Flathead Valley Community College Foundation

Board Meeting

Thursday, September 7, 2006

3:30 PM, Blake Hall, Room 140

 

~ Minutes ~

 

Present:      FVCC Foundation Board of Directors - Russ Barnes, Carol Blake, John Bowdish, Henry Brown, Donna Lawson, Leslie Mercord, Andy Miller, Diane Morton, Aaron Mower, Margie Simpson, Jarrod Shew, Ralene Sliter, and Cheryl Wilson; FVCC Foundation Associate Members – Lil Laidlaw and Carol Larson; Ex-Officio Members – Jane Karas and John Engebretson; and FVCC Staff and Administration – Ruth Ackroyd, Sue Evans, and Shelia Gestring.

 

Excused:     Kathy Barkus, Lynn Bauer, Steve Becker, Sally Elliman, Nancy Gordley, Pat LaTourelle, Kippy Redman, Pat Winkel, and Darrell Worm.  Paul Williams arrived at the conclusion of the meeting.

 

Chair, Russ Barnes, welcomed Diane Morton, Aaron Mower, and Jarrod Shew as new members of the Foundation Board of Directors, and Carol Larson as a new Associate member.  Diane, Aaron, Jarrod, and Carol introduced themselves and shared their backgrounds.

 

I.                APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 18, 2006

                  Andy Miller motioned to approve the minutes of May 18, 2006.  Ralene Sliter seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

II.               COMMITTEE UPDATES

                 

                  Executive Committee

                  Ruth Ackroyd reported that an orientation was held the afternoon of Monday, August 14th for new Foundation Board members Diane Morton, Aaron Mower, and Jarrod Shew, and new Associate member, Carol Larson.  Ralene Sliter also attended.  FVCC staff from Educational Services, Student Services, the Business Office, and Continuing Education, along with President Jane Karas, shared information on each of their departments, and Ruth provided history and information regarding the Foundation.

 

                  The 2006-2007 Foundation Board meeting schedule was reviewed.  Ruth noted that the results of the survey conducted this spring regarding meeting times and days indicated that Thursday afternoons at 3:30 PM worked best for the majority of Board members.

 

                  Tony Vanorny of Junkermier, Clark, Campanella, and Stevens is finalizing the audit of the Foundation’s 2005 financial statements.  A hard copy of the completed audit is expected within the next few weeks.  (n.b. – The Foundation audit was delivered 9/20/2006.)

 

                  Projects and Events Committee

                  Bibler Tours

                  Sue Evans reported that this year’s tours of the Bibler Home and Gardens were a success, raising $6,951, twice the amount raised for last year’s tours.  Spring tours were conducted May 5th and 6th and May 13th and 14th, Mother’s Day weekend, and the summer evening tours were held July 24-28.  Two gardening seminars led by the Bibler’s master gardener, Miriam Ascher, were added to the summer tours and held on Saturday, July 29th, and special tours were conducted for Mountain West Bank at the end of May, as well as for HUB International at the end of August.  Funds raised from the tours of the Bibler Home and Gardens support student scholarships.

 

                  Springtime in the Rockies

                  Ruth Ackroyd referred Board members to the gold handout behind the Financial Information tab outlining revenue and expenses for Springtime in the Rockies, 2006.  Ruth thanked volunteers for their hard work with set up and breaking down the tent.  The event was enjoyable and well attended. Net proceeds from this year’s event were $6,940.62, and Ruth noted the expense associated with renting the tent and the increased liability insurance added to expenses.  The Arts and Technology Building will be completed by the next Springtime in the Rockies scheduled for 2008, which will alleviate any facility rental or tent rental expenses.  The Great Chefs Dinners were all very well attended, and a beer tasting at Red’s, Wines & Blues with beers from Lang Creek was added to the event this year.  The Events and Projects committee will be discussing ways to increase fundraising for Springtime in the Rockies.  It was recommended committee members meet to learn more about the successful wine tasting event held by MSU in Billings.

 

III.             PRESIDENT’S REPORT

                  The Board of Regents held a planning meeting on FVCC’s Kalispell campus on July 12th, and the Board of Regents and the Board of Public Education held a joint meeting chaired by the Governor on July 13th.

 

                  Jane Karas reported that the college hosted a reception for the Board of Regents and members of the Board of Public Education at the Bibler Home on July 12th.  Food was prepared by Marc Guizol of La Provence.

 

                  Progress is being made on the new buildings.  The Occupational Trades Building is scheduled to be completed by December 2006, and a ribbon cutting will be held before spring semester classes begin in January.  The Arts and Technology Building will be completed in May 2007 and the process of transitioning programs into the new building will be conducted over the summer.  The Early Child Education and Care Center is scheduled to be completed in July 2007.

 

                  Hillary Ginepra, FVCC’s Culinary Arts Instructor, continues to expand the program in her second year of teaching at FVCC, and Culinary Arts classes are filling up for fall semester.  The classes are using the kitchen in the National Guard Armory until the Arts and Technology Building is completed.

 

                  FVCC hopes to have its Licensed Practical Nursing program up and running for the spring 2007 semester.  Students can already stay in Kalispell and earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Montana State University/Bozeman, and the college hopes to add an Associate of Science degree in Nursing in the future to complete a laddered degree program.

 

                  The land transaction has been successfully completed and the college now owns 209 acres of property.  Tours of the new property will be held later this fall and Board members will be notified of the dates.

 

                  The college is piloting a new Introduction to Organic Farming class this fall semester and is looking at adding a degree in Organic Farming.  Other new degree programs being explored include:  Media Arts, Graphic Arts/Animation, and Equine Studies.

 

                  The legislative session will be starting in January and the funding formula for community colleges will be up for discussion.  President Karas noted that the Foundation Board of Directors has responded to requests for letters of support to local legislators in the past, and if the need arises will be contacted by the college for help.  Jane also noted participating in legislative hearings by local business and community leaders has benefited FVCC in past sessions.

 

IV.              BUILDING FOR SUCCESS CAMPAIGN UPDATE

                  Henry Brown presented President Jane Karas with a check from Plum Creek for $10,000 to name one faculty office and the student resource area in the new Arts and Technology Building.  The Foundation submitted a grant proposal to Plum Creek, and Henry noted it was very well received by the members of Plum Creek’s grant committee.

 

                  Ruth Ackroyd reported that to date, 17 rooms or areas in the three new buildings have been named.  Columbia Falls Aluminum Company has pledged $30,000 to name the metals fabrication shop bay in the Occupational Trades Building, as well as donated photography lab equipment.  The Bibler Foundation has donated $35,000 to name the Allied Health Science Lab in Ross Hall after Sam Bibler and pledged $15,000 to name a classroom in the Early Childhood Education and Care Center in honor of Jean Bibler.  Dick Irvin has donated a flatbed truck to the Heavy Equipment program.  Ruth noted that there are a number of requests for support outstanding, and a number of solicitation visits coming up.  (n.b. – The Flathead Builders Association has pledged $30,000 to name the Woods Manufacturing shop bay.)

 

V.               DEVELOPMENT REPORT

                  Ruth distributed handouts from the Council of Resource Development on the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Individuals may use IRA’s to make a charitable gift to the college and Ruth is clarifying the process for the Foundation to manage these gifts.

 

VI.              TREASURER’S REPORT

                  Ruth Ackroyd reported for Paul Williams.  The Foundation’s Statement of Financial Position as of July 31, 2006, was reviewed with Ruth noting total assets of $5,475,991.26.  The verification of gifts has been completed and work has begun on consolidating accounts in the Foundation’s computerized accounting system.  This verification will enable the Foundation to make grants to support the college.

 

The Annual Scholarship Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 26, at 12:00 noon in the Eagle’s Nest.  Please RSVP to Sue Evans at 756-3963 if you plan to attend.

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM.