Attendees: Mario Gangemi, Doug Hill, Joe Janusz, Tracy Jentzch, Del Levia, Cynthia Miller, Bill Pannill, Ron Perkins, Hinda Smith, Dan Speakman                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Mario called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

The minutes from the October Board meeting were approved.

President’s Report: Mario Gangemi

-We need help with our finances.  Our support staff is not sufficiently trained in accounting and Mark Crawford is too busy to be a full time accountant for the Nature Center.  We need a retired accountant to volunteer services. 

-Perhaps to lighten the load, sometime in the near future, we may outsource payroll.

-Mario put $500 of his own money into payroll because the account did not appear sufficient to cover payroll last month.  An accounting

-A reminder that all reports are to be emailed to all Board members 1 week prior to Board meeting.  Action items and/or questions should be highlighted in those reports.  It is the goal to streamline the meetings so that we can concentrate on important items and shorten the needed meeting time.

Executive Director’s Report for 11/17/04 Board Meeting

-Membership survey shown to board, shall be mailed to membership.  Cindy would like the survey added to the web page if possible.

-We should be making better use of email as it is a free and easy way to contact membership.

1. Membership survey – See Attached
2. End of Year Letter – Finally printed, ready to fold and go (see attached)
3. Membership Renewals -- Renewal letters have been going out quarterly, however, last quarter did not go out because of the computer issues.  Do not want renewal letter interfering with end of year fundraising letter – will have Pat start up a MONTHLY renewal process beginning January 1.
4. Sign out front has no plaque for the last space that says “the nature center is sponsored by”: PROPOSAL – Auction off the advertising space to the company willing to give us the most sponsorship dollars. Company’s name and logo will have rights to that space for one year. Goal is to raise at least $10,000, but a bidding war would be nice. 
5. Fundraising priorities–
   • Raise prices on program activities for non-members to make membership a better incentive
   • Corporate sponsorship of  3rd and 5th grades and nature center in general.
   • Get Cecil County Schools to fund another grade
   • Recruit more private schools
   • Fundraising events
   • Put together a full-day science camp to pick up overflow from Ashland and Delaware Museum of Natural History Camps. These camps are expensive and very competitive to get into. Fair Hill could fill a huge niche and charge more. This would be in addition to what we provide to the Cecil County kids.
   • Increase membership by expanding outreach programs into Delaware and Pennsylvania
   • Pursue larger grants

Cecil County Statistics

Average family income is $50K+ per year

Day care costs range from $105 to $140 per week per child

Cecil County is growing at a rate of 4-5 percent per year

Delaware Summer Camp Program Costs

Ashland                                            $

De. Museum of Natural History           $

Rittenhouse Park                               $

White Clay Creek                              $

Lums Pond                           $

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