Holyoke Consumer Health Library, Inc.
Annual Meeting

Friday, October 20, 2006
9:00 am
Holyoke Public Library Community Meeting Room

Minutes

Present: Sandy Ward, James Craig, Christine Craig, Maria Pagan, Wanda Otero

The meeting was called to order by Sandy Ward at 9:15 a.m.

Sandy welcomed all attendees and distributed a hand-out highlighting HCHL's accomplishments for the past year.

Treasurer's Report

  • Judy agreed to continue as Treasurer, but was unable to attend today's meeting
  • Sandy gave the Treasurer's report. [Appended below]
  • HCHL received a $10,000 NLM grant during the summer of 2006 which needed to be spent by August 31, 2006.
  • The previous NLM grant for $40,000 was completed as of April 30, 2006.

    • Overview of the Past Year

  • Sandy requested that the group assess the past year's activities and consider options for the future.
  • Should HCHL continue as a non profit corporation?
  • Maria suggested giving the group another year; during this next year HCHL can pursue funding opportunities
  • Sandy also wants to give the group another year
  • Jim suggested HCHL consider using another paid organizer so that momentum could be continued

    • Activities for upcoming year:

  • Maintaining website
  • Maintaining relationships with partners; Sandy would volunteer in this capacity

    Seeking an Institutional Home for HCHL

  • Sandy suggested that Holyoke Health Center absorb HCHL as part of its institution. Her belief is that HCHL has been transient and thinks the organization would benefit from having an ongoing home. She is hopeful that HHC will provide funding to hire a librarian to staff this.
  • Sandy intends to work with HHC Board Member and HCC Dean, Mary Farrell, to approach the health center with this request. Sandy will prepare a Business Plan to accompany this request. Sandy will also put together a budget.
  • Sandy, as a member of HCHL and WMHIC, plans to take a workshop at Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science about setting up libraries (”How Much Space Do You Need and What Will It Cost?”). Sandy would like to meet with Holyoke Health Center before she takes this workshop.
  • HCHL will pursue other partnering relationships with several agencies in Holyoke

    • Funding

  • It was suggested that a Grant Application committee form. Sandy was looking for someone to lead this project.
  • Sandy suggested that fundraising should only be pursued if the purpose is well-defined at the outset
  • It was suggested the group try to understand the dwindling volunteer base of HCHL. When the group began, there was a large base; today there are very few involved. Perhaps a target for volunteers should be retired individuals who have a commitment to the community
  • Some of the most likely funding for HCHL would be from the National Library of Medicine, but they require that the health library have an institutional affiliate

    • Call for Nominations

  • James Craig moved that the nominations be closed; Christine Craig seconded the motion. New officers, voted upon unanimously, are: President, Sandy Ward; Vice President, vacant; Treasurer, Judy Atkins; Clerk, Maria Pagan.
  • Sandy will check if one person is permitted to fill the position of two officers (for example, could Maria Pagan be Clerk and Vice President?)

    • The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Christine Craig

    Holyoke Consumer Health Library, Inc. Annual Meeting 10-20-06

    Treasurer's Report

    Balance at the end of last Fiscal Year (Dec 31, 2005) was $839.51

    Income during 2006 to date:

    Expenditures during 2006 to date:

    The balance in the HCHL, Inc. bank account (PeoplesBank) is now $263.79

    *NOTE: Additional books were bought under the NLM grant which ended in April 2006. That previous grant ($40,000 for 20-months) was administered by the Holyoke Public Library Corporation as “Fiscal Agent” for HCHL, Inc. None of those expenditures appear in our financial records. Nor did any income come to HCHL, Inc. from that project.

    For details of the expenditures under each grant, ask Sandy Ward for the separate notebooks with the budgets and reports for each grant-funded project.

    This webpage is provided by Holyoke Consumer Health Library, Inc.