MichALL Board Meeting

Meeting Minutes   

April 13, 2012

 

Present: Amy Ash, Kineret Gable, Janet Ann Hedin, Mark Heinrich, Frances Krempasky, Yolanda Jones, Virginia Thomas 

 

I.  Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Virginia at 3:47 at Dickinson Wright, PLLC in Detroit. Amy Ash and Fran Krempasky attended the meeting via telephone conference call.   

 

II. Consideration and Approval of Minutes

The minutes from the March 9, 2012 meeting were approved. Fran will send the minutes to Jessica to post to the MichALL website.

 

III.  President’s Report : Virginia Thomas 
 

         A.     Tax-Exempt Status

 

Virginia reported that Form 1025 was sent on March 13, 2012 and is

 currently in the hands of the Determination Officer. Virginia telephoned them

 for an update report. She will follow up with any information she receives.

 She also filled out forms to get retrospective reinstatement to be an  

 association.

 

           B.   Michigan Nonprofit Corporation Status

 

                  Ann Baker at LARA was helpful to Virginia when she was working on

                  MichALL’s Michigan nonprofit status. Virginia requested all forms needed to

                  be reinstated and has sent all forms in. Virginia hopes that the Federal issue is

                  resolved by the May meeting, and that the Michigan 501C is resolved as well.

                                    

    C.  Chair, AALL Council of Chapter Presidents Election

           

                 Holly Riccio was elected as Chair of the AALL Council of Chapter

                 Presidents.  Virginia sent congratulations to Holly.

 

           D.  Other

 

                 Virginia said she has some things to follow up on; to determine if

                 MichALL is a corporation or "nonprofit domestic corporation."

                 She checked off "association" on the IRS form. She offered to

                 discuss this in more detail with the Determination Officer.

 

IV.   Vice President’s Report

 

        Annual Meeting Update

 

        Yolanda said that all speakers have been contacted regarding the Spring

        Education Meeting.  She will send out an email reminder about the meeting

        because there is a deadline of April 16th for the hotel.  Yolanda sent the Board

        a draft of the email to look at. Janet noted that she also sent the flyer to CALL

        members in case they wanted to attend our program. Yolanda is organizing a tour

        for AALL Executive Board member Susan Lewis for her stay in Grand Rapids.   

 

  V.  Treasurer’s Report

 

        Kineret reported that she will update the statement balance after she checks the mail

        in the MichALL mailbox.

 

VI. Secretary’s Report

 
       No report.  The Publicity Committee has no report.

 

VII.Past President’s Report

 

       Janet stated that the newsletter was sent out to members. The next one will be

       coming out after our May meeting.  Janet reminded the Board to bring cameras to

       the Spring meeting so that pictures can be taken for the website and the newsletter. 

       Janet also noted that it will be her last Board meeting. Jessica has agreed to write a

       column about the MichALL website for the next newsletter. If anyone has any

       articles for the next newsletter send them to Janet.  Also, the receipt book is almost

       done. Janet will be convening the Grants Committee shortly.

 

VIII. Other Discussion on material for the May Education meeting

 

       Virginia said that all documents for the May meeting need to be to her by May 4th.

       She will compile the packets for the meeting, evaluations, and membership renewal

       forms. She'll also need the minutes from the 2011 Board meeting.

 

 

IX.  Members At Large : Amy Ash and Mark Heinrich

 

       A. Mark had no report.

       B. Amy reported that the Pro Bono Committee is in a holding pattern until

           after the official presentation of the Solutions on Self Help Task Force is

           completed.  [Amy’s report on The Bylaws Committee was put off to the end of the

           meeting--see "D" below].

 

 

      C. [Added agenda item: Discussion with Helen Levenson of the Membership

           Committee]

 

            Helen joined the Board meeting via phone conference to discuss the MichALL

            membership form.  Helen said she had a number of ideas for the membership

            form:

 

            -Misleading information regarding who to send form to, whenever there was a

             new Treasurer, renewals were sent to incorrect address; that has been taken

             care of with MichALL's adoption of the UPS P.O. Box address

            -Eliminating snail mail newsletter option on the form

            -Listerv sign up will increase if we can add info to opt in to it on the

            membership form. It would be an opportunity to subscribe more people

   

            The Board discussed the listserv option. Helen currently maintains the   

            membership list and Jessica approves people for the listserv. Right now the

            discussion list is for members only. Virginia suggested that we go through the

            listserv list every year since it is a closed list and weed off those that are not

            members.  It was suggested that we review the website language about the

            listserv.  And also, for those on it that are not MichALL members, give

            them a chance to join MichALL versus kicking them off the list.  Virginia will

            write a column about this for the next newsletter.

 

            The Board agreed that on the membership form:

 

-the "mail" newsletter line could be removed

-To let members select (with a "yes" or "no" box) if they wanted to be

            added to the MichALL listserv.

            -To add the dates of MichALL membership

 

            For the membership dates, Kineret will check the IRS tax form dates and give

            them to Helen. Helen will make changes to the membership form and send a

            revised draft to the Board.

 

            The Board and Helen discussed creating a dues database so we can know when

             members’ dues were paid.  Instead of kicking off members from the listserv if

they don't pay dues we can give them an 18 month grace period. Janet       

suggested that if they haven't paid by January 1st of the current membership

cycle, then they can be taken off the list.  Helen suggested that the listserv be sent reminders that there's "still time to renew” as renewals near.

 

  1. Amy Ash reported on the Bylaws Committee revision to the draft. The Board

members were sent the changes in draft form to read before the meeting.  The

Board went over each change made, Article by Article. Amy updated the

document as the Board agreed to changes in wording and content. One major change was to change the word "Constitution" to "Bylaws."

 

            The Board will include a draft of the Bylaw changes at the May meeting and

            discuss the changes at the Business meeting. Then the Board will ask for an email

vote of the membership to adopt the changes during the summer.

 

  X.  Other

 

       Amy Ash noted that the Board needs to vote on making Kathy Vance a Lifetime

       MichALL member as she is retiring.  "Old business" and "New business" items on

       the agenda were skipped due to time constraints.

 

  XI. Meeting adjourned at 6:00      

 

 

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by: Fran Krempasky

May 1, 2012