Doc. #2007-30
CAYUGA LAKE WATERSHED NETWORK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Conference Call

Directors present: Brian Boerman, Doug Haith, Janet Hawkes, John Mawdsley, Julie Patterson, Ruth Richardson, Keith Tidball, Kevin Zippel

Excused directors: John Dentes, Mary Seitz, Ted Hullar

Also in attendance: Sharon Anderson

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 by Janet Hawkes, Chairperson. Approval of the minutes of the April meeting was postponed until the June meeting.

Items from the floor: none

Business:
1. Staffing Update - Diane will be out of the office for approximately 8 weeks starting the end of June and returning after Lakefest. It was suggested that RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) be contacted to assist in the office even if it is just opening mail and answering the phone. S. Anderson was requested to make a list of 10 ideas of things the Board could help with or that could be cut back (see Addendum)

2. Membership. S. Anderson reported on her meeting with Steve Mount, newest member to the Finance/Development Committee. As a result of that meeting she is suggesting changing the membership year to one based on of the dates of joining and renewal, encouraging multiple year membership, having dues set by the Board but not at Annual meeting. Benefits include: distribution of cash throughout the year, increase ability to follow-up more personally, reduces awkwardness of asking for renewal a few months after membership donation is received. Implementing all these suggestions requires a change to bylaws, which currently reads “Sec. 2. Membership must be renewed on an annual basis, and shall become effective and run for one year from July 1st to June 30th upon payment of annual dues, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Only those members who have paid their current dues and are otherwise in good standing shall be entitled to vote.” Hearing support for these changes, the membership committee with charged with drafting new language.

The main strategy S. Mount suggests is cultivating current members and volunteers to have them increase their level of giving. Directors were requested to assist with call backs both to those who don’t renew and those that renew at a significant level. He offered to assist with an annual giving campaign this fall. Over time, promoting planned giving is suggested.

S. Anderson met with Ethan Rainwater about Cornell’s sustainability effort. Currently there are no plans to have a Love Your Lake campaign. An inventory of the institution’s efforts showed little is being done to address water resources. There is not yet a plan in place to change this. Rainwater will be ending his internship in August, however, a new intern will be hired.

K. Tidball noted that student members to the Watershed Network could be dramatically increased. He and K. Zippel will develop a plan. J. Hawkes suggested inviting more students to Lakefest and seeing if more would participate with a display.

The Love Your Lake campaign is intended to increase awareness of the Watershed Network, increase membership and therefore increase revenue. Therefore, the Finance Development Committee should be involved. J. Hawkes to contact the acting chair of that committee and request they work with Membership/PR. K. Tidball to also serve. A concern was raised that we need to have a coherent fundraising plan and that a 10th anniversary celebration should be separate.

The Membership Committee request to have Board members write personal notes on letters and hand address envelopes was postponed until the June meeting. Please come prepared with names and envelopes. If you prefer, you can write a note on post-it notes in advance or ask D. Emmons to send you letters in advance.

3. Annual Meeting preparation
a) Election of Directors – bring information on candidates to the June meeting for discussion. During the July meeting, the Board typically acts to show their support of the slate of candidates. The members vote on the slate during the Annual Meeting portion of Lakefest.
b) Current Board vacancies – Seneca County (08 and 09), At-Large (07 and 09)
Terms ending in August -- Mary Seitz (Cayuga County not renewing), John Dentes (Cayuga County on leave), Janet Hawkes (Tompkins).
J. Hawkes announced that she will not be running for another term. Therefore her seat becomes available plus a new Chair is needed. The Board votes on officers during the Board meeting that takes place at the end of Lakefest. J. Hawkes has selected a Nominating Committee, which includes J. Patterson and B. Shaw. They are looking at the officers especially.
c) Bylaw changes: bringing suggested changes to the June meeting for discussion and to allow time for revisions before the July meeting. Any changes need to be voted on by July Board meeting in order to notify members, as required in the Bylaws. J. Hawkes will request the Bylaw Committee go through the Bylaws and making sure that any small items are taken care of at the same time.
d) The idea of moving the Annual Meeting to the middle for the event was discussed. This change was supported and it was suggested that strong programs be scheduled on either side of it. The Annual meeting only takes about 10-15 minutes including the recognition.

Other Business.
a. J Hawkes will send a URL and local contact information for an opportunity related to Great Lakes protection and restoration. Project ideas and additions to funding database are requested. NY in general and the Finger Lakes specifically are not well represented. Deadline is the middle or end of June.
b. Attendance has been lower since the switch to the 2nd Tues. It was suggested that the meeting date continue to be the second Tues for June and July with the meeting date revisited during the August Board meeting. In order to ensure a space is available D. Emmons is requested to reserve a meeting location for Sept. 11.

Next Board Meeting: June 12 at the Old Jail in Ithaca

Submitted by
Sharon Anderson