MINUTES - BOARD OF DIRECTORS - FRIENDS OF DONALD PARK, INC., MAY 15, 2001.

ATTENDEES: DIRECTORS: JUDY KOEPPL, PAT HITCHCOCK, MARY SPAAY, MOLLY MURRAY, VICKI ANDERSON, STEVE O'NEILL, DAVID HUGHES, AND BOB WOODBURN.

GUESTS: JEAN WARRIOR, DONNA THOMAS. FOUNDER: JACKIE GEIMER

SPECIAL PRESENTER: BORIS FRANK

PRESIDENT: MOLLY MURRAY, SECRETARY: VICKI ANDERSON

CALL TO ORDER BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS by M. Murray, 7:O5 p.m.

I. FINANCES: MOTION by Hitchcock/Hughes to approve the Treasurer's Report with a balance of

$54,553.01.Motion carried unanimously. B. Woodburn to obtain WI Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exempt

Status. FoDP, Inc. Federal Employer Identification Number is: 39-1995777.

II. JUNE 2nd PICNIC: 12:00 start to gather, 12:30 short program in which M. Spaay will introduce special guests.

Horse Trail workers will gather for lunch. Hike to springs, weather permitting. Preparation needed: clean-up of

area & mowing of path. Pat to contact Chris Gargan-volunteer for horse trail.

III. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Horse Trail: D . Hughes reports on continuous progress on trail within Park.

* $100 donation from B. Woodburn appreciated.

* J. Warrior to pursue formal request through National Parks Service River and Trails Programs.

Representative from that agency duly impressed with progress of FoDP, Inc.

* Work Days - 1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month.

IV. NEW BUSINESS: BORIS FRANK PRESENTATION/SUGGESTIONS

A. BUDGET:

* Good, detailed budget needed. How much needed and for what specific purpose. Budget per project.

* Present reality: $54,000.00 - $36,000.00 cost of picnic area road = $18,000.00

* Budget info needed for Ken LePine/Dane County Parks budget process by 7/01. It appears that Parks budget focuses on monies for land acquisition rather than park maintenance. We need park maintenance funds and must get on their radar screen. We could also encourage Parks' monies for purchasing permanent easements on various parcels around the Park to serve as a buffer.

* Budget info needed for grant/endowment applications.

B. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

* 501(c)(3) in place, money in bank, board of directors, and no liabilities.

C. 2001 STRATEGIC PLAN:

* Well-done document with reasonable goals, above average detail, ambitious plans.

* Timetable missing: Mesh the master plan with year goals.

* Watch out for great goals without specifics. Need to outline the specific process to attain goals: Who, What, When, How, etc.

* Prioritize the measured steps to attain the goals, rather than being driven totally by events. No artificial deadlines...we can only do so much...

D. MISSION STATEMENT:

* Vision drives the mission. Speaks to our vision of the treasure of Donald Park. Remember it was one man's vision to create Central Park in NYC and look at it now.

E. BOARD OF DIRECTORS BURN OUT:

* Recommends 5-15 membership of Board.

* Recruit new workers for specific, finite tasks. Accomplish the tasks and then walk away. Allows the highly committed folks to remain on the Board, lets new folks get involved and no one burns out.

* Recruit for task force....committee is a scary word.

* Dane County has more volunteers working on non-profit causes than rest of country.

F. ENDOWMENT:

* Big pot of money that earns interest to be used for operational funds. Pool assets for investment purposes increases interest earned. Sustainability vs. hand to mouth funding.

* Huge transfer of wealth occurring right now. People in community vs. corporations. Identify the local prospects. Cultivate the situation over time. Millionaire Next Door. Ask for advice, get money. Schmooze. Be prepared to state how much money do we want.

* Local resources: Madison Community Foundation, Dane County Parks Foundation

* Boris Frank willing to return for one hour presentation on the "Art of Asking".

G. FUNDRAISING:

* Low return on investment of time but works for building espirit de corps.

* Grants-for finite programs, specific tasks. Bricks and mortar. Recognition Vital!

* Fundraising events have to be cultivated/mature to gain recognition/participation as a regular event.

Ideas: Donald Park Trot, raffles of certain items-Super Bowl tickets, June 2nd Picnic expand by layering activities-arts & crafts fair, raffle, etc.

H. MEMBERSHIP:

* Solid group of members that is inexpensive to maintain. 20-30% attrition so need new members and new incentives.

* Create new incentives for membership-discount at different stores with membership card, memorial plaques, benches, ., Acre Maker -endowments for maintenance of prairie, butterfly garden, single acre of park, etc. indicating the pledge on a map of the Park.

* Annual membership renewal policy to be articulated. Special appeal beyond annual membership seems to work even though it is irritating to many. Personalize all fundraising with face to face appeals, phone calls, personalized letters and acknowledgment vital.

* Publicity vital.

I. MOTION by Spaay/Koeppl for the FoDP, Inc. to set up an endowment. Steve O'Neill shall investigate. Motion

carried unanimously.

V. ANNOUNCEMENTS:

* Louise Goldstein is recuperating from surgery. Individuals will donate towards a present.

* Pat. H. is working with different groups in Mt. Vernon area to solve the concerns of unsupervised youth/vandalism in the Park.

* Conservation Fund Grant-$400.00 for herbacide on prairie.

* Donation from Home Depot and Steve and Sabina for tools

* Committee Reports to Vicki in advance to be included in minutes to facilitate meetings.

JUNE BOARD MEETING : 6/19/01, 7:00 p.m., Springdale Town Hall - MASTER PLAN PRIORITIES/GOAL #2-STRATEGIC PLAN-To get Park Plan in alignment with us.

ADJOURN: MOTION by Spaay/Hughes. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted, V. Anderson