SENIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
Board of Directors Meeting
Neighborhood House
March 6, 2020
Members Present: Warren Karmol, Chair Elect; Joe Leben, Curriculum Chair, LD Smith, Facilities Chair; Duane Ray, Publications, Carolyn Raz, Co Secretary; Betty Woods, Membership; Connie Angelucci, Member at Large; Sue Bowers, Treasurer/Past Chair; David Gaynon, Member at Large; Paul Hagner, Member at Large; Kathy Jackson, Member at Large, Marti Summer, Member at Large
Members Absent: Paul Buchman, Webmaster; Donna Jackson, Immediate Past Chair; Peggy Keonjian, Engagement Chair; Kathy McCulloch, Co Secretary; Sharon Nelson, Member at Large; Donald Steury, Chair
Potential Members at Large Present: Jim Grandoville and Karen Moffat
9:25 a.m. - The meeting was called to order by Treasurer Sue Bowers in the absence of Chair Donald Steury. Sue then listed the agenda items on the board and asked if there were additional items. Page Turners was added.
Minutes Approval: Sue asked if everyone had received the Minutes of the February 7th meeting and if there were any changes. The Minutes were then unanimously approved without changes or additions.
Sue made a motion to have the Minutes posted on the website with a link to archived Minutes. Motion seconded by Paul Hagner. Motion carried. Webmaster Paul Buchman will be contacted to create the link.
Treasurer's Report: Sue said there is $19,500 on hand and she has been working on consolidating the accounts for the Treasurer's Report. There has been some delay in getting some bills paid as they have to be approved by Neal Naigus, who is not always available. The major amount awaiting authorization is the annual rent of $2,500 to Neighborhood House.
Membership Report: Betty reported the following:
Lifetime Memberships - 10
Continuous Members - 277
New Members - 58
Total Membership - 345
Two members have died in the past month.
Curriculum Report: Joe reported that the Spring schedule is complete and he will be working on the Fall term. He gave a brief overview of some of the Spring classes.
Spring Schedule: Spring Break will be from March 16 thru March 2 9. The last winter class/activity will be Friday, March 13. Classes for spring term will resume on March 30.
OLD BUSINESS
Constant Contact Update: Marti passed out reports on the average rates of use for the emailed newsletter as of December, 2019. A second report showed the number sent, the opening/click rate and other categories.
Schedule corrections or changes need to be posted more than once, which includes some recent changes. Marti will resend the current changes.
Announcements/Advertising: Recently, an SSI member wanted to announce an art exhibit/sale. The SSI constitution specifically states that SSI is not to make announcements for anything outside the purview of SSI. This also includes events and items for sale, with the exception of books being sold by a speaker who has given a class and has written a book on the subject. This has happened on a number of occasions.
Betty suggested that Marti cut and paste the paragraph from the Constitution pertaining to this issue and put it in the next newsletter.
NEW BUSINESS
Protocol on the Passing or Illness of a Member: With the recent passing of two SSI members, there was lengthy discussion about the procedures/protocol for reporting and publicizing a death or illness.
Marti said there is no formal process to notify her when or if she should announce to the membership. The respective site coordinators have been the usual point of contact, but there are several flaws in the system due to no formal policy. Discussion covered the following items.
.How to locate/contact families for verification and approval to announce a death or illness.
.Who should notify the Membership Chair to delete a deceased from the membership?
.Should the death be posted on the website? If so, does a family member need to approve the announcement?
.Who should notify Marti of the death so it can be placed in the newsletter?
.Should things remain status quo and have anyone notify Marti of this information to put in the newsletter?
Warren made a motion that an announcement only be made with family verification/approval, or information contained in a formal obituary. Seconded by Duane. Joe amended the motion to limit the information about illness unless authorized by a family member or the SSI member. Motion passed.
Page Turners: Warren was recently approached by an SSI member who belongs to a group called Page Turners. There are two venues for this group at libraries where members meet to discuss the reading of assigned classic literature. They are losing one library space and are looking for a new venue. The group wanted to know if there is an unused time slot available at the SSI east side venue. There are approximately 10-20 current participants of all ages.
Because Page Turners meets the basic SSI theme of learning, Sue felt this group could be added to SSI's curriculum if Page Turners would be willing to accept SSI members and become a part of SSI. Warren will ask if Page Turners would be willing. SSI is not at this time considering evenings and weekends, which is when Page Turners meet.
A show of hands approved pursuing adding Page Turners to SSI. Warren will pursue more information for the Board to consider.
Coronavirus or COVID-19: Due to the spreading of the coronavirus resulting in the closure of some schools or school districts, there was discussion about the concern by members and plans if the virus continues to spread in our area.
.One suggestion was to play it by ear and let the membership attend as they see fit. Stay home if one has any symptoms.
.As chair of the Curriculum Committee, Joe would like weekly feedback on the attendance numbers from each venue. That would be an indicator of whether classes should continue.
.The people who attend the Lake Oswego Current Events have agreed to continue as is for the time being. Likewise, a vote of the DVD class attendees decided to maintain the status quo.
. Kathy Jackson suggested using Zoom, the technology that would allow people to watch a class from home.
. Marti requested a message from the Board to put in the newsletter about closures. Currently, SSI follows the Portland Public School's schedule of closures.
Regarding closures of specific venues not part of PCC, namely Neighborhood House and SMILE, it would require notification from the respective staff person to Sue, Warren or Joe so Marti so it can immediately send a newsletter.
11:10 a.m. - Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Raz
Board of Directors Meeting
Neighborhood House
March 6, 2020
Members Present: Warren Karmol, Chair Elect; Joe Leben, Curriculum Chair, LD Smith, Facilities Chair; Duane Ray, Publications, Carolyn Raz, Co Secretary; Betty Woods, Membership; Connie Angelucci, Member at Large; Sue Bowers, Treasurer/Past Chair; David Gaynon, Member at Large; Paul Hagner, Member at Large; Kathy Jackson, Member at Large, Marti Summer, Member at Large
Members Absent: Paul Buchman, Webmaster; Donna Jackson, Immediate Past Chair; Peggy Keonjian, Engagement Chair; Kathy McCulloch, Co Secretary; Sharon Nelson, Member at Large; Donald Steury, Chair
Potential Members at Large Present: Jim Grandoville and Karen Moffat
9:25 a.m. - The meeting was called to order by Treasurer Sue Bowers in the absence of Chair Donald Steury. Sue then listed the agenda items on the board and asked if there were additional items. Page Turners was added.
Minutes Approval: Sue asked if everyone had received the Minutes of the February 7th meeting and if there were any changes. The Minutes were then unanimously approved without changes or additions.
Sue made a motion to have the Minutes posted on the website with a link to archived Minutes. Motion seconded by Paul Hagner. Motion carried. Webmaster Paul Buchman will be contacted to create the link.
Treasurer's Report: Sue said there is $19,500 on hand and she has been working on consolidating the accounts for the Treasurer's Report. There has been some delay in getting some bills paid as they have to be approved by Neal Naigus, who is not always available. The major amount awaiting authorization is the annual rent of $2,500 to Neighborhood House.
Membership Report: Betty reported the following:
Lifetime Memberships - 10
Continuous Members - 277
New Members - 58
Total Membership - 345
Two members have died in the past month.
Curriculum Report: Joe reported that the Spring schedule is complete and he will be working on the Fall term. He gave a brief overview of some of the Spring classes.
Spring Schedule: Spring Break will be from March 16 thru March 2 9. The last winter class/activity will be Friday, March 13. Classes for spring term will resume on March 30.
OLD BUSINESS
Constant Contact Update: Marti passed out reports on the average rates of use for the emailed newsletter as of December, 2019. A second report showed the number sent, the opening/click rate and other categories.
Schedule corrections or changes need to be posted more than once, which includes some recent changes. Marti will resend the current changes.
Announcements/Advertising: Recently, an SSI member wanted to announce an art exhibit/sale. The SSI constitution specifically states that SSI is not to make announcements for anything outside the purview of SSI. This also includes events and items for sale, with the exception of books being sold by a speaker who has given a class and has written a book on the subject. This has happened on a number of occasions.
Betty suggested that Marti cut and paste the paragraph from the Constitution pertaining to this issue and put it in the next newsletter.
NEW BUSINESS
Protocol on the Passing or Illness of a Member: With the recent passing of two SSI members, there was lengthy discussion about the procedures/protocol for reporting and publicizing a death or illness.
Marti said there is no formal process to notify her when or if she should announce to the membership. The respective site coordinators have been the usual point of contact, but there are several flaws in the system due to no formal policy. Discussion covered the following items.
.How to locate/contact families for verification and approval to announce a death or illness.
.Who should notify the Membership Chair to delete a deceased from the membership?
.Should the death be posted on the website? If so, does a family member need to approve the announcement?
.Who should notify Marti of the death so it can be placed in the newsletter?
.Should things remain status quo and have anyone notify Marti of this information to put in the newsletter?
Warren made a motion that an announcement only be made with family verification/approval, or information contained in a formal obituary. Seconded by Duane. Joe amended the motion to limit the information about illness unless authorized by a family member or the SSI member. Motion passed.
Page Turners: Warren was recently approached by an SSI member who belongs to a group called Page Turners. There are two venues for this group at libraries where members meet to discuss the reading of assigned classic literature. They are losing one library space and are looking for a new venue. The group wanted to know if there is an unused time slot available at the SSI east side venue. There are approximately 10-20 current participants of all ages.
Because Page Turners meets the basic SSI theme of learning, Sue felt this group could be added to SSI's curriculum if Page Turners would be willing to accept SSI members and become a part of SSI. Warren will ask if Page Turners would be willing. SSI is not at this time considering evenings and weekends, which is when Page Turners meet.
A show of hands approved pursuing adding Page Turners to SSI. Warren will pursue more information for the Board to consider.
Coronavirus or COVID-19: Due to the spreading of the coronavirus resulting in the closure of some schools or school districts, there was discussion about the concern by members and plans if the virus continues to spread in our area.
.One suggestion was to play it by ear and let the membership attend as they see fit. Stay home if one has any symptoms.
.As chair of the Curriculum Committee, Joe would like weekly feedback on the attendance numbers from each venue. That would be an indicator of whether classes should continue.
.The people who attend the Lake Oswego Current Events have agreed to continue as is for the time being. Likewise, a vote of the DVD class attendees decided to maintain the status quo.
. Kathy Jackson suggested using Zoom, the technology that would allow people to watch a class from home.
. Marti requested a message from the Board to put in the newsletter about closures. Currently, SSI follows the Portland Public School's schedule of closures.
Regarding closures of specific venues not part of PCC, namely Neighborhood House and SMILE, it would require notification from the respective staff person to Sue, Warren or Joe so Marti so it can immediately send a newsletter.
11:10 a.m. - Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Raz