MINUTES
Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Food Pantry)
2:30 p.m. March 15, 2010
NHN Food Distribution Center
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Format)
Present: Tom Priester, Jeanne Pascale, Randy Richards, Louise Bolin, Wanda Vonderahe, Robert Stinnett, Mary Ann Kempf, Marsha Goodin, Virgil Goodin, and Art Schneider.
Not attending: Joyce Roach, Hazel Stone, and Donald Dreyer.
Tom Priester offered prayer.
Virgil Goodin called the meeting to order at 2:32 p.m.
Possible
new board members
At this time Eileen Fangman is unable to be considered for board
membership.
Old Business
By-laws
and signature for conflict of interest policy
Art said he forgot to bring Conflict of Interest statement for Mary Ann
Kempf to sign. He will bring it at the April meeting.
Report on
Orscheln's shelving
Virgil reported that more than four sections of shelving were picked up
at Orscheln’s. Jeanne will send a thank you note to the company.
Minutes
from January special board meeting
Tom moved and Jeanne seconded that the special meeting minutes be
approved.
Minutes
from February board meeting
Mary Ann said the following line needs to be changed from “Henry
Hurt checked alley prior to February snow and now checks after a
snowfall.” to “Henry Hurt
checked alley prior to February’s Thursday distribution. He gave
suggestion on contacts to make future help more effective.”
Tom moved and Mary Ann seconded that the minutes be approved with the provision that the line be changed. Approved.
Grant
writer--Margaret (Peggy) Baum.
Tom said he will invite her after tax season (April19).
Treasurer’s report
Tom noted he needs itemized receipts for foods purchased. He reported
the there is $3291.41 in the checking account. During the month $4460
was received and $1168.59 was expended. A question was raised on the
Veloia bill differing each month. Tom said he was unclear why this was
the case, but that the bill averages $70 to $85 a month. He will check
into why there is variation. He noted $550 was paid the Boonville Daily
News for January ($200) and February ($350) rent.
He reported savings of $3317.83.
Randy moved and Wanda seconded that the treasurer’s report be accepted. Passed.
Wal-Mart
account or charge card status
Tom did not file application.
Update
on pre-addressed/pre-stamped envelopes on sending donations to treasurer
Jeanne will handle setting this up.
Signature
card updates for bank checking account
All officers have signed the signature card at the bank. Art took a
copy of the board minutes reflecting the elected officers and who were
authorized to sign the card signature card and are permitted to sign the
checks.
Donated
food weight reported in February
Jeanne reported 4963 pounds had been donated—including 2879 pounds from
Super Wal-Mart and 1875 pounds from schools.
Total Hours donated in February
Jeanne reported 488 hours donated in February.
NHN Food distribution in February
Total families assisted_299__ Total people
served__663___
Thursday distribution __55__ families
Tuesday distribution __111____families
Saturday distribution _78___ families
Emergency __6__ families
Village Meadows __35__ families
Handicapped __14__families
Total families on Supplemental Nutrition Education Program
(SNAP) formerly the food stamp program _173___ families
Total families receiving TANF __14___ families
Virgil said there will be a decline in families served in March because the Senior Housing will not be distributing in March. Some seniors have come to the distribution center.
Wanda raised the question as to the food pantry promoting its services and hours to the senior center and church organizations and other outlets. Marsha said the pantry is regularly promoted to churches and seniors and by radio and newspaper.
Update on
NHN client data entry
Robert said he has been working on changing the data entry form. With
the unexpected care giving demands that he presently has, he has not
been able to enter additional data.
Open
house
Virgil reported that Joyce called him about not being able to attend
today’s board meeting. She said she presented this as an idea and it is
up to the board to decide whether to do this. Art suggested that open
houses frequently do not attract people—especially people and agencies
who are not served by the pantry. He did suggest that if the board
wished to do this, Heritage Days—particularly the Saturday in which the
Heritage Days Parade is held—might be a viable effort.
Virgil formed an ad hoc committee to be chaired by Robert and including Wanda and Jeanne as members. June 26 is the day of the parade.
Cross-Training and Records of Where Things Are, People Contacts
Art asked people to closely read the What If…document to be
certain that what is entered is accurate and to let him know if there
are items that need to be included.
Switch
plate replacement at the distribution center
Robert said he has not replaced the covers, but they are on his “to do”
list.
Permanent
building for the NHN food pantry
Don gave Virgil the letter he received from Wick Buildings of Monsanta,
WI. The document Art had provided an estimate of $58,979 for the 6000
square foot building and did not include site preparation, rock or
utilities to the building. It also did not include kitchen and
restrooms.
Virgil reported to the board the total building cost would be $99,679 plus $35,000 for heating and air conditioning.
Art
suggested that Fuqua be contacted to see if it would be able to assemble
a building. Virgil noted the preference would be to utilize a local
business to support the local employment base. He will follow-up with
Fuqua.
Land for possible building
Art reported that he has been in contact with Rick Ball about 6
acres at the old Korte Lumberyard. He also noted that Ball mentioned a
10,000 square foot building with three offices and restrooms that might
be available. Art has been unable to get more details on both
possibilities. Randy also mentioned possible land owned by Fuqua (about
11 acres). Art will contact Fuqua about this.
Volunteer annual appreciation dinner
Randy reported the dinner cost about $340 and was paid for by
Open Bible church. Donations of $250 and $50 were received by the pantry
and earmarked to pay the church. Randy said the turnout was quite good
43 people attending. Sixty-five invitations and 20 e-mails were sent
out. Some people were missed but contacted when this was found. Pasta
and shrimp were offered. He reiterated this should be a yearly
activity.
Job
description of officers and committees--Do these need to be revised or
more detailed or…?
Art noted some suggestions he prepared were included with the agenda. He
said this was to begin a discussion. The proposals follow the minutes
as an attachment.
Data
entry training Update
Robert reported that with the unexpected care-giving demands that he
presently has, he has not been able to conduct volunteer training.
SCRIPT
fundraiser
Art had mentioned this at the last board meeting and sent out the
information that he had from fundraising group in Columbia. There were
questions on whether one card could be used for all businesses (no) and
the possibility that Boonville merchants be participating businesses
(Art was unsure how the participating businesses are acquired).
Consensus for the fundraising committee to gather more information.
(Wanda chairs. Don and Maryann are members.
Ameren UE
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Donation Request
Robert needs the annual budget and the letterhead to submit a request to
participate in this program. Art said he has a copy of the 2010 budget
and the letterhead and will send via e-mail to Robert.
Central and Northeast Missouri Food Bank update meeting
Wanda and Robert were unable to attend. Virgil and Marsha
represented Harvest House and the food pantry. Marsha and Virgil gave
very detailed reports. Of particular interest to the board was
partnering with sponsors to pay for materials—listing sponsors on the
materials or on the meeting handouts, in the case of a truck logo,
listing the sponsors’ names on the truck. This also can be done for
T-shirts.
Also noted was the liability of the food pantry if a person takes disposed food from the pantry trash container and becomes ill.
USDA now will require that all pallets with USDA product have a sign noting this above or behind or in front of the pallet.
USDA also is requiring what is in a food box/basket be listed on a bulletin board and that as product runs out that it be erased from the list.
A question was raised about the back-pack program and local schools do participate.
In the future, the Central Missouri Food Bank will officially be known as the Central and Northeast Food Bank and be called The Food Bank (TFB).
Two-Wheeler
Robert secured the two-wheeler and it is in the distribution center.
New Business
Boonville
City Council discussion about Neighbors Helping Neighbors
It was noted that in the Boonville Daily News there were comments about
the food pantry becoming dependent on city funds and not having a
representative present from the food pantry the night the council heard
presentations.
Tom Robert raised the concern that the city was receiving an average of $3.8 million a year and the paltry amount it distributes to local organizations.
Tom said that he wrote the council explaining why he was not there and also came to the next meeting to make the presentation. He noted that the increase from $8000 to $16000 was to begin a process of securing a different facility.
It was noted that Henry Hurt, Julie Thatcher and Pete Soener were supportive of the food pantry. The council did approve $8000 in funding for the pantry. Jeanne suggested that volunteers and board members need to attend the presentation next year.
Truck
tailgate door
Virgil said the door is in immediate need of repair. This was noted by
The Food Bank during a food pick-up in which the pantry received 60
boxes of tortillas that were mistakenly labeled. Randy will take to
Potter Truck Company to get this repaired next week.
Foods No
longer allowed at the distribution center
Virgil reported that the BDN had earlier said bananas may no longer be
distributed and has added onions to the list. Apparently the fragrance
carries to the front of the building. Currently there are several
bushels of onions. Virgil will be certain that they are used rather than
destroyed.
Volunteer
of the Quarter
Sharon Miller and Jerry Ray Kempf were suggested. Because of her
relationship, Mary Ann Kempf did not participate in the discussion and
abstained from voting. Jerry Ray Kempf was approved following a motion
by Marsha seconded by Tom. (Voting yes were: Tom Priester, Jeanne
Pascale, Randy Richards, Louise Bolin, Wanda Vonderahe, Robert Stinnett,
Marsha Goodin, Virgil Goodin, and Art Schneider.
Committee
membership tenure
The by-laws do not provide a term limit for committee assignments.
Informal agreement to discuss at April meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 4:24 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Art
Schneider
Board Secretary