Citizens for Fairfax Community, Inc. Annual Membership Meeting Minutes

Citizens for Fairfax Community, Inc. (CFC)
Annual Membership Meeting Minutes –6:00-8:00 PM, 10/26/10

CFC’s annual membership meeting and potluck feast was hosted, once again, by Liz and Jason Minor in the Inn at Grace Farm common room. We are very appreciative of their hospitality.

Highlights:
▪   Excellent food and great company!
▪   Special thanks to departing Trustee Peggy Bushey
▪   Welcome to newly elected new Trustees: Katrina Antonovich, Megan Daigle, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, and Doug Stuart
▪   We are currently working toward receiving a $20,000 Federal HUD grant through the VT Community Development Program (VCDP) to help pay for finishing some needed planning activities. The planning activities would focus on:
o   Narrowing down the estimate range for the Baptist building purchase and renovation costs, and devising a phasing plan
o   Identifying the primary “tenants’ who will use the facility
o   Planning and organizing our capital campaign (including solicitation of donations and grant applications)
o   Creating a business plan for all aspects of running the center
▪   With some hard work from a lot of people and some luck, we hope to be holding our October 2011 Annual Meeting in a functional Fairfax Area Community Center!

 

In spite of competition from soccer playoff games and a hot-topic Selectboard hearing, we had a very good turnout. In addition to the Minors; Amanda, Liz G, Mary, Barb, Susie, and Skip get our thanks for making the event as fun and successful as it was.

Members present (by sign-in sheet): Peggy Bushey, Loli Berard, Barbara Duval, Paul Dickin, Liz Minor, Doug and Ruth Stuart, Katrina Antonovich, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Bob Shea, Mary and Skip Taylor, Margo Rome, Judi and Mark Hunziker, Liz Griffin, Amanda Duling, Heike and Jens Meyer, Mike McCarty, Kayla Schroeder, Chelsea Clark, and Susie Posner Jones

Business meeting:
▪   Convened at 6:30 PM
▪   The minutes of our last (10/27/09) Membership Meeting were approved. (Moved by Mary, seconded by Liz Griffin, passed unanimously.)
▪   Treasurer Barb Duval reported a balance of $790.20. She noted that over the past year we have received cash donations from several individuals and from the Fairfax Business and Professional Association, and a small grant from Preservation Trust of Vermont. The main expense has been to pay for the “Condition Assessment” for the Baptist building. (There have also been many “in kind” contributions, as noted below.)
▪   Board President Susie Posner Jones thanked the current Trustees for their contributions over the past year, and acknowledged Peggy Bushey in particular. Peggy is leaving the Board (but not the Community Center project) with the expiration of her term.
▪   New members Katrina Antonovich, Megan Daigle, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, and Doug Stuart and current members with expiring terms Mark Hunziker and Mary Taylor were nominated and elected to three year terms on CFC’s Board of Trustees. (Motion made by Peggy Bushey, seconded by Judi Hunziker, and passed unanimously.) We want to thank Katrina, Megan, Eda, and Doug for stepping-up to help our community in this way.
▪   Mark reviewed where we’ve been, with an emphasis on the past year. Landmarks included:
o   First met in January 2008
o   Throughout ’08, the group worked to focus, refine, and consolidate individual visions into a CFC vision. In addition to the creation of organizational Vision, Mission, and Objectives statements –which have served as a cornerstone of our work ever since they were approved in October– a lot of work was done to gather concrete information on potential users of the community center space, options for locations, costs, etc.
o   The current CFC Bylaws were adopted and the first Board of Trustees created in January of 2009.
o   CFC incorporated and was approved as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in October 2009.
o   Throughout 2010, the information-gathering continued, while efforts to publicize our project were stepped up.
   Most aspects of an operational business plan have been worked out.
   CFC members helped the Masons put on the Hunter’s Breakfast to raise funds for maintaining the Baptist building.
   We reported our activities through the “Fairfax News,” on Henry Raymond’s website, and on a CFC Facebook page.
   The Fairfax Selectboard, United Church Board, Baptist Trustees, and Masons were frequently updated on our progress.
   From an initial group of about a dozen people, we now have a list of just under 200 people who have expressed interest in CFC’s activities, and an active email list of over 100.
o   Various options for community center locations were considered and the Board decided to pursue the Baptist building as its first choice.
   A great deal of information was gathered about the costs of renovating and upgrading the building. This included an historical building “condition assessment,” an energy audit, upgrade design proposals, and estimates from contractors.
   Among those who made particularly notable contributions in this effort were Fairfax residents Greg Beeman, David Keefe, Ann Lemieux, Wayne and Sally Sweet, and Julie Minor; and Fairfax neighbors Stephanie Lynch, Tom Keefe, Pamela, Rodriguez, Barry Peterson, and Bill Gabaree.
▪   Susie continued the presentation with a summary of where we’re at right now and what we hope to accomplish in the next year.
o   We are currently working toward receiving a $20,000 Federal HUD grant through the VT Community Development Program (VCDP) to help pay for finishing some needed planning activities.
   We have asked the Town of Fairfax to apply for the grant on our behalf, as these grants are only available through municipalities.
   We also need $5,000 in matching funds. Katrina announced that the Fairfax Recreation Department Board has agreed that $5,000 of their funds can be temporarily used for this purpose.
   The planning activities would focus on:
•   Narrowing down the estimate range for our purchase and renovation costs, and devising a phasing plan
•   Identifying the primary “tenants’ who will use the facility
•   Planning and organizing our capital campaign (including solicitation of donations and grant applications)
•   Creating a business plan for all aspects of running the center
o   With some hard work from a lot of people and some luck, we hope to be holding our October 2011 Annual Meeting in a functional Fairfax Area Community Center!
▪   Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. (Moved by Liz G., seconded by Barb, passed unanimously.)

Next Meeting: Tues, Nov 23, 6:30 pm at the Hunzikers’ home
Tentative agenda:
▪   Election of new officers
▪   Grant application update –Susie
▪   Deer Hunter Community Breakfast report –Liz
▪   Logo designs –Susie
▪   Christmas tree lighting plans

Respectfully submitted,
Mark Hunziker, Secretary