03-19-09 Envision Connection Project Executive Board Minutes
Envision Connection Project
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
March 19,2009
Present: Sharon Glover, Jim Heidelberg, Linda Loomis, Philip Lund, Dean Penk,
Marshall Tanick, and Blair Tremere
Absent: Helene Johnson and Luke Weisberg (GVCEF Representative)
Staff: Jeanne Andre
The meeting began at 7: 1 0 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Approval of Minutes
Sharon Glover asked that "private foundation" be added to the list of options she
identified in the last sentence of first paragraph under "Fund raising to Support Bridge
Builder Activities". Penk/Lund moved to approve the minutes of February 19, 2009, as
amended. Motion carried.
Fundraising to Support Bridge Builder Activities
Sharon Glover reviewed some of the materials she provided regarding establishing a
foundation or non-profit and asked for discussion on which option would be most
appropriate and the best way to bring this issue to the City Council. Members discussed
the differences between a non-profit and a community foundation and if either option
was better suited to the goals of the Connection Project. The members decided to
individually draft a mission statement for the proposed organization and send it to Blair
Tremere, who will assemble the statements and seek to prepare a composite mission
statement. Dean Penk volunteered to assemble a list of everyone's questions regarding
the proposed organization and how the choice of organizational structure would support
or distract from accomplishing the mission. Members were requested to prepare the
draft mission and questions and send them to Blair and Dean respectively by Friday,
March 27.
Sharon Glover volunteered to invite a representative of the Edina Community
Foundation to the April 23 Board Meeting to address the Board's questions. She also
suggested the group speak with someone from the Winona Community Foundation.
Members suggested that this interview might be better accomplished by phone
(individual call or with the group via speaker phone) to avoid travel from Winona. A
subsequent meeting with someone from the Minnesota Council of Foundations was
suggested.
Golden Valley Connects Outreach
Golden Valley Days 2009 - Philip Lund has only received responses from two
organizations interested in sponsoring a booth at the community section of the Festival.
He plans to follow up with those who haven't responded.
Bridge Builder Activities
Envision Connection Project
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2009 - Page 2
Spring Bridge Builder Recruitment Meeting - The spring "Reunion" party is
confirmed for April 16 at the Perpich Center for Arts Education. Jeanne Andre has
contacted a number of organizations and asked them to participate. She will generate
letters of invitation to all of the groups, but asked if Board Members could undertake
follow up calls. Philip Lund will talk with groups who are participating in Valley Days.
Dean Penk, Sharon Glover and Blair Tremere volunteered to do additional calling.
Jeanne Andre will prepare an outline as a prompt for the callers to explain the event and
the "elevator" speeches groups will be requested to make. The event will be advertised
to the general public through CityNews. The group discussed other possible options to
advertise the event and decided that groups attending should be encouraged to invite
their members and a press release should be provided to the SunPost.
Bridge Builder Quarterlv Meeting - DeDe Scanlon has confirmed the Animal Humane
Society as the venue for the June 13 Quarterly Meeting. Humane Society staff will
provide a tour of the facility. Bridge Builder Annie Cleveland who is supporting the
creation of a dog park is unable to attend this meeting. Linda Loomis said she is
working with Ms. Cleveland and may be able to give an update at this meeting.
Home Maintenance - Jeanne Andre reported that the meeting with Valley Presbyterian
Church, Calvary Church, PRISM and other organizations occurred a few weeks ago. All
are willing to work with homeowners who are having trouble responding to City violation
notices. A second meeting next week will allow the groups to report on ways each could
support this initiative.
Envision (Visi) Award
Jeanne Andre reported that the Envision Award will be publicized in the next edition of
CityNews.
Future Meetings
The April Meeting will be moved to April 23 so as not to conflict with the Spring Bridge
Builder Recruitment Meeting on April 16. Blair Tremere suggested that the May meeting
be rescheduled so as not to conflict with the Optimist Gala. The meeting was tentatively
changed to Wednesday, May 20. The final decision on the date of the May meeting will
be made in April.
The meeting ended at 9:20 pm.
Jeanne Andre, Assistant City Manager