Minutes of FCC Greater New York Board Meeting August 5, 2002
Held at: Walker Truesdell Radick and Associates Conference Room

Present:
Ron Tralle Joe Kelly Barry Radick Aileen Koger David Youtz Yong Ho Edna Moy Elizabeth Smith Mao
Absent:
Marylou Cooper Green Beth Rosenthal Ross Lewis Toby Volkman Cara Blouin
Call to Order, 6:00 PM

Boston Meeting of FCC Chapters Planned:
FCCNY (David, Joe, Aileen), FCC New England (Shanti Fry and others), FCC San Francisco (Amy Klatzkin) will meet in Boston to discuss the Fall Annual Appeal for orphanage assistance. There was brief discussion: the 2001 campaign was a mixed success, bringing in between $20,000 - $25000, but with a marked decrease in San Francisco and limited funds from most newly-participating chapters. On the positive side, the first effort was a big step in FCC chapter cooperation, built bridges that can be extended in 2002, and should continue to expand the overall fund-raising pie nation-wide. The Boston meeting will address this year’s approach, including solving some problems from last year. 2002 should be less laborious and time consuming, building on 2001 work. We hope this year to have a simpler flyer which combines rather than separates the NY and NE efforts, making it easier to understand for recipients. We will also allow more time for chapters to consider getting involved, will reach out to more chapters, and perhaps repeat mailings for better follow up. We propose one letter for all chapters (including NY and NE) 0 though NY and NE mailings (and others) can go out with a letter from the local chapter. Many details will have to be worked out (checks are to be sent to which address/chapter? Can style differences between NY and NE be worked out? etc.). There was discussion about even closer future integration of NE and NY fund-raising, and the imperative for NY to meet its annual commitments to Amity programs (nearing $200,000 per year).

Recent / Upcoming Activities:
David reviewed recent and upcoming FCC activities.
- A dinner was held with Ms. Wu AnAn of Amity, who visited NY in early July. Joe Kelly, Clare Timoney, Connie Clemmons, George Wu (Gladney Agency) and several daughters were present. No specific project commitments were made.
- David met Lynn Perkins and Susan Buskin of FCC Seattle on July 29 in Seattle for a general relationship-building meeting. Discussion included cooperation on FCC newsletters and Seattle cooperation in the 2002 National Appeal for orphanage assistance (positive response, perhaps linked to help on newsletter as a way to regularly reach members on orphanage assistance info and follow-up appeals).
- Autumn Moon Festival –September 29 program planned (K. Urbina / Brooklyn FCC chapter. Registration can now be done online at www.fccny.org
- Coalition for Asian American Families and Children: October 2nd Event. We’re likely to be asked again to contribute as in 2000 and 2001. The Board agreed to a contribution at the same level as 2001 to purchase a table.
- FCCNY Fundraising Event proposed for this Fall. Several ideas were raised and discussed, including involving showing a film (“Daughters from China” film-maker Larry Tung contacted us recently). There was particular interest in arranging an evening of author readings. Names mentioned included Da Chen, An Chee Min, Lis Huang, and the poets who wrote “Peach Girl.” This would be a fund-raiser with a rate of perhaps $50-$100 per person. Liz Mao volunteered to look into this further. There was also discussion of having an event around “Flower Drum” on Broadway.
- Two fund-raising projects have come in to us. David has been in touch with artist Shirley Pu Wills regarding a November – January gallery exhibit in Morristown, NJ, with a portion of proceeds going to FCCNY. The store, Hickey Freeman, has also offered a fund-raising evening – to be further explored (contact through Bob Murphy).
- Culture Day 2003 (Saturday, May 10(?) - day before Mother’s Day)
- Chinese New Year’s Event and Annual Mtg. 2003: There was tentative agreement to again work with China Institute as in the past two years. We may explore a different school as a venue.
- Queens Hall of Science event for FCC families. Ross Lewis is exploring a new date for this program in the Fall.

Charitable Initiatives: (Aileen)
- Aileen presented a request from the Charitable Initiatives Committee for distribution of funds to Amity. The proposal totals $21,900 and includes $14,000 for school fees (19 orphanages / 300 children); Medical funding (five surgeries); orphanage improvements (furnishings at Anqing); and Grandmas program (stipends for 3 new Wuhan grandmas). The fund currently has $26,600. The second semester of school fees will be paid later; the current Newsletter has an appeal for donations for school fees.
- After brief discussion a motion was moved, voted, and unanimously accepted: 7 for, None against (Edna Moy had not yet arrived, so is not counted here). Moved: That the Board accept the orphanage assistance proposal for purposes of school fees, surgeries, orphanage improvements, & new grandmas totaling $21,900.

Charitable Initiatives Restructuring Initiative
David noted the sub-committee’s progress to date, having met and started development of a draft new structure. The subcommittee is considering who else can fill the positions being defined and methods to identify and attract these people. A list is being developed of the top 50 donors and one place to seek such persons. The sub-committee is also interested in meeting with a consultant to advise on these plans. Barry has identified a qualified person (David Ferron) who has raised money for the State University of New York and other entities, and David and Barry will meet with him shortly.

Treasurer’s Report
Ron briefly reviewed the FCC CIC and Operating accounts: there is now over $50,000 in the operating account. It was noted that distribution of charitable initiative funds since March 2002 have been around $155,000. We are around the same point in CIC fund-raising as we were in 2000-2001, when the total at year-end was around $192,000. FCCNY now has 1977 members/member families – so we are making very good progress on our drive to increase membership and member dues.

FCCNY Brochure
David noted that several Board members have provided feedback on the text for the general FCCNY brochure. The text was circulated and additional comments collected. The sense of the Board was to finalize this text with these additions and send to the designer with a goal to complete the brochure project in the coming 8 weeks.

Newsletter:
Joe circulated the proofs version of the Summer 2002 issue – over 40 pages. A special Kids Issue is being developed for the third issue, and will be combined with the 2002 FCCNY Directory. There was discussion on possibly simplifying the Directory contents to reduce costs. Additional discussion concerned eliminating a Directory and instead making this information available online or in CD format – however, many FCC members seem to prefer receiving a hard copy, and this continues to serve as a tangible benefit of membership.

Next Board Meeting Tentative next Board Meeting date: Monday September 23.

Adjourned 8:40