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Board of Directors of the Oshkosh Seniors Center
Meeting Minutes - Monday November 27, 2006
Present:
Claude Benedict, Phyllis Hill, Ellen Hofeldt, Wm. McCarthy, Esther Stegemann,
Judy Troudt, John Vandenberg, Mona Walker, Donald Wolter, Jean Zimmerman,
and President Ralph Nielsen
Staff:
Sue Kreibich, Aging Services Manager; Judy Brewer, Center Supervisor; and
Vickie Rand, Office Assistant
Excused
: A.J. Anand, Toni Anand, Mary Luepke and Leon Thompson,
President Ralph Nielsen called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M.
Motion by Wolter for approval of the
President Nielsen called for approval of the minutes.
September 25, 2006 minutes as distributed. Seconded by Benedict, Motion carried.
Unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Ms. Stegemann questioned what signatures were turned in at the Council meeting as reported in
the 10/30/06 meeting minutes. Mrs. Kreibich explained that at previous Board meetings, a
committee was set up to develop a booth at each OSC facility where center participants were
encouraged to contact City Council members to share how they benefited from OSC services.
There was also a sheet where people could sign to show their support of the OSC. This was not
a petition. She stated President Ralph Nielsen turned them in at a Common Council meeting
where he spoke briefly to encourage support of the Seniors Center.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Aging Services Manager
–Mrs. Kreibich introduced Mary Mueller as the new Development
Coordinator and asked Ms. Mueller to tell the Board about her background. Ms. Mueller gave a
brief history of her background and reported on working with the appeal for contributions
mailing and thank you letters. Mrs. Kreibich stated that along with her other duties Ms. Mueller
would be attending programs at the Center to familiarize herself with the participants. Board
members in attendance introduced themselves to Ms. Mueller at this time.
President Nielsen questioned what response had been received from the appeal for contributions
mailing to-date. Mrs. Kreibich stated that through 11/24/06 the Seniors Center has received more
than $1300. She also stated that a thank you letter would be sent to everyone who has sent a
donation or comments. President Nielsen questioned if the appeal was mailed citywide. Mrs.
Kreibich stated that the appeal only went to Center participants from 11/1/05 through 10/31/06 as
a capital campaign will be planned for the future to refurbish the cold storage area and a larger
solicitation area would be included in that mailing. She stated the Fund Development Committee
would decide the area of future mailings.
Oshkosh Senior Center Board Meeting - 1 - November 27, 2006
Mrs. Kreibich reported there was no update on the status of the budget at this time. President
Nielsen stated he felt the Center has the support of the Common Council.
Mr. Wolter questioned where the rent for Lutheran Social Services is listed in the 2007 budget.
Mrs. Kreibich stated that in the past Lutheran Social Services gave the Seniors Center a staffed
position in place of rent so there was no reflection in the 2007 City budget. She reported the
Center is receiving rent in dollars since the position has been vacant. Mr. Wolter questioned if
Lutheran Social Services would give the Center money to hire a replacement or do the hiring
themselves. Mrs. Kreibich stated there is a contract with Lutheran Social Services with LSS
being the employer at the current time that outlines the hiring procedures for the position. Mrs.
Kreibich will assign duties to the worker. She will discuss this with LSS.
Discussion followed regarding the different sources from which the Seniors Center receives
money that makes up the total yearly budget.
Friends of the Seniors Center:
Mona Walker reminded the Board of the joint meeting
th
December 11 between the Oshkosh Seniors Center Board of Directors and the Friends Board
and passed around a sign up sheet to bring refreshments.
Jean Zimmerman reported that 2007 OCAT cards were available for $10.00 from the Friends,
which would make great stocking stuffers for Christmas. She also stated candidates were needed
for members of the Friends Board.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business to discuss.
NEW BUSINESS
Committee structure, purpose and composition:
Mrs. Kreibich suggested the Board needed to
discuss the role of each committee to know if some committees could be combined. She also
encouraged Board members to discuss how often committees needed to meet and to find out if
committees have had problems getting a quorum. The Board talked about the Finance Committee
meeting January through June and the Programs, Facilities, and Publicity Committees meeting
July through December. Discussion followed as to whether the whole board should take on these
tasks. Ms. Hill reported the Programs Committee has met every time with a quorum and felt a
lot of ideas would be missed if they didn’t meet regularly. She stated the Health Committee was
not able to meet only once due to lack of a quorum, although she feels it is very important to
meet quarterly to discuss citywide health issues.
Mr. McCarthy questioned if the Board would be able to receive meeting notices for all the
committee meetings, as they may be interested in attending. Mrs. Kreibich stated perhaps the
meeting dates could be published once a year and distributed.
Oshkosh Senior Center Board Meeting - 2 - November 27, 2006
President Nielsen felt the number of committees needed to be reduced. Mr. Wolter stated the
Facilities Committee is not functioning as he thinks it should. Mrs. Kreibich stated the
Committee Chairman could call for meetings to be held as needed. Mr. Wolter suggested
members from both the Board of Directors and Friends Board make up the committee members.
Mrs. Kreibich questioned whether the committees should be under the Board or be advisory to
staff. Discussion followed on the staff’s role and the committee’s role in decision making.
Ms. Hofeldt stated the committee could report to a staff member with the committee consisting
of at least one Board member.
Mrs. Kreibich explained if the committees would not be under the Board, they wouldn’t need to
follow open meeting laws. Currently, committees give reports to the Board with the Board
making final decisions.
Ms. Troudt stated if the meetings were under the staff members, perhaps there would be fewer
meetings but the committee members would be more involved. Ms. Hofeldt suggested staff
should determine whether they need a committee or not. She also felt the Personnel and Policy
Committees could be combined as well as the Fund Development and the Finance Committees.
Mrs. Kreibich indicated that if this were the case, staff could choose to not work with
committees. Ms. Rand suggested the committees should discuss how often they felt they needed
to meet at their next meeting and report back to the Board. Mrs. Kreibich also stated the issue of
whether the committee should function under the staff or under the board also needs to be
decided. President Nielsen stated the discussion would continue in January.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2:31 p.m. (Hill/Benedict).
Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Vickie L. Rand
Office Assistant
Oshkosh Seniors Center
Oshkosh Senior Center Board Meeting - 3 - November 27, 2006