Minutes of the Board of Directors

of the East Central Neighborhood Association

8 August 2010

The meeting was called to order at 6:15 pm at (300 N. Madison)

Board Members Present:

Board Members Absent:

Members Present:

1. none

Announcements:

• Annie reported that she had filled the necessary forms with the Internal Revenue Service to maintain the federal non-profit status for the Association.

• Stacy reported that the attorney for Blood-n-Fire indicated that it would not be a problem if the Association used the Blood-n-Fire building as its mailing address (300 N. Madison).

• Chris reminded us that a festival meeting would be held on Thursday 19 August 2010 at 7:00 pm at 232 N. Monroe.
  
  

Minutes:

• MSP 6 June 2010 ECNA board meeting minutes as presented

Committee Reports:

• Finance

  • no report

• Program

  • OWSF is scheduled for 18-19 September 2010.

  • Discussion of the success of the Independence Day Ice Cream Social in July. This included discussion of how we might limit the participation to East Central Neighborhood residents.

• Membership

  • A new member joined the ECNA at the ice cream social.

• Advocacy

  • The fall neighborhood clean-up is scheduled for Saturday 11 September 2010. Please meet at 8:00 am at the corner of E. Washington and N. Vine.

• Weed-n-Seed

  • Annie reported on her impression that the current issues with the w-n-s program were a result of a cut in funding and with some general communication problems with the program director.
    
    

Old Business:

• DeWayne reported that the water tank (for watering plants in the traffic island and parkways) has been working as intended.

• Chris reported that the ECNA booth at Rib Fest had a gross income of $426.05, expenses of $287.20 for a net of $133.85. Chris also indicated that in addition to the funds raised, the ECNA was able to extend much good will toward the event organizers and other vendors. Also the event served as excellent advertising for the OWSF.

• DeWayne and Paul reported that the experience of trying to information from the Rib Fest organizers during the “set-up” period gave new insights into the difficulties and frustrations that vendors face at our festival when information is difficult to find.
  
  

New Business:

• Discussion of the impact of plans that the city has to demolish several dilapidated houses in the Emily Kimbrough Historic District.

• Discussion of whether or not the ECNA should pursue changing its non-profit status from a 501.c.4 organization (can lobby for and endorse political candidates, cannot receive tax deductible donations) to a 501.c.3 organization (cannot lobby or endorse candidates, can receive tax deductible donations, record keeping and tax filings much more complicated).

• MSP motion to explore the process and financial costs of making the conversion to a 501.c.3.

• Annie appointed Stacy to inquire with an attorney friend about how to proceed.

• DeWayne indicated that we have budgeted $600 for legal expenses.

• Discussion of amending the ECNA by-laws to:

  • require board members to attend 50% of the held board meetings to remain on the board.

  • Require the board president to inquire why a board member missed two consecutive board meetings without an excuse.
    
    

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm