LOS ANGELES SOUTHWEST COLLEGE FOUNDATION
1600 West Imperial Highway  Los Angeles, CA 90047  323-241-5270  A Non-profit Corporation
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
April 14, 2015
Call to Order
Chairman Webb called the meeting to order at 6:02pm.
Introductions
Members present: K. Webb, H. Dickens, C. Flemings, J. Burks, Dr. S. Cox, Dr. E. ThomasRobertson, B. Thomas. On the phone: M. Smith Battle-Bey, R. Wang, Dr. Rose
Meeting Minutes & Action Items
Minutes from March 2015 were approved. Grammatical errors were identified. Chairman
Webb recommended the ED share the minutes with Dr. Thomas-Robertson for review prior to
posting for the meeting.
Review Action Items:
Ben Demers the College’s Public Information Officer, gave a update of the progress on the
College Website and the Foundation pages contained within the site. He also spoke about
the development of marketing information and the approved bus signage campaign, “60
busses on lines which come to or near the college.”
1. He requested Board assistance with strengthening media contacts for the
college, mentioning specifically, the Wave, the Sentinel and Our Weekly
Newspapers. Along with radio stations, KJLH and The BEAT and The WAVE.
2. James Burks suggested that Board Members could help with co-marketing with
the college and community programs. Dr. Thomas-Robertson suggested that he
Colleges’ Accreditation committee may have a marketing plan.
3. Mr. Demers indicated that he had seen their plan and that it was more an
overview and that the plan needs more depth, specifics and goals.
4. Dr. Cox asked what routes the buses travelled and that the students she spoke
with were attending West LA and SMC because of what the saw marketed in
their community. She offered that we need to change their perception.
5. Mr. Demers promised to bring that information back to the Board.
6. Chairman Webb added that the college’s reputation need changing, that we
should invite people to the campus – to attract people, programs and
companies.
7. Dr. Cox said she liked the pictures on the Website which showcased the campus.
Chair’s Report: Chairman Webb, asked President Rose to bring her report before his.
President’s Report
State of Affairs at Southwest College: Dr. Rose shared that she and LASC Student Lawrence Love
had attended a ceremony in Sacramento where Mr. Love had received his Phi Beta Kappa
Our Mission… is to provide resources for initiatives, programs and scholarships directly benefiting LASC students, faculty, and staff,
while committed to making higher education attainable.
Our Vision… is to support LASCs mission of student success, lifelong learning,
and enriching the lives of its diverse community.
honors and earned 1st Team recognition. He is one of two African Americans attending
Community Colleges in the State to be so honored.
Dr. Rose shared that May is a month of recognizing student achievement. May 13 is the Dean’s
Scholars Ceremony from 4:30 to 7pm, May 21st is the Black Graduation Ceremony for the
District at West LA College, May 27th is the Certificate Awards Ceremony in the Lakin Center,
May 28th is the Commencement Ceremony in Cougar Stadium and June 1st is the Nursing School
Pinning Ceremony in the Lakin Center.
Dr. Rose thanked those Board Members who attended the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and the
Chancellor’s Investiture later that evening. She said she is working to change the Colleges image
and that the priority must be to get the 21 Associate Degree Transfer programs approved by
June 1st of this year. The programs are the educational pathways to the CSU and UC campuses
for LASC students. She is working with the Faculty to accomplish what was to have been
approved in the Fall of 2014. Of the 21, only 2 have been approved to date. LASC is the only
Community College in the State that has not completed the process. Faculty must review
curriculum regularly and this hasn’t been done at LASC.
Dr. Rose mentioned other goals and needs at the College; she will hire an Articulation Officer
before the fall semester begins. In the spring of 2016, the College will receive a WASC visit for
accreditation. It was move up two years. At the District Chancellor’s Website the report on
Southwest College is available. The State Chancellor signed an agreement with HBCU’s and
Southwest must prepare itself to produce graduates and transfer read students who
matriculate to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Chair’s Report:
Chairman Webb acknowledged those who attended the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony he felt the
Board was well represented. He thanked Dr. Cox for the history she presented. Mr. Burks
echoed the sentiment. He shared that Dr. Rose and her team did an outstanding job presenting
the College. Mr. Burks thanked her for staging the protest, “he truly felt he was on a college
campus.”
Chairman Webb shared that the Executive Committee met with Dr. Rose and received from her
a clear assessment of the College and from the meeting he is fired up to begin the process of
shifting the Morale on the campus.
Chairman Webb is asking the board to be engaged with students that the President may
identify who could benefit from mentoring and career exposure.
Chairman Webb recommended that we have a Kick Off event for the Music Series as our Major
fundraiser this year. He suggested a 10K budget. He also announced the upcoming event “The
Collision” a basketball game featuring High School Boy & Girls players who are being scouted by
Division One programs.
Treasure’s Report
Treasures Dickens introduced Greg Hubbard of Simpson & Simpson CPA’s. Mr. Hubbard will be
our Accountant.
Treasurer Dickens and Mr. Hubbard presented the financial report. Mr. Hubbard indicated that
in the coming months the format of the report would change and that he would work with the
Executive Director on how to get the most out of the financial software Quick Books so that
reports can be prepared for almost any need.
Our Mission… is to provide resources for initiatives, programs and scholarships directly benefiting LASC students, faculty, and staff,
while committed to making higher education attainable.
Our Vision… is to support LASCs mission of student success, lifelong learning,
and enriching the lives of its diverse community.
Chairman Webb indicated he could see now where the Foundations funds were and the status
of the funds.
By Motion H. Dickens and Second B. Thomas the board approved the financial report
Director’s Report:
Audit Update: ED Tabor, indicated that the auditor had requested clarification on 8 more items
and that he, Avis Boyd and Mr Hubbard were researching and providing those items.
Admin Assistance: Ed Tabor informed the board that he was pursuing through the South Bay
Workforce Investment Board Transitional workers. Based on the skills needed to support the
Foundation operation, the WIB would identify and refer candidates for the position of
Administrative Assistant. The person would be paid by the WIB during their eight month tenure
and if the fit wasn’t right could be sent back to the WIB and another worker would be referred.
The Foundations application had been submitted and the next step was a site visit and
development of a scope of work. Mr. Flemings indicated that he was familiar with the program
and if necessary he could assist with finding a worker referral.
Fund Development Activities: ED Tabor informed the Board that Grant proposals have been
submitted to Wells Fargo Bank and the Weingart Foundation for operational support. ED Tabor
also informed the Board of upcoming meeting with Darrell Brown of US Bank and Carl Ballton of
Union Bank and that a meeting with Antonio Manning of Chase Bank was being sought.
Board Calendar: ED Tabor shared the Board Calendar and discussion was tabled by the chair
until the May meeting.
ED Tabor shared the ongoing meetings with the Dean and the Creative Arts Faculty to form a
Creative Arts Academy as a interdisciplinary vehicle for student development and funding.
Committee Reports
Governance: Chairman Webb appointed Barry Thomas to Chair the committee
Events: Chairman Burks gave an update of the “A Place for Everyone Music and it’s Therapy
Concert Series Proposal” The organization has visited the campus and after meeting with Mr.
Tabor developed a plan to engage students in all aspects of the event planning, staging,
marketing, promotion, production and artist relations. Meetings with campus facilities and the
creative arts departments are being planned.
Campus & Community Relations: Chairman Flemings share the three fundraising / campus &
community building ideas that his committee is working on. The Knowledge Tree where leaves
are sold for specific amounts and funds go to the scholarships of the Foundation. The Bricks
campaign, similar to the tree but potentially more lucrative and for larger amounts of donations
due to the ability to “buy” strategic locations.
Chairman Flemings said the third ideas was to host a movie premier in the campus Theatre but
the timelines and logistics don’t work
By Motion C. Flemings and Second H. Dickens approved going forward with planning for the
Bricks and Tree activities.
Old Business
Our Mission… is to provide resources for initiatives, programs and scholarships directly benefiting LASC students, faculty, and staff,
while committed to making higher education attainable.
Our Vision… is to support LASCs mission of student success, lifelong learning,
and enriching the lives of its diverse community.
Women’s Entrepreneurial conference – Chairman Webb indicated that Board member Ford was
contributing $2500 to be split between the President’s Scholars program and the
Entrepreneurial conference.
New Business
Start Up Weekend: ED Tabor presented the general concept of StartUp Weekend, the Board by
Motion Dr. Cox, Seconded J. Burks approved sponsoring StartUp Weekend.
Chairman Webb shared that Dr. Rose had in the meeting with the Executive Committee
indicated that if the Foundation could find an example of a Foundation that managed campus
facilities that she would consider supporting the LASC Foundation have a similar arrangement
at Southwest. He asked Board member Burks to work with the ED on the Creative Arts effort in
meetings with the Faculty and asked the Board to research examples of Foundations managing
facilities on college campuses.
Chairman Webb also share that the Faculty needed to see and engage with the Board members
to fully get that we are going to be her and that we wholly support LASC.
Dr. Thomas-Robertson added that we can lead by example when we are exposed to the faculty.
Chairman Webb asked B. Thomas to come up with a plan and schedule to take Dr. Rose to the
Churches.
Closed Session: No Report
Adjournment: 8:02Pm
Next Board Meeting – May 12th, 2015
Our Mission… is to provide resources for initiatives, programs and scholarships directly benefiting LASC students, faculty, and staff,
while committed to making higher education attainable.
Our Vision… is to support LASCs mission of student success, lifelong learning,
and enriching the lives of its diverse community.