West Virginia Rural Health Association

Board of Directors Meeting – at Braxton Learning Resource Center

July 28, 2008

(Approved October 28, 2008)

 

Members Participating:  Lew Holloway, Jeff Graham, Elaine Mason, April Vestal, Sandra Pope, Michael Thompson, Patricia Crawford, Norma Bowyer

 

Members Participating by Phone: Lisa Scarberry, Jill McDaniel, Sally Richardson

           

Not Participating:  Hilda Heady, Alicia Tyler, Laura Welch, Lynne McCormick

 

Agenda Items

Discussion

Board Actions

Call to Order

Michael Thompson called the meeting to order at  10:27AM

 

Roll Call

There were 7 members in attendance and 3 members attending via phone.

 

Minutes

Minutes of the June 23, 2008 meeting were presented to members

Motion to approve minutes as presented

(Mason/Pope)

Motion passed

Treasurer’s Report

Elaine reported that she emailed the treasurers report on Friday.  There was income for June in the form of memberships for a total of $200.  Sherri emailed the report and indicated that she was meeting with Melissa Wheeler later that day regarding the Association’s payment for the October 2007 memberships.  She has not heard from her on a follow up.

Motion to approve treasurer’s report as presented.

(Vestal/Graham)

Motion passed

Old Business:

 

 

Membership List Update

Lew reported that Sandra provided a copy of the most current membership for the Association.  The Board is now current in their memberships.  We now have 54 individual members and 15 organizational members.  The committee will work to develop a plan for 2009 memberships.

The membership committee will work to develop a plan for the 2009 membership drives.

WV Rural Health Conference

 

Norma said that Tim Fry from NRHA will be speaking on Washington Update on Thursday of the conference.  Norma said she would be working with Tim.  Sally suggested that the policy committee get together and have a call to discuss.  She will speak with Hilda and set up a call.  Sandra suggested that we utilize Tim in some other way while he is here.  We could possibly have him do something at the membership meeting.

April said she spoke with Melissa Wheeler and they were fine with the Association holding the silent auction at the conference again this year.  This information was shared with Jeff Graham, fundraising chair.

Sally will speak with Hilda today and set up a conference call of the policy committee to discuss possible ways the Association could utilize Tim Fry while he is in WV.

NRHA Skill Building Workshop (Aug. 15-16)

Michael reported that Lew will attend this workshop.  We will receive $750 from NRHA to support travel.  Elaine said that the travel budget for the Association was $500.

 

West Virginia RX – next steps

WVRx are going to be having a display/information at the WV Rural Health Conference.  Jeff suggested that we invite Brenda Dane back to present to this group on working together to hold the forums.  Patti suggested that WVRx possibly present during the membership meeting at the conference.  Patti also said there was a presentation by this group scheduled for the Minority Health Conference in Beckley, WV on August 8.

 

Strategic Planning August 24 – 25, 2008

Michael has spoken with Leslie Stone and she will be here this afternoon to speak with the group.  He has signed the contract with Ms. Stone as well as the contract with Stonewall.  Michael thanked those that had worked on getting this information together.  Jill indicated that the Legislature is in session the last Monday of each month and both she and Alicia will be unable to attend. Sandra Pope also has a conflict and will be unable to attend.  Michael said that the Board should discuss getting input from all Board members, whether able to attend or not.  The retreat is Sunday evening (dinner and activity) and all day Monday.  All board members are encouraged to attend the retreat.  The room rate is $125.  If board members are able to cover their expenses, this will be greatly appreciated.

Leslie Stone joined the Board at 1PM for discussion.  Leslie asked for each Board member to speak to outcomes of the retreat. 

Sandra – clear plan that demonstrates the Association being proactive in initiatives.  Membership strategies to promote new leadership within the organization.

Jeff – identify goals (short and long term) and facilitation and identification of stakeholders we can impact as a group.  Fundraising and funding strategies.

Patti – financial plan.  Prioritization of rural policy issues.  Getting Board member commitments.  Possible review of bylaws.

Elaine – membership (recruitment, retention, marketing).  Board orientation – booklet or format. 

Lew – how to market the Association, creating a brand for ourselves.

Norma – long-range and short-term plan and concise work plan for achieving work.  The Board identified 3-5 years as long-term range and suggested that short-term be 6-9 months.

Michael – take growth of the organization to the next level.

Jill – policy agenda that gives relevance to stakeholders.

 

Sandra inquired about whether there is a portion of the retreat that any Board members would like to participate in by phone.  Leslie said that sometimes this doesn’t work well.  Leslie will work to see that everyone has an opportunity to provide input to the Strategic Planning Session.

 

The Board agreed that they would like to look at the vision/mission of the Association, leaving adequate time for other issues.

 

Support Staff (.2 FTE) Update

Michael said that he had received an MOU from Sherri Ferrell with the WVPCA regarding this position.  Michael will work with Sherri to specify the duties and responsibilities of this person’s time.  The board will need to explore whether it is a conflict of interest for Lisa Scarberry to continue as a member of the board as it was indicated Lisa would most likely be the person assigned to these duties.  Sandra suggested we asked for an opinion on this.  Sally indicated she would call Tom Heywood, an attorney and ask his opinion on this.

The Board was polled on tasks/responsibilities of this position.

Follow up from board meetings with tasks and assignments to various board members and committees.

Newsletter for the Association

Generic duties/responsibilities

 

Funds are available to support this position for an average of ten hours per month.

Patti said the motion from a previous Board meeting would need to be addressed.

Sally will speak with Tom Heywood to ask his opinion on a potential conflict of interest.

 

Motion to expand the current MOU with WVPCA to reflect what was presented by Michael to use an average of 10 hours per month of and to have Sally check with Tom Heywood as to the potential conflict of board members.

(Graham/Richardson)

Motion passed

Meeting in Charleston

With Nancy Bazzle, OCHS

Jeff Graham and Lew Holloway reported that they met with Nancye Bazzle with OCHS last Tuesday.  They had a very good meeting and have received a commitment to make some changes.  The MOU in place from 2006 was agreeable with OCHS.  There was no need to make any changes.  This includes expectations of OCHS and expectations of the Association.  Nancye would like notification of board meeting dates/times.  They spent a great deal of time discussing the conference and the registration process, specifically the way the membership piece is worded.  Registration for the conference will be providing an automatic membership to the Association.  They discussed this past year’s reimbursement and Nancye was surprised to hear we had not received the reimbursement.  Nancye said the conference lost money last year and that the Association should be receiving their money soon.  April, Michael and the Board thanked Jeff and Lew for holding this meeting.    Lew plans to send a thank you letter to Nancye for holding the meeting.  The Board discussed increasing the sponsorship for the conference and will discuss this further in the next couple of months.  Lew indicated that representatives on the conference planning should make a point of following up on this information.  Lew will forward the email from Nancye to the Board.  Sandra will email the signed MOU from 2006 to the Board.

Lew will forward the email from Nancye to the Board.  Sandra will email the signed MOU from 2006 to the Board.

 

 

New Business:

 

 

 

No new business was presented

 

Open Discussion

 

 

Rural Roads

Michael was given some information from Norma Bowyer on information that is being collected by Rural Roads on inspiration, insights and experiences.  For additional information, please contact Norma or the NRHA at editor@NRHArural.org

 

Committee Reports

 

 

Membership

Discussed earlier in the agenda

 

Communications

Sandra passed out draft minutes from a recent meeting of the committee.  The committee looked at the charge of the committee. This charge was re-written and Sandra would like the Board to back this change.    Derrick Day is working with the committee to develop website changes.  Sandra passed out a list of Board members and asked for any updates.  This will be added to the website.  She also passed out a list of the committees of the Association.  Each committee has a description.  Sandra asked that if a committee chair wanted a change in their description, to let her know.  She will then send out a call to the membership for committees in which they may wish to participate.  The committee is also working on e-mail updates to the membership which will be called “WVRHA E-notes.”

 

The committee suggested asking for agenda items and meeting information two weeks in advance.

 

Michael commended the Membership Committee for their work.

 

Sandra also shared information she agreed to look into regarding the Association’s potential purchase of a conference phone.  The Board elected to purchase a Polycom conference phone.

 

Lew discussed a web conferencing system they use for web conferencing within his AHEC Region.  The only cost is a subscription rate and a headset with microphone.  WVPCA uses webex and WVRHEP uses AT Conference.  These are all options to look at for the Association.  Lisa agreed to check into costs for WVPCA and get back to Sandra

 

Motion to approve committee charge: “Addresses email notifications via enotes, website and other communications WVRHA will use to inform the membership and others who are interested in rural health issues; assists with public relations activities and events as needed; and works closely with the Membership Committee”

(Holloway/Crawford)

Motion passed

 

Motion to purchase the Polycom SoundStation2 Conference Telephone for $332.07

(Graham/Crawford)

Motion passed

Fundraising

Membership:  Jeff, Lisa (co-chairs) – Jeff said the committee is planning a meeting.  Laura Welch and Sandra have agreed to assist.  Jeff asked for input on the flier for the silent auction.  October 17 will be the deadline for donating items. Last year the flier was placed in each registration brochure.  Patti and April will look at the draft brochure when it comes out and make sure the silent auction is listed.  The schedule for workers will need to be developed sometime in September.  Money brought in for the auction last year was $1700.  There was a suggestion to have the mystery money box again this year.  The suggestion was to have each Board member donate $10 each.  There is $500 in the Association’s budget earmarked for purchase of items for the silent auction if needed.  This will be left to the discretion of Jeff and Lisa as co-chairs of the committee.

 

Nominations & Election Process

Patti said that the bylaws indicated that there be a nominations committee formed of 6 committee members with the past president as chair.  Patti made a recommendation to the Board regarding the election of the Nominations Committee.  Patti’s recommendation was to elect current officers Michael Thompson, Elaine Mason, Lew Holloway, April Vestal, and Sandra Pope with Patti serving as chair.

 

Letter to go out to the membership by September 4 with nominations for the board closing in early October and having the elections completed by December so the President will have this information in order to orient the board.

 

Patti asked that the Board give her recommendations for the three vacant positions on the Board as soon as possible.

Jeff Graham  nominated  Michael Thompson, Elaine Mason, Lew Holloway, April Vestal, Patricia Crawford and Sandra Pope

To the nominations committee.  Sandra Pope seconded the slate of nominees.  Jeff asked that the nominations be closed.

Slate of elections accepted by the Board by unanimous vote.

Policy

Neither Sally or Hilda was on the call to give a report. 

Michael will follow up

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 2:32 pm.

Motion to adjourn

(Graham/Mason)

 

Submitted by: April Vestal

 

Future Meeting Dates:  Sunday, August 24 and Monday, August 25, 2008 at Stonewall Resort (Strategic Planning Session)