Regular Board Meeting March 23, 2021

PEEUA Board of Directors

Monthly Meeting

3/23/2021

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88096176688?pwd=dXpLdFRCS0Y0b05MYTZLUVZQeHh6dz09

Meeting ID: 880 9617 6688

Passcode: 332941

I. Call to Order

II. Roll Call/Announce and document Board members present

III. Consent Agenda – All meetings are recorded on ZOOM and can be accessed by request

IV. Order of Business

a. Old Business – N/A

b. New Business – Officers Report

V. Officers’ Reports

a. Jenny Hughes/Board President Update

i. Attachment - Achievements/Goals

ii. ELC Recommendations

b. Discussion

VI. Committee Reports – N/A

VII. Announcements

VIII. Adjournment

 President Report:

 We are the only agency that was created and developed with the single purpose of supporting and advocating for early childhood educators! We strive to unify and strengthen ECE’s so that they are better able to strengthen and support the children and families they serve.

Our Achievements:

·         Development of a solid Advisory Council of ECE”s that are committed to meeting regularly to support one another and direct and guide the PEEUA

o   Find ways to ensure the ongoing commitment of Council – any ideas for how to keep them motivated or how to make it a highly prized position in the community?

·         Development of a formal Board of Directors, Bylaws of organization

o   Grow and develop Board to 10 members -over time – once we get a big grant we will begin seeking new members.

·         Development of a 501c3 agency with the state of Florida

o   Established 501c3 – waiting for tax exempt confirmation

·         Development of our Mission, Vision and Goals

·         Development of promotional materials that outlines Who We Are, How You Can Help, How You Can Join Our Board, and Statistics of ECE’s nationally and locally for reference

o   What ideas do we have for more? Any other promotional items you guys recommend?

·         Retained an attorney and CPA: one year

o   FYI:

o   Gary Lyons of McFARLAND, GOULD, LYONS, SULLIVAN & HOGAN

o   Ellen Fontana- CPA

·         Completion of IRS applications to be recognized as a tax exempt charitable organization to allow us to receive donations

o   Pending confirmation we can access funds! We need that confirmation letter to show that we are an approved tax exempt agency that people can donate to. Once it is received I will make an announcement and start applying for grants

·         Development of a Facebook group with regular postings

·         Draft development of a professional website

o   To send out in draft form- it is built – just holding it until we can pay for platform

·         Hosted a holiday gathering outdoors with about 25 providers for connecting/celebration – Dec 2020

·         Received and donated over 100 face masks to ECE’s in county

·         Hosted our first community giveaway event in association with COQEBS SRC in March 2021

·         Proposed and developed a new partnership with the ELC to participate in strategic planning around quality assurance for providers and the development of formal ways to connect moving forward

o   See follow up summary from ELC CEO – Lindsay Carson

·         Proposed and changed the annual Holiday selection for ECE’s in ELC annual contract to be more supportive/respectful

·         Began planning a huge GALA event in November 2021/secured venue

o   Status of venue – discuss the possibility of canceling venue at Garden Club of St Pete and using hotel where Adrian is concierge – better location – rooms available – other benefits – but we would lose $250 of deposit on Garden Club – may be worth it – need to confer further with Adrian on our options before deciding

·         Successfully connected with various leaders in the community to build relationships and promote our profession like state legislators, the Mayor, commissioners, etc.

o   Who else should we connect with? Any suggestions?

·         Partnered with the Southside Partnership as another support option for ECE’s

·         Conducted workshop events on Group Development, Equity and Racism

·         Planned and producing a Workshop on Reflective Practice in partnership with USF for over 50 ECE’s in the community and our Advisory Council

·         Received funding from private donors and the Foundation for a Healthy St Pete for startup costs.

o   See budget for your information

o   Other ideas you have for advancing the agency?

Regular Board Meeting February 6th, 2021

PEEUA Board of Directors Agenda

Monthly Meeting

2/16/2021

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82822339893?pwd=UE5vcEtUMmF3OHlRT1NvVlRSSjdUdz09
Meeting ID: 828 2233 9893
Passcode: 444735

        I.            Call to Order

     II.            Roll Call/Announce and document Board members present

  III.            Consent Agenda – N/A (first meeting)

  IV.            Order of Business -N/A (first meeting)

a.       Old Business

b.      New Business

    V.            Officers’ Reports

a.       Jenny Hughes/Board President Update on agency – see below

  VI.            Committee Reports – N/A first meeting

VII.            Announcements

VIII.            Adjournment

 Board of Directors – 1st Meeting  2/16/2021 6:40 pm Minutes:

·         Roll call/Present: Jenny Hughes/President, Adrian Robbins/Vice President, Joy Haugabook/Treasurer (total 3 required by the state of Florida and IRS)

·         Introductions of Board Members

o   Adrian Robbins – Vice President – Review of duties as outlined in Bylaws

o   Joy Haugabook – Treasurer – Review of duties as outlined in Bylaws

·        Brief background of members

o   Board members shared their career, background, expertise and interest in joining the PEEUA Board

o   Adrian Robbins has extensive knowledge of hosting and producing community events as a seasoned and certified Hotel Concierge- Gold Level. She is interested in using her experience and skills to support the PEEUA in community events and connections. She has also worked part time in her Aunt’s early learning program for many years and has a 3-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter and understands the needs of early educators and the children served.

o   Joy Haugabook is a certified elementary school teacher who recently returned to her hometown of St. Petersburg after working and teaching in Texas. She was forced to leave her position as a teacher due to the pandemic and is considering expanding her career to another area of interest; marketing. She would like to apply her knowledge of education with her commitment to her hometown and her interest in marketing to support the PEEUA. She is also interested in how the agency will address racial injustices amongst teachers within the profession and how it impacts families in the educational system.

o   Board members committed to helping to recruit in the coming year

·         Agency Update

o   Provided a brief overview of how the  PEEUA began in 2020 and has grown in part due to the pandemic but also as a response to a long standing need for teachers to unify formally and have access to funded support that can develop programming and services to them and the children they serve.

o   Nonprofit status – PEEUA has secured the services of Ellen Fontana, CPA to manage the IRS nonprofit application and handle our annual tax preparation. We have also secured the services of Gary Lyons, Esq as our attorney to help us finalize our Articled of Incorporation to be filed with the state.

o   Articles of Incorporation were written along with the Bylaws by Jenny Hughes, along with support from a pro bono lawyer; Howard Ross. The Advisory Council of the PEEUA is made up of committed educators in the community who have come to meetings weekly to provide support, guidance and information on the development of the agency. Educators initially assisted also in writing the bylaws and articles as Board members but the decision was made recently to step down as Board members to allow them to apply for funding or to deliver programs funded by the PEEUA in the future that may be awarded through grants as a nonprofit. Board development will now be led by Jenny and new Board members to grow it through community members who do not have a financial interest in the agency other than through potential contributions

o   Website status – it has been developed and put on hold until funds can be released from COQEBS to pay for annual website hosting platform and website developer fee; Shanna Vick Morris: Website/Software Engineer with Power Chord, Inc. to provide services privately

o   The Early Learning Coalition: updated the Board on the efforts made to develop a partnership with the ELC and resolve issues; updated them on the current status to address 3 specific areas outlined in attached document. Shared with CEO: Lindsay Carson and discussed with the Jenny and the Advisory Council subcommittee; to be further discussed with the larger group this week to review plans and action steps

o   Event Sat 27th; Baby Talk Annual Event; Family and Educator Giveaway at Hope Academy Preschool in Clearwater to give away free early education teaching items to families and teachers

o   GALA – event to honor educators in the community and supporters – to be hosted at the Garden Club of St. Petersburg on November 6th. Budget to be further developed and reviewed with Board and Gala committee members Felicia Harris and Michelle Ammons – see draft budget and also website for Gala

o   Grant Pursuits – once tax-exempt status is filed we can apply for grants for various programming and services to support educators

·        Funding:

o   $10,000 received from the Foundation for a Healthy St Petersburg to support startup costs – to be paid through COQEBS as our fiscal agent as we do not have nonprofit status yet - $1000 admin fee

o   2 private donors - $500 from Donor #1/ $250 from Donor #2 -non specified

o   Review: initial proposed budget to the HSP

o   Reviewed spending/costs to date/proposed additional spending

o   Many expenditures have been made by the President for startup purposes

o   Spending report was distributed and reviewed

o   Treasurer will oversee future expenditures through email with all BOD included – reports will summarize in monthly updates and in formal annual meetings

o   Treasurer will approve all future expenditures and President will report to the Board; dual signatures not required for banking

o   Bank: Wells Fargo

·         Meeting frequency

o   Meet quarterly if possible and at least bi-annually

o   Jenny to send email updates monthly and request virtual meetings intermittently

o   Annual meetings required

o   No further discussion

o   Meeting concluded 8:10 pm