Minutes of the May 10, 2010 Staying Put Board Meeting
A meeting of the Board of Staying Put took place on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 4:30PM at the New Canaan Library.
Jane Nyce reported that SP has four new members since the last Board meeting, and that SP has 21 households in the special membership category. Please check the website for Jane's report on upcoming events. She also reported that the current fundraising campaign has raised $193,003.
The Annual Meeting is Sunday May 16th at 2PM at St. Mark's. Bill Sessions will emcee again and Tom F, Jane, and Judy Bentley will speak. Jo Holmes and his Swing Band and Songsters will provide entertainment. The Board thanks St. Mark's (and the DePaties) for the use of Morrill Hall.
Tom F handed out a potential script for his speech at the Annual Meeting. SP is committed to running a "lean" operation, with the use of many volunteers, in order to keep dues down. In order to maintain these lower-than- average dues (as compared to other "villages") SP must grow a healthy endowment. The Executive Committee decided the dues should be raised no more than the increase in the cost of living. It was decided that Tom would announce that special memberships are available. Since it is an Annual Meeting, Tom will welcome brief questions.
SP has three grants to support special memberships: the Young Philanthropists of the New Canaan Community Foundation has donated $700, and the Rotary has donated $500, and FCCF has donated $10K.
The Publicity Committee has done a terrific job working on a new brochure. . They are to be commended for the use of lots of pictures and quotes, and for the use of large type. The cost (which SP hopes will be defrayed by an angel) is approximately $1400 for 750 brochures. The brochures will be given to any and all who will accept them, especially dentists, doctors, churches and realtors.
Please refer to Jane's report for upcoming events. Please remember to wear your SP caps marching in the Memorial Day Parade. The June 27th benefit at Tanis Erdmann's house must be underwritten; anyone who wants to donate towards the cost of the tent and the food is welcome. The entrance charge is $50 per person.
SP must continue to cultivate big donors. Annie Cohen has researched and made a list of local New Canaan foundations. The list was handed out so that any Board member who has an "in" with some of these foundations can help ask for grants.
Tanis Erdmann reported that Channel 79 and Patch.com have given SP good coverage. The New Canaan Advertiser has the article that Pat Brooks wrote on the upcoming Annual Meeting. It should be in the May 13th issue.
Volunteers are, as ever, an important part of the backbone of SP. Jim Hollyday was the recipient of the "Outstanding Established Senior Volunteer" Award from the Southern CT Volunteer Center for all his work organizing rides and doing much of the driving for SP members, as well as his Board work on many other issues. Maureen Monro has become the Monthly Rides Dispatcher and this new position has greatly lightened Jim's load. Molly DePatie continues to keep the office running with volunteers to handle phone calls whenever needed. Annie Cohen is in charge of production. Please be sure to go through her for any printing of invitations, letters or special mailings. Also, be sure to notify Katch Cerow of upcoming mailings so she has time to get her mailing committee together to process the postcards, etc. Barbara Johansen and Jane will do a training session for volunteers when they deem it necessary. Another volunteer, Al Knaus, has an art exhibit at the Bank of New Canaan. The opening reception is Thursday, May 13th from 6 - 7:30PM. Board members are encouraged to attend.
Tom Turrentine has received a rough proposal from Fidelity on investing some of SP's funds. They will negotiate a fee structure and "ease" some of the money into the market with expectations of higher returns than SP is getting now.
Tom F is on the Senior Healthcare and Housing Development Team, which was appointed by the Town Selectmen to research what New Canaan needs to serve its elders. Since a vast amount of the work has been done already, the expectation is to go beyond a "big report" and to actually make recommendations on actions to be taken. Needs and options will be identified by late July, and recommendations will be made in November.
Tom Towers asked for any suggestions for an expert to give a lecture on estate planning or legal planning. The speaker should not use this lecture as an opportunity for self-promotion
Respectfully submitted,
Lyn Chivvis, Secretary to the Board of Staying Put
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203-966-7762