SAA Board of Directors Meeting
September 28-30, 2007
Boulder, CO

Members present: Pam Brasch, Lamar Blum, Teri Einfeldt, Christie Felsing, Gail Lange, Ruth Engle Larner, Dave Madsen, Beth Goldstein-McKee, Carol Ourada, Diane Schroeder, Beth Titterington, and Betty Wahlig.

The meeting was called to order at 9:20 a.m. by Diane Schroeder, Chair.

Motion No. 1: To approve the minutes as printed.
M Beth Titterington S Dave Madsen Carried

Affirmation of receipt and reading of Monitoring Reports. Unanimous

A discussion of the Monitoring Reports followed, with Pam answering Board members’ questions regarding the expanded AV Library, membership fees, conference sponsorship, and budget. It was noted that one of the distinctions of our organization is that we train teachers, and we educate parents. A significant portion of our program budget goes to maintaining and expanding our teacher training program and our projects for teachers and parents.

It was the consensus of the Board to revisit the use of funds to facilitate educational projects that are currently in process at both the January and April meetings.

The Board discussed the ENDS Report, including why memberships often lapse, SAA’s new membership in the MusicLink Foundation, a potential promotional video to share with college conservatory pedagogy classes, and updates on the Certificate Program.

Presentations of various non-profit governance articles were shared by all Board members as part of Board Education. This activity was continued during portions of the meeting throughout the weekend.

Break for lunch.

Meeting resumed with Board members personalizing as many of the 2007 Annual Fund letters as time allowed.

An overview of the SAA website was given by staff member Jenny Ferenc. New areas specific to flute, guitar, conference committee, teacher trainers, and institute directors were demonstrated.

Honorary Board Committee report was given by Gail Lange. The newly expanded HB list is reflected in the ASJ and on the SAA letterhead. Current project includes interviewing HB members for the ASJ. Diane thanked Gail, those that have conducted the interviews thus far and Betty for her continuing work editing the interviews.

Diane charged the Board to make an effort to contact the Honorary Board yearly in some way. Beth T offered to draft a letter to invite HB members to the 2008 conference.

A suggestion to form a Parent Ad-hoc Committee was discussed. Possibilities for such a Committee included involving them in the “Creative Parenting” DVD project that is currently underway.

Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Reconvened at 9:12 a.m. on Saturday with further Board Education articles and Carver Governance overview.

Betty Wahlig led the Linkage Committee discussion, which included a history of its existence and future role.

The Board recognizes that Linkage is essential and is a job of the Board as a whole.

Motion to change wording of 4.9.2 to read:

InterBoard Committee:

  1. Product: Identification of other boards or associations with whom SAA can interact.

M Gail S Lamar Blum Carried

Audit Committee Report given by Dave. It was decided to keep the current auditor for this fiscal year. Proposed fees for FY’07 audit reflect a 50% increase over last year’s audit. Dave reported he successfully reviewed the SAA checking and savings accounts online, as recommended by our auditor. Going forward he will review the investments statements as well.

Chair charged Audit Committee to make a decision on auditors for FY’08 by April 2008.

Diane discussed the Annual Fund and the use of incentive gifts.

It was the consensus of the Board that a CD incentive gift will be pursued for the 2008-09 Annual Fund.

Members of the CD Ad Hoc Committee will be: Dave Madsen, Teri Einfeldt, Paul Salerni, Gwendoline Thornblade, and possibly some other SAA members for input.

Pam shared that Yuko Honda bequeathed her violin to the SAA. Plans are being made as to its possible use. It is currently in the hands of Michael McLean, who will play it at the 2008 Conference in her memory.

The chair charges Lamar to investigate if there are any written or oral wishes for Yuko Honda’s violin.

Nominations Committee discussion was led by Christie Felsing. Board members were asked to respond via email by Oct. 15 with input about the nominations process.

From the ENDS Report, three areas of interest were noted and assigned for discussion in breakouts. Those included Institutes, Latin America and Conferences and Retreats. Reports from the breakout discussions were heard later in the meeting.

Break for lunch.

Marilyn O’Boyle joined the afternoon to share Latin American perspectives and input from teachers in Latin America. She provided a history of the Encuentro, the festivals, country associations, funding and teacher training in L.A. Currently, several teacher trainers from the USA have been traveling to L.A to provide training. A website for L.A has been started, with a link to the SAA website (www.metodosuzuki.org). Discussion of a L.A Tour Group to the 2008 Conference was explored.

The Board thanked Marilyn for coming and providing information about developments in L.A.

The Board reviewed feedback from the 2007 Summer Institute Focus Meetings. Common thoughts included having a better understanding of the philosophy, need for community, and role of parent.

The Board charges itself to help find parents who would be able and willing to assist with the Parent Ed DVD Project.

Break for dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting reconvened at 9:05 a.m. on Sunday.

An overview of the Creating Learning Community Awards (CLC) was read by Diane. Their history and purpose and the process for application were explained. The Board brainstormed on possible nominees for the 2008 awards.

The Chair appoints Carol Ourada to chair the CLC Committee with Beth T, Diane and Pam Brasch as members of committee. Diane asked Carol and Beth T to identify one SAA member from outside the Board to join the committee as per Carver policy.

The Board discussed Latin American participation at the 2008 Conference.

Consensus: The Board endorses the proposal to ask SAA programs, studios and others to support Latin American participation at the 2008 Conference.

Ideas for the Board’s role and presence at the 2008 Conference were brainstormed.

Location of January 17-20 Board meeting was decided to be in Hartford, CT.

The Board reviewed the wording of Policy 1.0 in the ENDS statements. Further discussion of its refinement will be done at the January meeting.

A discussion of intellectual property followed. It was pointed out that the SAA website’s homepage top corner states that “Suzuki Association of the Americas, Inc. is the not-for-profit organization officially licensed to support, guide and promote Suzuki education in North, Central and South America. We are a coalition of teachers, parents, educators, and others who are interested in making music education available to all children.”

The final minutes of the meeting were spent reviewing the weekend, its flow and accomplishments.

Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Christie Felsing, Secretary