Friends of the Golda Meir Library

Friends of the UWM Golda Meir Library
Minutes of the Board Meeting
24 October 2000

Present: Albert Adelman, Tom Bliffert, Felmers Chaney, Gilbert Church, Susan Engberg, Bruce Fetter, Ed Hinshaw, Norman Lasca, Ted LaTour, Bob Seay, Barry Silberg, Katie Smith, Sally Tolan, David Tucker and Peter Watson-Boone

Guest: Gene Haberman, Ewa Barczyk, Michael Doylen

Excused: Lois Blinkhorn, Norm Balthasar, Michael Lord, Stanley Miller, Maria Monreal-Cameron, Martin Schreiber, Leigh Sherman, Pat Van Alyea, Winston Van Horn

The Meeting was called to order at 12:06 p.m. Minutes of the 15 August meeting were approved as submitted.

President’s Report: New members of the Friends of the Library Board received an orientation to the library. A meeting was held between the Friends and UWM Alumni Association (UWMAA) regarding cooperation between the two groups (see below, 7).

Treasurer’s Report: The UWM Foundation account of the Friends stands at $ 51,369.69. See attached fiscal report for details. Invited members of the board to join the Development Committee, which meets on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month.

Gene Haberman, Assistant Chancellor for Alumni and Development addressed the group on The UWM Foundation fund account structural changes pertaining to "true" and modified endowments. Haberman stated that the Foundation lost the FOL’s paperwork from October, 1999 requesting transfer of funds from a non-income bearing account to an income account, and that by the time it was found, the Foundation staff had submitted a proposal for change to the Foundation Board, and therefore declined to act on the FOL request. Vice President Fetter urged the UWM Foundation to reconsider this matter. Haberman stated that the matter was closed and would not be reconsidered. Assistant Chancellor Haberman confirmed that the Library would be part of a UWM Capital Campaign. President Lasca noted that the Friends had established the goal of a $10,000,000 endowment for the Library.

Library Director’s Report: The library has changed its photocopying system; the new contract is with UWM Information & Media Technology, and is an improvement over past systems. The archives have acquired the records of the Blatz Brewing Co. and the Pabst Brewing Co. The Director reported the appointment on the Chancellor’s staff of Dr. Joan Prince as Assistant Chancellor for Partnerships and Innovation. University of Wisconsin System Administration submitted $4.7 million biennial budget request in support of UW Libraries to UWM Regents. Planning Request for Stage IV for the building has been approved by the Regents. Finally, a rare map from AGSC, the only other known copy of which is in University of Leiden, was shown to the Board.

Committee Reports

Communications (Church) reported on the Committee’s discussion recommending that we reorganize the Friends as a smaller unit and to create multi-layer memberships as an adjunct to fund raising.

Development (Silberg): Stated the wish to raise money for the Library through new fundraising initiatives concerning family foundations.

Program: (Lasca for Blinkhorn): Noted recent co-sponsored events at the Library including the Book For[u]ms, the Guild for Learning and Retirement, and the UWM Academic Adventurers. Solicited suggestions for the program of the annual meeting.

Old Business: The President reviewed documents of meetings with Alumni Association and recommend that the Board approve the following proposals the UWMAA made to the Friends: "1) Inclusion of timely short pieces or articles to promote the Golda Meir Library and Friends membership in the new UWMAA Newsletter, UWM Today, on a recurring basis; 2) Inclusion of Friends membership application information along with the UWMAA membership application and renewal mailings; 3) Inclusion of Friends membership in the UWMAA’s registration packets for Alumni College." Silberg moved to approve the recommendations; Bliffert seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

New Business: Chaney moved to approve that a book sale be held during the second week of April 2000. Seay seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Recommendation to update by-laws to include life memberships and honorary life memberships. Referred to Communications Committee.

Recommendation that the Friends transfer some of its funds to an income-generating account. Agreed to by consensus and referred to Executive Committee for action.

Next meeting of the Board is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2001 at 12:00 p.m.

Meeting adjourned 1:25 p.m.