September 2025 Meeting Minutes

Rose Sharp
Meeting Agendas and Minutes

September 16, 2025, Global Connections (GC) Executive Committee (EC) Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date and Time: September 16, 2025, 7:00 PM

Location: Zoom

Officers Present

President: Bob Persiko

Treasurer: Bruce Truitt 

Public Relations Officer: Rose Sharp

Secretary: Alexandra Persiko

Not Present

Vice President: Ciara Halloran

Committee Chairs

Small Groups: Deb Leo (not present)

Membership: Anisha Mukherjee

Penn State Global Representative

Wenjie Fu

Call To Order: 7:04 PM

July 8, 2025, EC meeting minutes were accepted as submitted.  

Reports of Officers & Standing Committees

President – Bob Persiko

  • Bob discussed the continued need for a cultural events chair and mentioned advertising the position through various networks. He asked Wenjie to list the position in the Community Engagement newsletter.
  • He also shared a position description for a marketing committee chair and is exploring potential candidates, including graduate students from the Smeal College of Business at Penn State. He has been in contact with Career Services at Smeal.
  • The group discussed the Multicultural Unity Fair on October 25th, where Anisha will manage the table, and Bob will forward more details as the date approaches.  Lion Bash material can be utilized for the event.
  • Bob proposed holding the November annual membership meeting virtually on Wednesday, November 12.  Bob offered to prepare a plan for the meeting and circulate it to the EC members.
  • When he asked about serving on the Executive Committee, the current officer corps agreed to continue in their roles in 2026. Bob hopes someone will replace him in 2027.  

Vice President – Ciara Halloran

  •  N/A

Treasurer – Bruce Truitt

  • Bruce reported the August 6th receipt of GC’s Centre Gives contribution receipts from the Centre Foundation.  He is working with Nathaniel at the Centre Foundation to transfer some $800.00 to the Global Connections English Language Literacy Fund at the Foundation to enhance the fund’s self-sustainability.
  • He also shared the current financial status, noting a checking account balance of $7,173.01 and $18,294.08 in the money market, with plans to pay $1,000 to the Mid-State Literacy Council and retain $1,000 for next semester.
    • Bruce mentioned completing a newsletter piece about the literacy project, which is awaiting Rose’s review and will be shared with other team members once comments are incorporated.

Secretary – Alexandra Persiko

  • Alexandra noted difficulties in posting the July minutes to the website and suggested the need to explore alternative methods and post them once a new website is operational.
  • She offered to repost all previous minutes when the group has settled on an improved website.

Public Relations – Rose Sharp

  • Rose provided an update on her explorations into a new website.  After much deliberation, she found a workaround to keep the current security software while transitioning to a new WordPress theme built for nonprofits.  This will allow for the continued use of Wild Apricot (i.e., AffiniPay still usable) without forcing members to switch platforms.
    • The changes will include uninstalling Divi Builder, updating the site’s appearance, and implementing new features for events, calendars, and membership advertising.
    • Rose will test the new site with content and provide a beta preview to the executive committee before activation, which is expected to take place within a few weeks.
    • The transition will not incur additional costs as it remains on the same WordPress platform.
  • October 4 member picnic: Rose messaged Ciara re reserving Orchard Park Pavillion.  The requirements include having liability insurance, for which she requested Bruce’s help. Bruce advised Rose to make the reservation online, then send him the details so that he can secure the liability rider from our insurance firm. Rose plans to send out a newsletter and promote the event after finalizing the reservation.
  • Newsletter: Rose has everything she needs for the upcoming newsletter, which she plans to send out the week of September 22. She asked for Wenjie’s assistance in advertising the October 4 event in her Community Engagement newsletter.
    • Financially, Bruce noted that the Cultural Luncheon Committee budget amounts to $500 for each event, in addition to $125 for meeting space, $50 for meeting refreshments, and $50 for office supplies.  Thus, we can draw on these funds for the October picnic.
    • Rose plans to contract with caterers for part of the food to create a catered potluck mix.
    • The announcement will ask for RSVPs via Wild Apricot.
    • Bruce provided an update on the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) brochure inclusion in the newsletter facing some technical issues but having a blurb ready as a backup.

Penn State Representative – Wenjie Fu

  • Wenjie reported that the next Community Engagement newsletter will be published the week of September 22.
  • She supported the idea of a catered potluck mix for the October 4 event given the very positive feedback she had received on the summer picnic.  She emphasized that attendees are proud to bring favorite foods, which often reflect their heritage.
  • She furthermore commented on recent community engagement programs, including successful events like a Penn’s Cave visit and upcoming activities like bi-weekly coffee meetups and monthly museum visits.

Membership – Anisha Mukherjee  

  • Nothing new at this point

Small Groups – Deb Leo (not present, but with written comments)

  • Deb reported that the intermediate women’s book group meetings will resume at the end of September. The beginners group has met a few times throughout the summer.

Special Orders – None

Unfinished Business – None

New Business – see Officer Reports

Action Items

  • Bob:
    • To put together a plan for the November 12th annual membership meeting and circulate it to the team.
    • To announce the annual meeting in the upcoming newsletter.
  • To check if the Fulbright student housing request is still needed before inclusion in the newsletter.
  • Bruce:
    • To handle liability insurance documentation for the picnic reservation once Rose sends him the event details.
    • To finalize and share the literacy program article in the newsletter.
  • Rose
    • To reserve Orchard Park pavilion for the October 4th picnic.  To help organize a potluck-style event where members bring food items, with some supplemental catering.
      • To create promotional materials for the picnic for the newsletter and social media.
      • To send picnic information to Wenjie for inclusion in the Community Engagement Programs newsletter.
    • To test the improved/new website with content and provide a beta preview to the executive committee before activation in the next few weeks.
  • Alexandra
    • To circulate the meeting minutes and hold them for posting until a new website is activated.   Additionally, post all previous minutes of the last few years once a new website is launched.

Next Meeting: October 21, 2025

Meeting adjournment: 7:56 PM

Submitted By: Alexandra Persiko                                Date of Submission: September 21, 2025