Friends of Mali

Board Meeting Minutes

July 18, 2004 12:00 pm

 

 


I.          Old Business

            A.        Logo/image for Nagelene bottles

                        The logo has been completed and the bottles are ready for production.                                They cost around $8 to produce which is a reduced rate based on their                                being given away.  Therefore, we will give them away to the next two or                             three stages.  We can also give them away to regional reps as a thank                                   you for serving. 

                       

                        Remaining issues:

                        1.  Jumana is now working out the payment arrangements and when the                                  bottles will be produced.

                        2.  Megan Doherty presenting to the trainees in Philly.  Training is                                          September 22.  Josh Romalis has moved to Philly, Andrew will e-mail                                him and ask if he would be interested in helping out. 

 

            B.        Regional Meetings

                        New York – around seven people showed but this was due more to the                               Evite going out late than lack of interest.  People were interested

                        Portland – Stephanie Skalak, regional rep, says their event also went well

                        California – no event because the regional representative was in San                                    Diego and most RPCVs were in different cities.  They are looking at                                   getting a different regional rep.

                        Southwest – couldn’t organize due to people not being centrally located

                        DC – Herb Casey, regional rep. Around 5 people showed but again this                              was due to the timing of the invitation.

                       

                        We will suggest that the next event, which should be in September, be                                 organized around Mali’s Independence Day celebration on September 22.              Sabrina will announce this in the newsletter.      

 

            C.        Translating the Friends of Mali Website into French – Get update from                              Jumana.                      

                       

            D.        Member survey – no responses yet.  Sabrina will resend the survey in                                the next newsletter.  We’ll also encourage regional reps to get the word                               out about this and bring it to the next national meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

            E.         Election – perhaps one of the reasons we had no interest in board positions                     is that the position descriptions are not well written or particularly                                                 inviting.  Allison will rewrite the descriptions and contact Jumana and                             Matt for help.

 

                        Timeline

                        The revised positions are due to Sabrina by Thursday July 22. 

                        We’ll set the next election date for September 1.

                        Submissions of interest should be sent to the Secretary by August 15

                        A special email will be sent to membership on those who have announced                         their candidacy on August 21.

 

                        If we have no interest in any positions, board members should think about                                     making a personal appeal to select RPCVs.  Another option is to create the                     Vice President/acting Treasurer position.  When someone volunteers or we                     nominate someone to take one of the positions, the combined position will                       will be divided

 

            F.         Direct deposit NPCA rebate checks – update from Jumana

 

            G.        Megan Doherty’s draft for FOM participation in immigrant support issues                          – update from Jumana

 

II.        New Business

            Project ideas for Friends of Mali –

            SPA funds have recently been cut from the Peace Corps budget and are no longer             available to volunteers.  Friends of Mali can take advantage of our membership             base that either knows of relevant grants or have used grants in the past that                      would be helpful to current volunteers.

                       

            1.  Sabrina will place an item in the newsletter requesting members submit grant                      info to us that they have used or know of.

 

            2.  Sabrina will check with Jeff to see if he can add a dedicated link to the website      where individuals can post grant info themselves.

                         

                       

Next Meeting:  August 15 at 12:00 pm