February Regularly Scheduled Meeting; February 5, 2020

1. Call to Order and Welcome

Starting at 6:30pm committee meetings were conducted for 30 minutes. A 42 minute presentation and Q&A session followed featuring Carson Letot, Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor from Michigan and Dr. Filiberto Penados, Professor and Founder of Study Abroad Programs, C.E.L.A. in Belize. The regular meeting of Global Connections was called to order at 7:42pm by Melanie Miller Foster, President. A quorum was noted as present with 16 members and 3 guests in attendance. Secretary, Sarah Knorr, was present and recorded meeting minutes. A door prize was awarded to a present member after a random ticket drawing.

2. Reading and Approval of Minutes

The December Minutes were presented to the membership in writing and were approved with no corrections and are to be filed for audit. President Miller Foster noted only committees met in January 2020  were treated as a work session only; a business meeting was not held.

3. Reports of Officers and Standing Committees

Officer Reports were provided:

• President Miller Foster: no report
• Vice President Persiko: oral report, encouraged members and guests to communicate to the local international community to participate in upcoming 2020 census and to reach out to Global Connections for census resources; announced he wrote a piece for ‘This I Believe’ titled Immigrants Make America Great which will air in near future on NPR
• Secretary Knorr: oral report, the Global Connections website is being updated to highlight the organization’s programs and activities; encouraged members and guests to forward media and information to be published on website and social media platforms
• Treasurer Truitt: oral report, notified the membership that the annual budget is drafted and will be sent to Executive Committee; financial statements can be available upon request
• Public Relations Officer UB Bakker: oral report, pictures of past events and activities are uploaded to Facebook
• Past President Steinberg: not present

Standing Committees:

• Membership Committee Chair D. Foster: D. Foster was not present at meeting, membership committee member Paige Castellanos provided oral report, organization met goal for recruitment; current membership stands at 79 members and membership committee has new goal of 100 members by April. Other goals include: (1) increase attendance by recruiting through advertisements, listserves, and social media, and (2) maintain membership retention through door prizes and personalized name tags

• Finance Committee Chair B. Truitt: oral report, announced draft of 2020 budget which will be presented to Executive Committee to discuss, adopt, and amend as needed. Provided members and guests with handout copy of budget. Stated if any committee had monetary overages outside of allotted expenditures, provide Bruce with receipts and member will be reimbursed. Motion was put forth to approve budget as presented; motion passed unanimously

• Cultural Luncheon Committee Chair S. Kamerow: absent for committee reports

• Activities Committee Chair B. Persiko: oral report, announced Global Connections t-shirts are available at Webster’s Bookstore & Café priced at $20. The International Poetry Night was held on Monday, February 10^th at 7pm. There were 14 poetry presenters from 10 different countries. President Miller Foster announced a new, upcoming event: Global Connections Member Social on February 17^th at 6:30pm at Little Szechuan in downtown State College. Global Connections will be hosting Penn State sophomore, Sihan Liu to share information about the food traditions of China. A signup sheet was provided for 5 open spaces (out of 12 total reserved spots) and members were encouraged to attend for dinner and discussion

• Book Groups Sub Committee Chair S. Steinberg: S. Steinberg was not present; Book Group member Deb Leo provided oral report, book groups are up and running with lively discussion; committee will provide information for book groups to be advertised on social media.

4. Reports of Special Committees 

No Special Committee reports.

5. Special Orders

No Special Orders reports.

6. Unfinished Business and General Orders

No Unfinished Business and General Orders

7. New Business

No New Business

8. Announcements

• The next meeting is on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7:00pm. Committee meetings will begin at 6:30pm.
• Penn State Global Programs is seeking volunteers to help with assisting Penn State international students/scholars through the Annual Tax Workshop; those interested can contact Wenjie Fu at [email protected]
• The next Global Connections Cultural Luncheon will be Friday, March 27 from 12-1pm at the Mounty Nittany Methodist Church

9. Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.

February Executive Committee Meeting; February 5, 2020, 5:30pm-6:30pm

In attendance:

• President: Melanie Miller-Foster
• Vice President: Bob Persiko
• Public Relation Officer: U.B. Bakker
• Treasurer: Bruce Truitt
• Secretary: Sarah Knorr

This meeting was held prior to General Meeting at Saint Andrew’s Church in State College

Topics of discussion:

• Location of next General Membership Meeting
  • Upstairs in room 325 at Saint Andrew’s
• Take pictures of officers in Global Connections t-shirts
  • To be taken at next meeting
• International Children’s Festival
  • Volunteers are needed
  • WPSU is running event
  • Do they have a flyer or do we need to create one
• GC organizational records:
  • Google Drive
    • Invite Officers to access photo file
    • What should we do with past files?
      • Bruce and Sarah will meet and decide
    • Global Connections Letter templates/Stationary
      • Send out to Officers, upload onto Google Drive

January Executive Committee Meeting; January 30, 2020, 7:00pm-8:00pm

In attendance:

• President: Melanie Miller-Foster
• Vice President: Bob Persiko
• Public Relation Officer: U.B. Bakker
• Treasurer: Bruce Truitt
• Membership Committee Chair: Daniel Foster
• Secretary: Sarah Knorr
• Book Group Chair: Susan Steinberg
• Cultural Luncheon Chair: Salua Kamerow

Location:

• This meeting was held at Launchbox Conference Room

Topics of Discussion:

Agenda Items:

• Preparing for the February Meeting
  • Budget: Bruce will send out copy; membership can look at before next meeting
  • Program: Ag educator from Belize
  • Proposed Agenda
• Meeting space for March meeting: UB checking on available space; or different room at Saint Andrew’s Church
• Creating a new organization: logistics
  • Global Connections Calender of Activities: Daniel created, can be edited as needed
  • Updating the Operations Manual: policies (books, insurance)
  • New GC mailing address: Secretary Knorr and Treasurer Truitt hold keys to box now located on Foster Ave
  • Microphone
  • Email: Gmail vs PSU; Secretary does not have access to PSU email due to being non-employee
  • Social Media: Should all officers have access to update Facebook? UB/Sarah/Melanie/Salua currently updating as appropriate
    • Salua creates facebook events for cultural luncheons
  • Website: Currently paying for website; hosted through PSU
• Next EC meeting
  • To be held at COG building, address to be determined

December Regularly Scheduled Meeting; December 11, 2019

1. Call to Order and Welcome

Committee meetings were conducted for 35 minutes. Following a 39 minute presentation and Q&A session by Yordanka Castillo, a Cuban law student, the regular meeting of Global Connections was called to order at 7:44pm by Melanie Miller Foster, President. A quorum was noted as present with 19 members and 2 guests in attendance. Secretary, Sarah Knorr, was present and recorded meeting minutes. A door prize was awarded to a present member after a random ticket drawing.

2. Reading and Approval of Minutes

The November Minutes as presented to the membership in writing were approved with no corrections and are to be filed for audit.

3. Reports of Officers and Standing Committees

Officer Reports were provided:

• President Miller Foster: oral report, provided detail and structure of upcoming, January and February meetings
• Vice President Persiko: no report
• Secretary Knorr: no report
• Treasurer Truitt: oral report, notified the membership of completion of Global Connection’s 501(c)(3) registration; read financial statement, details of which may be found online; proposed removing Centre Foundation funds from operating account budget
• Public Relations Officer UB Bakker: not present at meeting
• Past President Steinberg: no report

Standing Committees:

• Membership Committee Chair D. Foster: oral report, announced current membership at 52 paid members with a goal of 75 paid members by February 2020. He encouraged members to spread information about Global Connections and announced an exploration of an expected 2020 operating budget of $2,000: $400 allocated for nametags, $400 door prizes, $200 for printing and publicity, and $1,000 for special events (the details of which are TBD). He ended by asking those present to think of local organizations to invite to meetings. Written report provided. 

• Finance Committee Chair B. Truitt: oral report, announced committee will be pursuing a sales tax exemption for the organization; the committee will approach local banks and immigration law firms to be donors to the organization; the committee will seek up to $1,000 from the Awesome Foundation; and will explore enhancing operating and return funds. Two purchases ($30.70 and $320.67) for the Book Club were voted on and ratified.

• Cultural Luncheon Committee Chair S. Kamerow: oral report, announced upcoming Cultural Luncheon: January 15, 2020 theme is Mesopotamia; requested up to $500 for January luncheon operations, request was motioned and approved unanimously; announced an expected 2020 operating budget of $2,000 ($500/cultural luncheon at 4 per year).

• Activities Committee Chair B. Persiko: oral report, announced an International Poetry Night on February 10 at 7:00pm at Webster’s; up to $100 was motioned and majority approved for refreshments expenditures for poetry event; member proposed to explore International Arts & Crafts workshop for potential 2020 event; committee will be exploring hosting international students for meals during holidays and non-holidays. Written report provided.

• Book Groups Sub Committee Chair S. Steinberg: oral report, announced request of up to $200 for book purchases for use prior to February 2020, the motion passed with majority vote; announced anticipated 2020 operating budget of $1,000; announced all books purchased will be retained by Global Connections for use in future book groups. 

4. Reports of Special Committees 

No Special Committee reports. 

5. Special Orders

No Special Orders reports.

6. Unfinished Business and General Orders 

Vice President and Activities Committee Chair, B. Persiko, provided oral report detailing follow up of T-shirt project. Up to $1,000 was requested to procure t-shirts in time for February event (International Poetry Night). Motion was passed to spend up to $1,000 on t-shirt with an expected retail price of $20 per shirt.

7. New Business

• The AAWU requested Global Connections sponsor two international Humphrey Fellows to attend their annual luncheon. A motion for $44 was proposed and passed unanimously to sponsor both Fellows. 

8. Announcements

• The next meeting is on January 8, 2020 and is expected to be a work session for Committees

9. Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m.

November Executive Committee Meeting; November 20, 2019, 7:00pm-8:00pm

In attendance:

• President: Melanie Miller-Foster
• Vice President: Bob Persiko
• Public Relation Officer: U.B. Bakker
• Treasurer: Bruce Truitt
• Membership Committee Chair: Daniel Foster
• Secretary: Sarah Knorr
• Book Group Chair: Susan Steinberg
• Cultural Luncheon Chair: Salua Kamerow

Location:

• This meeting was held at Cultural Luncheon Chair, Salua Kamerow’s home

Topics of Discussion:

Agenda Items:

• Introduction of new officers
  • Emails, member list, passwords on google drive and documents
• Officer transition process
  • Operations manual provides rough sketch of roles and responsibilities
  • Can make suggestions for additional duties
    • Example: PR or Secretary: monthly newsletter
  • Volunteers/members can help with officer roles
• Debrief November membership meeting
  • Status of involvement, change of meeting structure, follow up for members who missed meeting
  • What is our intent with funds?
    • Address at January meeting
    • Bring transparency
  • December membership meeting
    • Update from planning committee
    • Subcommittee chair of book groups and clubs: questions and funding request
      • Motioned and passed to authorize Book Group chair to buy books up to ‘X’ amount
    • Luncheons: as means for gathering members?
      • Increase admission cost for nonmembers-recruitment
    • Looking forward: strategic planning process
      • Formulating global connection objectives
      • Scoring of committee suggestions
      • Empower committees via individual budgets

2024 Annual Membership Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 7:00 pm

Location: Zoom

Officers Present:

President: Bob Persiko, Acting

Vice President: Ciara Halloran, Acting
Public Relations Officer: Rose Sharp, Acting
Treasurer: Bruce Truitt
Secretary: vacant

Number of members in attendance:  10

Call To Order: 7:11 PM.
November 2023 general meeting minutes were accepted as submitted.

Reports of Officers & Standing Committees

President – Bob Persiko

 Bob thanked the members present, the GC leadership team, and noted that the organization is financially very sound.

• • Bob stated a dilemma – It’s hard to recruit new members and volunteers when we don’t have group activities to offer; and it is hard to offer activities without volunteers to manage them.
  • He said leadership volunteers are needed – secretary, future president/VP. Bob said he served happily as president for three years, but then it was time to hand over the reins to others. The disappearance of the president elected in 2023 created a leadership crisis that made Bob feel he had to step back in.
  • He noted that GC will offer a digital dialogue 11/20, 5:00 PM, in conjunction with International Education Week featuring two high school exchange students from Lithuania and Morocco.
  • Bob said the GC English Literacy Fund established at the Centre Foundation is a success, and he deferred to the Treasurer’s report for more details.
  • GC is continuing its partnerships with other community organizations: Penn State Global, Volunteer Centre County, Mid-State Literacy Council, SC Area School District, American Association of University Women, Community Diversity Group and the UN Association of State College.
  • Linda Barton suggested someone attend the OLLI/PSU Global International Social event on 11/14 at Innovation Park to see if it’s a good opportunity for outreach. Bob said he would register and attend.

Vice President – Ciara Halloran

Ciara said she is happy to be involved with GC and has a goal to focus on expanding membership. We might offer an incentive to members to bring a guest to the annual fall picnic. She also wants to bolster the cultural events in the coming year. Linda Barton suggested reaching out to the faith communities in the area. She also mentioned the annual international potluck at the high school that just took place as an occasion to reach out to families.

Treasurer – Bruce Truitt

Bruce reported on GC’s finances:  As of Nov. 1 all bills were paid; $7,279 in the checking account, which doesn’t include revenue from renewals of annual dues; $18,278 in the money market account; $45,000 in the Global Connections fund held by the Centre Foundation; and $25,000 in the Sub Fund, which is also managed by the Centre Foundation. GC made a decision to transfer this money from the bank account to improve earnings. It serves as an emergency fund, and money can be easily withdrawn as needed.

Bruce further reported that the GC English Literacy Fund established in the Centre Foundation has $29,058, an increase of $4,000 in a short period of time. We are sponsoring 3 scholarships this fall and can sponsor four more in the spring with the balance of available distributions from the Fund and what was donated through the Centre Gives campaign. Given the financial health of the fund, it is reaching the point where it can be self-generating.

Public Relations – Rose Sharp

Rose said she posted an item and photos of the fall picnic. She likes how GC is both multi-cultural and multi-generational. She would like to post phots of the Executive Committee leadership team and all members. We could have someone take photos of members and events.

Membership – Sunny Yunjuan Jiang

We have 213 “Contacts” and 75 active members in the membership website Wild Apricot. There are no associate members following the withdrawal of Ten Thousand Villages.  She has archived one inactive member and will continue to cull the contacts list. Sunny reported on her attendance at the UN Association of State College annual dinner. There wasn’t much opportunity there to promote GC.

Cultural Events – Shannon Holliday

Shannon has developed three potential meals for early 2025: January for a Scottish/Turkish theme; a Dominican theme on February 22, which is Dominican independence day; and one on an Iranian theme in April. They are contingent on the availability of venues

Small groups – Deb Leo

In Deb’s absence, Bob reported that the reading groups are active. He said that he is continuing to lead the discussion group every Tuesday on Zoom. He had to suspend his English class due to poor turnout. This may be due in part to the abundance of ESL programs in our area.

Special Orders

Election of 2025 Officer Team

President – Bob Persiko

Vice President – Ciara Halloran

Public Relations- Rose Sharp

Secretary – vacant

All attendees voted in favor of the proposed slate of candidates.

1. Subsequent to adjournment, Alexandra Persiko volunteered to serve as Secretary. The meeting attendees were polled, and all voted for her to fill that office.

Proposed amendments to the Bylaws and Policies and Procedures

The proposed revisions, including elimination of the Standing Rules, were unanimously approved. Thanks to Bruce and Deb for their hard work on this task.

Unfinished Business

None

New Business

None

Next Meeting: TBD

Meeting adjournment: 08:00 PM

Submitted By: Bob Persiko                                   Date of Submission: November 15, 2024

November Meeting Agenda (2024 Annual Meeting)

Meeting time: 7:00 pm, Wednesday, November 13th

Location: Zoom: https://psu.zoom.us/my/bobpersiko

Officers:

President: Bob Persiko

Vice President: Ciara Halloran

Public Relations Officer: Rose Sharp

Secretary: vacant

Treasurer: Bruce Truitt

Welcome (7:00-7:05) – President – Bob Persiko

Approval of Minutes from the November 2023 general meeting

Reports of Officers & Standing Committees (7:10-7:20)

· Treasurer – Bruce Truitt

· Vice President – Ciara Halloran

· Public Relations – Rose Sharp

· Cultural Events – Shannon Holliday

· Small groups – Deb Leo

· Membership – Yunjuan (Sunny) Jiang

General discussion (7:20-7:30)

What can we do to attract more active members?

Special Orders

Election of 2025 Officer Team (7:30-7:40) – Nominees (see bios)

President – Bob Persiko

Vice President – Ciara Halloran

Public relations – Rose Sharp

Note: Bruce Truitt was elected Treasurer for a 2-year term in 2023.

Note: There is no nominee for Secretary. Nominations from the floor

are welcome.

Proposed amendments to the Bylaws (7:40-7:45)

Unfinished Business

none