February 9, 2021: Executive Committee Meeting

by | Dec 14, 2024 | Meeting Agendas and Minutes

February Executive Committee Meeting; February 9th 7:03-8:24pm

In attendance:

  • President: Bob Persiko
  • Vice President: Kieran Holland
  • Treasurer: Bruce Truitt
  • PR Officer: Lauren Newton
  • Secretary: Sarah Knorr
  • Cultural Luncheon: Shannon Holiday

Location:

  • This meeting was held via virtual method (Zoom) due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic

Topics of Discussion

Agenda

  • Minutes of January meeting – action items
    1. Change annual report to monthly report
    2. Members approved January minutes with change listed above

 

  • President’s report
    1. Outreach activities
    2. Bob will speak at the TIPS Club, a local networking organization, to exchange tips that affect business on Thursday, February 11th
    3. Survey of internationals (see summary attached below)
      1. Plan to implement survey data into Global Connections outreach resources/future community guidelines
  • Membership Committee – (Daniel absent)
  1. Membership committee meeting on February 25th at 7:30pm via Zoom
  2. UB Bakker elected as co-chair of membership committee
  3. Purpose of meeting is to brainstorm ideas for what membership committee could do to generate more members; Global Connections currently has 46 registered members
  4. Plans to have membership committee meeting every month
  • Treasurer/Finance Committee – Bruce
  1. Swiper for Affinipay payments
  2. Ordered 2 swipers to process transactions remotely
    1. Global Connections to keep swipers in perpetuity
    2. Will require download of App from Affinipay website
  • Total of $65 to purchase
  1. Account cleanup: Continuing with clean up: closed out accounts that were associated with past paid employees
  2. Centre Foundation 2021 distribution
    1. As of January 6, 2021 account has approx. $41,000
    2. 2020 distribution check deposited
  • There will be another distribution in April: Centre Foundation will communicate when available (total of about $1,558)
  1. Move to accept 2021 distribution monies and deposit into expense account
  2. Motion approved
  1. Budget planning process
    1. Proposes using budget document from last year as budget for current year; plan to distribute to members for input for changes/approval
  • Program Activities – Kieran, et al.
    1. Met with Past President Melanie Miller Foster and collaborated on holding events virtually
    2. Proposes idea of a “take away” Cultural Luncheon event
    3. Plans to host Program of Activities member meeting: members to receive email last week of February to meet virtually with goal to brainstorm feasible events in light of pandemic
  • Public relations, website and social media – Lauren
    1. Global conversations promotion
      1. Collaborated with Susan: encouraging book club leaders to promote Global Conversations events in groups
      2. There were 32 attendees at previous Global Conversations event
  • Other ideas to promote Global Connections: promote upcoming Global Conversations event at Global Connections events (date at least); survey how people found out about event to check outreach strategies; promote events in other activities (ESL Classes, discussion groups)
  1. Newsletter: using Wild Apricot email feature, establish timeline of newsletter publication: deadline one week after Executive Committee meeting have info sent to Lauren for newsletter (due by next Tuesday February 16th)
  • Unfinished business:
    1. Budget for 2021
      1. Susan requesting Global Connections to budget $2,500 for annual book group to purchase books
      2. Executive Committee proposing book group members join Global Connections if organization agrees to sponsor booksBook groups request
  • Executive Committee to approve book group budget item of $2,500 for book groups to purchase books with attached condition that all book group members must be Global Connections members; Global Connections will not pay for memberships
    • Motion for Global Connections to budget $2,500 to book groups; books provided will only be provided to members; book club members must be Global Connections members
    • Motion passed
  1. Application for airport sign funding through 3 Dots Downtown Awesome Grant was approved & funded
    1. Currently in design phase, the welcome sign will feature different languages and will be placed in the University Park airport to greet visitors in multiple languages
    2. Will design be presented to Global Connections?
  • New business:
    1. 2021 is the 60th anniversary of the founding of Global Connections
    2. Think about how to advertise and present ideas at next meeting on how to celebrate this!
    3. Proposed changes to the bylaws (Daniel) – Postpone until March
    4. Shannon discussed the Community Diversity group Cultural Corners Bridge program and asked to include Global Connections events on the Community Diversity group listserv and vice versa; requesting Global Connections sponsor two Penn State Humphrey Fellow students at luncheon on February 25, 2021
      1. Bruce will divert money ($22/person total $44) from expenditures budget: Sponsorship budget to sponsor 2 students
  • Miscellaneous

Action Items

  • Bob and Lauren will collaborate on an outreach statement
  • Bob will add survey on Global conversation on how viewers found out Global Conversations event
  • Plan to create press release for advertisement of GC 60th anniversary (newspaper article, etc?)

Adjournment

Summary of problems and concerns expressed by international residents surveyed

Renting an apartment or house – extras such as electricity; leasing terms (start/end dates)

Opening a bank account, applying for a credit card

Social contact – how to meet Americans (exacerbated by the pandemic, inability to work for spouses)

Communication – fear of making English mistakes; how to find an English class

Medical care system – insurance, in-network providers, copays, etc.

Lack of transportation – without a car

Need for identification card other than passport    

Help finding a school for one’s children; children not knowing English, adjusting to US educational system

Resources – especially for spouses