Lewis and
Minutes of Board Meeting
Call to Order: President Jean Ketchel called the
monthly meeting of the Lewis and Clark Humane Society to order at
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Gerry had no report. Robyn
stated that we had not received any money from Jefferson County on their
contract. She had talked with them and
they professed to having no knowledge of money owed. Robyn will be in contact with them again. Robyn also reported that the Montana Shares
report was due by January 15. She made
the deadline and we are once again associate members (decision made via board
phone poll). Sara made the motion,
seconded by Denise, that we accept the results of the phone poll. Motion passed. Robyn also stated she is looking into the
issue of microchip vs. vaccine savings. There is a company, Sharing Plow, which
supplies microchips at $25 each. Currently, we do vaccinations at Animal Center
at cost. Robyn said that Oregon raised adoption costs by $5.00 to cover the
costs of microchipping. Robyn also
reported that the shelter recently received a $100 donation designated for
animal treats. She will buy the treats, most likely from Big R.
SECRETARY’ S REPORT: Motion made by Sara, seconded by Angie, to approve the December 2002
minutes. Motion passed.
SHELTER MANAGER’S
REPORT: Gina reported that an organization is looking for a person to speak on
the humane society for approx. ½ hour on Feb. 24. Sara said she would do it. Gina said that she had received 25
applications for the shelter adoption counselor position. She is looking for someone who can fit the
mold right away—about 5 of the 25 fit that criteria. A panel of Gina, Christine, and Gerry will
interview the candidates. The Spayghetti
Dinner will be held Saturday, March 1 at the East Helena VFW. Gina reported that the shelter is starting to
get some donations for the auction and for food items. Birgit Stipich has agreed to do the cooking
again this year. Last year’s Spayghetti
Dinner raised $3,500-$3,800 for the shelter.
Spay day is Feb. 25 this year.
Gina reported that Sandy Newton is photographing Pets of the Week again
for the IR. 90% of the pets featured are
adopted.
Gina stated that
shelter staff are having a ½ day of training on Feb. 3. The money is in the budget and Gina labeled
the training as a workplace skills sort of thing. Gina asked the board their opinion regarding
the reinstitution of the Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP). This program offers assistance on a sliding
scale to people needing financial assistance with spaying or neutering their
pet. The program is already in place, it
was just stopped because of bad debt on the part of users. The program has since changed in that people
no longer have to pay the money back.
The board will discuss reinstating the program at the February meeting.
Gina asked if the
money from the pop machine in front of the shelter might go to the staff for
birthday parties and misc. events, since they are the primary users of that
machine. Gerry made a motion, seconded
by Sara, that a line item be put in the budget for the pop machine income and
that money go to the staff. Motion
passed.
Gina clarified the
payment issue regarding her and Christine’s time spent in Shelby working on the
collie case. Gina has already billed
Toole County for the 11 hours she works there each week (she is gone 11 hours
from our shelter each week), and the 11 hours Christine has worked there each
week. The rest of the time she has
spent there is volunteer time and Toole County can’t be billed for that. Motion by Gerry, seconded by Denise, that the
board accept this option and Gina and Christine be reimbursed mileage from the
cruelty account. Motion passed. Gina reported how rewarding it is to do the
work at Shelby and what a good learning experience it is. A second motion by Gerry, seconded by Kaye,
was made that Gina and Christine keep billing for those 11 hours each week and
receive mileage for as long as necessary, as long as it does not adversely
affect our shelter. Motion passed. Gina and Christine were asked to keep track
of their volunteer hours. Gina reported
the Shelby trial is slated to start Wednesday, Jan. 22. She said the dogs have tested positive again
for ghiardia and hookworm. She is very
concerned with their vet care—they are not necessarily getting the correct
medication. She stated that a humane
society person needs to be there to ensure the dogs are receiving humane
treatment. On a related note, Jane read
a letter from Sandy Newton congratulating Gina and Christine (and the board)
for their participation in Camp Collie.
Gina mentioned
that not every shelter requires their animals to be spayed and neutered before
leaving the shelter. Lewis & Clark
has had this policy for about the last year and a half. “It’s one of the smartest things we’ve ever
done,” Gina said. It was suggested that
we should write a letter to other shelters discussing our positive
experience. It was decided to wait until
after the Spayghetti Dinner. This will
be further discussed in February.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT: None.
OLD BUSINESS: Gerry wrote an ad featuring the humane society for the Montana Senior news.
Jefferson County-We sent them a letter over a month ago and they have not responded. They have not paid for two quarters. It was thought that perhaps it was a budgeting error on their part in not yet paying the lower amount. We need to get the issue cleared up as we don’t want to not take Jefferson County residents’ animals at the shelter. We will address this issue further in February.
Labels to fix membership fees on current envelopes-About 750 envelopes need to be updated with current membership fees. It’s about $25 a box for labels. Angie will print them.
Unemployment-We will be self-insured for $75/year, then pay out-of-pocket. Anne O’Leary has a contact at Dept. of Labor to follow up with this.
Tiffany Davis has resigned
from the board. Gerry will send Gary
Spaeth a letter at least 14 days before our February meeting telling him he
will be removed from the board at that meeting unless he objects.
NEW BUSINESS: Motion
by Angie, seconded by Denise, that Jane be approved as the new chair of the
legislative committee. Motion
passed. Jane reported that her
legislative committee has come up with a fact sheet regarding the humane
society. She distributed a copy. She also reported that her committee had met
with Dave Pauli, the regional humane society representative, who has written a
proposed bill for this Montana legislative session. Dave Gallik has agreed to carry the bill,
which has not been submitted yet. The Valentine
Chocolate Fair is Saturday, Feb. 8.
Gerry will get the permit for the humane society booth and call 60
bakers. Angie, Mary Lou, and Jan
volunteered to help.
MISCELLANEOUS: There was discussion of moving board meetings to the third Thursday of the month instead of the third Tuesday. Jean will conduct a board poll via e-mail regarding this. Tia can no longer make Tuesday night meetings. She also mentioned that she is no longer working for Companion Animal Hospital, and has started her own mobile vet service. As for building, Ed Stipich is working on the cat room, in the main building. This room allows cats (all spayed and neutered) to move about the room freely. Tia mentioned that someone needs to come down and give an estimate on finishing the new middle building.
ADJOURNMENT:
The board meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.
The next LCHS Board meeting will be Thursday, February 20, 2003 in the
Ponderosa Room at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Lisa
Mecklenberg Jackson