KENT COUNTY SPCA BOARD MEETING NOTES – DECEMBER 10, 2012
Eight of us attended this meeting. As usual, these are MY NOTES, not the official minutes, and include my/our comments in italics.
The meeting was called to order, and the minutes were approved.
The Treasurer’s report (Frank Newton) for October and November: October – 8 1/3 % through the fiscal year. Income is at 16%, better than average. Expenses are at 9.24%, a little high, but nothing to be alarmed about. The report was approved subject to audit.
November – 16 2/3 % through the fiscal year. Income @ 21.74%, expenses @17.08. Close to being on target, publicity costs for the appeal pushed this over-budget.
The Health Department deleted the purchase order for the November payment; it will be made in December. The equipment upgrade budget is already spent – pumps for the sewer and a heater in the new building. The report was approved subject to audit.
Mr. Moore continued on to the committee reports. He said that Linda was out, and he would talk to her about the dog banks (donation banks) and where they are.
The Planning and Objectives Committee report, Beth Burleson. She reported that they compiled a list of strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. This list was for board members review and discussion to come up with ideas. It would not be discussed tonight, it was for next month.
No further report from the Finance Committee (Frank Newton, chair, also treasurer).
Community Relations/Public Relations: this committee met 2x, different tasks were assigned regarding print media and social/electronic media. The board members should “keep an eye out for us.”
Executive Director report: Project Purr – the KCSPCA has spay/neutered 700 cats as of December 1, and they have been approved for the 2nd year of the grant from PetSmart. Mr. Usilton said that Delaware Humane Association “is copying us” to do Wilmington cats; they will get $60,000 for one year. The KCSPCA is getting $100,000 for two years. He also reported that they are 30 animals away from their goal of getting 2012 animals adopted for 2012. He also reported that 912 animals were euthanized (for the year). These animals were sick and included 100 cruelty case animals. 742 animals were transferred to other agencies; 1359 returned to owner.
Old Business: The Great House event in Rehoboth. There was a discussion concerning the liquor and the location for this event.
Money from the Oyster Dinner is still “trickling in.” Ms. Hamilton expects the total to be a little under $8,000. A list was distributed detailing the donations, which board member solicited the donatin and the donor, the cost of the contribution and the winning bid and person. Any left over donations were being held in Mrs. Cooper’s basement, and they would try to sell them at other events, or use them as door prizes.
It was explained that this method was being used so that they could keep track of the events and each board member would know how much money they brought in. Mr. Moore said that in the past, sorting this out took hours at the end of the year. If it is kept up-to-date, it won’t be so hard.
We believe this is due to the investigation in the Attorney General’s Office, because at one point DAG Davalos was asking the former board members in our group how documentation of donated items was done.
New Business: Mr. Usilton said that the Delaware Fundraising Center has a publication called “7 Mistakes – Guidelines to Success” that should be reviewed. Mr. Moore said that 10,000 newsletters were printed, with a stub for donations. There is also an application now on the website and FaceBook for online donations. He said they are still looking for easier ways to have people donate. Someone asked if recurring donations could be set up; Mr.Moore said it was done on the KCSPCA cards, and they are working on the language for e-mails.
Ms. Hamilton noted that the KCSPCA still has horses. It was reported that one has been adopted, another has an adoption pending. Ms. Hamilton said they should appeal to horse-lovers. Mr. Usilton noted that they have already been generous, with horse feed and good hay. It was reported that the horses had been tested for Coggins by Governor’s Avenue (Animal Hospital), and the farrier had come out to work on the horses as well. Mr. Usilton reported that the farrier donated his services, and the KCSPCA gave him a dog.
The meeting was adjourned.
The meeting was very short. There was no “employee of the month” for December. It was most notable for A) being the first time no one made any rude comments directed at us or called us names and B) the Sussex County dog control contract was not discussed, neither last month nor this month. Not even as part of the Executive Director’s report, to announce that they had won the bid. That alone made it obvious that they are doing most of their discussions in committee and communicating via e-mail. There is a loop-hole in FOIA regarding standing committees with less than a board quorum as members.
