May Executive Committee Meeting; May 11, 2021 7:02-9:00pm
In attendance:
● President: Bob Persiko
● Vice President: Kiernan Holland
● Treasurer: Bruce Truitt
● Secretary: Sarah Knorr
● Past President: Melanie Miller Foster
● Membership Committee Chair: Daniel Foster
● Public Relations: Lauren Newton
● Cultural Luncheon: Shannon Holliday
Location:
● This meeting was held via virtual method (Zoom) due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic
Topics of Discussion
Agenda
1) Minutes approved without objections, no corrections
a) Minutes to be filed on Global Connections Google Drive
2) Action Items from April
a) Bruce to explore investment options for checking account
i) Motion to transfer $25,000 from CD to alternate account to earn more interest
ii) Motion seconded
b) Bob and Kieran to communicate with collaboration with Asian student groups coordinator on how
Global Connections can be involved in conversation
i) Plan to follow up and continue to brainstorm ways to interact with Asian American student
groups
c) Melanie to contact George re forwarding global connections PSU email to gmail email
i) Melanie and Bob will have access to Global Connections PSU email account
ii) Email cannot be forwarded to gmail account due to security reasons
iii) Global Connections website is not compatible with iphone browsers
iv) Plan to use gmail email on a consistent basis on accounts, website, social media accounts, etc
3) President’s report – Bob
a) Town & Gown interview will be published in June
b) Centre Gives – Should we apply to be a recipient next year?
i) Added to unfinished business
c) Should we have a target date for a return to (a) in-person membership meetings and (b) executive
committee meetings?
i) Plan to continue to explore options and adjust
d) How to develop one-on-one relationships
i) Brainstorm ways to promote regular engagement like a conversation partners program
4) Global Programs – Wenjie Fu not present
5) Membership Committee – Daniel Foster
a) Next membership committee meeting will be at end of May
b) Global Connections current membership is 61 members
6) Treasurer/Finance Committee – Bruce Truitt
a) Centre Foundation ROI Options
i) See above under action items
b) Attribution of dues payments
i) Daniel and Bruce to meet over conflicting information of membership information
7) Vice President – Kieran
a) Will be attending a virtual event in DC with Afghan embassy
8) Public relations, website and social media – Lauren
a) Send any newsletter information to Lauren by end of week
Unfinished business:
1) Budget for 2021
2) Update on the airport sign – Melanie
a) There will be a one sided sign, budget request $300 to finish sign
b) Motion to authorize $300 for one sided sign, seconded, unanimous vote
3) Digital Education programming update – Melanie
a) Event on May 17, will be taking break over summer
b) Next event features Pennsylvania Dutch culture
4) Centre Gives for next year
New business
1) Committee restructuring and bylaws changes – Daniel
a) Continuation of discussion of committee changes
i) Eliminate finance and audit committee
ii) Create 2 new committees: fundraising and development committee and audit committee
iii) Create public relations committee
iv) Create digital education standing committee: cultural conversation
v) Create small group/book club standing committee: discussion group, english classes
vi) Eliminate program of activities committee and create engagement and innovation committee
b) Plan to continue drafting changes and present to general membership (with 30 days notice) in future
i) Tentative date: August 2021
Miscellaneous
Action Items:
1) Bob and Kieran to communicate with collaboration with Asian student groups coordinator on how
Global Connections can be involved in conversation
Next meeting Tuesday, June 8th