Executive Board Meeting Minutes
Radisson Paper Valley Inn,
Members Present: Tom Scott, Jacki Martindale, Marti Matyska, Scott Oates, Mari Sue Bethke, Joanne Katzmarek, Ruth Wood, Bonnie Frechette, Trista Dauk, Mary Graber, Carol Conway-Gerhardt, Debbie Kinder, Lynn Aprill
Meeting was called to order at 6:22 p.m.
II.
Secretary’s
Report – Chris Van Hoof (in absentia)
Under Treasurer’s Report, the amounts for manager and treasurer are at $1,000 and $500 respectively. Secretary’s Report was approved with this correction.
a. Treasurer’s Report – Scott Oates
Scott submitted a written report. We could reach the goal for membership for the year, but it is still quite a bit lower than it used to be. Conference registrations are looking good at this point. We have 203 people registered for the convention, 26 of whom do not pay a registration fee. The board examined the expenditures for the year. Scott worked long and hard to get the WCTELA back to nonprofit status as far as the United States Postal Service is concerned.
The board examined the proposed budget for 2004-2005. Changes from last year’s budget were discussed. Scott suggested moving $400 from the District Activities budget and placing it in Travel, as per the conversation surrounding IV.a. (see Old Business). Jacki commented on the meeting portion of the budget (see V.a. New Business). Bonnie made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, Mary Graber seconded, and the motion was carried.
b. Convention – Marti Matyska, Jacki Martindale
Jacki reported that all speakers are set except for Debra Brandt. Jacki found a speaker, Grace Lim, who will discuss how she became literate as an immigrant to the U.S. Format has changed a bit. In late afternoon, Larry Watson et. al. will read from their selections at the end of the day Friday. Jacki commended Debra Wiluz from WCA for her contribution to planning the day.
c. Membership – Scott Oates – already discussed above
d. Directors – Mary Graber
Mary will call individual members to see who is interested in running again and giving personal invitations to our Executive Board meetings.
e. First Vice President – Jacki Martindale – see b. above
f. Second Vice President – Bill Schang – no report
g. WCEE/WCEL – Debbie Kinder
The English leadership group met Thursday afternoon. They are going to try to get more college people involved. For the next convention, they would like to sponsor a job networking session. Debbie also found out that in Florida they filed suit against the state’s content test and won, and Debbie would like to pursue this in Wisconsin, to file suit against the state because the state test doesn’t align with the standards. Anyone with ideas about how this may be done, please contact Debbie.
h. Awards – Carol Conway Gerhardt
Promising Young Writer’s was handled by Joanne Katzmarek. NCTE didn’t want the students notified until May 1, so we assume the students don’t know they’ve been chosen. Bonnie suggested that if this is the case, we could invite them the year following their award. We discussed that if these students come to the awards, we should have certificates for them, instead of waiting for NCTE to send them one. Katherine Connover handled the Burress Award. The Hoefs Award winner was thrilled, but he can’t stay for the awards, so he will be announced at the luncheon on Friday. There were no 1st place literary magazines, so there was no one to invite for that. We don’t have a Chisholm award winner for this year. We have a couple of Pooley award winners. Everyone is encouraged to come to Crockett’s for the awards on Friday night.
a. Publications
i. Update – Roxanne Biffert – not present
ii. Journal – Ruth Wood
The new Wisconsin English Journal featuring the writing program at West DePere is ready to send. Most of this issue was paid for through a grant, which won’t be renewable. Questions – should we stay with 500 copies, should we stay with this school-focused journal in the spring, could the school being featured be asked to chip in some money for the edition? Ruth reported that it took much more work than usual journals, but was also the most satisfying to create. In the future, we might choose schools with other features than writing, like a great school-to-work program or multicultural program. Are there ways that we could cut down on the costs and still keep this feature? Could we coordinate with the CESA districts to feature model Language Arts departments? Ruth asked that we read the new journal and come to the summer meeting with ideas to answer these questions.
The topic for the Fall Edition is bi-lingual education, and it is being guest edited by Wallace Sherlock. Scott suggested a possible topic for a future edition – Mentoring young teachers.
a. Approval for Chris Van Hoof and c. Support for NCTE Convention
Regional meeting is in Louisiana in July. Chris is willing to go. NCTE pays 1/3, the state affiliate pays 1/3 and she picks up 1/3. Discussion about where this expense goes under the 2004-2005 budget. Decided it would go under Travel. In addition, we generally send 1st V.P. to the national convention. That would also be included in Travel.
b. Elections
We do not have a slate prepared at this point—we are looking into interest in the 2nd V.P. position. We reviewed the list of current directors who are running again and those districts which need new representation.
a. Summer meeting
Dates will be 12-13 of August. Jacki suggested we continue to have our meeting at the St. Benedictine Center. We will pay for our own rooms, and the board will pay for the rooms for new directors. Jacki would like to continue to have the meals paid for by our organization. Discussion followed about alternate meeting places. We will be meeting at St. Benedictine Center.
Fall meeting – Jacki checked out the Dells for the fall board meeting. The date will be September 24-25th. Jacki will determine the place and let us know. February’s board meeting is tentatively set for February 11-12th. Again, Jacki will determine the place.
b. Miscellaneous - none
VI. Adjournment – at 8:35 p.m.