September 15—18, 2011, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Members present: Susan Baer, Ellen Berry, Dan Browning, Mark George, chair, Frances Green, Marilyn Kesler, Sarah Bylander Montzka, Marilyn O’Boyle, Patricia Purcell, MaryLou Roberts, Lucy Shaw, and Pam Brasch, ex officio.

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mark George, chair.

The Board welcomed new members, Lucy Shaw and Frances Green.

Motion #1 To approve the April 2011 minutes as presented.
M Marilyn Kesler S Ellen Berry Carried

The chair requested that Patricia Purcell keep track of assignments that the Board needs to complete. These will be published and accounted for on the Board Forum.

A discussion of committee assignments followed. Committee assignments are listed at the end of these minutes.

There was a break for dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the meeting continued at 7:15 p.m.

There was more discussion of committee work and assignments and the Board Education Committee and Development Committee held short meetings, followed by meetings of the Nominating Committee and Honorary Board Committee.

Friday’s meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday’s meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.

A discussion of Monitoring reports, specifically 2.3 and 2.4, started the meeting. These policies deal with financial planning and budgeting, and Financial condition and activities. A budget report was also presented by Pam Brasch.

Motion #2 To acknowledge that the Board has received and read the Monitoring Reports.
M Susan Baer S Patricia Purcell Carried

Policy 4.11 “Cost of Governance” may need to be updated. This will be considered for future review.

Motion #3 (the CEO shall not) fail to manage the SAA’s investment portfolio in a manner consistent with the generally accepted Socially Responsible Investing principles and practices.
M Dan Browning S Marilyn O’Boyle Tabled

After discussion, the motion was tabled until we have done more research on what our current investments are, and what the alternatives are. Board members were charged to look into these possible alternatives and share findings on the Board Forum before the next meeting.

Consensus: Financial management of SAA is sound and in accordance with our stated policies.

Pam Brasch previewed reports prepared for the annual audit. It was noted that our equity is greater than annual revenue.

After lunch, Ends Statement Reports were discussed, specifically 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.1.2. These Ends Statements deal with core issues of what the SAA is about, including what benefits it provides, for whom and at what cost. The discussion centered around the word “excellence,” the difficulty in measuring excellence and what is means for the SAA. The wording of 1.1.2 was discussed.

Motion #4 Policy 1.1.1 will read: Accurate information about Suzuki Education is widely available in the public domain. Policy 1.1.2 will be eliminated.
M Susan Baer S Sarah Bylander Montzka Carried

The Board’s role in the 2012 Conference was discussed. This is the 40th year Anniversary Celebration of the SAA. The Kaleidoscope performance is new and will include performances from a diverse group of students, from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, geographical regions and age groups. Lucy Shaw is in charge of the committee that is organizing this event. This project will provide performance video materials for the SAA website for use by trainers and other interested parties. Susan Baer mentioned that there are multiple opportunities for participation with Mini and Nano presentations. The Board will have its Annual General Meeting and can help with hospitality for families of students and give other assistance as needed. The 40 Year Anniversary still needs some ideas and will be discussed more at the January meeting.

Board committees met, discussed their projects, and reported their considerations to the full Board.

Friday’s meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. and Saturday’s meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Mark George.

The meeting opened with a viewing of a video that will be used as part of the Annual Fund Drive. Sarah Bylander Montzka has created the video, and Board members will help in its distribution. The remainder of Saturday’s meeting was a board education workshop led by Caroline Oliver.

Saturday’s meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday’s meeting was called to order at 8:33 a.m. by Mark George, chair.

The meeting began with a discussion of Board/Ownership Linkage, a topic in Caroline Oliver’s presentation. The four areas of Board responsibility in this area are:

  • Understand wishes of ownership regarding future of SAA
  • Replenish and improve board leadership
  • Educate and inspire owners about responsible ownership
  • Be accountable to owners.

The possibility of combining some committees and starting a new committee was discussed.

Motion #5 to amend Policy 4.9 to add a standing Board/Ownership Linkage Committee. A. Product: Excellent Board/Ownership linkage B. Authority: to incur costs of no more than $500 in direct charges and no more than twenty (20) hours of staff time.
M Lucy Shaw S Dan Browning Carried

Motion #6 that Creating Learning Community (CLC) committee no longer exists as a Board ad hoc committee.
M Dan Browning S Susan Baer Carried

The question of where the Honorary Board Committee fits with Board committee work will be revisited at the January 2012 Board meeting.

A discussion about monitoring and Ends Statement reports followed, including the idea of developing more ways to measure what we are doing and having those metrics used in reporting. The chair requested that more metrics be included in the monitoring reports on 1.1 and 1.2 at the January 2012 meeting.

2012 Meeting Dates and Locations

January 13—15 Chicago (Evanston)
April 13—15 Boulder
May 24—27 Minneapolis (Conference)
September To be decided

Pam Brasch gave an ISA report. That Board meets in October. There was a discussion about following up on the Board decision to give a gift to Japan after the earthquake and tsunami in 2010.

Consensus: The board authorizes the CEO to make a gift of $5,000 to the Talent Education Research Institute, in support of planning and execution of the next World Convention, pending confirmation of said convention, and as part of our previous commitment to aid Suzuki in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami in 2010.

The chair asked Patricia Purcell to start two new Board Forum threads on “bucket items” which are tasks for future meetings, and “parking lot” which are specific tasks to take place between meetings.

Committee Assignments:

Audit: Dan Browning, Chair, Pam Brasch, MaryLou Roberts

Board Education: Sarah Montzka, Chair, Ellen Berry, Pam Brasch, Marilyn O’Boyle

Board/Ownership Linkage: MaryLou Roberts, Chair, Dan Browning, Lucy Shaw

Development: Sue Baer, Chair, Pam Brasch, Dan Browning, Frances Green, Marilyn Kesler, Patricia Purcell

Honorary Board: Ellen Berry, Chair, Sue Baer, Pam Brasch, Marilyn Kesler, Gail Lange

Nominating: Marilyn Kessler, Chair, Pam Brasch, Mark George, Patricia Purcell, Lucy Shaw

The meeting adjourned at 11:18 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn O’Boyle, Secretary