Buffalo Companion Animal Network

Meeting Minutes 9.21.04

 

Carol Tutzauer, President

Clara Miller, Vice President Communications

Henry Sontag, Vice President Networking

Suzanne Laba, Vice President of Operations

Mary Jo Roselli, Treasurer

Alex Murphy, Secretary

Pam Rose, Board Member At-Large

In Attendance

Carol Tutzauer, Sandy Armatys, Alex Murphy, Frank Tutzauer, Clara Miller, Denise Ridolfi, Pam Rose, Bridget Flynn, Suzanne Laba, Henry Sontag Jr., Polla Milligan

Order of Business

 

  1. Report on Articles of Incorporation – Clara Miller

 

The papers filed were rejected by the State.  They will be updated and resubmitted.  There was an issue of classification (between types “b” and “c”).  We will file a corporate status of “b” with NY State.  These papers will be submitted and sent in via overnight carrier, with the expedite fee in order to speed up the process.  Once that is done, IRS registration should happen quickly.

 

  1. Report on Web Page Development – Carol Tutzauer

 

Site is near completion and ready to be handed over to Pam Rose.  The SOSBuff list should be closed within the week, with the BuffaloCAN bulletin board taking it’s place.  Alex Murphy will look into exporting the list.

 

 

(1)  Report on Talks with Shelter and H.E.A.R.T. regarding Dog-and-Cat Beret funds - Henry Sontag

 

The most identifiable cause to use the funds for has been determined to be spay/neuter.  The shelter is looking to address the liability issue of having a third party transport adopted animals to and from the spay location.  The SPCA has offered use of their surgical suite on Sundays and possibly other afternoons.  The transportation and spay issue is more easily addressed for cats than for dogs.

 

(2)  Once BuffaloCAN’s role is clarified, further action will be authorized by a vote of BuffaloCAN’s Board of Directors.

 

Motion:  By Sue and seconded by all.  Establish a specific committee to qualify roles and better define the relationship between the shelter and our organization.  Sue Laba and Clara Miller will head this committee. 

 

First assignment is to come up with a set of goals and understandings.  This will be written into a letter and categorized as a specific collaborative agreement.  Clara and Sue will formulate the ideas, Alex will craft the agreement letter.

 


  1. Resolution on Membership Fees:

 

(1) Motion to set the amount of the membership fee

 

Motion seconded and passed unanimously.  The amount of the membership fee shall be $15.00

 

(2)  Motion to begin membership drive, accompanied by quarterly newsletter to be issued in November, February, May, and August, with responsibility for the newsletter’s release assigned to the Vice President of Communications with input from the Board and from the membership.

 

Motion seconded and passed unanimously.  Clara will put together the newsletter, and we will solicit content from membership community.

 

  1. Selection of Shelter Development Committee

 

(1)   Motion passed unanimously.  Henry Sontag Jr. elected as Committee Head.  Board Members minimum, with participation sought from membership

(2)   Online bulletin board discussion area to be set up.

(3)      Plan: To report on limited number of possibilities along, advantages and disadvantages of each, and a recommendation from the Committee.

 

  1. Selection of Fundraising Committee

 

(1)      Motion passed unanimously.  This is a permanent committee with temporary leadership until committee members can be identified in membership base.

 

·       2 Board Members minimum, with participation sought from membership

·       Online bulletin board discussion area set up

·       Charge: To prepare a strategic plan for short-term and long-term fundraising, with a recommended action plan.

·       Polla Milligan suggestion holding a large fundraiser event in October of 2005.  This would be a Doll/Bear expo type of event.  Fundraising committee will explore further.  A meeting for this group will be set at the convenience of members.

·       Clara presented items that could be sold.

·       Issue of donation/collection receptacles discussed.

 

  1. Short Public Comments Heard and Proposed Topics for Next Meeting

 

(1)    Ideas about future activities and services our group could provide.

 

  1. Set Date for Next Meeting

 

Next meeting will be Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at the Sterling Tavern

 

  1. Summary of Events

 

Topics discussed:  Shelter Development committee is one of our most important goals, Fundraising is going to be important and will require lots of membership involvement, State of Incorporation is going well and we should be ready to take donations soon, Henry will address a formal negotiation and understanding between Heart and Buffalo CAN, Shelter relationships will be fostered through clarification of goals and responsibilities.

 

  1. Adjournment

 

8:50 PM