VENTURA COUNTY PROFESSIONAL WOMENʼS NETWORK
Post Office Box 6329  Oxnard, CA 93031  (866) 275-4134  www.VCPWN.org
Minutes
VENTURA COUNTY PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S NETWORK
LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETING,
MARCH 21, 2013
IN ATTENDANCE: Mary Gabriels, Shirley
Jones, Sheila Lowe, Michelle McConica, Jim
Nicoll, Sue Osborn, Micki Rickard, and
Darian Taylor.
Networking Director, but now it will be part of
the duties of the Special Events Director. We
need to start working on it right away, and should
get a committee formed.
ABSENT: Alison Balter, Rita Frayer, Shirley
Lorraine,and Jann Huling
President-Elect – Darian Taylor
April’s speaker will be Dr. Kalee Pasek, and the
sponsor will be Julie Saltoun.
President Mary Gabriels called the meeting to
order at 6:20 p.m. at Shirley Jones Snyder’s
home.
Darian Taylor moved that the minutes from the
January 2013 meeting be approved, and Michelle
McConica seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
Webmaster/Membership – Sheila Lowe
The membership committee did not meet this
month.
Laurie Crippin renewed her membership this
month.
We received an online application form Jeri
Becker, who said she was sending her money to
the P.O. box and Sheila wondered if we had
received the check. As of this date, we haven’t.
We need to update the website for the next
meeting. Jim N. will update the voice message.
Networking – Alison Balter
In Alison’s absence, Mary G. reported.
Regarding the Table Top Expo, Networking used
to head it up because it was started by a previous
In May our speaker will be Karyl Lynn Burns,
Founder and Artistic Director of the Rubicon
Theatre. Laurie Kreis has expressed interest in
sponsoring a meeting, but has not yet been
confirmed.
June is installation of the new board. We will
have a docent from Heritage Square in Oxnard
who will provide a history of hats. All attendees
will be encouraged to wear a hat. Our member
from Mini of Camarillo, Rick White, has
expressed interest in sponsoring, but has not been
confirmed.
In July, Dr. Kerry O’Reilly will be our speaker,
on the topic of women’s well being. We need a
sponsor.
Darian announced that the retreat for the
incoming leadership team will be on Saturday,
June 1st, at the Pierpont Inn.
Finance – Shirley Jones-Snyder
No cash flow report this month, but Shirley was
pleased to report the group has $10,000 in the
bank.
Our D&O insurance renewal has been paid.
Promoting the professional and personal growth of Ventura County women
through education, mutual support, and sharing of resources
Shirley J.S. wants to put together a budget, which
is now possible with the help of her committee.
Membership renewals are ongoing.
Sue O. asked if someone on the committee is
going to take over creation of invoices. Shirley
has some one in mind.
Hospitality – Jann Huling
No report, as Jann was absent.
Special Events – Micki Rickard
Micki has a silent auction committee formed,
consisting of Caroline Hurtado, Helayne
Warschaw, and Lydia Ramos.
She sent requests to past donors. Sue O. said she
would ask Cara Mia. Jim N. said he would ask
Mayfair of London.
Micki asked about sending an e-blast to the
master list. If Micki can send the text of her
message to Michelle Mc. before April 6th, it will
be included in the next e-blast.
The fluff party to make up the silent auction
packages will be on Saturday, April 6th at
Micki’s home, at 10:00 am.
Table Top Expo: We need to form a committee as
soon as possible. The date of the expo is
10/10/13. Alison B. has everything Micki will
need for planning the event. Sheila has the
postcard.
It was decided that all paid members will be able
to have a table at the expo without regard to
overlap of product/service. Only non-member
vendors will be limited by duplication. This was
a committee decision, not requiring a vote by the
leadership team.
We’ll need to have a meeting as soon as possible,
after the silent auction.
Darian T. has the vendor solicitation letter.
Darian will provide applications for inclusion in
the hostess packets at the April meeting.
Women’s Business Expo by the Expo Galz on
Saturday, May 18th. We got the early bird rate of
$100. The expo runs from 10 am - 5 pm, with set
up at 9:00 am. Sheila L. and Jim N. are the
committee and they will keep a sign up list for
the event. It was suggested that we give away a
free VCPWN dinner at this expo.
Member at Large – Rita Frayer and Jim Nicoll
Jim filled in for Alison at the last meeting and did
a great job.
Jim will represent us at the Latino Business
Expo.
Communications – Michelle McConica
The next e-blast is in draft. Announcement of
our meeting will be posted in the usual places.
Michelle is working on CAPS TV placement.
E-blasts from members was discussed. There is a
concern that if we start to allow this traffic, too
many of our subscribers will begin unsubscribing
because they are not able to distinguish those
messages from our VCPWN announcements. In
fact, at least a couple of board members
unsubscribed from the messages sent by member
Ali McLean Madsen, without realizing that they
were unsubscribing from VCPWN.
We discussed some of the frustrations of having a
group page on Facebook.
Michelle confirmed that all communications
would be out within 72 hours.
Immediate Past President – Shirley Lorraine
Shirley was absent, but Mary G. said that at the
April meeting Shirley L will announce the docket
for the next board.
Promoting the professional and personal growth of Ventura County women
through education, mutual support, and sharing of resources
President – Mary Gabriels
Mary G. will include the lists for the Fun Groups
in the hostess packets for the April meeting.
Regarding purple navigator ribbons - Charlotte
Werner Gesling does not have any. Aswell said it
would be a special order and would cost .72 each
for a minimum of 50, so we decided against
ordering.
Mary cannot get any more restaurant gift
certificates for our table centerpieces. So she
bought some items for the last meeting, spending
$50. We collected $194 - $20, for a net of $174.
Going forward into the new administration,
Darian T. would like to continue the centerpieces,
but maybe ask the leadership team to help with
the items we include.
Mary had a brochure from the Center for NonProfit Leadership - Sheila took it.
Mary mentioned that in May we usually have a
woman-themed fundraiser, and there was some
discussion about past events. But it is up to
Special Events and she can keep it as simple as
she would like.
There was discussion about the ongoing series
provided by Schneiders and Associates for nonprofits. The first one was very informative and
gave rise to some good ideas.
The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Osborn, Recording Secretary
Promoting the professional and personal growth of Ventura County women
through education, mutual support, and sharing of resources