Ravenna Community Educational Foundation
Monday, January 21, 2008
Minutes
Meeting called to order at 6:10pm by Laura Wagner
Roll Call: Laura Wagner, Brandy Thompson-Bueche, Ken Patterson Sr., Ken Punter, Michelle Straley,
Brenda Jacobs, Mike Pierson. Jason Helsen arrived (6:17pm). Dee Swanson and Karen Barker were
absent.
Approval of Agenda: Mike Pierson made a motion that we approve the agenda for the January 21, 2008
meeting. Ken Punter second. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes from Dec. 17, 2007 meeting: Mike Pierson made a motion that we approve the
minutes. Ken Patterson Sr. second. Motion carried.
Guests: No guests were present.
Correspondence: Congratulations was received from the Muskegon Community Foundation in regards to
our permanent status. Signed agreement and sent it back.
Reports:
Finance: Brenda Jacobs provided a copy of the finance report to each trustee. Mike Pierson made a
motion that we accept the finance report. Ken Punter, second. Motion carried. Brenda reported that we
had total contributions of $22,795.
Membership: It was discussed and decided that we will wait until we all get a chance to see the report that
was submitted to Karen from Mike via email.
Main Event: Ken Punter reported that there would be approx. $1000 of start up costs to hold the Flag
Football Tournament.
Jason Helsen reported on the Raffle. There were 3250 tickets sold. $1625.00 was the prize. We had a
$50.00 license fee. Final financial was a net of $1575.00.
Annual Meeting: Members discussed options of where to hold the 2008 annual meeting. Discussion
included Moss Ridge vs. the Media Center. Dinner costs were discussed. Silent Auction was questioned.
Raffle of 1 item. No final decisions were made.
Alumni: Dee continues to work on getting the list. Karen will begin data base.
Website: There was a special meeting for the Website. Each trustee was encouraged to check out the
website for the next meeting.
Grants/Scholarships: Brenda will check into how much we can give at this time with our now permanent
status.
Old Business: Membership letters were discussed. Trustees also discussed having an article of current
success in the Insights and possibly the Coopersville Observer. Article will be in the Ravenna Independent.
New Business:
A. Next meeting will be February 25, 2008 at Beechnau Elementary in the Library from 6:30-
8:00pm. Approval of the Annual Report will take place at this meeting.
B. Review Bylaws was tabled until the Feb. 25th meeting so that trustees had the opportunity to
look over the report.
Election of Officers: Mike Pierson made a motion that we maintain the current officers as is for the
upcoming year. Ken Patterson Sr. second. The officers for the year 2008 are:
Karen Barker – President
Laura Wagner – Vice President
Brenda Jacobs – Treasurer
Brandy Thompson-Bueche – Secretary
Celebration: An around of applause was given for our successful 1st year.
Other Items: Trustees discussed sponsoring a Spelling Bee or a Science Fair.
Adjournment: Brenda Jacobs made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:55pm. Laura Wagner second.
Motion carried.
Next Meeting will be Monday, February 25, 2008 from 6:30 – 8:00pm in the Library at Beechnau Ele.
Ravenna Community Educational Foundation
Monday, March 3, 2008
Minutes
Meeting called to order at 6:40pm by Laura Wagner
Roll Call: Jason Helsen, Mike Pierson, Ken Punter, Michelle Straley, Brandy Thompson-Bueche, Laura
Wagner, Ken Patterson Sr. (late). Brenda Jacobs, Dee Swanson and Karen Barker were absent.
Approval of Agenda: Mike Pierson mad a motion that we approve the agenda for the March 3, 2008
meeting. Michelle Straley second. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes from the Jan. 21, 2008 meeting: Mike Pierson made a motion that we approve the
minutes from the Jan. 21, 2008 meeting. Jason Helsen second. Motion carried.
Guests: No guests were in attendance
Correspondence: Received an email from Brenda Jacobs in regards to the finances. Balance as of
December 31, 2007 was $22,654.70. Since January 1, 2008 an additional $450.00 has been deposited.
Reports:
Finance: Via an email from Brenda Jacobs, current balance is $23,104.70. Jason Helsen made a motion
that we approve the Finance report. Mike Pierson second. Motion carried.
Membership: Trustees discussed the email from Mike Pierson which included a more stream lined
membership with cumulative levels. A final updated version will be sent to Jeff for the Website, as well as
the trustees. (See email from Mike Pierson). Stream lined version included: Basic Membership of $100
per year up to $500 cumulative. Gold Sponsor was $500 - $999.00. Platinum Sponsor was $1000 -
$2499.00. Directors Club was $2500 - $4999.00. Founders Club was $5000 - $9,999.00. Heritage Circle
was $10,000+. Presidential Level was $25,000+. And Executive Board was $50,000+. These levels were
discussed as to the Website and where they should be found. It was discussed to appear under the title
Contributions.
Mike Pierson made a motion that we approve the stream line version of membership levels. Jason Helsen
second. Motion carried.
Main Event: There will be no Flag Football Tournament. Focus has switched to a Science Fair. Trustees
discussed having separate meetings to deal with the Science Fair itself. Laura will get more information.
Trustees discussed needing to have a meeting with the public schools science teachers, making a time line,
setting a date, and the possibility that our Science Fair may be the first step towards the West Michigan
Science Challenge held by the MAISD. Trustees decided to table further discussion until next meeting
where more information will be available.
Annual Meeting: Tabled discussion until Fall 2008.
Alumni Contacts: Dee and Karen are handling this; both are currently out of town. Will catch up on this
when they arrive back in town.
Website: Nothing more has occurred. Trustees discussed the home page and what tabs should be present.
It was tentatively decided that there would be Home, Scholarships/Grants, Membership, Alumni, Contact
Us and Archives. More to come at next meeting.
Grants and Scholarships: Information was taken to the High School. April 1st is the deadline for
applying. It was discussed that the Grants and Scholarships committee should meet and narrow down the
applicants instead of interviewing all applicants.
Mike Pierson made a motion that we approve to give (1) $500.00 scholarship this Spring. Ken Patterson
Sr. second. Motion carried.
Old Business:
Membership Letters: No increase in response.
Article in the Insights: It was a nice letter. Trustees discussed that we need to nail down a marketing
approach. Will discuss this at future meetings.
New Business:
Review the Bylaws: Trustees discussed that email voting should be addressed in the Bylaws. They also
discussed the amount required for someone to become a trustee. Some thought that $500.00 was too much
and that we may be discouraging good people away from joining because of the dollar amount. Others felt
that the $500.00 was fair.
Trustees also discussed that when making changes that a vote should not occur until the following meeting
so that members have a chance to think about it (sleep on it) to avoid any “emotional” votes and decisions
from being made. More discussion will occur.
Trustees tabled further discussion on changes to the Bylaws.
Other: No other items to discuss.
Ken Patterson Sr. made a motion to adjourn at 8:12pm, Mike Pierson second. Motion carried.
Next Meeting: Monday, April 14th at Beechnau Ele. From 6:30pm – 8:00pm