January 22, 2012

Present at Meeting:  Jean Smith, Sam Linhart, Victor Johnson, Pat Kelly,  Robbie Griffith, Mary Freeman, Bud Freeman, Brenda Bailey, Michael Moody

Robbie conducted the meeting. He welcomed Brenda Bailey as the newest board member.

Pat presented the minutes from the Dec. 13, 2011 board meeting. After review Mary moved to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Victor presented the Dec. 2011 financial report. After some discussion, Pat moved to accept the report. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Victor also explained for those who were new or who needed to be refreshed of the line items that are grant monies or designated funds and how those monies are designated to be spent.

Victor added that the copier at the office be plugged in only when being used to avoid lightning damage. Michael said the surge protection part of the power back up works even when the battery is dead. Victor agreed to plug the copier into the surge protection side of the power back up system.

Victor also reported that the phone has been transferred to the Graham Law Firm for $30 per month and there has been one phone call.

The office rent is still $300 per month and paid monthly and a one year lease has been signed.

A cover needs to be placed on the back air conditioner to prevent heat loss. Robbie asked if anyone has a spare portable heater please bring it to the February meeting to keep the electronics from freezing in the back office. The window in the front room has been broken by the air conditioner.  Michael reported that the air conditioner has been stabilized. A new window needs to be installed or else some caulking needs to be applied to the old window.

The water to the office is turned off at the road for cold weather.

Victor reported that the BRWA website PayPal still goes to his PayPal account with a transfer to BRWA. It works okay if BRWA wants to leave it that way. Pat suggested that if and when BRWA did get a PayPal account to set it up like the Savannah Riverkeeper site which allows yearly or monthly donations for membership.

Robbie asked for nominations for 2012 officers. Pat nominated Robbie for Chair and Paul for Co-Chair. Victor agreed to stay on as Treasurer. Pat agreed to stay on as Secretary. All agreed that Robbie runs a very good meeting. Robbie agreed but said he may need to miss a few meetings. He also needs someone to take over the work with resource protection. Pat changed her motion to include Victor as treasurer and herself as secretary. Robbie suggested we set up a fundraising committee. It needs to include Dudley because he had good ideas and he followed up on them.

Mary reported on the fund raising meeting that was held recently.

BRWA needs to raise $12,000 /year

BRO parking brings in approx. $300

Membership brings in approx. $4000

That means we need to raise $8000/year

There were four suggestions considered:

1.     Annual requests to corporations for grant or donation money and could be relatively low effort.

Jean volunteered to write and send the letters according to the time needed by each corporation

2.     On-line auction of local art. Auctions are national or international and could be low effort.  Dudley knows of auction sites to consider and has a plan of action to follow.

3.     Food and raffle in Athens during an event that attracts a lot of people. Definitely high effort

4.     Food and raffle at an event in the watershed. Definitely high effort.

Victor suggested that BRWA try to use the site that GA River Network uses to get donations for individuals on the Paddle GA for one of our floats.

Robbie suggested and the group agreed to keep the monthly board meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at 7PM at the office in Danielsville.

The following dates were set for annual events:

Easement monitoring – Saturday March 17

Spring Float ----------------Saturday May 19

Annual Meeting----------Saturday August 25