Freshwater Future Board Meeting
May 18, 2008
Eastport, Michigan (Torch Lake)
Board Members in Attendance:
Annette Marshall
Paul Bubelis
Bonnie Danni
Dorothy Lageroos
Mary Jo Cullen
Cheryl Mell
Molly Flanagan
Staff in Attendance:
Jill Ryan
Cheryl Mendoza
Lauren Hinchman
Ann Baughman
Kate Duggan
Sharon Behar, Consultant
Executive Session to discuss Executive Director evaluation and salary adjustment
Open of normal board meeting
Board extends highest commendation to Jill Ryan for a job exceedingly well done over
the past year
*Action Item: Bonnie Danni to pull together all staff compensation information – salary
adjustments, bonuses
*Action Item: Executive Committee/Personnel Committee – to hold meeting on
compensation - figure out ranges for salary adjustment each year and how that will be
determined, take a look at personnel policies – including salary and benefits
Executive Director Evaluation Format: Consider bringing in some folks outside of
Freshwater Future for next year’s Executive Director evaluation to add to the input from
staff, board, and Executive Director
*Action Item: Executive Committee to review Executive Director personal goals to
ensure that they match up with needs of FWF and Jill
Committee Reports:
Board Development Committee
FWF has three new board members
Dorothy Lageroos, former faculty member Northland College in Ashland, WI
Mike Layton, Environmental Defence Canada
Damien Lee, Graduate Student
*Action Item: Jill to send out list of board members with their terms to all board members
Fundraising Committee – Mary Jo
We need to set a goal for 2008 board contributions and individual commitments from
each board members.
2007 board contribution goal was $5,000 – met last year’s goal with 100% participation
Donations need to be made before September 30, 2008 in order to count for this fiscal
year
Dorothy Lageroos – Motion to set board contribution goal for 2008 at $8,000 and to
create a form to track in-kind donation for board members
Cheryl Mell – 2nd
Unanimous approval
In-kind = cash not requested – goes towards pledge
Bonnie has a form from Great Lakes United that FWF can use for in-kind contribution
Federal government sets in-kind time contribution (hourly rate)
*Action Item: Jill to look up federal government hourly rate for in-kind contribution of
time. Bonnie would like to see this rate.
2009 board contribution goal – consider $10,000 goal
Annette Marshall – motion to set board goal for $10,000
Bonnie Danni– 2nd
Unanimous approval
Freshwater Future Walking for the Great Lakes Event:
Modeled after Audubon’s Birdathon – get sponsors to pay some amount for each mile
that we walk (or whatever other activity – running, kayaking, biking, etc.)
Proposal accepted by the board
*Action Item: Ann to send walkathon materials to the board by Tuesday. Ann will be the
point person for this event so if you have any questions, contact Ann.
*Action Item: All board members – Consider name for walkathon – Send thoughts and
ideas to Ann
Bank Account Resolution
Dorothy Lageroos - Motion to accept movement of FWF funds to CD
2nd - Annette Marshall
Unanimous approval
Financial Update:
FWF is under budget year to date
Major expenses that do not yet show up in the budget: Printing - $15,000 worth of
printing and postage for Great Lakes Restoration toolkit – mostly funded through grants,
about $1,000 of FWF funding
Budget Comparison 07/08 and 08/09
Had to lay off one staff member to conserve funds
Major cutbacks in the 08/09 budget ($90,000 in budget reductions)
Jill will continue to work with funders and meet with funders to develop relationships in
the hopes of bringing in additional grant funding for 2010 and beyond
For 08/09, FWF will operate with a streamlined working budget focused on maintaining
necessary services – this has a certain degree of risk because it assumes that some
funding will come in
Staff Salary/Positions:
Maintain current staff levels for 08/09 – flat salaries with no increases
Kate’s position – budget does not include funding to keep Kate on in a non-Americorps
position
Grants manager position had to be laid off
No salary increases for 08/09
Symposium taken out of agenda and replaced with smaller, more regionally based
meetings - looking for smaller funders to host
Motion to adjourn: Paul Bubelis
2nd: Bonnie Danni
Unanimous approval
May 19, 2008
Reopen board meeting to discuss Canadian Charitable Status
Annette Marshall – Motion to continue exploring charitable status in Canada in a
methodical way that will allow us to determine whether this is a good move for FWF to
make in the near future or over the long term (not to be considered a high priority over
the next year)
2nd – Dorothy Lageroos
Unanimous approval
*Action Item: Canadian Charitable Status Task Force - Jill will continue working with
Paul, Bonnie, Wendy, Mike and lawyer on Canadian charitable status and on figuring out
a way to talk about advocacy and the work that FWF does without using the word
advocacy.
Adjourn