Washington State Association of Boys & Girls Clubs Professionals - Evergreen Chapter

Chapter Minutes

April 20, 2004
Quarterly Meeting

In attendance: David Solo, Bill Dalziel, Jon Evans, Greg Tillotson, Rick Guild, Molly Mayor, Lynn Templeton, Greg Fahr, Sandi Glandon, Tammie Conder, Mark Kim, Phillip Prud’home, Ellen Whitlock, Brian Clemmer, Bill Tsoukalas, Stephanie Miller, Roosevelt Rumble, Ebby Sabbagh

MINUTES
David Solo called the meeting to order by welcoming everyone and thanking them for their attendance. He then went around the room with self-introductions.

David introduced Ebby Sabbagh, our new Statewide IT Director, and Technology Conference Chair. Ebby noted that he is very excited about the conference, as well as the Evergreen Chapter being resurrected, and that he would like to assist by providing a centralized point of contact for information, via the Alliance website.

David asked both Bill Dalziel and Lynn Templeton to give some information, history and background on the Evergreen Chapter of the ABGCP. Bill stated that the chapter used to be very strong, and had at one time also included professionals from both Oregon and Idaho. One of the bigger tasks that the chapter had done was hosting a 3-day training conference. In the time since the Evergreen Chapter had faded, the Youth Development Conference had filled some of the void for training needs for program staff. The Evergreen Chapter slowly faded over time, and there had been several unsuccessful attempts in resurrecting it. Current efforts to get the chapter back up and running have been going on for several months.

Lynn noted that the Evergreen Chapter was patterned after the National ABGCP. He also explained that local chapters are often varied in their focus and vision. Some act almost as a “union,” while others focus on programs and/or trainings. The Evergreen Chapter of old used to focus on programs as its key component and vision. The chapter also had built its membership up to 75-100 members. He also pointed out that most local chapters, like the National ABGCP, provide scholarship opportunities for trainings and conferences as a part of their focus and mission. David thanked both Bill and Lynn for their comments.

David explained that there had been several pre-planning meetings in preparation for starting the chapter back up. As part of the National Charter, we will be required to have at least 2 meetings per year. But, the consensus was that we should attempt to have 4 meetings per year, once per quarter. Also, the Statewide Youth of the Year Program had been administrated by the Alliance, and it is hoped that the Evergreen Chapter can take on the event, which takes place in March each year, and hopefully move the event to Olympia, with a breakfast, similar to the Congressional Breakfast for the National Youth of the Year event. The Youth Development Conference also presents a great opportunity to meet, particularly to involve the program staff, and perhaps the Evergreen Chapter could assist with the conference and/or host or sponsor part of the event. An awards and recognition luncheon would also be considered, most likely in the winter, and awards presented at that meeting would be patterned after the awards that the ABGCP presents nationally each year. There has also been discussion that perhaps the chapter could put together a cluster training in the spring, to help Clubs train and prepare for summer programs, and this event might be held in eastern Washington, to help ease the burden of so much travel for Clubs on the other side of the state. Rick Guild added that the chapter could also become the “vehicle” for local Clubs and staff to bring issues from the “front lines” to the attention of the National organization.

Fees for Evergreen Chapter membership were discussed. Fees collected help provide the funds for scholarships, trainings and conferences, as well as the costs of programs put on, such as Youth of the Year. Also, for every Evergreen Chapter member who is a paid member of the National ABGCP, 50% of those annual dues come back to directly support our local chapter. Bill Tsoukalas mentioned that it is important that the dues for the Evergreen Chapter are modest and affordable, so as to not be a barrier to membership. Jon Evans suggested that because we are just starting out, and almost half way through the calendar year, that we postpone any fee collection until January of 2005. We can focus, though, on encouraging people to join the National ABGCP while growing our local chapter membership.

Lynn Templeton emphasized that in order for the Evergreen Chapter to be successful, it MUST have the ongoing commitment and support from the Exec’s and CEO’s around the state, and they must in turn encourage their staff to participate. While the decision to join is a personal decision and an individual choice, every effort must also be made to ensure that there is value for participants via their membership in the local chapter. It was also suggested that a survey could be a valuable tool in helping to shape the chapter as well, and perhaps Ebby could post something like that on the website for easy access. It may also help us identify some of the training needs across the state, as well as who the NTA’s are that are in our state who can help conduct those trainings. Perhaps a traveling training cluster could also be devised, which would help minimize the costs of sending folks all over for trainings.

David opened it up for nominations for the slate of officers for the Evergreen Chapter. The proposed slate is David Solo, President. Rick Guild, Vice President. Bill Dalziel, Treasurer. Jon Evans, Secretary. Program Committee Chair, Brad Overburg. Recognition and Awards Chair, Mark Hendricks. Membership Committee Chair, Jon Evans. Hearing no further nominations, a motion was made to accept the slate as presented, by Bill Dalziel. Second by Lynn Templeton. Motion passed unanimously.

The Officers and Chairs will attempt a June meeting, and will try and plan a full membership meeting for September at the Youth Development Conference in Portland. Hearing no further business, David thanked everyone for coming.

Meeting Adjourned.