PLAIN Monthly Meeting Minutes
February 5, 2009
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Gwyneth Butera.
Attendees: Gwyneth Butera, President, Lalah Manly, Vice President; Linda Orgain, Secretary; Faye Ridling, Co-chair, Neighborhood Watch Committee; Matt Pulsts, Ilse Fisher, and Lisa and Ronnie Kellerhouse.
Review of the January Meeting Minutes. The minutes for the January 8, 2009, meeting were submitted and accepted with some minor revisions.
Treasurer’s Report. Mary Stuckey was not able to provide the January Treasury Report at the meeting, but said she will e-mail it to leadership at a later date.
Prior to this meeting, Kathie de Norbriega sent a report about her investigation into PLAIN’s 501(c)3 status . Gwyneth informed the group that PLAIN is a 509(a)(2) organization, which is a specialized kind of 501(c)(3). We are considered to be closer to a private foundation since we receive very little income from donations, but instead receive most of our income from admissions and fees (ie, memberships, breakfasts, etc.). We are is good standing, but still need to file IRS 990 forms for the fiscal years ending June 2007 and June 2008.
Signs. Nicky, Lalah and James are working on developing new signs to promote the monthly Pancake Breakfast, PLAIN meetings, and PLAIN Talk. Nicky will create the signs, and give them to Lalah, who will be responsible for laminating them. After this is completed, James Schwarzlose will mount them on the stands and put them up around the town.
PLAIN Talk. We are still having some problems with delivery of the hard copies; this month, these were delivered to Gwyneth’s home. Nicky is working to resolve these issues. There were 150 printed copies delivered for the February issue, down from 200, because we had copies left over. Ella also reported that there are two new people involved in production of PLAIN Talk. She will be assisting with the layout and design, and has a lot of experience with software design programs. We also have a new person responsible for advertising, Cece Garrison, who is very enthusiastic and who has a lot of new ideas. This is a potential income producing stream for PLAIN Talk. The deadline for contributions to PLAIN Talk is the 10th of the month.
Chili Cook-Off. This event will be held on Saturday, February 21, at 5 p.m., at the Beach House. Set up will be at 4 p.m.; Ella is in charge of set-up, with assistance from Ilse. Members will bake cornbread (Lalah M. and Ilse F.), Faye R. will bake her broccoli cornbread, and Pam Heiges will purchase other items (e.g., drinks, onions, cheese, and sour cream) and Faye will purchase the paper products. The cost is $5 if the person does not contribute a dish to share.
Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, at the Beach House. The activities will begin at 8:30 a.m., with a continental breakfast (danishes, muffins, coffee, tea, and juice) followed by the hunt at 9:30 a.m. The cost for the breakfast will be $3.50 per adult and $2 per child for PLAIN members ($4.50 for adults and $3 per child for non-PLAIN members). We still need someone to serve as the coordinator; Gwyneth will send out an e-mail to ask for a volunteer to coordinate this event. Faye will coordinate bagging the candies and Gwyneth or Nicky will purchase the prizes. Gwyneth has the Easter eggs. Volunteers will also be needed at 7 a.m. on the beach to help hide the many eggs.
Neighborhood Watch. Faye Ridling reported that she and Greg Creech, her co-chair, gave out the 2009 packets to the street captains, which was held on Thursday, January 29. The information form for residents has been revised to include an emergency contact person. Last year, when a tree fell on a house and the resident was injured, the rescue group did not know whom to contact for the injured individual. In the past, this issue also has arisen when residents became ill and needed assistance. The street captains and the Neighborhood Watch co-chairs will keep a copy of the emergency information forms. From the completed forms, they will develop a telephone notification tree. The group still is in need of some street captains; interested people should contact either Faye Ridling or Greg Creech.
New Business:
Pancake Breakfast. Cree S. has reported that some new volunteers are needed for the breakfast crew for the monthly pancake breakfast. Gwyneth will discuss this request further with the breakfast crew before sending out a request for volunteers.
Senior Activities. Linda and Faye will work with Nita Towns on planning some activities targeted for seniors for 2009.
2009 Slate of Officers. Gwyneth mentioned that officers will need to be chosen at the June meeting. She asked that PLAIN members consider volunteering for one of the officer positions, and that a slate of officers be nominated.
PLAIN Membership List. PLAIN currently has 69 paid members/families who have joined or renewed for 2008. About 30 people did not renew in 2008. Linda asked for assistance in verifying some of the information on the membership list for those who did not renew in 2008. She will provide the leadership with some names to verify later in February.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse.