Minutes of the April 7, 2008 Staying Put Board Meeting
A meeting of the Staying Put Board of Directors convened on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 4PM at the New Canaan Library.
The following members were present: Judy Bentley, David Brown, Maru Brown, Arthur Congdon, Terri Connors, Molly DePatie, Tom Ferguson, Jeannie Hart, Jim Hollyday, Barbara Johansen, Eloise Killeffer, Betsey Nissen, Ellie O'Neill, Judy Schurman, Pat Stoddard, Tom Towers, Bob Witt, and Executive Director, Jane Nyce. Also present was Annie Cohen - newly nominated for Board Membership, and Advisory Council members Hope and John Hetherington, and Bob Lear.
Tom Towers, President, chaired the meeting and Ellie O'Neill recorded the minutes.
Tom Towers opened the meeting leading a long cheer to salute Bob Lear and his inspiring new book - "Volunteerism in New Canaan". The book is a compilation and description of our town's many fine volunteer organizations and the large corps of hard working volunteers who serve all of us who live here. Bob gave copies to the Board members and announced plans to donate book sale profits as a special gift to Staying Put. We thank him for that kind contribution and are very grateful to have been included in Bob's gracious tribute to New Canaan volunteers.
Tom then announced the nomination of Annie Cohen for membership on the SP Board. Pat Stoddard proposed Annie's election, Maru Brown seconded and the election was unanimous. Tom welcomed Annie and announced that she would be heading up the planning for our May 20 First Annual meeting.
The approval of Fidelity as a recipient for Staying Put stock donations was proposed by Tom Ferguson and seconded by Molly DePatie. The motion carried
unanimously.
Jane Nyce reported that final details on a rental at 58 Pine St are being worked out and the hope would be to move in at the end of this week. The SP Office would be moving from 45 Grove St to space at the rear of 58 Pine St with a separate rear entrance and good parking directly outside. SP will have a room with good light and 2 designated Staying Put parking spaces. Thanks were expressed to Dick Bond who has helped with the real estate arrangements and to Tom O'Dea and our insurance agent for their assistance with legal and insurance details.
On behalf of the Board and the Staying Put Members Pat Stoddard expressed warm thanks to Dave Bentley and his partner for giving us the use of space in part of their offices for the past few months. This spacious interim office provided a bridge of time and enabled us to do a search for an appropriate long term rental.
Jane also reported the latest SP statistics - we have 209 individual members representing 146 households - 43 of our members are also giving service as SP volunteers. Requests for computer assistance are on the rise. Vetted service recommendations to fill springtime chore requests will be especially welcome and should be directed to Betsey Nissen and Molly DePatie.
SP has submitted a grant request to the United Way and will be presenting to that group on April 15th. And we expect to hear about our grant request to the NCCF within a month or so. We are also applying for a grant from the Near and Far Association.
Pat Stoddard recently chaired a lively meeting to brainstorm for ideas for Member Programs and Events between now and year-end. A wide ranging assortment of meetings, trips, tours and cultural programs were proposed and a calendar is being worked out by volunteers and members. April plans include a dinner gathering at Cherry St East, the 4 Freshmen Benefit Concert on Saturday, April 26th at 4PM and Glass House Tours earlier that same day. During May - a 5/12 tour of the Silvermine Art of the Northeast Show followed by dinner at the Tavern and on May 20 our 1st Annual Meeting for Members, Advisors and our Board will be followed by a Spring Wine and Cheese Party. Our newest member Annie Cohen has agreed to chair the Annual Meeting Party plans. The Memorial Day festivities will include Marching in or watching the Parade followed by refreshments under our big new SP Banner.
Upcoming SP Publicity will focus primarily on the Four Freshmen Concert on April 26th at the New Canaan Country School at 4 PM. A Patrons reception will immediately follow in the school Library. The Advertiser and the News Review will be running articles on the Freshmen and $50 admission tickets are available at the office as well as Elm St Books and the Gramaphone. Special $35 Member tickets will be at the SP office 966-7762 as well as Patron tickets for $100 each. Judy Bentley displayed a handsome poster designed by Arthur Congdon's firm which will be displayed at the RR Station corner. Flyers have been mailed to friends and are displayed all over town. Since Judy and Dave Bentley were able to secure contributions to underwrite all the concert expenses - the entire proceeds from ticket sales will go to Staying Put.
Judy is also placing ads in the local papers and Barbara Johansen suggested that ads in the Stamford Advocate were a good buy.
Jane Nyce will be being interviewed by Jane Stoddard Williams on 1100AM radio on Wednesday April 16. The talk show runs from 1 to 4 PM and the Jane Nyce segment is scheduled for 2:30 - 3 PM. We will also try for coverage on Channel 79.
Terri Connors advised that Channel 12 News be apprised of the 4 Freshmen Concert and future events. Terri will follow up on this possibility.
Additional contacts with members concerning all SP News and events was discussed. The SP Connectuions callers may be used as a Telephone Tree at times but David Brown and Judy Schurman emphasized that Connections calls and visits were first and foremost a way of getting to know individual members and forming ties with Staying Put.
A one or two page Monthly letter to members should be a useful communication to all our members to keep them informed and interested in new Services , Members, Plans, Programs and Events and all the SP News. The Letter would be e mailed to those members who use e mail and will go out through the USPO to those who are not e mail users.
Tom Ferguson reported that he and Bob Witt have been meeting and discussing the SP- Getabout relationship and the overall transportation needs of New Canaan Seniors in general. It was decided that it would be crucial to get additional input directly from our members. To this end Tom has prepared a 4 page survey to go out to SP members to determine their key transportation concerns - now and in the future. As the responses are tabulated and discussed Tom will keep the concerned town agencies informed about the information that the surveys reveal.
Pat Stoddard urged that long term fund raising be pursued with vigor in the next few months. Now that SP is launched and operating it has attracted a good base membership and is offering a lot of interesting and helpful programs. There is a healthy buzz about what we are doing which should help to generate additional financial support. And we all need to get behind the Four Freshmen concert ticket sales to make our first fund raiser a major success.
David Brown reported on his personal visits with his 15 Staying Put Member Connections. David finds that lots of people get more interesting as they get older and have longer and more varied life experiences. He feels that through his Connections visits he has made a group of new friends at a time in life when it is increasingly difficult to meet and get to know new people. As we age there are fewer opportunities to find the assurance of being part of a group and Staying Put Connections can foster that assurance. David suggests that face to face contact leads to finding out "who a member is" and this will be key to the success of our Connections program.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2008 at 4 PM at the New Canaan library. In closing Tom Towers commented on the wonderful spirit of involved participation that seems to be evident in so many recent SP gatherings.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Eleanor O'Neill
Staying Put Secretary
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