Fox Valley Library Council Executive Board
Minutes of the May 10, 2011 meeting held at the Menasha Public Library
Present: Val Magno, Karen Probst, Tasha Saecker, Bradley Shipps, Elizabeth Timmins, Peter Gilbert, Joe Bongers, Mark Arend

1) Call to order.
Val Magno called the meeting to order at 4:00

2) Additions to the agenda.
None.

3) Approve minutes from the Executive Board meetings October 8, 2010 and April 12, 2010.
Tasha made a motion to accept the minutes. Bradley seconded. The motion carried.

4) Treasurer’s Report
Pete said he would defer his report until we get to the budget on the agenda. Yes, OWLS and Winnefox pay dues. Yes, author Attard refunded FVLC.

5) President’s Report
Val has done some updates to the FVLC web page. Thanks, Val.

Val welcomed Mark Arend to the meeting. He is estimating a $250,000 shortfall of funding for his system. He noticed that FVLC is healthy and he is considering how his libraries benefit from participation. Bradley spoke on behalf of Rick K. (OWLS) $750 is already budgeted for this year. Bradley spoke about relevance and bringing more participants in. We talked about the purpose of the group. There is a statutory requirement that all types of libraries cooperate with each other. Joe asked questions about the financing of the group and Pete the Elder responded. There ensued extensive discussion about CE, members, what we are about. Karen Probst made the point that historically there was a purely social group. At some point it was decided to organize a social and educational group which became FVLC. Maybe we should consider whether FVLC should become a purely social networking group that meets in the evenings and is not involved in finding speakers and providing education.
2012-13 is when systems will be hurting. $750 has been budgeted for both systems for 2011-12. Pete was charged with invoicing both systems. Val will devise points for discussion at the general meeting. (5.26)

Issue 1—Charge or not charge fees 2011-2013? Tabled for now.

Issue 2—Lunch…Free of fee? Free for the May meeting.

Issue 3—Online training instead of in-person? Hybrid idea. More than one site where people can meet? Try for September? Face to face is our strength.

Issue 4—Relevancy
The importance of networking was reiterated. Karen said we need a young guard. We need to mentor young people and encourage them to join FVLC as a professional commitment. We welcome new old people, too! One problem: People are retiring (not being replaced?) who were very involved in the past. Webinar world? Moving programs to outlying areas. Focus on who we are trying to reach. Bradley suggested maybe we could begin some chatter on the FVLC list about relevancy. Good idea!

Issue 5—Discuss any changes needed for 2011-12 Annual Plan. Joe says none but to change dates.

6) Nominations of Officers and Directors
Val made a motion to nominate Bradley Shipps as incoming VP/President Elect. Elizabeth seconded. The motion carried. Joe is the incoming President. Karen made a motion to nominate Val as Education Chair. Tasha seconded. The motion carried. Mark offered to find someone in his system for the education committee. Val will email to remind him. We will have an opening for a Director at Large when Judy Owen retires.Thoughts?

7) Education Committee Report
Sue Vater-Olsen did not file a report.

8) Directors-at-Large Reports
Tasha: Maybe a Facebook Group? Nicolet has a group. We can ask Jamie about that?

9) Additional commentary, round robin
Joe—pass
Pete—He drafted a budget! He will post a link to it on the website. He put together the budget based with assumptions that we have not fully addressed. What can we afford to do … without income?
Bradley—Let’s use local expertise! Sue V-O program was a hit! Let’s have programs that focus on what we are DOING. Innovations from the Fox Valley.
Tasha—Jen Peterson— could do a talk about being the “last librarian standing”.
Karen—pass
Elizabeth—feature an author during Book Festival week; do “speed dating” type meeting in the fall
Mark—pass
Val--pass

10) Announcements
Next Exec Board Meeting (TBD)
Exec Meeting canceled for 5.26 because 5.10 meeting replaced it. (We will OK treasurer report via email once it is posted.)
Approved by email vote on 5/25/2011: Treasurer's Report April 30, 2011 http://www.focol.org/fvlc/finance/201104.html.
Thanks to Joe for agreeing to presidency!

11) Adjourn
At 5:00, the meeting was adjourned by Val.

Respectfully Submitted By,

Elizabeth (“Oh don’t you put me on the back burner”) Timmins