Lewis and Clark Humane Society

Minutes of Board Meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003

CALL TO ORDER: President Jean Ketchel called the monthly meeting of the Lewis and Clark Humane Society Board to order at 6:41 pm in the Ponderosa Room at St. Peter’s Hospital. Present were board members Jean Ketchel, Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Jane Benson, Jan Sheehan, Annie Murfitt, Kaye Davis, Jennifer Green, Judy Trevor, and Pam Joscelyn. Shelter executive director Gina Wiest and book keeper Robyn McNellis were also present. Board members absent were Tia Nelson, Sara Stanton, Denise Tarr, Judy Trevor, Mary Lou Jorns, Angie McDunn, Anne O’Leary, and Shauna Stallings. Guests present included Laura Behenna, Lisa Peterson, and Allen Cormany.

Jean reported that Anne O’Leary, Shauna Stallings, and Denise Tarr have resigned from the board, so we are now three under the limit allowed by our bylaws. Some concern was expressed over board members not coming to the monthly meetings. Jane and Lisa Peterson will write a thank you letter to board members and remind them of their obligations.

TREASURER’S REPORT: The Treasurer’s Report was skipped this month in order to discuss the shelter budget. After some discussion, led by Robyn, a motion was made by Jan, seconded by Pam, that we use a portion of the Pauline Allen funds to pay off the $52,000 mortgage on the stray pet center which has a very high interest rate (saving us $7,000/year in interest rates). The motion passed. Robyn reported that we could save approx. $4,000/year by being audited every 3 years instead of every year. Jane made a motion, seconded by Pam, that the shelter be audited every 3 years with a yearly financial statement given, unless there is some financial discrepancy noted. Motion passed. Another motion was made by Jan, seconded by Pam, to combine our two accounts with D.A. Davidson ($32,000 and $8,000) and have the interest checks reinvested. Motion passed. A motion was made by Annie, seconded by Jan, to accept the shelter budget as amended. Motion passed. We will start doing a quarterly review of the budget for adjustments.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: Motion made by Jane, seconded by Jean, to approve the July 2003 minutes with changes. Motion made by Annie, seconded by Kaye, to approve the August 2003 minutes with changes. Motions passed.

SHELTER MANAGER’S REPORT: Gina reported that the collie video would be placed on public access TV. Gina attended cruelty training in Billings last week and is now sharing what she learned with shelter staff. A volunteer training session, headed by Bob Pesta, went well and Lisa Peterson is now doing a weekly volunteer training (she will also be doing a customer assistance training at no cost to the shelter). Gina wants to wait on going any further with the ventilation system at the shelter as the treatment plant is having air problems right now. Gina would like another $300 from the budget for the Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) as the first $300 has been used up. These funds come out of the spay/neuter holding account. Motion by Jan, seconded by Kaye, to allocate $300 to SNAP.

Gina gave shelter statistics since January:

MONTH IMPOUNDS/TOTAL ADOPTED/TOTAL RTO EUTHANIZED/TOTAL ALTERED Dog/Cat/Other Dog/Cat/Other Dog/Cat/Other Dog/Cat

January 77/60/3/140 33/29/2/64 27 9/31/1/41 35/26

February 77/86/4/167 33/31/5/69 30 6/60/1/67 35/13

March 92/114/5/211 31/33/4/68 31 28/76/0/104 34/29

April 100/147/5/252 48/27/0/75 52 5/70/1/76 47/30

May 122/146/10/278 49/28/6/83 51 13/92/1/106 42/29

June 108/119/1/228 35/39/4/78 51 16/57/0/73 39/25

July 115/90/2/207 37/28/3/69 68 12/47/0/59 39/8

August 112/139/2/253 42/36/1/79 39 15/92/0/107 50/16

Gina reported that we take in over 100 cats and dogs per month. (Because we are an open enrollment shelter, we take in all animals and do not “pick and choose” as no kill shelters do). Jane suggested this fact be reported in the newsletter and in a fundraising letter.

Gina reported that she had been contacted by Heather at Southwestern radio station which is planning on doing an ad campaign with Helena Vet Service showcasing a different shelter animal each day. There was some concern from board members on whether this would look like we are aligning ourselves with one vet service in town. Gina will talk with Heather to see if there is any “wiggle room” in the script language.

Gina checked with Pet Smart in Missoula regarding their program to work with the Missoula shelter by selling only spayed/neutered animals. She was told the program works for them. Gina will now talk with Arla at Animal Center as they will do the spays/neuters.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT: None.

OLD BUSINESS: Microchipping and euthanasia certification training will be left on the agenda as old business for one more month in an attempt to reach Anne for questions. The Shelter Committee will follow up on this. At a rate of $53 an animal, Jefferson County has already spent $3,286 for animal drop-off at the shelter. We had asked the commissioners for $5,000; they have agreed to pay $2,500, which is less than they already owe. It was decided to get a letter of commitment from Jefferson County for the $2,500 they have agreed to pay, bill them the balance due, and cut off services to the county on Nov. 1, 2003. (County residents will still have the option to pay $53 per animal drop-off after Nov. 1). Motion by Jan, seconded by Kaye. Motion passed. Jefferson County Commissioners will be notified, a letter may be written to county humane society members, newspaper articles should be done, and signs for the shelter and Jefferson County areas should be posted regarding this new shelter policy. The Shelter Committee will work out the details.

NEW BUSINESS:

Annual Awards: The board agreed to the following award recipients for 2003. These awards will be presented at the humane society annual meeting on Oct. 15.

Four Paws – Big R

Saint Francis – Gina Wiest and Christine Stipich

Barkley – Deb Pistoria

Certificates of appreciation will go to Bob Pesta, Renee Kowalski, Ed & Birgit Stipich, Kelly Kuntz, Lisa Peterson, Mike Maynard, and Annette Williams. Kaye and Jean will be doing the certificates.

Petoween—Pam reported that Petoween will be held Saturday, Oct. 25 from 11-1 at Big R. All prizes are being provided by Big R and Roger will be doing the announcing. We can’t charge an entry fee for the events, but we can do a raffle and also charge for pictures. Pam will find a nice prize for the raffle. Adoptable dogs will be there with Halloween bandanas.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Jane reported that the Building Committee is getting estimates on stump removal from the shelter grounds and has scheduled another clean-up day at the shelter for October 19. Helpers should bring their own equipment and trucks and the committee will put together a list of things to be done.

Laura Behenna presented a grid of grantors she had put together on behalf of the Fundraising Committee. The Fundraising Committee will be handling Santa Paws on Dec. 6 & 7. Possible future fundraisers were suggested including a rubber duck race, sponsoring a craft show, a dog wash, mailings, raffles, a cookbook with clever names and pictures, and a formal dinner/dance.

MISCELLANEOUS: Jan read a letter from MT Shares stating that the humane society is the top associate member. We have received a $25 bonus check from MT Shares which will be used to purchase desserts for the annual meeting (which Jan will buy).

ADJOURNMENT: The board meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm. The next LCHS Board meeting will be our annual meeting at the Pattern House on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 at 6:30 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson

LCHS Secretary