StNed Meeting Minutes 3-18-09

Attendees: Sara Palmer, Andrea Haradon, David Hill, Laura Opelt, Gary Pruyn, Meghan Parsons, Natasha Thompson, Debbie MacDonald, Paula Smetanka, Chris Sproule, Susan Hooker, Christine Morris, AJ Kircher, Darlene Ike, Nancy Blake, Elaine Farwell, Patrick Rogers, Dick Russell, Tammy Schoonover, Susan O’Leary, Denise Townley, Kathy Disbrow, Judy Celelli, Jeff Eaton, Jim Waight, Mike Gehl

1. Introduction to NYNED: Andrew Marietta, NYCON (see above post)

2. StNed Steering Committee overview: Patrick Rogers, IHS- gave us a little history of the StNed meetings held thus far, including the ones with the steering committee and what was talked about, worked on, etc.

3. Patrick also reviewed our mission statement and we took a vote on the following Future Meeting Format items:

a. Quarterly meetings? Yes, the majority thought quarterly meetings were good
b. What time to meet? The majority voted for breakfast-time meetings with brown/bag or light refreshments served by host
c. Months to meet? Feb/March (likely after IHS meeting as was this time), May, September and November
d. Week? 3rd week of the month, although the vote was close with the 1st week being second choice.
e. Consistent location or roaming? Most agreed a moving location would be preferable
f. Annual theme or Alternating topics? People voted for alternating topics with a time at the end of each meeting for some type of networking. And people would like speakers at some of the meetings.

4. General Questions/Input from Attendees: Some things that people want from the StNed group long-term:
· Longevity/commitment
· No redundancy, keep things fresh, up-to-date
· Non-profit management issues only, including sharing difficulties, solutions, etc.
· Make it focused
· Share best practices
· HR rules, policies, procedures for smaller non-profits
· Synergies/collaborations esp. because of rough economic times
· Explore new/emerging trends, technologies, marketing, using the Web, etc.

5. Graffiti exercise: 4 charts with Key Topics were put up on the walls for participants to go to and add their input.

Key Topics (from survey completed in November) included:
1 Economic & Community Impact of Nonprofits/Policy and Local Government Issues
2 Networking
3 Fund Development and Grantsmanship
4 Skill Development for Executive Leadership/Board Membership and Recruitment Issues


The results will be collated and then reviewed at the next StNed Steering Committee meeting on Thursday, April 2nd at 12pm at Wegman’s in Corning. The Steering Committee will also set the date/location/topic for the May St. Ned meeting.