Friends of the Library - San Lorenzo Area

Special Meeting of the Board

November 10, 2008

Minutes

Directors present: Beckman, Dias, Kent, Moose, Webb

Directors absent: Boulton

Others present: Eb Lemcke

The meeting was called to order by vice-president Beckman at 6:35 p.m. in the library. Beckman said he had called for the meeting, exercising his right under the bylaws, because the previous two regular meetings had been cancelled by the president at the last minute.

Announcements:

(1) President Betty Moose explained that she had cancelled the previous two regular meetings because of personal conflicts. She submitted a written resignation as president and director (see attached) but said she would remain an active member.

Moose left the meeting at this point.

(2) Beckman distributed copies of the brochure he had produced and apologized for the very long time it had taken to complete it. The brochure is to be used for outreach and recruitment.

(3) Beckman distributed copies of a letter he had written to county librarian Jean Hofacket reporting the board's resolution on the proposed renovation project, and Hofacket's reply (see attached).

(4) Beckman called attention to the patron survey available at the front of the library and distributed copies (see attached).

Nominating committee: Dias and Kent agreed to serve and report to the board before the end of the year.

Board election: Beckman noted that three seats are available in the January 2009 election:

Two vacancies created by expiration of the terms of Beckman and Rostad, three-year terms.

One vacancy created by the resignation of Moose, two years remaining.

It was agreed to use a ballot for this election. The ballot will be mailed to all members in good standing (those who dues have been paid this year) and can be returned by mail to us or brought to the annual meeting in January. Kent will design some verification process.

Financial business: Webb distributed a detailed statement of income from the recent book sale ($1,825.37), a breakdown of income and expenses for the current year, and a proposed 2009 budget for future discussion.

Library survey: Beckman reported that he had asked Sean Wilson, chief of staff for County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, if the idea for the survey came from his office. Sean said he had discussed a survey with Jean Hofacket but had not seen the survey available in the library and therefore could not say if it was what he had discussed with Jean.

Beckman remarked that the lead question in the survey seemed "loaded" in the sense that it would be next to impossible to decide just what someone had in mind in responding to the question whether she did or did not support renovation "until funds are made available". He thought the question was written in a way that assured the responses would overwhelmingly "strongly support" renovation. Most people responding to the survey will not know that the county has done nothing to make capital funds available, and likely will not.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. to November 24, 6:00 p.m.

The board also agreed to meet December 15 at 6 p.m., primarily to discuss the upcoming annual membership meeting and the 2009 budget.

(Minutes recorded and submitted by Howard Beckman)

Approved by the board on: November 24, 2008

Certified: