Boiler Room Board Meeting

November 11, 2009
Attendance:
Present: 
Board Members:  Julia, Mary, Andrew, Annette, Amy, Chauncey, Steve
Manager:  Noah
Interns:  Anna, Elena
Incoming Board Member:  Markus Koch
Guests:  Cynthia from Jefferson County Community Network, Dane, Lyris, Miles, Sean
Board Members not Present:  Cory, Catska, Bruce, Terri, Jason
Steve motions that the October meeting minutes be approved
Annette seconds
Mary, Andrew, Amy and Chauncey approve
Julia abstains, not being present in October
TREASURER REPORT:
As of November 11, there is $1,351.95 in the checking account.
The following bills are unpaid:
Sunrise Coffee $592.45
SOS Printing $361.10
Food Coop $232.82
Mountain Spirit $21.00
Total Unpaid:  $1207.37
The building payment of $1145.83 is due on November 15, or there will be a penalty.
Payroll is coming up.  $753.31 (Noah's wages) + $85 (cellphone reimbursement) + $107 (health insurance reimbursement) + $307.80 (Ellie's late timesheet) + 136.80 (Ellie's paycheck) = $1389.91
Meaning, even if the bills are left unpaid, there is a choice between making payroll or making the building payment.  We cannot do both.
Total cash on hand:  $1351.95
Total bills:  $3743.11
Red ink:  $2391.16
BUILDING REPORT:
Chauncey is getting information from the person who previously fixed the espresso machine.
The espresso machine is worth around $800 for parts or $3000 if fixed.
Markus is interested in helping with the espresso machine.
Steve is waiting for more information about the grant from PSE--grant was submitted to purchase a "green" heat pump.
If the grant is received, Puget Sound Energy will pay over $3000 and the Boiler Room will pay around $1,300.
Steve motions that any money left over in the restricted fund after buying the heater and hotplate will be placed in the general fund.
Mary seconds.
All present in favor.
NEW BOARD MEMBER:
Andrew motions that Markus Koch become a Boiler Room Board Member
Steve seconds
All present in favor
POLICIES:
Method for Enforcement of Rules:  If you see a rules violations, please notify the person behind the counter.  Let them have a chance to address the issue.  We are hoping that volunteers will take ownership of the situation.  Noah doesn't want to be "the only policeman."
*ACTION ITEM*  Make sure that all policies are posted as updated.
Coming in to the Boiler Room under the influence is referred back to the policies committee.  Update during December board meeting.
DEVELOPMENT:
Andrew feels that the proposal to the city went well.  There were many moving testimonies.
The Boiler Makers program needs additional membership.  Mary assigned each Board member 30 past Boiler Makers to telephone about contributing again.
Payments will be $30 Jan-Nov with a final payment of $35 in Dec.  People can donated through the website.  Email will be used to remind people each month.  Please keep accurate records of people's response to the telephone query.
Strategic Planning proposal sent out to candidates, will take place in January.
Auction still on for December 12.  Mary purchased auction software to make the process smoother.  Chauncey, Karolina and Noah are acquiring items.
Chauncey will talk to Aaron Stark about possibly catering the auction.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
Working on a request for board members that will go in the paper.
INTERN REPORTS:
ANNA:
Positives--increased accountability, no stealing of money, more professional, standing shifts, cleaning duties, display case looks good
Negatives--sales going down, product stealing, no customer base, wasted goods, disrespect from volunteers, cancelled trainings, hard to communicate with staff, not cozy, cold, confusion about the purpose of the Boiler Room.  The biggest problem is a lack of consistency.
ELENA:
Positives--Collaborating, group projects, learning how to work with volunteers instead of "for" them, working with Skookum to do an extension of "job club," help with resume writing, working with Liz Goldstein to facilitate Teen Peace meetings at the Boiler Room.
Not Awesome--Feels like an unwelcome babysitter.  Does not want to battle teenagers for 10 hours a day.  Something needs to change.
MANAGER REPORT:
Many people doing a lot of good things.  Special thanks to Anna and Elena, Chauncey and Andrew.
Strategic planning must explore sustainable management.  The current structure is not sustainable.  It will make Noah's head explode.
There are so many noble causes that the Boiler Room is trying to achieve.  Needs more focus.
Christmas vacations:  Anna and Noah gone December 23-29.  Elena gone December 23-27.  Would like Board members to dedicate a day to being at the Boiler Room during those days. 
Would like the Boiler Room to be closed during strategic planning.  Needs the BR to be closed.  There is no time to imagine or dream of what the Boiler Room could be while taking care of the day to day minutia.
NEXT BOARD MEETING:
December 9th, at the Boiler Room.