Amigos Center
Advisory Board Minutes
July 28, 2004 - 4:00 PM
 

Attendance: Bob Selle, Jon Zehnder, Judith Meconitas, Denny Brown, Darrell Mielke, Julio Estremera,
Attendance by telephone conference call: Marve Ann Alaimo, Charles Mueller and Audrey Mueller
Absent: Eulalia “Lala” Troncoso,  Leonardo García

With the absence of our president and with our VP participating on telephone
 conference call, the meeting is chaired by Pastor Selle.

·          Welcome to new Advisory Board member/Bienvenida al nuevo miembro de la junta

o         Our board welcomed Darrell Mielke.  Originally from Wisconsin Darrell worked as a banker.  He moved to Florida in 1977 and began working with Lutheran Brotherhood in 1982.  He continues to work for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (a merger of Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans).

·          Opening prayer/oración de abertura

o         Pastor Selle began with an opening prayer.

·          Our Misión Statement / El propósito del Amigos Center

o          Amigos Center’s mission statement is to provide the Hispanic immigrant community and migrant workers of Southwest Florida with the tools necessary to succeed in the USA.

·          Minutes from last meeting / Acta de la última reunión

o         Minutes from our April 28 meeting are reviewed and approved unanimously.

·          Financial Report and statistics / Informe financiara y estatisticas: Denny Brown

o         Immigration statistics show a higher than anticipated number of unduplicated clients.  This is because our immigration worker has delegated time consuming translation work to others and has differed some of the time consuming research work she has done in past.  At budget setting time we need to talk about how to grow our immigration work.

o         Our financial situation has greatly improved over last year at this time.  Six month 04 report shows a net income of $19,117, this is mainly due to our successful Banquet in March and higher than expected income from immigration client contributions.

·          Grants awarded so far this year:

United Way of Lee County       ($15,000)
In support of our immigration work in Bonita Springs.  Eight members of the advisory board (Julio, Leonardo, Denny, Judith, Marve Ann, Charles, Audrey and Robert) showed up at the UW visitation team visit in May and demonstrated a knowledge and active interest in the work of the Amigos Center.  This was seen as very favorable.  We received the maximum that a new member agency can receive.

Lee County Human Services    ($0)
We were not approved for 2005, however Denny and Robert responded to the evaluation team’s questions and concerns. We hope to be approved next time.

FEMA    ($3,000)
Emergency Food Voucher program

SW FL Community Foundation ($15,000)
Community Outreach Liaison

Community Foundation WTR Fund       ($5,000)
General support of Amigos Center

McNew Foundation      ($1,500)
General support of Amigos Center

Covenant Presbyterian Church            ($2,000)
Support of Immigration work

Collier County Community Found         ($2,000)
General support of Amigos Center

Bonita Springs Community Found        ($3,000)
Support of immigration work

·          Golf tournament / Torneo de golf> Marve Ann Alaimo

o         Marve Ann reported on changes on draft of sponsor packet.  Reduced the number of foursomes that are given away.  More emphasis on Tee signs for sponsors. 

o         Darrell Mielke has experience with planning golf tournaments and will work with planning committee.

o         We should seek written reply from UW about what they will allow us to do during the black out period

o         Marve Anne is willing to help put together program skeleton of event, plan of action, contact vendors (signage, work with golf course).  She needs others to be in charge of marketing (sponsors, player recruitment, publicity in churches…)

o         Darrell, Julio, Denny and Marve Ann will take the lead in organizing the event.

o         Marve Ann is still waiting to hear from Pelican Nest, Bonita Springs

o         Old Cypress: Near I-75 on Immokalee Road, very private, Natl. Kidney Foundation has used it, newer course than La Playa, $50 per player, $15 to $20 for lunch.  Only available on Friday, October 29

o         La Playa: Near Tamiami Trail on Immokalee Road.  Marve Ann knows Director of Golf well.  He will provide us with a lot of help, have all his crew available to help us, provide golf carts.  Date available are Nov 5/6/7 or Nov 19/20/21.  Cost is $50 per player, $30 for lunch

o         Bonita Bay is only available to members, they say “We are private.”  Nov / Dec is prime time for them.

o         Marve Ann will coordinate a meeting with committee members for next week at her Bonita Springs office.

o         Total estimated budget is $9,000

·          Review Policies & Procedures Manual / Repaso de Manual de Políticas y Procedimientos

o         Last sentence of Section1.01 amended to add “…unless otherwise indicated by the ED.”

o         Section 2.05b.ii. include the phrase “As approved from time to time by the Advisory Board.”

o         Section 2.06 add the word “total” before $500 in the third to last line.

o         Section 3.02 (sic)d. “Hiring, Compensation, Evaluations/Merit increases, and terminations” last line replaces word “habitual” with “illegal” and adds “and activity subject to criminal penalty.”

·          Community Outreach Liaison / Coordinador de Enlace Comunitario

o         No report

Programs/Programas

            Hispanic Newcomer’s Guide / Guía para el recién llegado       

·          Guide is now print ready. United Way has found a printer who will give us a big price break.

            Dignity U Wear; date of celebration/fecha de celebración

·          Judith gave report concerning our involvement.  We will place our first order for new clothing for up to 100 people before August 20

Mexican Mobil Consulate / Consulado Móvil Mexicano:

·          Will be held at Bonita Springs office on Saturday, August 21.  We need bilingual volunteers.

Publicity / Publicidad

Spanish Newsletter / El mensajero: A copy was distributed to advisory board members

Project Jesus CD / Proyecto Jesús CD: A copy was distributed to advisory board members.

Next Meeting / Próxima reunión:  Wednesday, October 27 / Miércoles, 27 de Octubre, 2004

Amigos Center
Advisory Board Minutes
St. Michael’s Lutheran Church & School
April 28, 2004 - 4:00 PM

Attendance: Bob Selle, Jon Zehnder, Judith Meconitas, Leonardo García, Denny Brown, Julio Estremera, Charles and Audrey Mueller, Eulalia “Lala” Troncoso

Absent: Darrell Mielke, Marve Ann Alaimo,

• Welcome to new Advisory Board members / Bienvenida a los nuevos miembros de la junta

o   Our advisory Board welcomed Rev. Charles and Audrey Mueller.  Charlie is an Associate of Wheat Ridge Ministries and a retired Lutheran Pastor: LCMS.  Audrey is a homemaker and retired RN.  Both are long time supporters of our Amigos ministry.

• Opening prayer/oración de abertura

o   Led by Pastor Selle

• Our Misión Statement / El propósito del Amigos Center

o   Amigos Center’s mission statement is to provide the Hispanic immigrant community and migrant workers of Southwest Florida with the tools necessary to succeed in the USA.

• Minutes from last meeting / Acta de la última reunión

o   Approved

• First Annual Amigos Center Banquet (Gross Income $17,280, Expenses $1,527, Net $15,753)

• Financial Report / Informe financiara: Denny Brown

o   We are doing well, especially compared to last year.  Client contributions are above budget.  So far are $12,301 above expenses.

o   Statistics show that we are above our 2004 projections

o   Wheat Ridge may be interested training and multiplying immigration workers, go for $50,000 over three years according to Charlie Mueller.

• Grants applied for:

United Way of Lee County (visitation team May 13, it is important that as many members of our Board attend as possible, we have applied for a 2005 grant of $18,500)

Lee County Human Services (We are still waiting to for a response to our petition for $25,000)

FEMA (We were awarded a $3,000 grant to provide emergency food vouchers)

SW FL Community Foundation (We applied for $25,000 to fund our Community Outreach Liaison position)

Community Foundation WTR Fund ($3,400 were allocated to our Amigos Center of a $5,000 grant. The remainder of the $5,000 was allocated to the Amigos en Cristo church ministry)

Gannett Foundation (We applied for a grant of $5,000.  Still no word on the result)

• Additional staff / Personal adicional

o   Interim Language Director / Directora Interina del Programa de Idiomas, Pastor Selle has named Judith Meconitas as interim language director.  Five hours per week at $10 per hour.

• Golf tournament / Torneo de golf

o   No report

• Review Policies & Procedures Manual / Repaso de Manual de Políticas y Procedimientos

o   The Board accepted in “good faith” the proposed Policies & Procedures Manual.  Final approval will come in next meeting.

Programs/Programas

            Hispanic Newcomer’s Guide / Guía para el recién llegado

• 10,000 copies of 2004 edition will be printed

            Dignity U Wear

• We have applied for a partnership with Dignity U Wear. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Dignity U Wear supports hundreds of centers in many different states by providing free new clothing for the needy.  The clothing provided by Dignity U Wear is supplied by Stein Mart Boutiques. We can order free clothing for up to 100 people three times a year.  Amigos Center volunteers Judith Meconitas, Lala Troncoso and Lidia Cisneros will administer the program for us.

Next Meeting / Próxima reunión:  Wednesday, July 28 / Miércoles, 28 de Julio, 2004

Amigos Center
Advisory Board Minutes
St. Michael’s Lutheran Church & School
January 28, 2004 - 4:00 PM

Attendance: Bob Selle, Marve Ann Alaimo, Jon Zehnder, Denny Brown, Julio Estremera
Absent: Judith Meconitas, Leonardo García, Darrell Mielke, María Ramírez

·      Welcome to new Advisory Board members / Bienvenida a los nuevos miembros de la junta

o     Julio Estremera was introduced.  Julio works as a consultant with the Small Business Development Center located at FGCU.  Julio has led conferences for small business owners at our Bonita Springs Amigos Center on several occasions.

·      Opening prayer/oración de abertura

o     Led by Pastor Zehnder

·      Our Misión Statement / El propósito del Amigos Center

o     Amigos Center’s mission statement is to provide the Hispanic immigrant community and migrant workers of Southwest Florida with the tools necessary to succeed in the USA.

·      Minutes from last meeting / Acta de la última reunión

o     Approved unanimously

·      New Vice-president

o     Paul Herrera, our Vice-president has moved to California.  Marve Ann agrees to serve as acting Vice-president of our Advisory Council. 

·      Recent newspaper articles / Artículos recientes de la prensa

o     Selle shows four recent newspaper articles concerning our Amigos Center.  Three of the four were front page articles.  All articles were favorable.

·      Additional staff / Personal adicional

o     Community Outreach Liaison / Coordinador de asuntos comunitarios

·      Pastor Selle handed out a job description for a proposed new staff position.  This Liaison will increase our volunteer and financial base of support by cultivating our contacts with local churches and social service organizations.  He/she will help Executive Director research and prepare financial grants and will serve as director of our language program. Julio noted that the Liaison will need to work on developing a network of volunteers to help him do his job. We cannot hire until we get the money in hand or pledged.  Will need approximately $25,000 per year.  We already have a donor who pledged $5,000 for this project. 

o     Part-time Immigration Worker / Trabajador de inmigración a tiempo parcial

·      With the immigration reform proposed by President Bush we are expecting some change in immigration laws in the future.  Anything that would allow existing undocumented workers to apply for work permits would dramatically increase our work load.  Our staff is working on a blueprint for action that we can use to train additional workers that can help in this one specific area of immigration law.

·      Banquet Planning Committee / Comité de planificación del banquete

o     Planning committee is meeting weekly.  Banquet will be Friday March 26 at Robert F. Anderson Athletic Center on campus of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church & School.

·      Corporate Sponsors / Patrocinadores corporativos

o     Letters introducing the Amigos Center and our corporate sponsorship program was mailed to the 490 members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

·      Golf tournament / Torneo de golf

o     Marve Ann brought a copy of the budget for the Kidney Foundation Golf Tournament she organized.  We will organize a tournament for Saturday, November 13, 2004.  Expect course fee to be around $70 per person by November.  Marve Ann will locate a course in Bonita Springs or North Naples that is available for our date.

·      Financial Report / Informe financiara: Denny Brown

o     Denny gave a written report of our 2003 finances.  We had a good year.  We spent $93,098 and brought in $93,991, a difference of $893.  What a miracle!

·      Review Business Plan / Repaso del plan de trabajo

o     Selle is working on a Business Plan.

Programs/Programas

2003 Statistics/Estadísticas 2003: Statistical summary for 2003 handed out to members.

Language/Idiomas: Semestre  2004: We currently have 25 ESOL students and 15 Spanish students enrolled.

Hispanic Newcomer’s Guide / Guía para el recién llegado: Our staff and Advisory Council member Denny Brown are working on recruiting advertisers and updating our Hispanic Newcomer’s Guide. Will publish by end of March. Jon and Julio volunteer to help call advertisers.

FEMA Grant: We have applied for a $2000 grant to provide aid for food, electricity and rent for our clients.

Next Meeting / Próxima reunión:  Wednesday, 4:00 PM, April 28 / Miércoles, 28 de Abril, 2004

Minutes from meeting on October 29, 2003 - 4:00 PM

           Attendance: Bob Selle, Denny Brown, María Ramirez, Leonardo García, Judith Meconitas, Jon Zehnder,
           Absent: Marve Ann Alaimo
           Voluntary withdrawal from Advisory Board: Fernando Mayoral, Miriam Hamm-Gulick, Lidia Cisneros, Paul Herrera.

• Opening prayer/oración de abertura> Led by Pastor Selle
• Our Misión Statement/El propósito del Amigos Center

o Amigos Center’s mission statement is to provide the Hispanic immigrant community and migrant workers of Southwest Florida with the tools necessary to succeed in the USA.

• Minutes from last meeting / Acta de la última reunión

o Approved as presented - Denny moves, María seconds

• Financial Report / Informe financiara: Denny Brown

o Budget variance report distributed and explained by Denny. Through September 2003 we are $4,954 to the good. We are doing much better than three months ago as reported at last meeting.
o Policy to charge social service clients / Política de cobrar los clientes de servicios sociales>

 For past six weeks we have charged client families $10 for ITIN application and fill out housing applications. Suggested $5 donation for all other services. This trial policy has raised weekly income from Social Services from $22 to $70. Clients have not complained. They usually expect to pay something. To pay for services creates a sense of dignity. Denny moves, Judith seconds, approved unanimously.

• Audit / Revisión de cuentas:

o Mario Juárez, CPA, Audit completed last Tuesday. Thanks to Denny Brown, Donna Selle and Mario Juárez this audit was successful and mark a big step toward obtaining Core Funding for future expenses from Lee County Human Services and United Way of Lee County.

• Budget 2004/Presupuesto 2004

o Our 2004 budget was approved by the Southwest Florida Outreach Council: LCMS and includes an additional part-time employee. However, we must raise the money before we can hire new personal.
 

o Programs/Programas

 Statistics/Estadísticas

• Written report submitted by Pastor Selle. Leonardo says that Catholic Charities no longer has an accredited immigration specialist, that leaves our Amigos Center with an even more crucial role to provide immigration services. Bob says we should be training an additional immigration specialist.

 Language/Idiomas: Exams, Semestre ‘04

• Good progress has been made to upgrade our Language program; new semester dates are set for second week of January to last week of April 2004. Pre and Post testing of written and oral skills has been implemented. Fernando Mayoral had to withdraw from our team for personal reasons. His withdrawal from teaching team is a big loss.

 Hispanic Newcomer’s Guide / Guía para el recién llegado

• Leonardo says we should have “Hispanic Newcomer’s Guide” promoted by Peggy Hammel, Exec Dir of Assoc of Realtors – Give her a marketing sheet, designed by RPM Magazine publisher Alejandro Bautista 560-2070, $375 per page if application received by a certain date, $500 if after. Leonardo will send a list of suggested prices for publicity in our Hispanic Newcomer’s Guide. We will print 10,000 copies, January 2004.

 Computer/Computación, Chamber can promote the class

• Bob will interview two candidates from Colombia to teach computer and internet class in Spanish in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs. Classes to begin with winter semester.

 Christmas gift program/Programa para repartir regales de Navidad

• Plan on providing at least 200 gifts donated from area churches and St. Michael’s School, gift wrapped shoe box filled with age and sex appropriate gifts, each box costs about $15.

 Trust Fund / Fondo humanitario

• Irma Jimenez of Mexican Consulate, Miami requested that Amigos Center open a Trust Fund to receive donations for a 13-year-old Mexican girl who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. Doctor in Immokalee has agreed to provide free medical care. Approved by acclamation

o Fundraiser Gala Dinner

 Gala dinner at St. Michael’s (350 dinner table). Leonardo will invite Immigration commissioner in Tampa BCIS office as speaker of dinner. $30 per person, seek sponsors of tables, publish brochure with list of Gala sponsors, raffle. Around March, Saturday. Members of planning committee get in at cost. Planning committee meeting, all members of Advisory plus others, meet before January 28

o Next Meeting / Próxima reunión: Wednesday, January 28 / Miércoles, 28 de Enero 2004 @ 4:00 PM St. Michael’s Church & School