Call– Patrick, Sarah, Meryem, Brad, Kathy, Marylee present. Absent: Dave Miller & Barb Tyndall.
Open in prayer by Kathy
Accept Minutes: Patrick moved to accept November’s minutes. Brad seconded. Minutes passed.
Mission Review: Patrick offered a stats quiz for us to review details. Top 3 reasons for youth homelessness nation-wide:
1) Parent incarceration;
2) Out of home placement (foster care);
3) Mental Illness. Good thing to say to folks who ask: tell them that these are the top 3 reasons nationally and that we’re working on our own statistics. See the FYA website under the Facts & Stats tab for local statistics.
How many people will we have at the shelter? We hope to be able to take 12 (this is the number we’ll ask the state for). This number depends on fire marshal’s occupancy number. We have had as many as 21 kids staying in the shelter at one time and have never turned someone away for capacity reasons. (More on numbers in Director’s report).
What is an Alaska Mental Health Trust beneficiary? It is someone who qualifies as having a learning disability, physical disability, developmental disability, substance abuse issue, traumatic brain injury (You can go to their website to see all the details). They don’t necessarily receive anything for being “beneficiaries,” but they can access services at ACCESS Alaska, FRA, NAMI. We (FYA) can access funds to help them. For example, the training on Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care, both funded by Mental Health Trust Fund because of our population.
Financial Report: Brad reviewed the treasurer’s report. There were no questions about it. We looked at the state of AK’s CPI index. Brad explained how he computed a cost of living adjustment for the budget.
2014 Budget Review and adoption: We looked at the proposed budget for 2014 and added in a couple of new items. First, we added in staff appreciation which Marylee requested ($300 per year- approx $25 per employee per year). We also added a new part-time receptionist/admin assistant (shared with Clearwater Counseling and costing $9,360 per year). Marylee noted that there are some things that have the potential of disappearing. For example, property tax might go away. ESG could cover the cost of all utilities, too. Discussed whether or not to include COLA increase each year. We agreed that it shouldn’t be a policy in the event that we can’t afford it, but that we’d like to keep it in the budget as an option. Patrick made a motion to accept the budget with a total income of $432,567 and total expenses of $423,737 plus principal and interest on 132 10th of $8,830. We accept this budget as is, always open to change as a living document. Kathy seconded the motion. 2014 Budget adopted/approved.
Accept changes to financial policies: Patrick made the changes to financial policies, which we discussed at the November meeting with regards to Consultants and Consulting Fees and FYA Credit Card. See board website navigation menu under Policies, Financial Policies for those changes. We realized that we never finished discussing and finalizing a conflict of interest agreement/policy. Meryem will come up with a simple, clear form that we can all sign at the February meeting (see October agenda for an example).
Director’s comments: Marylee spoke to three groups: Vernan Nash Antique Automobile Club Christmas holiday dinner ($1000 check!); University Leadership group; Tote Ocean transfer who held their meeting at The Door; Kuwanis group that sells xmas trees. Good news: A city ordinance says we’ll pay 1% of the value of our building if it’s not landscaped, but we got the bond reduced from $8,500 to $2,000.
Shelter Report
narrowed our focus to 13-17 year olds. We have 2 18year-olds who’ve made agreements so they can continue to come. They are working/trying to get jobs/going to school and have agreed to work hard and stay connected.
Generally seeing 2-6 youth nightly. Benefits: way less stress for staff; staff have all reported smaller number allows for more meaningful conversations and better understanding of each individual situation; youth seem less fearful and are talking more, developing connections with staff.
Thirteen mattresses delivered from Sourdough Freight.
DEC approved our permit so we can operate a kitchen!
This week alone we’ve received many donations- about $3000. The TV and Radio campaign are building up community knowledge of us.
Courthouse called to offer to donate beautiful office furniture. They have adopted FYA and there are bins for donation collecting and they are promoting our website. They will deliver the furniture the morning of the 17th. Filing cabinets, shredders, desk chairs, judge’s desks, etc…
We’ve worked out a transition plan for staffing when we move to the new place. Staff have been anxious and stressed about the move- Tony will work on moving during the day.
Talking Points- READ THESE SO YOU CAN RESPOND TO COMMON QUESTIONS AT THE OPEN HOUSE ON MONDAY!
Q: When will we be “open”/ “moving in”?
A: We’ll be moving in over the next few weeks but can’t start serving youth until our licensing application is approved. We are waiting on the state to respond to our application. We hope to be open in February, but are still continuing to serve them at First Presbyterian.
Q: How are you funded?
A: Always start with that we are heavily donor dependant. We also have a revenue stream in-house through our counseling agency. Last, some of our positions are funded through the State of Alaska for homeless assistance. We’re working towards not being grant-dependant and we have inertia from our growing-base that is growing.
Q: Youth statistics- Who are these youth?
A: Majority of youth we see feel like they can’t go home. Either they are told they can’t, their parents are gone (incarcerated). Often complicated family dynamics. They don’t feel wanted or they don’t feel safe. This is the majority of kids, certainly not all kids.
Q: Do we have someone who is making presentations to churches because my church would be interested.
A: Yes! Contact Marylee for this. For the next couple of months, we are focusing on moving into The Door, but will be happy to visit in February/March.
IF YOU CAN’T ANSWER A QUESTION, FEEL FREE TO SEND THE PERSON TO MARYLEE
Liability Insurance Policy review- We looked at this together and asked a few minor questions: What is covered under workplace violence and is it appropriate for our organization? Internet liability? (Patrick noted that this is why we need legal representation on our board- Sarah will email Danny to try to get in touch with Danny’s wife’s sister(?) who is a lawyer and helped us previously).
Donor thank you phone calls– We weren’t sure if Barb and Dave had made their calls, so Meryem and Brad will call. When calling, we will be sure to invite to the Open House on Monday.
Simon, Mark, Fairbanks ($1,000) 907 460 6667 fatbet (Brad) Patrick’s friend, he is on the Hospital Foundation Board
Reichardt Paul & Terry, Fairbanks ($2000) 455-6703 (Brad)
Fairbanks Lutheran Church 1012 Cowles St Fairbanks Ak 99701 (over 1K over the year) 452-3425 Pastor Paul Bodin (ask Kathy Birch for pronunciation) (Meryem)
Montesano, Peter Anchorage AK 99508 $200 907-461-0209 or it might be 441-0209 (Meryem) Patrick’s friend, a physician living in Anchorage.
Kimmell, George and Deborah, 929 Gold Mine Trail Fairbanks AK 99712 $200 907-457-1864 (Meryem)
Personal invite to our open house to our large donors will be made by the following- Park at TVC!:
Dan and Jeanie Braemer 859-492-7009 (Sarah)
Dennis and Tami Manning 457-1362 (Kathy)
Thom and Elaine Thompson 808-389-7918 (Marylee)
Bob & Jean Tsigonis 457-8500 (Patrick)
Dennis and Mary Wise 360-201-0015 (Patrick)
Richard Wies 457-3061 (Marylee)
Brian Kosmal 978-4740 (Kathy)
Update on donor plaques for the doors of the Door.
There will be wooden plaques in 3 different sizes. Largest for donors who give $5,000, middle for donors who give $2500, and smallest for donors who give $1,000. They will be engraved with the name of donor, “in memory of,” or a love message. We’ll need to find out about characters, sizes, etc.
Marylee will ask her brother if he might come up with ideas about sizing.
Also discussed website and thermometer. We agreed that anyone donating through the greater giving portal will be considered as a donating toward the door and included in the thermometer level (except for monthly donors).
Open house, Dec. 16, details
Event happenings- Be there at 4:30/4:45! 5:00-7:00 is invitation only. 7:00-8:30 is open to public. There is no plan/program, just a drop-in and walk-around and visit/talk kind of thing.
Board members WILL ALL wear a festive winter hat of their choice and name tag. This helps with identification for those to know who to ask questions of. Each board member will be stationed somewhere in the house and available to answer questions/shmooze with folks.
There will be cookies and hot spiced apple cider.
Patrick offered to leave his extra calendars as a token of appreciation
Next Meeting- Wednesday, January 22nd 5pm-7pm at Wilson & Wilson.
Marylee will email an update if there is anything to know before the open house. Otherwise, see you at 4:30/4:45!
I don’t understand how formatting works for these posts! I had it all formatted correctly in a word doc and when I pasted it into a post, it messed it all up…please, somebody, feel free to go in and fix it so it’s more readable! Thanks!
did I miss why the staff is stressed about the move?
Also title of the December meeting is wrong: “December 2014” hee hee
I don’t understand how formatting works for these posts! I had it all formatted correctly in a word doc and when I pasted it into a post, it messed it all up…please, somebody, feel free to go in and fix it so it’s more readable! Thanks!