Lewis and
CALL TO ORDER: Vice-President Tia Nelson
called the monthly meeting of the Lewis and Clark Humane Society Board to order
at 6:09 pm at the shelter. Present were board members Tia Nelson, Lisa
Mecklenberg Jackson, Jane Benson, Annie Murfitt, Lisa Peterson, Jolyn Eggart,
Kevin St. John, Ed Stipich, and Jen Hornung.
Shelter executive director Gina Wiest was also present, as was guest
Laura Behenna. Board members absent were
Jean Ketchel, Kaye Davis, and Judy Trevor.
(Board member Jennifer Green recently submitted her resignation).
TREASURER’S REPORT: The board looked at the 2005
budget and discussed a few items. The
budget does not have to be finalized at this meeting.
SECRETARY’S REPORT: Motion by Tia, seconded by Jane, to approve
minutes, with changes, from the following board meetings: January 2004, March
2004, April 2004, and the April 2004 closed meeting. Motion passed.
SHELTER COMMITTEE REPORT: The Cascade County Humane Society has asked for an extension for
Gina’s services for two weeks at their shelter. Gina is not interested in the extension; she
recognizes that although the staff there take good care of the animals, the
board and staff do not get along. Motion
by Annie, second by Lisa P., to get Gina out of the contract as soon as
possible. The contract does allow us to
terminate for “other unforeseeable circumstances.” Jolyn will double-check the contract language
and Tia will sign a letter to this effect.
We could offer them some direction for their shelter if they come down
here to visit.
Tia reported there
is no money in the budget for the new position discussed at last month’s
board meeting. Bob Pesta has offered
suggestions for maximizing the people/services the shelter has and these may
negate the need for a new employee. The
shelter committee is exploring these ideas.
400 microchips are being purchased ($2,100) for use at the
shelter. Only dogs will be chipped at
this time. Sara Stanton, a former LCHS
Board member, is donating two two-year-old computers to the
shelter. We could still use two more
newer computers. The shelter committee
is still looking at a possible longevity award for shelter employees of
five years or more. Lisa P. is
coordinating our display area/dogs for the June 6 event at the fairgrounds. The hours are from 12-4 and she could use
some volunteers. Gina has lots of
materials that can be used for the table at these type of events.
BUILDING/GROUNDS
COMMITTEE: Jane reported that this committee has lost two members and could use some
more. The committee has a list of about
20 things that need to be worked on.
Some of these are: new walls in the dog kennel (the old ones are moldy);
a watering system; new doors; filling “the pond” in the driveway; construction
of an outside sitting area; paint outside the reception area; put up an
employee parking sign: getting a light outside the building, etc. The shelter has received a $5,000 donation
from the Alma Taylor estate. This will
be put towards repairing the moldy dog kennels.
FUNDRAISING
COMMITTEE: The committee met May 3 and Lisa M.J. submitted a sheet of fundraising
ideas the committee discussed at that meeting. (See attachment to these
minutes).
NOMINATING
COMMITTEE: We need three new board members.
We will put an article in the IR calling for new board members. It was also pointed out that we should
advertise for volunteers for events in the paper as well (there is no charge
for an article).
WEBSITE COMMITTEE:
Actual work on the new site has not yet begun. Lisa P. needs to contact the Missoula Humane
Society to ask how the pay system on their Website works. Apparently, PayPal works well for MT
Shares.
DISASTER PLAN: Jean
will be attending some disaster preparedness training in
SPAY/NEUTER TASK
FORCE: Jane reported that she is now getting some
specifics on the clinic. A grant can be
applied for through the Mikal Kellner Foundation. The committee needs to come up with a
spay/neuter budget (fairground rental, copies, etc.). Jane is visiting local vets to discuss the
clinic. She is getting a wide variety of
responses, but none are opposed.
OTHER BUSINESS: Strutt Your Mutt—we still
want to hold this event this year and we need to get started on planning
it. Lisa M.J. will contact Jean and Bev
Rankin to see if they are still interested in co-chairing the event. Lisa P. gave Jane a copy of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves in recognition
for her many years of fine work with Animal
Paws, the LCHS newsletter.
SHELTER MANAGER’S REPORT: Gina gave April 2004 statistics.
Dogs Cats
Impounded 74 70
Returned to Owner TOTAL
37
Adopted 42 30
Euthanized 5 21
Spayed/neutered 38 22
Gina reported that the insurance offered by the Montana Nonprofit
Association is a similar policy to the one the shelter currently has, but
is a 6.9% cost increase over the current policy. The shelter committee will
look to see if it is worth $150 to join the MT Nonprofit Association for other
reasons. Gina would like to wait to have an open house at the shelter once
the back yard is “pretty,” and the kennel has been fixed up. Maybe next fall? Gina talked about running some summer
specials. She will bring a proposal
to the next meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS: We do not have the wishing well for
donations at the mall any longer. It is
broken, and wasn’t making much money anyway.
ADJOURNMENT:
The board meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.
The next LCHS Board meeting will be at the shelter on Wednesday, June
16, 2004 at 6:00 pm.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Lisa
Mecklenberg Jackson
LCHS
Secretary