Council of Educational Facility Planners International

Northeast Region Business Meeting Minutes

Annapolis MD April 4 2003

The meeting was called to order by President Wendy Kunz at 8:00 am with 26 Regional members present.

Meeting Minutes

The minutes of the meetings held in Newport, RI on 4/26/02 and Phoenix AZ on 10/22/02 were approved without comment.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Fred Garnon provided a Treasurer’s report with a balance of $22,770.64. It was moved and seconded, the motion carried to accept the Treasurer’s report. It was noted that the revenue included $3,350 from CEFPI as a service to support Region membership activities.

Fred Garnon informed the membership he would not seek reelection as Secretary/Treasurer when his present term expires at the International meeting in 2004.

OLD BUSINESS

A. President’s comments - President Kunz thanked all those who helped in any way to make the conference the success that it was. She specially thanked the vendors, sponsors and firms that participated in the architectural design competition. She was hopeful for the efforts to renew the UEF Chapter.

B.  Board Director – Jim Ryland commented on the following CEFPI activities:

§  The Green Symposium held in Scottsdale in January was the result of a new focus by the Board.

§  Research is another area of importance to CEFPI members with emphasis on organizing data to prepare for both qualitative and quantitative analysis and blind review of projects to eliminate subjectivity in the analysis.

§  Collaborating with other agencies with like interests to bring attention to the role CEFPI is playing in school facilities

§  Publications – another area where CEFPI is growing with paper and electronic publications

§  CEFPI is playing a larger role in public policy as an advocate for proper educational facilities.

C.  Executive Director – Tom Kube offered the following remarks:

§  There has been and there will continue to be tremendous growth in education construction.

§  Great effort is being made to get CEFPI acknowledged as a reputable source in school construction.

§  CEFPI is the best kept secret in the profession and that needs to change.

§  There is a new staff position to assist regions with membership development.

§  The website is growing with more information, links to other Partners, Regions, and Chapters, research links and abstracts, all available on the more current website.

§  Research – following on Jim Ryland’s comments, we are making serious efforts to linkages between learning and facilities.

§  Advocacy – get involved to provide leadership in school design in Washington DC

§  Virtual Office – expanding services to Regions and Chapters with staff and technology now available to offer assistance.

§  Growth in membership is always a primary focus of the organization and the new staff position will facilitate this effort.

D. Membership – the Region membership dropped 20 to 337 members since our meeting in Phoenix in October of last year.

E. UEF Chapter – Prakash Nair, Ed Kirkbride, Laura Wernick and Ritchard Sherman have committed to bringing focus to urban education facility needs. Much attention and interest is needed in order to bring the proper focus to urban problems. The goal is to keep the Chapter alive and growing while bringing attention to the issues at the National level. We need to establish a vision for UE and look at the National meeting to bring interested people together.

NEW BUSINESS

A.  2004 Meeting Location – As President–elect Prakash reported the results of a planning meeting for next years meeting. The Regional meeting in 2004 will be held in Trenton NJ. It was noted there is sufficient membership in the area to help with the meeting. There was a motion to this effect, it was seconded and approved.

B.  2005 Joint Meeting – There was a motion, seconded and approved to have the meeting for 2005 planned as a joint meeting with the Southeast Region. Jim Ryland will coordinate this effort with the SE Region. A committee will be put together to work on this meeting. The question was asked by Paul Abramson, What can be gained by a large group meeting? The value of the Region meetings is smallness vs. bigness. What can be gained in the Region by a joint meeting? Region meetings focus on local issues. Several responses included a focus on issues common to both Regions, unique issues from either Region that both can benefit from and to reinforce the presence of CEFPI in the Washington, DC area. We will have easy access to the Dept of Energy and the EPA. One possible outcome would be a joint Chapter in the DC area.

C. Strategic Planning – June 2002 planning session in Carefree AZ. to update goals and establish direction for CEFPI living goals was attended by Wendy Kunz, Jim Ryland and David Anstrand. Jim Ryland offered outstanding marks to Tom Kube for his outstanding leadership performance as Executive Director. It was moved and seconded to send Tom Kube a certificate of appreciation for his leadership performance. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

D. Nominations for President Elect – Bill Richardson’s name was entered in nomination as President Elect. There were no other nominations. It was moved and seconded that nominations be closed. Motion carried.

E. Membership Chairman – The President appointed Jeff Chambers as membership chairman to work with Kathy, the newly appointed membership staff member to develop membership in the Region.

F. Appointment of Nominating Committee – The President appointed Brad Furey, Jay Perantoni and Avery Gretton as the nominating committee. They are to offer candidates for Planner of the Year (1), Distinguished Service (2), and Service Citations (3). The committee’s recommendations are to be submitted to the President.

G. For the Good of the Order – Paul Abramson offered the following closing comment. Bigness in our organization has brought a loss of members who cannot afford to attend our conferences at the current cost level. Our membership is low in school district facility planners. The question is; are we making ourselves an exclusive organization of architects? It was suggested architects provide a CEFPI membership to their school district clients as a means of maintaining a good mix in our membership. It was also suggested alternative less costly hotel rooms be available for conferences. We could be pricing ourselves out of business and/or creating another organization for architects.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred W. Garnon Jr.

Secretary Treasurer