Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Lewes
Council Minutes
Frederick Thomas Building
March 23, 2015

In attendance were: Council members Bill Sharkey (chair), Bob Comeau (chair emeritus), Jack Boettger (joining at 12:35), Dolores Fiegel, Lynn Kroesen, Carol West, and Rob Morgan; librarian and archivist Ruth Barnett; committee chairs Bernie Fiegel and Joan Sciorra; program coordinator Anna Moshier; Ed Chamberlain, instructional support for Lewes; and University representative Linda Osoinach.  

Chair:

Chair Bill Sharkey called the meeting to order at 12:20 p.m.

The agenda as amended was approved.

The February minutes, as amended, were approved.

Staff:
Anna Moshier reported that Linda Osoinach brought Soma, the director of Continuing Education in the department of Professional Continuing Studies at the University of Delaware from Kansas down for a nice visit.  

University:

Committee reports (*indicates report on file)

Communications (Kroesen):  Lynn noted that the deadline for submissions to the Tides will be April 25th, and she encouraged earlier submissions

Travel (Folan/Sciorra):  Joan reported that the 136 people will take the trip to New York City in three coaches and that the trip to see “Juno and the Paycock” was also a success.

The next trip will be on April 23rd; an option to have dinner there will not be offered.

Social (B. Fiegel/Sciorra):  Bernie suggested another e-blast to encourage registrants for the spring luncheon; Lynn offered to send one today.

Community Relations (D. Fiegel):  Dolores reported that she has established a Community Relations Committee including Mary Costello, Stephanie Scales from Milton, and Bud Zimmerman from Millville.  The idea is to cover the libraries as well as possible.  The committee will meet for the first time on April 1.  

The Lewes Library display space is booked through October, but reservations have been made at the Milton and Millville libraries to advertise the summer session and at Ocean View for the fall.   The Lewes Library has been booked for a two-week display in December advertising the spring 2016 session.

Dolores mentioned that OLLI had been invited, through Rob Morgan, to participate in a Volunteer Fair, with a tentative date of April 24th; Dolores will follow up.  (The Volunteer Fair has now been set for May 1st.)

Library/Archive (Barnett):  Ruth thanked Ed for helping her put the catalogue in the cloud, but noted that the online version doesn’t seem to match the shelf list, so she needs to research the discrepancies.

Academic Affairs (Folan/West):  Carol noted that the summer session will offer 36 classes.  We can’t use the gym at the Frederick Thomas Building any more so a pilates class will be held off-site.  The catalogue will be mailed on April 10th, Anna noting that weather delayed us.

(Jack Boettger joined the meeting at 12:35 p.m.)

Finance * (Boettger):   Jack drew attention to his financial report and noted that we are still in black.  He projects that by the end of the year we might be down to a surplus of $3-5k as opposed to $6k projected.  He suggested a rate increase from $130 to $145 for single-semester tuition, although there is no assurance that budgeted increases in enrollment will eventuate, especially with an increase in tuition.  A general discussion of the extent to which an increase in tuition would cause a decrease in enrollment, or perhaps an increase in full-year enrollment.  Total single-semester enrollment was 268 & 205 for the fall and spring semesters, respectively.

Jack moved to raise the single-semester rate from $130 to $145 starting in September.  Bob seconded the motion.  After further discussion, including the purpose of the motion being to avoid a budget shortfall and the consequent need to borrow from the endowment, the motion passed unanimously.

Facilities Task Force (Comeau):  Bob noted that although he didn’t attend the last School Board meeting, he believes that the Task Force’s recommendations included: two new schools and renovating the historic Milton school, building a new school in Rehoboth Beach while saving the historic façade; keeping the historic portion of the Lewes School while tearing off the unattractive wing, turning that into Shields Elementary; and buying a parcel with State funding for a new Consortium building; tearing down the old Shields, Rehoboth Beach, and H.O. Brittingham buildings.  

School Board Chair Brittingham is still wedded to the idea of a monster school in Milton to solve the problem of racial balance, although the Task Force rejected that idea, and the new elementary school being built across from Beacon Middle School will require redistricting, and that will achieve the desired racial balance, and in addition it may save money to replicate the design of same-sized schools.  It is unclear, nevertheless, whether the Board will be debating the super-school issue long past July, which is the deadline for submissions to the State.

Old Business:
Nominating Committee position description:  Bill had asked Council members, especially those with experience on the Nominating Committee, to comment on a position description for the next meeting.  Bob has created one for the Committee Chair, including a timeline, drawing from the Council’s bylaws and from his own experience.  

Rehoboth Art League Cottage tour:  We have been assigned a large house in Henlopen Acres, and a meeting has been scheduled for April 7th with Libby Zando (who is in charge of the tour).  The owners of our assigned house are part-time residents but will be available for the meeting.  Bill would like someone new, though Carmela Coleman says she and John would be glad to do it again if all else fails.   She has ideas for who might succeed, so Bill asked her for an email.  She also knows people as a teacher at Rehoboth Art League.

The instructor orientation for the June session is tentatively scheduled for May 28th. 

New Business:
Anna asked approval to spend $113.00 to renew our membership in the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce; she thinks it is a good value.
Lynn moved to approve and after a second the motion passed without objection.

Annual report.  Anna got a nice model at the conference she attended.  Our bylaws require an annual status report.  Bill spoke in favor of issuing a report separate from  The Tides, as more easily archived.  Bob also spoke in favor of such a report as a good tool for grant applications.  Bill asked that committee reports for April speak to what happened during the year, as input into the status report that will still be in The Tides this year.

Fall semester 2015 course proposals will be requested 4/13 and will be due 5/11.

Next meeting:  April 21, 2015, at 1:15 p.m. in the Frederick Thomas Building.

The meeting was adjourned 1:17 p.m.

Rob Morgan, Secretary