December Regularly Scheduled Meeting; December 11, 2019
- Call to Order and Welcome
Committee meetings were conducted for 35 minutes. Following a 39 minute presentation and Q&A session by Yordanka Castillo, a Cuban law student, the regular meeting of Global Connections was called to order at 7:44pm by Melanie Miller Foster, President. A quorum was noted as present with 19 members and 2 guests in attendance. Secretary, Sarah Knorr, was present and recorded meeting minutes. A door prize was awarded to a present member after a random ticket drawing.
- Reading and Approval of Minutes
The November Minutes as presented to the membership in writing were approved with no corrections and are to be filed for audit.
- Reports of Officers and Standing Committees
Officer Reports were provided:
- President Miller Foster: oral report, provided detail and structure of upcoming, January and February meetings
- Vice President Persiko: no report
- Secretary Knorr: no report
- Treasurer Truitt: oral report, notified the membership of completion of Global Connection’s 501(c)(3) registration; read financial statement, details of which may be found online; proposed removing Centre Foundation funds from operating account budget
- Public Relations Officer UB Bakker: not present at meeting
- Past President Steinberg: no report
Standing Committees:
- Membership Committee Chair D. Foster: oral report, announced current membership at 52 paid members with a goal of 75 paid members by February 2020. He encouraged members to spread information about Global Connections and announced an exploration of an expected 2020 operating budget of $2,000: $400 allocated for nametags, $400 door prizes, $200 for printing and publicity, and $1,000 for special events (the details of which are TBD). He ended by asking those present to think of local organizations to invite to meetings. Written report provided.
- Finance Committee Chair B. Truitt: oral report, announced committee will be pursuing a sales tax exemption for the organization; the committee will approach local banks and immigration law firms to be donors to the organization; the committee will seek up to $1,000 from the Awesome Foundation; and will explore enhancing operating and return funds. Two purchases ($30.70 and $320.67) for the Book Club were voted on and ratified.
- Cultural Luncheon Committee Chair S. Kamerow: oral report, announced upcoming Cultural Luncheon: January 15, 2020 theme is Mesopotamia; requested up to $500 for January luncheon operations, request was motioned and approved unanimously; announced an expected 2020 operating budget of $2,000 ($500/cultural luncheon at 4 per year).
- Activities Committee Chair B. Persiko: oral report, announced an International Poetry Night on February 10 at 7:00pm at Webster’s; up to $100 was motioned and majority approved for refreshments expenditures for poetry event; member proposed to explore International Arts & Crafts workshop for potential 2020 event; committee will be exploring hosting international students for meals during holidays and non-holidays. Written report provided.
- Book Groups Sub Committee Chair S. Steinberg: oral report, announced request of up to $200 for book purchases for use prior to February 2020, the motion passed with majority vote; announced anticipated 2020 operating budget of $1,000; announced all books purchased will be retained by Global Connections for use in future book groups.
- Reports of Special Committees
No Special Committee reports.
- Special Orders
No Special Orders reports.
- Unfinished Business and General Orders
Vice President and Activities Committee Chair, B. Persiko, provided oral report detailing follow up of T-shirt project. Up to $1,000 was requested to procure t-shirts in time for February event (International Poetry Night). Motion was passed to spend up to $1,000 on t-shirt with an expected retail price of $20 per shirt.
- New Business
- The AAWU requested Global Connections sponsor two international Humphrey Fellows to attend their annual luncheon. A motion for $44 was proposed and passed unanimously to sponsor both Fellows.
- Announcements
- The next meeting is on January 8, 2020 and is expected to be a work session for Committees
- Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m.
