San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Board of Director’s Meeting
February 1, 2016 11:30 – 1:00
San Antonio Public Library Foundation
625 Shook Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78212
Please bring 150 items (same and/or different) for our Golf Goody Bags.
Agenda
1) Welcome/Introductions
Katz
 New Board Member – Chief Justice Catherine Stone
2) Pledge/Mission:
All
Our Mission is to promote the business, economic and leadership development of
women. While serving as a Board Member, I will demonstrate a passionate
commitment to this Mission, the SAWCC stated goals, and the guiding principles
that support them. Additionally, I will be a positive agent of change and affect
the collective decisions of this governing body. Finally, I will be a thoughtful and
positive architect as we build and support our organization.
3) Report from Secretary
 Approval of Minutes
Ritchie
4) Report from Treasurer
Isenberg
 Discussion and Action Regarding Savings Investment Dollars
5) Committee Reports
 Business Development
 Communications
 Education/Leadership
 Smart Women Series
 Leadership/Bloomberg
 Events
 Golf
 Gala
 POWERhour! Luncheons
 Mixers
 Membership
 Committee Involvement
 Alumni Mixer
 Charity of Choice Process
Grohman
Hughes/Villarreal
Polanco/Gonzalez
Young/Gillooly/Birney
Taylor
Taylor
Guerra
Docog
Reeder
Gavallos/Fischer
Neubert
Johnson
Blackwood
6) Other Business
7) Adjournment
Reminder: Please bring your unused hotel toiletries to Dr. Blackwood for donation to Soap4Hope
SAN ANTONIO WOMEN’S
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Meeting Minutes for January 4, 2016
SAWS Offices
MEMBERS PRESENT: Dr. Yvonne Katz, Sarah Becher, Tracey Ritchie, Belinda Gavallos, Stacey Isenberg,
Gabrielle Gelo, Dr. Gwen Young, Monica Gillooly, Rebecca Hughes, Lacey Fisher, Sondra Grohman, Cindy
Taylor, Angelica Docog, Diane Polanco, Dr. Sandra Neubert, Kristen Villarreal, Dr. Matson, Rosalind Reeder
and Roxane Teed
MEMBERS ABSENT: Amy Gonzalez, Dr. Susan Blackwood, Cindy Libera, Zina Guerra, and Lori Johnson
Leal
TOPIC DISCUSSION: Welcome/Pledge
 Pledge/Mission was recited.
TOPIC DISCUSSION: Reorganization of the SAWCC board
 Welcome some new board members – Dr. Patti Birney and Margie Hildreth. We are proud to have both
join the board. Dr. Birney will be on the Leadership/Education team and Margie will be a Director on the
membership team.
 Sarah will become our Chair-Elect.
 Dr. Katz has been talking to Sarah about this position for several months about the commitment, time
involved, responsibilities, etc.
 Dr. Katz went back to the bylaws to review policies about nominating a Chair Elect – the board has not
had one in years.
 When Dr. Katz came on as Chair, she was planning to give the chamber 2 years and it has been 4 now.
We are in a very strong place now and will start transitioning.
 Sarah is a full time employee at her job and at first this chair job was taking about 40 hours a week.
Now down to about 25 hours per week, but really comfortable with Sarah as chair elect - Dr. Katz will
mentor her. Sarah will attend all that she can as time permits. She will be chair-elect for 2016 and in
2017 she will become the Chair, and Dr. Katz will be the past chair to keep her on the board to continue
to mentor. Recommend that at that time Dr. Katz goes on as a part time Executive Director for the
board. This will cost us about $500 per month for that year and possibly the following. At that time, we
will want to see where we are and decide if we need a part time or full time executive director. Then
people coming into the board and the chair position will have someone in that Executive Director
position to keep things smooth.
 New Org chart was distributed with new position and changes in board.
 It reflects the changes in the education committee, with Monica in charge of Bloomberg. Patti will have
primary responsibility in the Level 5 Leadership program.
 Directors at large are listed on the bottom; Gabrielle has moved into that position and Zina taking over
gala.
 Dr. Katz has been talking to a few other women to potentially join the board, as well and this morning
heard from Chief Justice Catherine Stone - she has agreed to look at coming on the board as a director at
large, as well. Been on the court since 1994, serves as the chief justice of the Fourth Court of Appeals.
 This is also Dr. Cynthia Matson's first meeting as a board member! Very proud to have her on our
board as a director at large. She is the President at A&M and has always been very supportive of our
women leadership programs.
 Went around and did introductions for each board members for new attendees.
ACTION: Motion made that we accept Catherine Stone as new board member. Motion seconded and
unanimously approved.
TOPIC DISCUSSION: Report from Secretary
 Minutes from the December BOD’s meeting were distributed by Tracey prior to meeting for review.
 No corrections
 Dr. Katz noted that the November meeting will be at NorthWest Vista College.
ACTION: Motion was made and seconded to approve the December BOD’s meeting minutes. Approved
unanimously.
TOPIC DISCUSSION: Report from Treasurer
 Stacey distributed the end of year financials
 We are in a good position. For the year we ended up netting $48,000, which is really good.
 Regarding budget v actual – we brought in more revenue than expected. Continue to do well.
 Last year we started a savings account so that we didn’t keep all our money in the operating expense
account. We started with approximately $52,000 in this new savings account. We are proposing that
we put another $50,000 to have $102,000 in our reserve. This is just a savings account and not an
investment. In the future will look at what else we can do with the money as an investment. Will work
on that for the next couple of months.
 Financials will be reported on quarterly this year, rather than monthly. If anything needs to be reported
or discussed in between them, let Stacey know.
ACTION: Financials will be filed for audit. Motion made and seconded to move $50,000 into the reserve
account. Passed unanimously
TOPIC DISCUSSION: Committee Reports
Business Development
 Sondra reported that she was able to get an unexpected appointment with San Antonio Business Journal.
They wanted to meet with us, but the woman was very busy, so we decided to review with them after
the beginning of the year.
 Gabrielle sent us someone from Sea World; they are on the immediate goals for 2016.
 The Velvet touch chairman left her job recently, so Sondra will have to get in there and see where we
are on that committee.
 Ready to get back on for the new year.
Communications
 Rebecca reported that we have lots of events going on. We will have the annual membership
meeting/mixer coming up soon. Still working on getting quotes for catering from Rebecca's contact.
She is going to try to talk to them today. Invite goes out tomorrow, we just won't put who is providing
food yet.
 New member mixer notice is also out tomorrow.
 On Friday, the last PowerHour email will go out.
 Website updates - leadership level 5 applications are on the site. We have had 14 submissions, about 7
of them actual paying attendees (others are corporate members)
 We will be making some website changes and make it fresh for the new year.
 Adding a separate board access web page, for all of the new board members to include information for
you. Links to where things are, tools that will be strictly for board members. Will have some of the
new members road test it for us and get feedback.
 Headshots - if you have not sent one, we are taking them today for the website.
 Social media – reported by Kristen
o Fb reached a milestone over 1000!
o Facebook: 1,019 likes (up 10)
o Twitter: 2,940 followers (up 7)
o LinkedIn: 512 members (up 0)
o Instagram: 47 followers (up 5)
o Changed cover photo on facebook.

Education & Leadership
o SWS
o Diane reported that we held a planning meeting in December. The Feb 17th session has had a
change in topic. It is now about how to defend ourselves. Stephanie Franklin with Hightower
self-defense will be leading. We are looking forward to this one
o We are ready to go with all others, as well.
o Leadership
o
o
o

Dr. Young is currently working on finalizing the agenda, etc. Separate meeting with the
facilitators to round them all up together and meet with them.
Monica noted that Bloomberg begins in March; there is a meeting a week from today to review
and plan. Most exciting is that we haven’t yet taken advantage of our committee at large for this
yet, so we are bringing them in to work on it.
There is also the exciting idea we are looking at about doing a girls scout badge or patch for
women's leadership.
Events
o
o
o
o
o
o
Golf
Cindy reported that the Golf committee meets again this Thursday - new members this year.
One of our sponsors upped from $1000 to $1500!
Already got goodies from Sondra and Diane for goody bags.
Meeting with Citibank regarding the breakfast sponsorship, etc.
We are playing at TPC this year. Cindy was able to get such a great price that we cannot even
talk about.
o We need 150 items from all board members for our goody bags. Fun things, all goodies. Please
start bringing items to the board meetings now, due by April.
o This year we will be able to put our logo and website on the bag!
o Sonya Wolda's mail letter came back to us, let’s look at where to send
o Letters went out before Christmas with a luggage tag and said thank you, etc. to past participants
and sponsors, etc.
o We have our big check for the Peace Initiative to present to them on Feb. 5th at their board
meeting.
 PowerHOur
o Angelica reported that next week is the upcoming PowerHour on Thursday. Dr. Katz will be
our speaker.
o Angie Salinas will now be in June.
 Mixer
o Cindy T noted to Ros about how much everyone enjoyed the Christmas mixer.
o Starting to get ready for the Fiesta mixer next.
o Date will be April 6th. Whould have more details by the end of the month. It was a very nice
location last year and sponsors; maybe we can do that again. Fresh Horizons was the sponsor
last year for the food.
 Membership
o Belinda reported that our small business members increased by 2.
o We have three individuals that joined, as well.
o Two individuals’ memberships expired, one we have no record of at all. The other said that she
was going to renew to Sarah and Rebecca, but has not. We will give her a call back.
o A few corporate renewals coming up, including SAWS and Shining star.
o New member mixer next Wednesday at the Library Foundation offices. You can give your one
minute elevator speech to new members, etc.
o Annual membership mixer Feb 4th and will be at Public Library in the gallery downtown beautiful venue. Still working on catering.
o If you want to bring something to the new member mixers to bring an appetizer or wine, or
prizes, etc.
o Sondra asked about three women from Girls, Inc. Did they join? Sarah acts on those
immediately, but need to check and see if they have joined.
o Lot of reaching out and welcoming, hand holding, etc in the membership committee.
Nonmembers are followed up on.
 Committee Involvement
o Dr. Neubert reported that she is working on the board member orientation. This has been planned
for many years. It is meant to acclimate them into the group, show them what they are supposed
to do. Resource where they can go quickly. We want this to be very user-friendly and
informative.
Meeting adjourned.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Tracey Ritchie