Board Meeting – Minutes
Attendees: Holly McGinnis, Margie Berman, Tim Stoenner, David Youtz, Ross Lewis and Kevin Matthews
1) FCC Newsletter
Newsletter Editor Mary Child Two (2) issues are ready and will be mailed out shortly: the regular Spring Issue and the Kids’ Issue. Discussion of focus/articles in the regular Newsletter (some of which are “adopting older children”, ICD, “Ask Amanda” column, etc.)
2)
Brief review of the media discussion earlier in the spring. No subsequent information has been published on the case.
3) New Board Member Initiative
Margie drafted a bulletin on the effort to recruit new Board Members, which will be circulated on the e-mail listserve and wondered whether this could be included in the Newsletter (David will check with Mary Child). Meeting attendees reviewed the draft and offered suggestions.
It was suggested that a grant writing experience would be a key skill in new board members (as would marketing, PR, etc. skills). Candidates will be reviewed and assessed based on efforts to develop a Board that reflects numerous types of balance (regions, expertise, older and younger kids, adopted persons and parents, etc.).
4) Culture Day Update (May 20)
This is moving along nicely. A number of vendors are signed up; at least two $1,200 sponsors (along with other sponsors) are also signed up.
The committee made many efforts, but was unable to arrange Chinese food for Culture Day (logistics such as refrigeration, stoves, etc. were the main issue). Harborside will be returning as the food vendor this year. Financial arrangements with Harborside were revised.
5) Orphanage Assistance 10th Anniversary Gala
A sub-group has been formed by Aileen for an anniversary gala (tentatively planned for November 9 or 10). This will be a fund-raising event. The first planning meeting is scheduled for April 30. David will ask Aileen (or a designee) to attend the next FCC Board Meeting (May 1) and provide a report-out on the gala planning.
There was a
brief discussion of a performance by a Hong Kong-based dancer to be performed
at Joyce Soho in
6) Treasurer’s Update
The Board
reviewed a Profit & Loss statement (for the period
FCC is a supporting contributor to the Evan P. Donaldson Adoption Institute gala event (May 24) and has been designated as a member of the honorary Gala Committee.
Little money has been made this year to finance charitable initiatives for next year.
The Board discussed the benefits of a Capital Campaign; which will allow FCC to fund other initiatives related to our “Celebrate, Educate, Advocate” mission. Key steps are to complete the analysis of current spending, develop an initiatives strategy, communicate that strategy to our members and other sponsors and then execute.
7) FCCNY Web Site: Ads Policy
Margie introduced the topic of whether FCC has guidelines as to commercial ads on the FCC website. There appears to be free advertising – via the listserve – and the question was posed – “Should FCC be charging for this?”
Margie volunteered to do a survey on the listserve (over the next month) and how often these types of postings appear. The Board agreed.
There was a discussion of whether generating revenues in this manner could jeopardize FCC’s not-for-profit status. Margie agreed to research this.
8) Facilitated Parent Groups
General announcement -- for the next approximately twelve weeks, a parent group is meeting in Margie’s office. This forum provides excellent advice and support; and is facilitated by a professional. This may be worth a newsletter article; perhaps how to form your own group; or perhaps how “talk groups” may be formed for and by our daughters.
9) There was a discussion about holding a new annual “FCC Workshop” event (for the Fall…?). This would meet member needs for a range of informational gatherings supplementing the one-off programs we currently do.
Some ideas for sessions are: How to adopt/Just returning,
Post-adoption issues
Travel to
Suggestions were to have multiple, concurrent sessions (3 to 4) and to keep each session small. One possible venue is Montclair State College.
10) Next Meeting (May 1)/Other Business Arising
A non-agenda item was introduced by Ross. He briefly discussed Alan Miller and his film project which is centered on adoptive families; and some focus on gay, lesbian and single adoptive parents. This led to a discussion of interacting, in general, with individuals (journalists, filmmakers, authors, etc.) who wish to interview FCC’s membership.
Another non-agenda item was introduced by David. Aileen’s daughter is forming an “FCC Junior Board.” David distributed the draft announcement and a discussion of the best way to distribute this (listserve, in the kids newsletter, etc.). Holly volunteered to facilitate these Junior Board meetings. Holly will contact Aileen to offer her services.
LET THE MINUTES SHOW THAT THE (“SENIOR”) FCC BOARD THINKS THE JUNIOR FCC BOARD IS A GREAT IDEA!
Amanda asked
David to announce the next