HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATION – GREATER CONCORD, NH PROGRAM YEAR 2003-2004 BOARD MEETING MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2003 THE CONCORD MONITOR       Board Members Present:   Tracie Wajer, Paul Wilson, Sandra Platt, Peg Flint, Gayle Troy, Douglas Chamberlain, Angela Finney, Deb Laushine, Jennifer Iacopino, Maria Manus Painchaud   Board Members Absent:   Anna-Marie Sparks and Kim Saucier   Committee Members Present:   Kim Freese, Kim York, and Sue Lang   Also Present:   Laurie Methven               The President of the Association, Tracie Wajer, called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.   October 15, 2003 Board Meeting Minutes               Doug Chamberlain noted that Sue Lang had also been present at the October 15, 2003 Board meeting.  Also, Laurie Methven pointed out the correct spelling of her name.  Thereafter, upon motion duly made and seconded, the minutes of the October 15, 2003 Board meeting were accepted as amended.     Treasurer’s Report   Peg Flint distributed the Treasurer’s Report, noting that the past month had seen   relatively low income of $772 but  unusually large expenses of $4,316, $2,651 of which represented reimbursement for the Association’s share of the September meeting co-hosted with MHRA in Bedford.  Peg reported a loss of $208 with respect to the October meeting, noting that such a loss is not unusual.  Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Treasurer’s report was approved as submitted.         Supervisor Training Program   Laurie Methven noted that she had drafted an application for a federal training and business development grant for submission to Kathy Moore, the grant coordinator, but that prospects for approval were not promising.  The next grant application deadline is November 10.  Laurie noted that the Chamber of Commerce had submitted a similar grant proposal, involving a Leadership On Line program presented by Bruce Mast. Ms. Moore had noted to Laurie that the Chamber’s grant application was defective in a number of respects, lacking certain specific information required for approval, including a list of participating companies, the total number of participants, a detailed budget and greater detail concerning the specific skills to be imparted by the training program.  The final application deadline with respect to this grant program will be in early December.   The possibility of the Chamber and the Association collaborating on the program was discussed.  It was noted that the program would be open to a maximum of ten individuals per class, and that the cost of the Leadership On Line program was $1,950, with a grant being sought for one-half of that cost, or $975.    The Board noted that two distinctly different types of courses had been discussed in the past: a more detailed and rigorous course, proposed by Connie, and a shorter nuts and bolts course for front line supervisors, which Tracie had envisioned.  It was noted that larger companies such as Jefferson Pilot utilized programs such as Leadership On Line on an in-house, customized basis, and questioned how many companies would be willing and able to pay to send supervisors to such a program, even at the grant-subsidized cost.   Accordingly, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the proposal for a course utilizing the Leadership On Line program and the associated grant application, and to pursue a more basic supervisor training course to be developed by the Association using the talent available within the Association and directed primarily at an audience of Association members.  The Board thanked Laurie for her efforts to date, and she left the meeting.   Membership               Jen Iacopino presented a memo proposing Beth Beaugeard, Debra Lacey, Joyce Pitman and Ronald Page for membership in the Association as professional members.  Upon motion duly made and seconded, these individuals’ applications for membership were approved.  It is noted that on September 30 Kim Freese had sent e-mails to approximately 35 non-renewing members from the prior year, but that little or no response had been received.  It was noted that attendance at meetings had seemingly declined somewhat of late.  It was also noted that there was a need to market the Association to the area HR community, and that the new brochure would be a significant part of that effort.  The brochure will be reviewed in detail at a future meeting, but it was noted that the draft brochure needed more white space and bullet points, less text, and no extraneous graphics or artwork.       Program   Deb Laushine noted that the next meeting would be a breakfast meeting, to be held on November 20 and featuring a panel discussion of  “the good, the bad, and the stressful”, in preparation for the holiday season.  The panel will include Chris Ryan of the Concord Hospital Employee Assistance Program; Ellen Koenig, Program Director of the New Hampshire Charitable Fund, and Peter Kelly of Riverbend Community Mental Health.  A representative of a local hospice organization may also attend.  The theme will center on ways to connect HR to the local community.  New question cards will be prepared for attendees to complete and submit to panelists.               Sandy Platt reported that from the 38 attendees at the October meeting 25 evaluation forms had been received, and that the program had generally been very well received.  It was suggested that all or some meeting evaluations be put on the Association website as a means of marketing the Association, by highlighting the interest and value of the Association’s program, and encouraging additional feedback.   Certification               Maria Manus Painchaud indicated that there was nothing to report on this subject.   Sponsorship               Paul Wilson indicated that the sponsor for the November meeting would be Lee Hecht Harris.   Website               In the absence of Kim Saucier, there was no report submitted on this subject.   Student Liaison               In the absence of Lori Shackford, there was no report submitted on this subject.   Recognition               Although Anna-Marie Sparks was absent from the meeting, it was noted that Concord Dollars would be distributed at the November and December Association meetings and that individuals involved in various Association programs will be recognized, in addition to the usual book raffle.  There was a brief discussion of gifts for graduates of the New Journeys Program, including items that would be helpful in a job search, such as phone cards, transit passes, or clothing gift certificates.  It was noted that the Dress for Success program was already active in this latter area.     New Business               Angela Finney noted that she had been unable to locate an auditor for the Association’s books.  It was noted that a member of the Association is employed by Nathan Wechsler & Company, a local accounting firm, and that possibly she could be of assistance in this regard.   Planning               Under the leadership of Maria Manus Painchaud, the Board resumed the discussion of planning issues begun at the October 15 meeting.  Maria expressed her opinion that Board development is currently the biggest issue before the Association, noting the perception of the Association as a closed shop dominated by a small group of individuals.  [At this point Vice President Sandy Platt took the chair, due to the departure of Tracie Wajer at the meeting]  Maria proposed that a leadership development committee be assembled and offered to chair that committee. The committee would be composed of herself and two other Board members, plus three non-Board members, and its purpose would be to develop an orientation program for Board members; collect data and develop profiles on current Board members and the Association membership as a whole; and identify, develop and utilize members’ skills in building the Association.  In terms of succession planning, this committee would cultivate individuals for committee and Board service.  Maria also felt that the Bylaws should be revised to provide for term limits for Board members to encourage rotation in office, the goal being that one-third of the Board membership should rotate annually.  The committee should be able to have a tentative plan ready for review by the February Board meeting.  Paul Wilson and Peg Flint expressed interest in serving on the committee with Maria, and it was suggested that Jen Iacopino, as membership chair, might also participate.               Accordingly, upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that a Leadership Development Committee, to be chaired by Maria Manus Painchaud, be formed and charged with drafting a Board development program for presentation to the Board.               The possibility was also discussed of enlisting the services of Maria’s non-profit leadership class at Southern New Hampshire University to assist in developing a communication/marketing plan for the Association.   2003-2004 Board Meeting Schedule               After some discussion, the following schedule of Board meetings for the remainder of the 2003-2004 program year was agreed upon:  December 3, January 7, February 4, March 3, April 7, May 12 and June 2.  It was noted that the May meeting would be held on the second Wednesday of the month due to the Granite State Conference.  All meetings will be held from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at The Concord Monitor.               There being no further business to come before the Board, upon motion duly made and seconded the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.   THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT 2:30 PM AT THE CONCORD MONITOR.  PLEASE NOT E THE CHANGE IN STARTING TIME.                                             Respectfully submitted,     Douglas R. Chamberlain, Secretary   DRC/sy