Thursday, February 10, 2005

February 2005 Minutes



MURRAY WOMAN’S CLUB
Executive Board Minutes
February 7,2005

The Executive Board of the Murray Woman’s club met on February 7, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. Before the official meeting began, President Pat Harrington introduced special guests representing Hospice. Patti Williams, social worker with Hospice spoke the work of Hospice in Murray and about the need for a local residential Hospice. She introduced Constance Alexander, writer and consultant, whose Readers’ Theatre play “The Way Home” will be presented at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, March 13, at 2 p.m. The four women from Hospice constitute a grassroots committee for both information about the work of Hospice in Murray and for fundraising to provide the services.

The committee asked that the Murray Woman’s Club actively participate in both these areas. They asked specifically that the members of MWC audition for reading roles in the upcoming production of “The Way Home,” and that the Club house be made available to Hospice for fundraising at no charge. Auditions will be held on February 19 in the meeting room of the public library. The president thanked the group for their presentation and stated that the board would discuss their proposals.

The president then called the meeting to order, asking the recording secretary to make the roll call. Nineteen board members were present, with all departments except Garden represented.

The minutes of the January 3, 2005, meeting were approved without correction and were filed for record.

OFFICERS’ REPORTS:
Pat Harrington, president, thanked the people who had assisted her with the annual report. She announced that the the Club was nominating the following women for honors: Kathy Stanfa, Newcomer of the Year; Sally DuFord, Volunteer of the Year; Pat Harrington, Club Woman of the Year.

The president discussed changes in reporting procedures for department chairwomen and distributed sample sheets. PLEASE NOTE: church contributions should not be reported. She emphasized the importance of complete monthly reporting by all members. She needs to know WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW for all activities and contributions. To further encourage complete reporting, she will hold a drawing each month to reward the winning chairwoman. To be eligible, a chairwoman must properly complete and turn in at the meeting the previous month’s report.

The discussion of reporting activities led to a discussion of MWC’s participation in the Hospice Fundraising and Awareness campaigns.

MOTION: Barbara Brandon moved that MWC support the Hospice committee by giving in-kind Club House rental for their fundraising project, subject to rental availability. The motion was seconded and carried.

Pat then asked if the Board would like to provide refreshments for the Reader’s Theatre production on March 13.

MOTION: Barbara Brandon moved that MWC spend up to $50 to cater refreshments for the production “The Way Home: to benefit Hospice. She also specified that Home Department members would serve as Hostesses to represent Murray Woman’s Club. The motion was seconded and carried.

Pat requested that the following people report their Secret Pals to her: Martha Broach, Brenda Call, Cathy Pigg, and Naomi Rogers. She also needs the names of the members who have the following people as their secret pals: Marlene Beach, Martha Broach, Martha Crafton, Lois Pharris, Naomi Rogers, Bobbie Weatherly, and Sue White.

Membership Profiles were also emphasized by Pat. She asked that department chairwomen encourage their members to complete and return these forms. Please invite her to come to meetings to take pictures.

She reported that MWC will be doing the WKMS Phone-A-Thon on March 7-10 and March 14-18. EACH DEPARTMENT CHAIR SHOULD REPORT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: 1. WHICH VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE AND FOR WHICH DATE 2. IF THE DEPARTMENT IS PARTICIPATING OR CHOOSES TO PAY $40 IN LIEU OF PARTICIPATION.

Alpha March 7
Theta March 8
Music has volunteers but no date has been assigned.

The president called attention to the change of time for the March and April meetings. Please note that the meetings will begin at 4:00 p.m. in March and April, not at 6:30 p.m.

In the absence of the Corresponding Secretary, Pat reported on the thank-you note sent by Ryan Cathey, the student who received $75 from MWC for a trip to New Zealand.

Tracey Wortham, first vice-president, announced that the Music Department and the Sigma Department will be the hostesses for the March General Meeting. Because this meeting is also the Awards Night for contest participants, she asked that each of the ten (10) departments furnish two (2) dozen cookies. The cookies should be delivered to the Club House by 6 p.m. on March 24. Also, she reminded the department chairwomen to encourage their members to attend general meetings, especially since there will be a special drawing for those women who have attended at least three (3) general meetings. These women are eligible to receive a year’s membership FREE.

Martha Joiner, second vice-president, stated that there were 98 student entries in the recent Poetry/Short Story contest, as well as entries by two Club woman. The results of the contest will be announced in the local paper and will also appear on the MWC web site.

Sheree Story, treasurer, was not able to be present. However, she sent a report stating that the current Balance on Hand is $20,804.30.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

ALPHA Marlene Beach stated that the family histories are now in. The completed book should be available by November.

KAPPA Martha Robertson reported for Kappa chairwoman Cathy Pigg and said that the Tour of Homes was extremely successful. Funds were given to the Merryman House and also to the Renovation Project for the Murray Woman’s Club House ($1000).

MUSIC Bobbie Weatherly announced the April 30 date for the luncheon and music program. Special performers will be the scholarship winners.

THETA Pat McMullin said that Murray Elementary needs volunteer readers for Dr. Seuss day on March 2 from 1:00 -- 1:30 p.m. Call Carol Chapman 753-5022.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ADVISORY Martha Crafton reported that the cleaning and painting of the downstairs area of the Club House had been in progress for several weeks: she and Jean Watkins have been painting for the past two weeks. She stated that the cleaning and preparation of the area took up much of the time. Cleaning still needs to be in the kitchen area. Volunteers should come to the Club House prepared to scrub counters and wash dishes. She estimates that the cost so far for redecoration has been for wallpaper $150 and for supplies (cleaning and paint) $466.

She also reported on two bids for the doors and windows downstairs: (1) Murray Lumber $10,000 materials only (2) Pella $8,600 materials only. The bid from Pella for replacing all windows is $19,000 materials only. Martha asked that the committee for refurbishing the club house meet immediately after the Board meeting adjourns.

Martha brought up another continuing problem: neighborhood children playing on the property. Recently, she discovered that one of the newly-installed patio lights has been broken off. There is also some damage to the rock wall area. She asked the Board to consider the problem carefully and to make suggestions which might prevent further damage or future injury.

She discussed the importance of the departments notifying her of their special functions. Each chairwoman should contact Martha and make sure that the function is placed on the Club House Calendar by Martha. She noted that disappointments had occurred in years past because chairwomen had assumed that their annual fundraisers/special luncheons would automatically be placed on the calendar. Only the regular meetings are placed on the calendar automatically.

CHILDREACH Linda Chaney presented an urgent appeal from Childreach for funds to help the tsunami victims. She urged that each department make a donation. There is a time limit:all checks should be brought to the March Board meeting. [CHILDREACH is part of PLAN a global nonprofit, child-centered development organization helping needy children and their families since its inception in 1937. Murray Woman’s Club has been an active participant in this organization since 1995. Linda has served as a one-woman committee for 10 years. vr]

CLEW Lois Pharris thanked the women who volunteered to help with CLEW (Community Leadership Workshop). She reported that no students attended the HOBY workshop because the cost was prohibitive. However, 82 young people attended the CLEW meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Executive Board Meeting (Note time change) 4:00 p.m. March 7
General Meeting March 24

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Virginia Randolph,
Recording Secretary