VENTURA COUNTY PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S NETWORK
Post Office Box 6329 Q Oxnard, CA 93031 Q (866) 275-4134 Q www.VCPWN.org
Minutes
VENTURA COUNTY PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S NETWORK
LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETING
July 17, 2014
IN ATTENDANCE: Sue Osborn, Lynn
Ryder, Linda Wall, Sheila Lowe, Jann Huling,
Anna Kittleson Micki Rickard, Celia Cortez,
Ferne Ross, Jim Nicoll
Absent: Darian Taylor, Shirley Jones Snyder
Upcoming speakers, sponsors:
August - Linda Gund Anderson and her son
Brent, on The Unintentional Humor of Life.
John Baker of Tender Home will sponsor.
September – Fashion show with Sarah D…?
Teri Domier, sponsor.
October – Tabletop Expo
November – Silent auction. Discussion
followed regarding whether to have a speaker,
or to make this a networking meeting. The
issue was tabled for the August LT meeting.
Celia may sponsor a future meeting.
President Sue Osborn called the meeting to
order at 6:45 pm.
Micki moved that minutes of the June
meeting be approved, Sue seconded. The
motion carried, minutes were approved.
DIRECTOR REPORTS:
Finance –Shirley Jones Snyder, Linda Wall
In Shirley’s absence, Linda reported that she
got a form for new bank signature cards. She
needs a copy of board minutes and a Board
resolution to add Lynn and Linda as new
signers and remove Darian. Ferne moved that
we go forward with this plan. Anna seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.
President - Sue Osborn
Sue’s goal is to improve attendance and
quality of meetings, follow up with new
members and improve retention.
Board members may invite one boardsponsored guest to a meeting each year. Sue
created a form for this purpose.
Linda is now in possession of the Quicken
laptop. She has been reviewing the financial
records and needs to meet with Shirley to
come fully up to date. It was suggested that
we look for a bookkeeper (preferably a
member) that we can pay to bring the books
up to speed. This should be someone who
will give us a Project quote, rather than
unlimited hourly fees. It was decided that Sue,
Linda, and Shirley will meet for this
discussion.
Immediate Past President – Darian Taylor
Absent
Pres Elect/Programs – Lynn Ryder
Our scheduled July speaker, Maggie
Dennison, requested to reschedule her talk
(she was taken ill). Our July sponsor, SuzAnne
Shoblom, became our newest member.
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Secretary/Web Manager –Sheila Lowe
Sheila will ask webmaster Rick Taylor for a
quote to add a birthdate to the online
application form, as well as updating the
website interface.
themselves. A certificate for the early
registrant drawing free dinner will be awarded.
It was clarified that sponsors qualify for 2
dinners: the sponsor’s and 1 guest.
Micki has received binders of Focal Points from
Gwenlyn Norton. They are in our storage.
After some discussion it was decided that
each LT member would create a gmail
account in the name of their position. The
account can therefore move with the position,
which would allow each new Director access
to past emails attached to their
responsibilities. The password would need to
be given to the new person when the board
year changes.
Eg: [email protected]
Special Events – Celia Cortez
Celia was offered support for the October
Expo by Micki, Jann, Fern, Mary, and Sue.
She will schedule a committee meeting to get
started. The same postcard will be used,
updating the information. Celia suggested
updating all Expo forms at the beginning of
each board year to help the board member
new to the position.
Membership – Jann Huling
Jann will begin to schedule Membership
committee meetings at her office. Members
from the previous committee are invited to
remain. Jann will work closely with Ferne.
We need more follow up on walk-ins. This
will be coordinated between Jann and
whoever is adding names to the hot sheet at
the door.
Discussion ensued regarding vendor fees for
this year’s event. It was decided that Members
will pay $60 for a full table and $35 for half.
Nonmembers will pay $90 for a full table and
$50 for half. Vendors are required to supply a
door prize valued at $25. There will be no
exclusions for people offering similar
products. Admission remains at $5. Maximum
of 40 tables. Ferne will send an e-blast to
members
right
away,
opening
up
opportunities for tables.
Networking- Anna Kittleson
It was decided that a timer is needed for the
Blow Your Own Horn and Who Did Business With
Whom segments, as some abuse the privilege.
Anna will also emphasize that only members
are allowed to participate.
Communications - Ferne Ross
Ferne’s goal is to work closer with Jann to
draw new members. She suggested starting a
Meetup group to get more people on
Facebook through email blasts. No vote was
taken on this issue.
Hospitality – Micki Rickard
Micki’s goal is to make everybody feel
welcome. She will provide every guest with a
Welcome card, which lets visitors know how
many meetings they may attend before
deciding to join.
Ferne has started an Empowered Woman of
the Month feature on our FB page. She plans
to feature one new member and one board
member each month. She will start a VCPWN
Twitter account.
Board members will be hostesses. New
attendees will be invited to introduce
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free software we use for our website).
Everyone was asked to review the list of
themes and select their top two or three
choices.
Sue announced that we are invited to
participate at no cost in a fall business
conference: Ventura County Connecting
Women to Power. She has followed up with
the letter, requesting additional information,
but so far has not received a response.
If committee chairs are looking for committee
members, Ferne will put a notice in the online
newsletter. She has already added Board
contact information.
Member at Large – Jim Nicoll
Jim announced that the conference room at
his office is being used by networking groups
and he will continue to advertise VCPWN to
their attendees and display our marketing
materials at their events.
Added via email after the meeting: Sue
requested that since we are still tackling so
much potential new business everyone arrive
at 5:30 at the August board meeting so we can
get an early start.
Old Business –
Jann reported complaints that a woman’s
organization has a male voice on the
voicemail, so, though we appreciate Jim’s
skills and thank him for the years he has
handled this task, Ferne will take over
updating the voicemail message during the
week following the meeting. Jim will give her
the information she needs to do so.
The next LT meeting will take place on
August 21st at the home of Sheila Lowe.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm
Respectfully submitted by. Sheila Lowe
It was decided that we would continue to
invite members to provide door prizes, and
that we will discontinue table centerpieces.
Discussion continues regarding the legal
status of VCPWN. Linda will do some
additional research.
New Business –
Ferne stated her belief that we need more
networking opportunities at every meeting.
She feels we spend too much time on
networking prior to sitting down at the tables,
and suggests that we be seated by 6:00 to
allow more time for table networking. Anna
made a motion to start the meeting at 6:00
with dinner still served at 6:15. Celia
seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Ferne also raised the issue of updating our
website. Sheila will forward a list of Drupal
themes appropriate for our use (Drupal is the
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