Minutes

December 2, 2005: Sacramento County Office of Education

President, Dennis Wiechmann, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

Present: Dennis Wiechmann, President; Debbie Morris, Past- President; Frank Boehler (Southern section), Sherman Garnett (Southern Legislative Representative), Joe Taylor (Northern Legislative Representative), Tom Mangione (Webmaster & Membership), Tad Kitada (Special Projects) and Jan Treff (President-Elect and President, Bay Section)

1. Welcome and Introductions

Dennis opened the meeting and greeted all in attendance. Asked for any additions or deletions to the agenda. Sherman Garnett made a motion to accept the agenda and Debbie Morris seconded the motion. Motion passed.

2. Approval of Minutes

Upon motion by Joe Taylor and a second by Debbie Morris the minutes were approved.

3. Reports

Treasurer's Report

Frank Boehler gave the treasurer's report in Jerry Hime's absence and we are healthy and in the black.

Discussion ensued about stated expenditures. Joe Taylor stated that his Delta Sierra board had questions about the operation of the State Board.

We also talked about 501(c)(3) status currently held by CASCWA and the fact that it is held under Delta Sierra's name. Further discussion needs to take place regarding transfer of the 501(c) (3) number to the State Board.

Section Reports

Bay: Jan Treff reported that the Bay Section Winter Conference would be held on December 9, 2005 at the Pleasanton Hilton Hotel. Featured speakers are none other than our very own Sherman Garnett, Joe Taylor, and Ray Culberson from San Bernardino schools.

Bay Section is also in the process of organizing a joint section meeting with Delta-Sierra to be held on March 3, 2006 at the Martinelli Conference Center in Livermore, CA. More details to follow.

Delta Sierra: Joe Taylor recapped the handout provided highlighting their highly successful fall conferences and also noted the joint conference to take place with Bay Section in March.

San Joaquin: Dennis Wiechmann reported for the section sharing the success of their October workshop and the focus on the upcoming State Conference.

Southern: Frank Boehler reported for the Southern Section in Jerry Hime's absence.

4. Intercom

Frank Boehler reported that he is working on another issue of the Intercom to go out in January. Frank requested articles and stated that he would contact Ray Culberson and Sherman Garnett to obtain articles on their recent presentations. He is also looking for "Hot Topics" to be included in the issue.

5. Legislation

Joe Taylor advised us that there are a number of bills that he is following, a majority of which has been vetoed by the Governor. CASCWA and ACSA Region III are tapping into all legal avenues and Joe will keep us updated. Sherman Garnett shared that the Southern section is formalizing their truancy court and would like to get a bill passed locally ­ an initiative is in the works.

6. Past Presidents Committee on Re-Sectioning/Constitution Changes

Dennis Wiechmann advised the board that Greg Bass will head up this committee to meet and consider boundary changes and changes to our Constitution. Debbie Morris shared that changes to the Constitution have already been suggested. The Constitution changes could be brought to the State Conference. Debbie Morris will email the changes to the Board for review at the January meeting for consideration and approval. Joe Taylor will provide Dennis with a list of past presidents so that those individuals may be invited to serve on the committee.

7. Membership

Tom Mangione, our membership and web guru distributed the latest and greatest membership lists to each section. Current active members are: Bay ­ 53; San Joaquin ­ 59; Southern ­ 171 and Delta Sierra ­ 91, totaling 374. We have in excess of 500 inactive members. Debbie Morris suggested that we send the Intercom to inactive members to entice them to join again.

Tom also shared that the web needs "Hot Topics" and a list of any job openings. Tom also asked that he be advised of any changes for the website.

Frank Boehler suggested that we purchase a new CDE CD and send out conference flyers via email. The Board approved of this purchase.

New Business

8. 2004/05 State Conference Financial Discussion/Purpose of Organization

We talked at great length about the purpose of the organization. Frank Boehler shared that previously two conferences were held to maintain the state budget. Joe Taylor commented that our overall financial health is good while Dennis Wiechmann pointed out that we need to be concerned about future budget years. Debbie Morris suggested that we need a contingency plan should we suffer a budget shortfall ­ we need a cushion.

Frank Boehler raised the issue that the state conference must bring in money for the state while Joe Taylor suggested that we set a limit on the conference and let the state and other sections "chip in." Jan Treff stated that the old guard may intimidate new people and that we need to remain flexible and open-minded. Dennis said that his section had discussed giving back to the state via scholarships. If the state budget were to reach a certain amount, the overage could go back to the membership via scholarships. We need to set a period of time, perhaps 1-1/2 to 2 years for our reserve. Tad Kitada said we need to create budgets each year rather than reply upon financial statements. Discussion ensued around the State President's reception ­ we need to be flexible to change and new ideas. The excess in our coffers should be shared with our membership as long as a reserve is established and maintained. It appears that the sections and the state have separate goals. Debbie Morris stated we need to keep discussion of this topic open. Dennis Wiechmann said we still need to brainstorm and unify our organization.

9. State Involvement in State Conference Planning

Tad Kitada said maybe it is the State's responsibility to set broad goals to be achieved by the conference, including budget. Debbie Morris asked why we need to spend so much money for the State Board. Dennis Wiechmann stated that we need to set a reserve level while Tad Kitada said we need an annual budget. Frank Boehler suggested that we create a preliminary budget and Tom Mangione asked if we had a benchmark for the conference. Further discussion on this issue will take place at the next meeting in January 2006.

Dennis suggested the following criteria for discussing this matter:

  1. What is the budget cap?
  2. Excess amount over cap will be invested how/where?
  3. Formalize process
  4. Establish reserve
  5. Allow for reasonable operating expense

10. Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be on January 13, 2005 from 2:00-5:00pm at the ACSA conference in Monterey. Dennis Wiechmann will research a restaurant for a meeting location.

Old Business

11. 2005-06 State Conference Update

Dennis Wiechmann gave an update on the conference to be held in Fresno. There are 39 speakers tentatively set to present and the hotel walk-through is upcoming. On Wednesday there will be a CWA 101 Academy and Drug Identification/Recognition training. The President's reception may be held at the hotel with a live band ­ details are still in the works. Motivational speakers will be utilized.

12. Other

A draft MOU between School Innovations & Advocacy (SIA) and CASCWA was distributed for review and tabled for the January agenda.

Sections should provide data from previous state conferences for use in the future. Joe Brucia's binder will be copied and distributed.

Comments: Dennis Wiechmann thanked the board for their presence and encouraged all to root for his "dogs."

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.