Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Lewes
Council Minutes
Fred Thomas Building
February 25, 2014

In attendance were council members Jack Boettger, Bob Comeau (chair), Mary Folan, Bo French, Lynn Kroesen, Frank Meredith, Rob Morgan; and Carol West; librarian archivist Ruth Barnett; committee chairs Bernie Fiegel and Joan Sciorra; program coordinator Anna Moshier; Bill Ashmore, instructional support for Bethany; Ed Chamberlain, instructional support for Lewes; and University representatives Jim Broomall and Linda Osoinach.

Bob Comeau called the meeting to order at 12:22 p.m.

The agenda was approved by consensus.

The minutes were approved by consensus, as amended to delete the words “after February 25 but”.

A motion to approve spending $115 each for hardware for the two display cases in the entry, and $250 each for audio mixers for Rooms 101 and 102, passed without dissent.

Staff:
Anna reported that Brian Bassett, Director of Administration for the School District, had contacted her to ask for an opportunity for himself or Superintendent Bob Fulton to address the membership about the upcoming referendum on a bond issue in support of a new elementary school and additional classrooms in other Cape schools.  Anna was authorized to agree, and to coordinate a time with Brian.

Linda, Jim, Bill, and Anna will visit Bethany this afternoon to look again at some potential locations; she hopes to make some recommendations soon.  

A request for OLLI to buy at a discount some mislabelled paint at for the art class was not acted on; the thought was voiced that artists should continue to buy their own supplies.

Chair:
The current bylaws do not authorize electronic voting, so voting will not be offered electronically this year.  Since the bylaws need to be amended to accommodate electronic voting, Bob solicited suggestions on other amendments to the bylaws that may be useful to update them, with an eye toward changing them later this spring.

University:
Linda praised the great job Anna has been doing with the Dover program. Anna mentioned that statistical reporting is being improved to become more useful and user-friendly.

Committee reports (*indicates report on file)

Communication (Lynn Kroesen)
Lynn reported that the ballot is ready to go and she will be sending it out via email as an attachment.  To vote, members will have to either print, sign, and drop it off at the office, or sign a copy that Renée will have in the office.

Lynn wants to do the next issue of Tides after the luncheon and before the New York trip, so she has set a deadline of April 20.  Anna says the catalog will be delivered by then, so Lynn would like input to the Tides from Academic Affairs.

Travel (Joan Sciorra)
Joan reported that 147 members have signed up and paid to go on the New York trip.  For the trip on March 14 to the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, 30 members have paid so far.  

Anna asked that we be cautious about sending out sign-up lists for non-Osher groups in the future; one was sent out inadvertently along with the solicitations for our own trips.  

Anna asked for a solid policy on the lead-time required for trips, to avoid wasting staff time on trips that are ultimately cancelled for lack of interest.

Social * (Bernie Fiegel)
Bob asked whether the news about upgrading the luncheon selections means that a plant-based option is included.  Bernie replied yes, and Johanna Barbati is on the committee representing the plant-based community. 

Bernie also reported that the University has approved a gift of $2,000 towards the luncheon.  The Council members expressed their gratitude to Jim and Linda for the University.

Elaine Stanhope has recruited 10 of her students to make basket centerpieces for tables. Marge Hadden of U.D.’s PCS Marketing Department got us a very good deal on programs, with a specially colored cover.

Bernie asked that we broadcast the luncheon’s April 16 date as broadly as we can.  Anna will send an e-mail blast.

Bob pointed out that Bernie’s email report mentions that Alex and Mary Apostolina have been invited in view of their 25 years with OLLI. 

Community Relations * (Frank Meredith)
Anna added to Frank’s written report that her talk to the Village Improvement Association was well received and yielded some new members.

John and Carmela Coleman, our representatives for the Rehoboth Art League’s cottage tour on Tuesday and Wednesday July 8 and 9, have informed us that we are assigned a house in Canal Corkran.  Bernie will post a docent sign-up sheet for the two shifts needed.

Library and Archives (Ruth Barnett)
Ruth reported that the heat in the library exceeds 80° and is not good for the books, although opening the window helps.  Anna will ask the School District to address the problem.

Financial * (Jack Boettger)
Jack reported that based on the first six months of  our fiscal year, our revenue is quite good, but due to timing issues we are $34k over budget at this point and we shall continue to have more expenses before we start receiving significant income, so he encouraged us to be frugal.   

Long Range Planning (Bo French)
Anna mentioned that since we moved the opera class out of Cadbury, Cadbury has upgrading their sound system.

Anna reported that we had 633 unduplicated members for the fall 2013 and spring 2014 semesters.  We had 617 unduplicated members for the fall 2012, spring 2013 and June 2013 terms.

Academic Affairs (Donna Beecher and Carol West)
Anna reported that we already have 19 courses for the summer session, eight other instructors who are willing to teach but have not yet submitted course proposals, and a few others who taught last year who have not yet indicated their intentions. Carol and Anna will meet this week to see whom to encourage.

At the instructor orientation meeting on January 24, one instructor suggested that the special thanks to instructors of guaranteeing that they are admitted to their first-priority course should be enhanced.  Anna pointed out that most members already are admitted to their first priority except for a couple of very popular but space-limited courses.  After a lively discussion about priorities, no action was taken.

Bob Comeau suggested that we should try to avoid scheduling courses at conflicting times if their content is similar and they are likely to attract the same students.  He also suggested care in scheduling courses whose instructors tend to enter early into the preceding class or continue late into the time slot for the next class.  

Anna reported the timeline for the summer session:  Registration on-line will begin April 3, catalogues will be mailed April 15, priority registration will close May 15, and she will run the lottery sometime between May 15 and 20.  She will run an instructor orientation (without a new-member social) on May 29, and classes will begin June 2.

The fall timeline is a challenge because the building will be closed by the School District on November 4 for Election Day and on November 11 for Veterans Day.   It was decided that the picnic would be on Monday Oct 13, when we will also not hold classes.  So Bernie suggested that the instructor orientation and new-member social be on August 28.  Then the first day of classes will be September 2 and the semester will end on November 18.

New Business:
For information only:   Jim Broomall reported that Osher in Wilmington  has launched a 1.5m fundraising campaign, seeking  annual giving and a capital campaign for gifts of $25k and above.  The campaign, which will run until 2017, is driven in part by repair and maintenance cost of Arsht Hall, which is rented from U.D. 

Next meeting:  
The next Council meeting was scheduled for March 25, 2014, at 12:15 p.m. or as soon thereafter as we have a quorum.  Bob will invite nominees for Council positions to attend for their information, since they will presumably be elected; there have been no nominees from the floor.

The meeting  was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Rob Morgan, Secretary