Connection Project Board of Directors 11-18-10Minutes
Envision Connection Project Executive Board
November 18, 2010 7 pm, Brookview Community Center, Gonference Room
Board of Directors Present: Linda Loomis, Chair, Lynn Gitelis, Sharon Glover, Jim
Heidelberg, Cindy Inselmann, Philip Lund, Dean
Penk, Marshall Tanick, Blair Tremere
Not Present: Helene Johnson, Luke Weisberg
Staff: Sandy Werts.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm by Mayor Linda Loomis
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion: It was moved by Lund and seconded by Gitelis to approve the agenda
as written.
3. Approval of the Minutes of October 21, 2010
Change: 4.a. pgh. 2 -Change Penk to DeDe Scanlon.
Motion: It was moved by Gitelis and seconded by Lund to approve the minutes
as amended.
4. Proposed Community Foundation/Non-Profit
Penk reported that the November 17 meeting of the transitional board was active,
lively and productive. At that time the decision was made that they will not be
able to charter the foundation by January. In December they will work on the
structure and legal documents and will reevaluate their progress by December 15
and determine the timeline.
The committee is looking at four community relationships that will interact with
the Community Foundation. They are the City of Golden Valley, the Envision
Connection Board, the Human Services Foundation and other community
organizations. The community organizations can determine if they want to be
part of a 501.c.3 organization.
A discussion followed about the Human Services Foundation and funds from
pull-tabs. Tremere said that the Human Services Foundation is not a true
foundation. They were established to receive pull-tab money. Loomis said that
pull-tab money cannot go to the Community Foundation, but must come to the
city. State Statutes defines what pull tab money can be used for. The money is
given out by the city and can give it to human service groups.
Loomis said that the money from the Run The Valley, Golf Tournament and
Taste of Golden Valley goes to the city and is kept in a fund account. It could go
to the Community Foundation. The Human Service Foundation was set up to tell
the city how to use pull-tabs. As pull-tab money decreased, the foundation
instituted other programs to raise money.
Tremere said there needs to be a clarification on where the funds go.
Loomis said the City issues licenses for pull-tabs to the VFW, American Legion,
JJ's and Schuler's. They can keep up to 90%. The City receives 10%.
Penk said it has always been the intention of the Community Foundation to
benefit the Human Services Foundation. The money from the run and other
activities will go through the Community Foundation and back to the Human
Service Foundation.
Four committees make up the transition board. They are 1. Registration and
Legal Concerns, 2. Board Structure and Membership, 3. Operations and
Marketing which includes solicitation and 4. Grant Making.
Tremere asked if there is a connection between the Community Foundation and
the Envision Connection Board. Loomis said the city's charge to the board is to
receive concepts and ideas and help people to connect through projects.
Tremere, Johnson and Scott Grayson are serving on the subcommittee to find
members for the official board. Tremere said it might make sense to have an
interim board until the official board is recruited. This might take several months
to a year.
Glover said that the IRS gives an organization a year to get everything into place.
5. Bridge Building Activities
a. Bridge Builders Quarterly Meeting
It was reported that the October 23 meeting was a good meeting. Ten people
were in attendance. The room at Byerlys is a good place to meet. The attendees
were given a tour after the meeting. The dominate discussion was Valley
Volunteer Day and the Chimney Swift towers.
Lund suggested that the next meeting be a social one. Loomis will contact the
Mpls. Park Board about using the chalet at Wirth Park.
b. Valley Volunteer Day
Jennifer Lara attended the Bridge Builders quarterly meeting.
Loomis brought up that Neighbors Helping Neighbors is planning a special day in
May to call attention to the program. It will be a day where people can have their
windows washed and other chores done. They will raise money by washing
windows and helping those who can pay. Loomis does not see this as competing
with Valley Volunteer Day, as it is helping a specific group of people.
The City received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help
those who cannot afford house repairs. The funds will be administered by
PRISM.
c. Envision Award
A suggestion was made to write an article or notice about nominating people that
could go in the city newsletter and the Sun Post.
d. Ice Cream Social
Date has not been set. Werts talked to a person from the Golden Valley
Orchestra about the type of music they do, and if they could do something for the
anniversary.
Someone suggested an ice cream cake with 125 candles.
e. Buckthorn Busting
Tremere is looking at an education event in the spring. He said there is a lot of
Buckthorn along the steep slopes of Basset Creek. There has been talk of a
demonstration project at Wildwood Park during Valley Volunteer Day. Jeannine
Clancy has a list of public areas with Buckthorn.
f. Garden Club/Community Gardens
According to Gitelis, the Community Garden Board will continue to meet and have
a pot luck on Tuesdays through the winter. The evening garden club has moved
their meeting to the third Tuesday.
g. Neighbors Helping Neighbors
See update under b.
h. After School in the Vallev
Loomis has not talked to Mary Anderson
i. Memorial Day Parade
Loomis said the organizer has asked for a flag pole at Seaman Park so that a
helicopter could land there as part of the program.
j. Chimney Swift Towers
There is a second tower going up at the General Mills preserve.
k. Lilac Planting
Werts reported that a request was placed in the city newsletter asking
neighborhoods along Highway 55 to organize and request the planting area near
their neighborhood.
6. 125 Anniversary Planning
The next meeting of the planning committee is December 2. A contest to design
a logo to be used to brand activities is planned.
Tanick reported that Breck is also celebrating its 125 anniversary. The Historical
Society will have some programs coinciding with the anniversary. Tanick is
planning on preparing a history of his neighborhood -Sweeny Lake- to be
presented at their quarterly meeting. He would like to promote this with other
neighborhoods.
Lund suggested having a special float in the Valley Day celebration for older
residents. Tremere said a coloring contest is always popular.
Tanick would like to see a golden Valley Hall of Fame. Qualifications would be
set and nominations taken. Five to Eight people would be selected for the first
year and then new people would be added yearly. A planning group for this must
be set up.
The Historical Society is looking at reprinting the book.
7. Valley Days
Lund said the planning group is meeting this month. It will be just one day. Lund
and another committee member have done a "walk through" of the park and laid
out the venue.
8. Communications
• Faith Community Meeting Minutes -the minutes are included to keep the
Board up to date. The minutes have been sent to all churches, including
those who were not at the meeting. Loomis is planning a meeting in January
on the topic of Homelessness.
9. Local Business Initiative -Loomis along with council members DeDe Scanlon
and Bob Shaffer are working wit an intern to target "downtown" Golden Valley
businesses to find out how the city and businesses can help each other. Many of
the small businesses cannot afford to belong to the Twin West Chamber of
Commerce.
10. Recruitment of Members to Executive Board
11. Future meetings
December 16, January 20, February 17
12.Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 pm