Fox Cities Project Promise Poverty Coalition

Executive Steering Committee

LEAVEN

June 4, 2009

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meeting minutes

In attendance: Marcia Engen, Andrew Konkel, Nicole Harrison, Jennifer Wanke, Debra Cronmiller, Kelly Butzlaff , Jennifer Lehner, Jon Stellmacher, Pastor Manns

Absent: Mito Kudaka

Call to Order: The Fox Cities Project Promise Poverty Coalition executive steering committee was called to order at 3:06 p.m. by Jon Stellmacher, co-chairperson.

Approval of the minutes: The minutes of the April 27, 2009 meeting (official May meeting held in late April due to scheduling conflicts) were previously approved via email.

Committee Reports:

• Analysis & Information: Jennifer Lehner, co-chair, reported the committee had assisted the Action & Impact committee by providing the documents requested.

• Awareness & Education: Pastor Manns, co-chair, shared the draft brochure, suggestions were made, and printing costs and number of copies were discussed. The brochure was approved, and it was determined 500 copies, estimated to cost $350, as sufficient at this time. Pastor Manns will seek contributions for the printing costs recognizing some businesses/organizations may be able to contribute color copies while others may only be able to contribute black and white. Pastor Manns said both are needed for distribution. Andrew Konkel reported the Faith to Face media kits would need both color and black and white.

Pastor Manns added a plan to encourage more speaker engagement requests was being developed and work was underway to find two co-chairs for the PPPC Annual Event. Kelly Butzlaff, co-chair, reported that UW Fox Valley has volunteered their new facility for the PPPC Annual Event at no cost.

• Action & Impact: Andrew Konkel, co-chair, shared copies of the invitation materials being distributed to faith communities for the Faith to Face kick-off event. Of the faith communities currently responding, seven (7) are yes, two (2) cannot attend, and two (2) have declined but are participating in the event. The committee is targeting participation by fifty faith groups in the area. Media kits will be made available for distribution to these groups. PPPC Co-chairs Jennifer Wanke and Jon Stellmacher will speak at the kick-off will be held at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on June 24, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

The Continuum of Care committee is underway. It is focusing on various groups and the work they do in the Fox Cities. The goal is to have PPPC interact with the identified groups and provide information. Liaisons were assigned to connect with the various groups and organizations and report back at the next meeting.

Seedfolks, a community book read with related events, has ended. The May 10^th event was rainy which resulted in a low turnout. The event held at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was well attended and Andrew spoke at this event. It has been estimated 10,000 participated in the Seedfolks community initiative.

The Volunteer Resource Fair will be held on July 18, 2009 from 8 a.m. - Noon. The committee has been working with ADI and the fair is being held at the same time as the Farmer’s Market, the second largest market of its type in Wisconsin. There most likely will be a fee of $100 to use the City Center, first floor. Email invitations are being sent to save on expenses.

The PPPC Website can be previewed at willemsmarketing.com/projectpromise. A final membership list will be posted on the website as soon as it is available. Plans are underway to present the website at the full membership meeting on June 10, 2009. Final technical preparations are being completed with Zion Lutheran Church.

Note: In response to questions about the service area of the Fox Cities, PPPC includes northern Winnebago, Calumet and Outagamie Counties which is roughly consistent with the area designated by United Way Fox Cities.

Treasurer’s Report: Debra Cronmiller reported the addition of an additional organization member, Lutheran Social Services, which brings the PPPC to 34 paid organization members which adds another $25 to our account. Individual membership lists are still being updated. No expenses have been incurred this month. Jon Stellmacher reported a PPPC request for a Keller Grant has been submitted to be considered in June, and Thrivent has committed to a $2,000 grant for PPPC. Debra made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report. It was seconded by Marcia Engen , and the motion was approved.

Action Item: On May 7, 2009, via email, Debra made a motion “To approve Andrew Konkel’s request, on behalf of the Action & Impact Committee, to incur expenses associated with their planned upcoming events. All expenses must be committed to a budget so we have an accounting of the total event costs. Requests for funds should be sent directly to Debra.” The motion was approved by the following members; Jon Stellmacher, Jennifer Wanke, Nicole Harrison, Kelly Butzlaff, Jennifer Lehner, Debra Cronmiller, Andrew Konkel and Marcia Engen.

Discussion Items:

• The PPPC Full Membership Meeting Agenda was approved. Procedural changes are being made to make the meeting more interactive.
• NOAHH (Neighbors Offering a Helping Hand) is a new group helping those in need. We will try to have more information for the PPPC Full Membership Meeting on June 10, 2009.
• Marcia Engen will distribute the 2009 Vision 2020 report card at next week’s meeting.
• Jennifer Wanke reported the group working on creating a Fox Cities Hunger Coalition is in the process of setting a meeting date. Most of the groups who have been contacted have been interested in the creation of a food coalition.
• Jon Stellmacher reported on the introduction of a bill in the legislature on predatory lending. Local legislators involved in this bill are Rep. Tom Nelson, Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber and Rep. Gordon Hintz and resistance to this legislation is anticipated. Since some action is anticipated as early as last next week, we hope to give an update at the June 10^th meeting. PPPC also anticipates distributing information about this legislation through the membership email distribution list including encouragement to Coalition members to contact their Assembly and Senate representatives to express support for the bill.

Closing Message: Debra Cronmiller closed the meeting with a quote from Marie Curie which stressed the need for improving the lives of individuals so we can then improve the world.

Coalition members are invited and encouraged to attend PPPC executive steering committee meetings. Contact Co-chairs Jennifer Wanke leaven@new.rr.com or Jon Stellmacher jon.stellmacher@thrivent.com if you plan on attending any of the executive steering committee meetings listed below.

2009 Meeting dates/times/locations:

Executive Steering Committee Full Membership

(First Thursday PM) (Second Wednesday AM)

3:00-4:30 p.m. 7:30-8:30 a.m.

LEAVEN Zion Lutheran Church

July 9* *Adjusted date due to holiday June 10

August 6 September 9

September 3 December 9

October 1

November 5

December 3

Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

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Steering Committee Meeting Invocations:

(2009)

• July Jon Stellmacher
• August Andrew Konkel
• September Pastor Manns
• October Kelly Butzlaff
• November Marcia Engen
• December Nicole Harrison