodman event to underwrite their Democracy Now programming in exchange for 100 30 second PSAs.  Station is on regular cable and regular broadcast band so those wanting to watch don’t have to pay extra to see it.  We’d be underwriting the specific show so if it stopped airing we’d get the remaining funds back.  Ali noted that Jim Grant from KNXT has reached out and taken changes in running the show and should be supported for this.  Vickie moved, Marc seconded approving the $500 purchase and having the PSAs talk about when viewers could hear Amy Goodman on KFCF.  Motion carried.

B.     Going away party for Ali (and retirement party for Vic).  Ali noted that there was already going to be a goodbye party for him at the Maroa Raquet Club on 5/30/08 and all members could attend.  Sue noted that he would be receiving an award June 29th at the Fresno Center For Non-

Violence annual event at the UU church and that after that event might be a good time for both a retirement party for Vic and good bye to Ali.  Ali will e-mail his new contact information to the Board.  Sue will try to come up with proposal for holding a combined celebration on 6/28/08 for both Vic and Ali.

 

11.  Board then withdrew into closed session to discuss selection of new ED.  In attendance were Gerry (acting Chair since Rych recused himself), Dave, Marc, Jan, Vickie, Mel, Ali and Sue.

 

After closed session Board reported that 5 candidates would be interviewed on 5/28/08 starting at 5 p.m. at office.  Marc will lend speaker phone for phone interviews for 2 out of state candidates.  Board members doing the interviewing would be Gerry, Alex, Dave and Sue.

 

Mel asked for clarification on the length of his term.  He replaced Debbie so his term ends December 2009.  Leni Reeves replaced Ali so her term ends December 2010.

 

Meeting adjourned.