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League of Women Voters of Butte County Board Meeting Minutes February 11, 2025 5:30 pm on ZOOM |
Board Members present: Satsie Veith, Janet Rechtman, Toni Reid, Sandi Shand, Claire Greene, Marcia Moore, Helen Gesick, Nicole Drummond, Carol Holzgrafe
Absent: Corky LeTellier, Lisa Cooperman
• = Action Item * = Motion
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m.
Minutes: from the January 14 meetingwere approved as written.
One correction: Update html to HDMI.
Financial Report: Treasurer Sandi Shand reported that our cash balances have gone from $70,172 to $82,064 from the end of FY 2023-2024 till the present. Currently we have $17,870 in the Tri- Counties Bank (down from $36,533 at the end of FY 2023-2024). Because of our transition to 501c3 status, the IRS informed us we can no longer pay dues to state or national, so we paid them ahead of time. The result: figures are not what is normally expected. The state cashed our check; national has not. The budget committee will be meeting in the near future to complete a draft budget for FY 2025-2026.
501c3 update: We are now an official 501c3. The board discussed what, if any, changes to make to the Education fund held with NVCF. Do we start a new nonprofit investment fund or keep the money in NVCF? Marcia: don’t we still want them to do the bookkeeping, paperwork? Our tax consultant says we may need two tax returns: part one and part two after the 501c3. • Janet will speak with NVCF and find out what the options and report to the board.
Dues Transformation update: Members may have received an email from national advising them to log in to the Member Portal, which is now posted on our website on the Home Page and Join Page. The upcoming newsletter will have an article explaining this in more detail. Did the Email to go to the membership portal for members? Sandi has been unable to access the National Roster for some time. • Helen will check with others to see if she can help figure this out.
Feb. 4 meeting: The board discussed what amount to give the Baptist Church as a donation for use of their meeting room. *Marcia moved increasing the donation from $50 to $100. Toni seconded. The motion was passed by all. We’ll do the same for each of the next 3 meetings we have there. We give St. John’s $200; their regular fee is $450. The board discussed the update to the local Water Position that was suggested at the meeting. Toni suggested this could be part of the plan for the upcoming year if members want to do that.
After discussion the board agreed to recommend to the state League that they emphasize water instead of including it in climate change & sustainability; immigration, reproductive rights and criminal justice. *Motion to endorse by Janet, Marcia seconded, passed by all.
Feb. 27 potluck planning meeting is for members old and new, not the public. Claire is preparing a slide show. • Satsie will ask Sandra Flake to discuss the 501c3 since she did most of the planning.
Zoom Account/Laptop: The League's basic zoom account, that we pay for, is not for webinars. The webinar function can be activated a month at a time but not normally. We use Satsie’s account (paid for by her) for meetings. Do we need the other one? After discussion, the board agreed to keep the current Zoom account and make sure people know it is available for use. The board also discussed how to record candidate forums. Toni: We must be able to broadcast and post the link for candidate forums; it is less restrictive than live TV. Marcia reminded us that William Tefteller said not to try to record ourselves and don’t try to use Olli's• = Marcia: will check if the communications department on campus would be interested in helping.
The League laptop is kept in the office and has not been used for some time. It may need security update. • Sandi will check with Helen. Do we need more than Windows Defender?
Offering Rides to Meetings: Satsie: could we offer in our publicity and ask for drivers. It was agreed this is a good idea.
Planning for Next Year: Janet: We have a sense of priorities from the Feb. 4 meeting but need people to do those things. What attracts the energy? How do we advocate and educate? We have 143 members. Where are they? Redistricting is a big deal - will come up soon. We must get people active now and on committees.
Satsie: are we making plans for new board?
• Carol will send links to AAUW webinars: "The Care and Feeding of Volunteers" and other pertinent webinars. Aauw-ca.org; click on "Branch Tools"at the top, click on Webinar picture. Select by title or subject.
• Janet: will have flipcharts and/or sign-up sheets at the next meeting. Marcia: have discussion groups in which everyone selects one activity.
Janet: have people spend 5 minutes in each group.
• Assignments to:
Janet: 2 buckets for advocacy, 1 or 2 for outreach (education)
Marcia: membership
Toni: water and reservoirs
Nicole: social policy/advocacy in a non-partisan way and/or nominating emphasizing advocacy part.
Maybe Janet and Satsie: Criminal Justice and immigration: who to lead: advocacy could cover this.
Adjourned at 6:50.
Submitted by Carol Holzgrafe
