Steering Committee Minutes
STEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES for JANUARY 27, 2010
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SONOMA COUNTY (PSGSC)
PRESENT: Jeri Wylie, Kathy Osbun, Dana May Casperson, Aletha Christianson, George Irizary, Arlene Irizary, Mike LeMole, Karen Luvvorn, Davis Brown and Facilitator/Chairperson Patricia Staudacher.
The meeting was called to order at 10:12 a.m. by Pat Staudacher. The minutes of the last meeting ( Nov. 18, 2009 ) were read by Kathy Osbun and approved on the motion of Kathy Osbun, which was seconded by Jeri Wylie.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Mike LeMole reported the receipt of a check for $4,000 from the Rotary Club Sunrise Community Foundation of Sebastopol. The funds were generated by a benefit tennis tournament, dinner and auction held by the Kingshill family to honor Barbara Munther Kingshill, who has Parkinson’s Disease and has been an inspiring person in the lives of the Kingshill family.
The Steering Committee thanked Dan May Casperson for her independent role in connection with the donation. In answer to questions about how the money could be used, Dana May said the funds were a donation and assured the Steering Committee that there were no stipulations, restrictions or reporting requirements made by the donor. Although the apparent implied intent was to use the funds toward a Parkinson’s Patient Care Center , the check was unaccompanied by any documents outlining use of the money. Arlene Irizary cautioned that the IRS has strict rules about how non-profits use funds, especially funds earmarked for specific uses. Mike LeMole was directed to deposit the check into the support group’s CD bank account. Mike reported that PSGSC regular checking account balance is $3,725.01.
Mike also reported that he, Bud Suiter and a Suiter relative have transferred to standard user-friendly DVD’s all of the films that he has recorded of guest speakers at meetings. These DVD’s will be available for checkout from the support group’s library.
FINANCE COMMITTEE: Pat Staudacher reported that the Steering Committee’s Finance Committee met Jan 12, 2010 , and produced a proposed budget that is now under consideration for action at the next Steering Committee meeting. The tentative budget for 2010 is $5,450 to cover rent, speaker honorariums, equipment, refreshments, janitorial fees, and other costs. Income is from donations, memorials and fundraisers.
The Steering Committee also approved signing up for Basic Training for Board Members, sponsored by the Volunteer Center . The two-hour session provides training on legal roles and responsibilities, policy and planning, finance and fund raising, community relations, board recruitment and development, and effective meetings. The one-time cost is $250.
PROGRAMS: There was a discussion of the program for the Feb. 6 Saturday meeting, with emphasis on creating a comfortable, welcoming and informative setting for people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The outcome of the discussion was for Davis Brown to facilitate a special and possibly ongoing breakout group for newly diagnosed persons. They will meet during the meeting’s second hour. Guest speaker during the first hour will be Pam Field on Yoga for People With Parkinson’s. Pam will have several of her students—PSGSC members who have Parkinson’s Disease--demonstrate Yoga during her presentation.
Other future speakers are March 6: Susan Keller, Executive Director and Planner for the Community Network, on taking control of long-term health choices; April 10: Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr. Lisa R. Grossman, Ph.D., whose areas of expertise include individual adjustment to disability, caregiver issues, dementias and psychological aspects of normal aging.
STAFF: It was reported that Terrie Sedgwick has resigned as Refreshment Chairperson. It was suggested that we reach out to the Caregiver breakout group for volunteers for that position as well as for secretary of the Steering Committee.
WEBSITE: It was agreed that material for the support group’s web site be submitted to first to Jeri Wylie, whose grandson, Austin, operates the web site.
TRANSPORTATION: There was discussion of how to help elderly or disabled members get to monthly support group meetings, possibly via shuttle vans at various residential facilities.
MOVEMENT DISORDER FOUNDATION/PATIENT CARE CENTER: Dana May reported on the status of discussions she has had with the Sutter Hospital chief administrative officer regarding a Parkinson’s Patient Care Center . According to Dana May, Sutter has indicated it could provide office space and that efforts are being made to recruit movement disorder specialists to establish practices here. Approaching Kaiser Permanente to be involved is also a possibility, Dana May said.
PAN FORUM: On the motion of Dana May, seconded by Karen Luvvorn, it was voted and approved to provide up to $150 for site and webcast costs for a location at which members can participate in the Parkinson’s Action Network 16th Annual Research and Public Policy Forum February 17 and 18.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. The next Steering Committee meeting will be Wednesday, February 17, at 10 a.m. at Brighton Gardens , 300 Fountain Grove Parkway , Santa Rosa . The above minutes are subject to reading and approval by the Steering Committee Feb. 17.
Respectfully submitted,
George Irizary, Acting Secretary
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SONOMA COUNTY (PSGSC)
PRESENT: Jeri Wylie, Kathy Osbun, Dana May Casperson, Aletha Christianson, George Irizary, Arlene Irizary, Mike LeMole, Karen Luvvorn, Davis Brown and Facilitator/Chairperson Patricia Staudacher.
The meeting was called to order at 10:12 a.m. by Pat Staudacher. The minutes of the last meeting ( Nov. 18, 2009 ) were read by Kathy Osbun and approved on the motion of Kathy Osbun, which was seconded by Jeri Wylie.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Mike LeMole reported the receipt of a check for $4,000 from the Rotary Club Sunrise Community Foundation of Sebastopol. The funds were generated by a benefit tennis tournament, dinner and auction held by the Kingshill family to honor Barbara Munther Kingshill, who has Parkinson’s Disease and has been an inspiring person in the lives of the Kingshill family.
The Steering Committee thanked Dan May Casperson for her independent role in connection with the donation. In answer to questions about how the money could be used, Dana May said the funds were a donation and assured the Steering Committee that there were no stipulations, restrictions or reporting requirements made by the donor. Although the apparent implied intent was to use the funds toward a Parkinson’s Patient Care Center , the check was unaccompanied by any documents outlining use of the money. Arlene Irizary cautioned that the IRS has strict rules about how non-profits use funds, especially funds earmarked for specific uses. Mike LeMole was directed to deposit the check into the support group’s CD bank account. Mike reported that PSGSC regular checking account balance is $3,725.01.
Mike also reported that he, Bud Suiter and a Suiter relative have transferred to standard user-friendly DVD’s all of the films that he has recorded of guest speakers at meetings. These DVD’s will be available for checkout from the support group’s library.
FINANCE COMMITTEE: Pat Staudacher reported that the Steering Committee’s Finance Committee met Jan 12, 2010 , and produced a proposed budget that is now under consideration for action at the next Steering Committee meeting. The tentative budget for 2010 is $5,450 to cover rent, speaker honorariums, equipment, refreshments, janitorial fees, and other costs. Income is from donations, memorials and fundraisers.
The Steering Committee also approved signing up for Basic Training for Board Members, sponsored by the Volunteer Center . The two-hour session provides training on legal roles and responsibilities, policy and planning, finance and fund raising, community relations, board recruitment and development, and effective meetings. The one-time cost is $250.
PROGRAMS: There was a discussion of the program for the Feb. 6 Saturday meeting, with emphasis on creating a comfortable, welcoming and informative setting for people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The outcome of the discussion was for Davis Brown to facilitate a special and possibly ongoing breakout group for newly diagnosed persons. They will meet during the meeting’s second hour. Guest speaker during the first hour will be Pam Field on Yoga for People With Parkinson’s. Pam will have several of her students—PSGSC members who have Parkinson’s Disease--demonstrate Yoga during her presentation.
Other future speakers are March 6: Susan Keller, Executive Director and Planner for the Community Network, on taking control of long-term health choices; April 10: Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr. Lisa R. Grossman, Ph.D., whose areas of expertise include individual adjustment to disability, caregiver issues, dementias and psychological aspects of normal aging.
STAFF: It was reported that Terrie Sedgwick has resigned as Refreshment Chairperson. It was suggested that we reach out to the Caregiver breakout group for volunteers for that position as well as for secretary of the Steering Committee.
WEBSITE: It was agreed that material for the support group’s web site be submitted to first to Jeri Wylie, whose grandson, Austin, operates the web site.
TRANSPORTATION: There was discussion of how to help elderly or disabled members get to monthly support group meetings, possibly via shuttle vans at various residential facilities.
MOVEMENT DISORDER FOUNDATION/PATIENT CARE CENTER: Dana May reported on the status of discussions she has had with the Sutter Hospital chief administrative officer regarding a Parkinson’s Patient Care Center . According to Dana May, Sutter has indicated it could provide office space and that efforts are being made to recruit movement disorder specialists to establish practices here. Approaching Kaiser Permanente to be involved is also a possibility, Dana May said.
PAN FORUM: On the motion of Dana May, seconded by Karen Luvvorn, it was voted and approved to provide up to $150 for site and webcast costs for a location at which members can participate in the Parkinson’s Action Network 16th Annual Research and Public Policy Forum February 17 and 18.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. The next Steering Committee meeting will be Wednesday, February 17, at 10 a.m. at Brighton Gardens , 300 Fountain Grove Parkway , Santa Rosa . The above minutes are subject to reading and approval by the Steering Committee Feb. 17.
Respectfully submitted,
George Irizary, Acting Secretary
