Painted Lady Sunning
NABA Northern Crescents Meeting Notes
June 4, 2008
Members in attendance: Pat T, Pat S, Marilyn C, Gail G, Foster G, Wally M, Greg B, Donna P.
A meeting was held of the charter members of the Northern Crescents Chapter on June 4, 2008 at 6:30 in the Gander Mountain meeting room. The following business items were discussed:
Financial Report:
The group reviewed a summary of the financial status of the Chapter since its inception. The report included a categorized listing of the types of income and expenditures. The current balance of the checking account is $ 685.33 (as of April 30, 2008). This balance includes $ 697.54 dedicated to Muriel’s Memorial Garden at the Benedictine Health Center and ($ 12.21) for Chapter Activities.
The Chapter receives $ 5.00 annually for every paid yearly membership in NABA National. There are currently 17 paid members of NABA National which would total $ 85.00 per year. Due to the negative balance for Chapter Activities, the previously agreed upon donation to the Xerxes organization was not made.
NABA National Revised By-Laws:
A current version of the NABA National by-laws was recently received by Marilyn and Pat S from NABA National. The group discussed the changes and additions between this version and the original version that was signed by Pat Thomas when the Chapter was organized in 2002. Members who were not able to attend the meeting sent their comments via e-mail prior to the meeting (Jim P, Jane W, Doreen). Most of the groups felt the by-laws were too restrictive and bureaucratic, especially for a small chapter like ours. The areas of concern were:
- Article II – requiring participants in activities to be or become members of NABA National.
- Article III – changing of required number of meetings per year from four to nine per year. The Chapter had decided at the October 2007 meeting to have only four meetings per year.
- Article IV and VI - a 10% share of any funds raised by the Chapter should be sent to NABA National.
- Article V – requiring four officers. This is harder for a small chapter.
- Articles VI and IX - Signature authority for the Chapter checking account should include the president and treasurer of NABA National. Their signature are required on checks over $500.
- Articles VI – submitting and annual report to the Treasurer of NABA National. This was a requirement under the “old” by-laws but was not done, nor did NABA follow through on getting one from the Chapter.
- Article X – Chapters with fewer that 15 NABA members could be dissolved by the President of NABA National. At that time, all Chapter assets and cash should be sent to NABA National.
Pat T explained some of the functions of NABA National and the work they have done to get butterflies, like the Miami Blue, on the endangered species list. She also noted that because we were part of a national organization, we received the funding from Muriel’s family.
Pat S had placed a call to NABA National and had talked directly to Jeffrey Glassberg, President of NABA. He explained that NABA National is in the process of revising the by-laws in order to get all of the Chapters under the same set of by-laws. This will probably happen this fall. He explained that the 10% of chapter fundraising profits goes to the operating expenses of NABA National and that the signatures requirement is in response to a situation that occurred in the past with another Chapter.
It was decided to discuss this further at the October meeting. It is possible that by October, we will have a more information from NABA National on the new by-laws.
The following options were discussed:
- If possible, remain a NABA Chapter under the “old” by-laws.
- Remain a NABA Chapter under the new by-laws.
- Dissolve the NABA chapter association but remain a group of butterfly enthusiasts continuing to do the activities was have been doing – larval monitoring, butterfly counts, Muriel’s Garden, education about butterflies, and social events.
An e-mail should be sent to Jeffrey Glassberg, President of NABA National expressing our Chapter’s concerns about the additional requirements and restrictions included in the new by-laws. Marilyn will do this.
NABA Liability Insurance:
A letter was received from NABA National offering to provide liability insurance to the Chapter for $ 204 annually. They encourage chapters to purchase this insurance. It was discussed and decided not to purchase the insurance because of money constraints and we did not feel it was necessary at this time. We wondered is having people sign a liability waiver would be enough.
Benedictine Health Center Garden (Muriel’s Garden):
The Benedictine Health Center (BHC) has requested that the signs in the garden be cut down so that they are at a height readable from a wheelchair. Donna has gotten estimates - $600 if the work is done by the BHC maintenance staff or $400 if cut down by her family members and then welded by Jim’s Welding.
A motion was made by Foster and seconded by Greg to go ahead with using the BHC staff to cut down the sign, purchase a new shrub and replacement plants and also to reimburse Donna for her purchase of a replacement metal trellis for the garden. The motion was approved.
July Pot Luck at Benedictine Health Center:
Donna has received permission from BHC for our NABA chapter to have a picnic by Muriel’s garden. We discussed possible dates in July and Donna will check with the BHC to confirm the date. This will be communicated to the members when there is a firm date.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn Carter, Co-President