Fox Cities Project Promise Poverty Coalition

Zion Lutheran Church

March 11, 2008

7:35 a.m.

Meeting minutes

Call to Order:

The Fox Cities Project Promise Poverty Coalition meeting was called to order at 7:35 a.m. by Jon Stellmacher, Co-Chairperson.

Invocation:

Jennifer Lehner shared a message from 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People about an individual who missed mortgage payments, didn’t know what to do, and subsequently did nothing. Counselors periodically find individuals in trouble hiding their problems. We all need to remember, especially in these difficult times, that seemingly unsolvable problems should be shared with others.

Approval of Minutes:

A motion by Don Stoegbauer and seconded by Will Bloedow to accept the minutes of the December 10, 2008 meeting as printed was approved.

Treasurer’s Report:

Debra Cronmiller, treasurer, reported a current membership of 214, with 32 organization members and a balance of $800. Debra asked everyone to encourage their families, neighbors, friends and co-workers to become members of PPPC. The report was accepted as presented.

Committee Reports:

• Analysis & Information: Jennifer Lehner, co-chair, introduced Mito Kudaka, as the new A & I co-chair. The committee is currently continuing its work on root cause analysis and is now focusing on reasons for the lack of financial education in the Fox Cities. The dates of the upcoming meetings are listed in the recently distributed PPPC Executive Steering Committee meeting minutes (and at the end of these minutes).
• Awareness &Education: Kelly Butzlaff, co-chair, reported that after a successful first round of training, eight individuals have joined the PPPC Speakers’ Bureau and are ready to spread the coalition’s message. Recently, two speakers gave a presentation on poverty issues to ninety 9^th graders at the Boys’ & Girls’ Club. Preparations are already underway for the 2010 PPPC Annual Meeting which is planned for mid-January. Kelly asked for additional volunteers to the A & E committee to help with the numerous projects being considered.
• Action & Impact: Andrew Konkel, co-chair, reported that a process for applying for approval of projects had been approved. Updates on other projects, given by Andrew and co-chair Carrie Hankes, follow:
• The Willems Agency and a recent UW-Oshkosh graduate have volunteered to help with revising and updating the PPPC website. It should be ready in about two weeks www.projectpromisefoxcities.org. All meeting minutes and online membership can be accessed on the site.
• Plans are underway for the Volunteer & Resource Fair to be held at the City Center in conjunction with a Farmers’ Market in late spring or early summer before the event moves outdoors. Amanda Dietrich and Julia Drobeck are the co-chairs.
• The Legislative Lunch & Learn, originally planned as part of the fair, will need to be scheduled for a later time due to a lack of space at the City Center.
• The Faith to Face Poverty Week (October 9-15, 2009) “save the date” cards were sent to faith leaders in the Fox Cities. The sub-committee of ten + members will be developing media kits and planning for a kick off event.
• The Continuum of Care sub-committee has eight members and is currently looking for a chairperson. Individuals interested in this volunteer opportunity should contact Carrie Hankes, chankes@affinityhealth.org.
• The book, Seedfolks, is the focus of an informal, community book read. The book is a short read (approximately a half hour), and once a person reads the book the person forwards it to someone else in the community.

Miscellaneous Reports, Updates and Issues: WCCF Event

Nicole Harrison announced PPPC would be co-sponsoring a community forum on the state budget with the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) and the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future (IWF) on Thursday, March 26, 2009 from 4-6 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Evergreen Room. The forum is being held in March so it precedes the public hearing scheduled for April 1, 2009 of the Joint Finance Committee.

Action Item: Sponsorships and Spending Policy

Debra Cronmiller stated her presentation was to be followed with a discussion with the members in attendance. She then reviewed the goals language that stated the PPPC “will not raise grant funds to support it, but will advocate for the development of funds that support the work of agencies, businesses and other organizations that support the mission of the Coalition.”

Debra explained the dilemma currently facing the executive steering committee. Last year (2008), the PPPC annual event was entirely underwritten. This year, underwriting was obtained for the event but not enough to cover expenses. The executive steering committee is working to reconcile the deficit and feels additional resources will be secured from local funders in the near future.

While this one funding issue is being addressed, the executive steering committee has come to the realization that the work the Coalition is doing takes resources, but when the Coalition was established, we agreed we would not compete with local agencies in raising funds in the community. We now are wondering how we can secure funds to do our work and meet the intent of the language of our goals. For what purposes can we use our dues money? Our original intent was to use it to make copies for meetings.

Currently PPPC is not a 501c3 organization, therefore we need a 501c3 organization to accept funds on our behalf. If it is determined that we can seek funds to cover miscellaneous expenses, we would be contacting local foundations, seeking corporate sponsorships, requesting private/personal contributions or inquiring of organizations such as CHAT – Community Health Action Team. We also question who should be seeking the funds; the executive steering committee, the standing committees or a task force.

What should we do? (The bulleted, paraphrased statements, below, are representative of the open discussion that followed.)

• How much is needed? Debra responded that was the first question that arose from members of the executive steering committee. Since PPPC and its related activities are new for all of us, we have no history on which to build budgets or make decisions.
• We are not anticipating a huge amount. It may be in four figures but a low four figures number.
• This issue will not be decided today. Your input will be used as further discussion by the executive steering committee. Any proposed change in fund development policy will be brought back at our June meeting.
• Certain projects could be funded through contacts made by sub-committee members. Churches are an example for the Faith to Face Poverty Week.
• This is an issue of clarity.
• It is reasonable to raise funds to support our work. I appreciate you not wanting to be competitive with local agencies. As long as we focus on the end results and don’t create bureaucracies. There must be a valid focus.
• Should we reconsider the one-time membership fee for organizations? Most memberships must be paid annually. I would discourage 501c3 status at this time. Since the requests seem to be small amounts, maybe we should just ask organizations.
• We felt it was too early for PPPC to seek 501c3 status. Plus there are reporting requirements, too, that would be added work.
• How sophisticated do we want to get with our budgeting?
• We are concerned about putting the funding of projects on the committee leaders and members.
• This may be a burden to some volunteers.
• As a representative for a funder, I would prefer requests coming from one person/group representative instead of many different requests/requestors.
• Would it work to have one leader from each committee contact funders?
• I prefer a request comes from one person rather than individual committees.
• This should help develop committee discipline when they need to create a budget to bring to the executive steering committee.
• A long term consideration would be should these requests be brought to the executive steering committee or the membership meeting. Timing is an issue.
• Once we have a history we can better plan and approach our sponsors.

Note: The executive steering committee will further discuss this issue at its April meeting. The issue will be brought to the membership at the June meeting for formal action.

Other Communications, Updates and Announcements:

• Marti Hemwall shared comments she heard after the Annual Event in January. The activities of the different committees didn’t seem to be in sync with the root cause analysis work. RCA should drive the projects of the Coalition.  Jon Stellmacher agreed and said that is the goal of the executive steering committee.
• ESTHER is hosting “Treatment Instead of Prison” at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 1617 W. Pine St., Appleton, WI on March 30, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
• The Fox Valley Warming Shelter is working to get a building. Currently seventeen churches are providing shelter space.  A thank you was extended to the volunteers who are making the shelter an option for those in need in the Fox Cities.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 a.m.

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• 2009 Coalition Membership Meeting Schedule

June 10

September 9

December 9 All meetings are held at Zion Lutheran Church, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

• 2009 Executive Steering Committee Meeting Schedule

April 2

May 7

June 4

July 9

August 6

September 3

October 1

November 5

December 3 All meetings are held at LEAVEN, 3:00-4:30 p.m.

• 2009 PPPC Committee Meeting Schedule

Action & Impact Committee

• March 26 9 a.m. Appleton Public Library

Analysis & Information Committee

o March 19 1-4 p.m. Goodwill

o April 23 1-4 p.m.

o May 14 1-4 p.m.

o June 18 1-4 p.m.

Awareness & Education Committee

o March 19 2:30 p.m. United Way Fox Cities