Minutes of the Directors of the
Tibetan Terrier Health & Welfare Foundation
Monday, December 3, 2007
Meeting by teleconference was called to order at 8:09PM by President Bob Kreis. Directors in attendance were Brenda Brown, Anette Ohman, Sue Carr, and Jac Herschler. Also in attendance were Jackie Faust, Secretary, and Pat Nelson, Vice President.
Bob Kreis asked the Board if there were corrections to the minutes of the last Board Meeting. Anette Ohman confirmed the web site address and domain provider. Jac Herschler corrected the statement that reserved rescue money is 2/3 of the TTHWF assets. A motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting October 7, 2007, was made by Brenda Brown. It was seconded by Sue Carr. Motion passed unanimously.
Bob asked Anetteto explain the web site choices. She said the software package comes with or without e-commerce (sales shop and donation capabilities). Do we want e-commerce?Will we use PayPal or accept credit cards for donations? Jac stated he felt the cost for credit card purchasing would be an insignificant percentage of cost, and he will look into the Bank of America’s credit card merchant services. Anette will look into PayPal cost and services. Pat Nelson asked if we thought about how this might compete with the TTCA for online sales. Jackie Faust said that the IRS required that TTCA sales income be no more than 35% from non-members, but that the TTHWF was unrestricted in that regard because of their 501c3 status. Bob suggested that we get the web site set up and add the shop later. He will talk to the TTCA Board about the sales shop, and establishing a link on the TTCA web site for Foundation donations.
Anette said that her husband Tom volunteered to do the web site. She asked if we had a logo for the Foundation. Discussion continued regarding asking an artist to use the TTCA logo and add the TTHWF to its design. Jackie Faust volunteered to ask Sandy White to help with logo graphics.
The Board decided to ask Brenda Algar to prepare written content for the TTHWF web site, for fund raising information.
Fundraising ideas followed. Sue Carr suggested we consider selling wine custom labeled with famous TTs. Anette spoke about bottled water custom labeled for purchase at the TTCA National Specialty. Brenda Brown said she spoke to Chris Boran about doing a scrapbook, but that she was not willing to take that project on. Anette suggested bronze statues, and Jackie Faust mentioned she would talk to a friend who had a bronze made of her dog. Brenda Brown mentioned that she had several original TT drawings by Nancy Brown that she could donate. Brenda also said her Ebay sales to benefit the TTHWF totaled $1000 so far. Stacey LaForge may agree to run another art auction at the National. Anette volunteered to make calls for art donations. Anette also said she could contact Annie Fitt, who may have some smaller items to donate.
Bob brought back the topic of web site content, and suggested Brenda Algar be asked to take the lead. Jac recommended we have details regarding research projects. Bob asked Brenda Brown to write something in layman’s terms about the 2 research grants we are funding. Jac stated that people tend to give to rescue because health is not concrete, too vague. He feels that our biggest challenge is replenishing health research funds, and suggested we call that fund “vital health research”. Several Board membersthought that the word “vital” might cause restrictions. Bob said he would be writing a President’s Message for the TTCA Newsletter explaining the Foundation activities. Anette asked that the Board insure an open book policy regarding activities and finances.
Bob mentioned Gail Toracinta (TTCA Treasurer) was including the TTHWF health research (unrestricted) and TTHWF rescue fund separately in the TTCA dues notice. He asked that she not direct donations to the CHF/DAF. Bob asked Anette to follow up and communicate this to Gail.
Sue Carr suggested we could ask Jane Reif to design a commemorative plate. Jackie Faust added that we could produce plates yearly, dated and numbered. Brenda Brown offered that she would ask Nancy Brown to donate a drawing for a plate.
Pending CHF Grants were discussed. Brenda Brown said the TTCA will take the option to withdraw funds from the Donor Advised Fund over a period of time (quarterly). Bob asked Brenda to see if credit for funding can go to both the TTCA and the TTHWF. Brenda reported that $4,462 was in the TTCA’s CHF/Donor Advised Fund, and that $8500 more was needed to fund grants starting the first of the year 2008. Brenda committed $1,000 to the funding of the grants from proceeds of her Ebay sales. So the Foundation would have a net contribution of $7500 to the CHF/DAF. A motion made by Jac Herschler that we use Foundation money to pay the balance of the 2 CHF grant funding requirements. It was seconded by Anette Ohman, and passed unanimously.
Jac inquired who would let him know when and where payments are madeto the AKC/CHF. Brenda said she would let Jac know when the time comes. She explained that in the past, when the TT Donor Advised Fund was in the red, additional grants were approved, and the money wasn’t there to fund them. Jac asked that Brenda find out specifically when he should make the payments. Jac also asked how we would know that our moneygoes to the designated research project if our money goes to another Foundation (CHF). Brenda said she hasn’t received a new spreadsheet with our DAF balance since she became Health Committee Chair. It was agreed that the CHF was the best way for us to donate to health research because they can gain cooperation and receive better reporting than we could if we donate directly to researchers. The Jaclie Memorial Fund for PRA research was discussed, and Brenda Brown felt there is a lack of accountability and reporting from the researcher, Dr. Gus Aguirre. Sue Carr expressed that the small donations to that researcher have been from otherclubs and non-TTCA fundraisers. She suggested that the TTCA could approach Dr. Aguirre with a significant donation proposal in exchange for a report of his findings regarding PRA in Tibetan Terriers. Sue said that communication from the TTCA (or Foundation?)may be what he wants to hear. Brenda Brown stated that a RFP (request for proposal) followed by an exchange of quarterly payments and reports is the standard procedure for grants. Bob asked the Board who was communicating with Dr. Aguirre, and Sue Carr said it is Alice Smith. Bob then suggested that Alice get a RFP from Dr. Aguirre for presentation at our meeting in March, so that we can consider a donation. He also suggested that those who want to support Dr. Aguirre should put together some information for the TTHWF Board so that it can be considered at the March meeting.
CHF quarterly financial reports are yet to be received by Brenda Brown. Bob asked Brenda to report back to the Board when she receives them. Jac emphasized that we are obligated to those who donate to us for an intended purpose, that those donations are documented to have been given accordingly.
Bob Kreis announced the meeting adjourned at 9:18PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jackie Faust
Secretary
The undersigned Directors who were not present at the meeting reported above hereby ratify and in all respects approve the foregoing minutes and all actions taken.
Brenda Algar______
Alice Smith______