MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SONOMA COUNTY
MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 17, 2010
PRESENT: Kathy Osbun, Arlene Irizary, Bud Suiter, Mike LeMole, Joe Hootman, George Irizary and Davis Brown.
CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Parkinson’s Support Group of Sonoma County (PSGSC) was called to order at 10:11 a.m. by Vice Chairperson Kathy Osbun.
OF THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SONOMA COUNTY
MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 17, 2010
PRESENT: Kathy Osbun, Arlene Irizary, Bud Suiter, Mike LeMole, Joe Hootman, George Irizary and Davis Brown.
CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Parkinson’s Support Group of Sonoma County (PSGSC) was called to order at 10:11 a.m. by Vice Chairperson Kathy Osbun.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the last meeting, October 20, 2010, were approved as changed. There were two changes in the Treasurer’s Report. One was the deletion of the sentence, “As of this writing, the approximate 35-page document has been delivered to [Chairperson] Patricia.” In fact, the document was delivered at a later date. The other change concerned the purchase of postage stamps for Treasurer-related mailings “and PSGSC meeting information” (italicized words added).
TREASURER’S REPORT: As of Oct. 31, 2010, account balances were $10,228.30 in a CD, $873.27 in checking, and $15,015.41 in market rate savings. October expenses were: October guest speaker ($100.00); QuickBooks financial program ($185.62); Nov.-Dec. rent ($200.00); Scholarships to PANC conference ($159.00); Budget Class at Volunteer Center ($45.00); and Postage Stamps ($44.00). Revenue was $45.33 from the meeting donation jar. On a motion by Davis Brown, seconded by Joe Hootman, it was decided to ask the Budget Committee to recommend a minimum/maximum dollar amount that should be maintained in the PSGSC checking account to cover rent and other expenses. Treasurer Sandy Grant will be scheduling a December meeting of the Budget Committee.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINIC: Davis Brown reported that he has talked with Memorial Hospital and others regarding a proposal to establish a Parkinson’s Movement Disorders Clinic in Sonoma County. Kathy Osbun and George Irizary were volunteered to accompany Davis at future talks on the topic. Davis said one of the questions that came up was how many people in Sonoma County have Parkinson’s Disease. He said there are 170 people with PD in the PSGSC database, and, of those, nine are out-of-county residents. Those who attend our monthly meetings represent maybe 20% to 25% of actual PD cases, Davis estimated.
AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS: Arlene Irizary reported that an “Amendment to By-laws” was received from the IRS along with a 35-page copy of the original application for non-profit status. The IRS copies were requested by the PSGSC several months ago and were recently received in the mail. The amendment provides that the organization is exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes; should not be used to financially benefit members or officers; and how assets would be distributed if the non-profit folds. It is dated April 25, 2006, and will be attached to the by-laws we currently have.
Also, the IRS paperwork defined the PSGSC as an “Association” rather than as a non-profit corporation, a designation which will require further research to clarify.
RECRUITMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS: It was reported that several people have expressed interest in serving on the Board of Directors. No action was taken pending the return of Chairperson Patricia Staudacher, whose job it is to nominate prospective board members. Patricia could not attend this meeting for health reasons.
CAREGIVER GROUP: The Board discussed a proposal by Betty Smith to assume leadership of a satellite caregiver group formerly facilitated by Amy Southwick. The board decided unanimously to notify members that “The Betty Smith proposal for a new caregiver support group by phone [telephone format] has not been endorsed by the Board of Directors of the Parkinson’s Support Group of Sonoma County.”
HOLIDAY PARTY: The Board voted to provide up to $100.00 for table coverings, decorations, tableware, juice and other items for the December 11, 2010 Holiday Party. Program Coordinator Kathy Osbun said entertainment will be provided by the Trad Jass Jammers Dixieland Band. Kathy is also working on guest speakers for 2011.
SOUND SYSTEM: Bud Suiter reported on his continuing work to fine-tune the sound system used during meetings. Some unintended sounds may be caused by dust or foreign material in the printed circuit or, possibly, interference from radio transmissions emanating from the fire department next door to the meeting place. He also offered to explore the cost of a head-mounted microphone that leaves the speaker hands-free and maintains the optimum space between the microphone and the speaker’s mouth.
PRACTICAL PLOYS: Joe Hootman presented the Board with 20 copies of “Practical Ploys for Parkinsons Patients: Tools and Techniques to Help Manage the Disease.” Joe, who edited the book, described it as a “living document,” intended for updating as information and helpful strategies become available. Printing cost was $6 per copy.
S.F. CONFERENCE: Kathy Osbun reported on her and husband Ben’s attendance at a UCSF conference on Parkinson’s Disease. She said she would make copies of some of the handouts for distribution at the next general meeting of the PSGSC. The handouts cover topics such as hospitalization, taking meds on time, the importance of hospital charts stating “exact times” for meds (rather than merely “three times per day”), getting up and moving as soon as possible after surgery, and medicines that people with Parkinson’s (PWP’s) absolutely should not be given (and what meds are okay for PWP).
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m. The above minutes are subject to approval at the next board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at Brighton Gardens, 300 Fountain Grove Parkway, Santa Rosa.
Respectfully submitted, George Irizary, Board Secretary
TREASURER’S REPORT: As of Oct. 31, 2010, account balances were $10,228.30 in a CD, $873.27 in checking, and $15,015.41 in market rate savings. October expenses were: October guest speaker ($100.00); QuickBooks financial program ($185.62); Nov.-Dec. rent ($200.00); Scholarships to PANC conference ($159.00); Budget Class at Volunteer Center ($45.00); and Postage Stamps ($44.00). Revenue was $45.33 from the meeting donation jar. On a motion by Davis Brown, seconded by Joe Hootman, it was decided to ask the Budget Committee to recommend a minimum/maximum dollar amount that should be maintained in the PSGSC checking account to cover rent and other expenses. Treasurer Sandy Grant will be scheduling a December meeting of the Budget Committee.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINIC: Davis Brown reported that he has talked with Memorial Hospital and others regarding a proposal to establish a Parkinson’s Movement Disorders Clinic in Sonoma County. Kathy Osbun and George Irizary were volunteered to accompany Davis at future talks on the topic. Davis said one of the questions that came up was how many people in Sonoma County have Parkinson’s Disease. He said there are 170 people with PD in the PSGSC database, and, of those, nine are out-of-county residents. Those who attend our monthly meetings represent maybe 20% to 25% of actual PD cases, Davis estimated.
AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS: Arlene Irizary reported that an “Amendment to By-laws” was received from the IRS along with a 35-page copy of the original application for non-profit status. The IRS copies were requested by the PSGSC several months ago and were recently received in the mail. The amendment provides that the organization is exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes; should not be used to financially benefit members or officers; and how assets would be distributed if the non-profit folds. It is dated April 25, 2006, and will be attached to the by-laws we currently have.
Also, the IRS paperwork defined the PSGSC as an “Association” rather than as a non-profit corporation, a designation which will require further research to clarify.
RECRUITMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS: It was reported that several people have expressed interest in serving on the Board of Directors. No action was taken pending the return of Chairperson Patricia Staudacher, whose job it is to nominate prospective board members. Patricia could not attend this meeting for health reasons.
CAREGIVER GROUP: The Board discussed a proposal by Betty Smith to assume leadership of a satellite caregiver group formerly facilitated by Amy Southwick. The board decided unanimously to notify members that “The Betty Smith proposal for a new caregiver support group by phone [telephone format] has not been endorsed by the Board of Directors of the Parkinson’s Support Group of Sonoma County.”
HOLIDAY PARTY: The Board voted to provide up to $100.00 for table coverings, decorations, tableware, juice and other items for the December 11, 2010 Holiday Party. Program Coordinator Kathy Osbun said entertainment will be provided by the Trad Jass Jammers Dixieland Band. Kathy is also working on guest speakers for 2011.
SOUND SYSTEM: Bud Suiter reported on his continuing work to fine-tune the sound system used during meetings. Some unintended sounds may be caused by dust or foreign material in the printed circuit or, possibly, interference from radio transmissions emanating from the fire department next door to the meeting place. He also offered to explore the cost of a head-mounted microphone that leaves the speaker hands-free and maintains the optimum space between the microphone and the speaker’s mouth.
PRACTICAL PLOYS: Joe Hootman presented the Board with 20 copies of “Practical Ploys for Parkinsons Patients: Tools and Techniques to Help Manage the Disease.” Joe, who edited the book, described it as a “living document,” intended for updating as information and helpful strategies become available. Printing cost was $6 per copy.
S.F. CONFERENCE: Kathy Osbun reported on her and husband Ben’s attendance at a UCSF conference on Parkinson’s Disease. She said she would make copies of some of the handouts for distribution at the next general meeting of the PSGSC. The handouts cover topics such as hospitalization, taking meds on time, the importance of hospital charts stating “exact times” for meds (rather than merely “three times per day”), getting up and moving as soon as possible after surgery, and medicines that people with Parkinson’s (PWP’s) absolutely should not be given (and what meds are okay for PWP).
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m. The above minutes are subject to approval at the next board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at Brighton Gardens, 300 Fountain Grove Parkway, Santa Rosa.
Respectfully submitted, George Irizary, Board Secretary
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