July 21, 2011 Rainier Valley Rotary Board Minutes
Present: Turner, Gutknecht, Lew, Moen, DeHaan, Moe – Quorum Present
Treasurer’s Report: June Bank Statement balances: Operating Account: $5,201.86 Charitable Account: $ 14,893.42
Fundraising Goal: Peggy proposed a fundraising goal for 2011-12 – what’s the goal? Howard suggested a goal for $6,000 – double the 2010-11 year. Consensus approval of the goal.
 
Donations/Service Projects
Peggy proposed a grant/donation limit for 2011-12 General consensus of board: $10,000 in grants in 2011-12.
 
Membership:
No change in membership. Howard suggested we increase the meeting requirement to 3 per month. Peggy suggested we have a by-laws discussion in August board meeting and take it up then.
 
The group discussed whether we should raise the value of a project based on whether it attracts new members.
 
Foundation Report: We will deliver a check for $10 per member to Rotary Foundation
 
Old Business:
Mardi Gras In July Fundraiser Wrap -Up Net from the party is $3740. There mayb be more still coming. We have a wrap-up “How To Do This Still Better” document. Donna Lew will post documents that related to auction. Ruth felt the event ran well and everyone was gone by 11 p.m. worked well for her.
 
Community Service:
Peggy moves we designate $6000 to programming donations at MLK elementary and VanAsselt. Howard seconded the motion. No discussion. Unanimous approval.
Discussion of whether we make dollar commitments tonight. Dawn said it would take $4000 to do Parents For Student Success. Howard said he thought we’d make specific dollar commitments tonight. Peggy proposed we tell Mercer Island we’re doing $6000 and want them to match or exceed – and if we don’t get a commitment from Mercer Island (no specific date for them to approve matching) we fund teacher grants in MLK for $3000, Explorations in Math at MLK for $2500, and Robotics start-up funding for Van Asselt for $450. This represents $5,950.
 
Howard reminded us that Mercer Island should understand we have already donated $3000 for Robotics at MLK for 2011-12 - - this is already funded. Donna suggested we divide the teacher grants between the two schools - $1500 each. Howard suggested we need specific details of a teacher grants program – how it runs – and we need specific members of our club committed to explaining it to teachers and evaluating proposals. Peggy suggested we pass a resolution Ruth suggested the list from Tues meeting is more than a wish list –with the exception is the correct amount is $4000 for Parents For Student Success – we, the two clubs, intend to make this happen. Peggy accepts the Teacher Grants split (our commitment for the two schools at $1500 each) as an amendment. Dawn suggests that for Parents For Student Success to move into one or both of the schools, the school has to commit Title VI money and be committed to outreach and PFSS should be included in the school improvement plan. This is what has made the program at South Shore a success. Discussion of how much of a sustainable commitment this means. Discussion of documenting results – how to do it? Seconded and voted: Proposal passed unanimously.
 
Skyway Science Initiative presented by Donna Mikula – written proposal Skyway currently has two popular science projects running. Science in the Skyway films series – running this summer Science in the Skyway Library. – running this summer Donna proposes distributing $5000 in science books to 3rd graders . This would be made up of donations from Rainier Valley Rotary, Renton Rotary, some of the business owners in Skyway. Howard asked for a specific dollar amount Donna is proposing our club commit to. Donna said she didn’t want to propose a specific amount. Howard asked if there was a specific board member who is the board contact. Donna didn’t know that was a requirement. Dawn said that she would commit some of the $600 remaining for Parents For Student Success – if we can get a core meeting with Anthony Shoecraft. Dawn asked which parents liked it and how many. Donna said she found a handful of parents in the library program liked the science encyclopedia. Dawn suggested as an interim step we purchase encyclopedias for those parents and see how they use them. Howard moved to support with $1666 if the Renton Rotary matches. Peggy suggested a n amendment the motion that the Renton School District must approve. Howard seconded. Vote passed.
 
Summer Math Camp
Dawn Mason proposes a donation to support Moving Beyond Arithmetic’s summer math camp at the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club. There are 25 kids in the summer camp program – Parents are paying $75 per week. Uses: $1200 to rent a van for field trips. $200 for Rubic Cubes Stipends for supporting staff Funding math books for the summer math camp Total: $3000 There was no written proposal and no board member suggested as the contact person. Howard’s proposal for $1500 seconded. Failed vote. Ruth proposed $1000 –seconded – passed.
 
Date for August Board Meeting August 25.