Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Lewes
Council Minutes
Frederick Thomas Building
March 22, 2016

In attendance were: Council members Bob Comeau (chair emeritus), Peter Feeney, Dolores Fiegel (from 12:21 p.m.), Philip Fretz, Lynn Kroesen (from 12:10 p.m.), Rob Morgan; Bill Sharkey (chair), librarian and archivist Ruth Barnett; committee chairs Bernie Fiegel (from 12:28 p.m.) and Joan Sciorra; program coordinator Anna Moshier; Bill Ashmore, instructional support for Ocean View; and University of Delaware representative Soma Chakrabarti, director, Continuing Studies.

 Bill called the meeting to order at 12:01 p.m.  The absence of a quorum was noted.

Dr. Soma Chakrabarti was introduced and those attending introduced themselves.  Soma spoke of her great respect for what Osher offers.

Lynn joined the meeting at 12:10, creating a quorum.

Staff:
Anna outlined the tentative fall timeline.  

Our invitation through the Delaware Division of the Arts to the State poets laureate, 45-year-old twin brothers, has been accepted, so we are hosting an event for them to speak at Sussex Academy in Georgetown on education, diversity, and their life stories on Saturday April 23rd from 1:00 to 2:30 with light refreshments and a Q&A afterwards. 

A quorum now being present, the minutes of the meeting on February 25th, as amended, and the agenda were approved.

The Institute’s offices will be closed on April 7th for Renée and Anna to attend professional development in Dover.

Committee reports (*indicates report on file)

Library:  (Ruth Barnett)  
Ruth noted that she has a problem about calling people about overdue books, and wondered what fines applied.   Bill suggested that we not impose fines but rather appeal to the borrowers’ honor.  

Long Range Planning (Peter Feeney)  
Peter presented graphs based on data compiled by Anna showing the growth of the number of paid students – we’re at 720 who have paid for any semester (not counting twice those who pay for more than one semester) and have added over 200 new members in each of the last two years although of course we have also lost some who have moved away, etc.

Financial (Philip Fretz)
Phil discussed the revenue numbers and the projected shortfall.

Academic Affairs (Mary Folan/Carol West)
Anna reported that there were 43 courses for the June session.  Catalogues will be out in a couple of weeks; online registration will open this Friday.

Communication (Lynn Kroesen)
Lynn reminded us that the next Tides deadline is April 18th, a few days after the Mix and Mingle luncheon.  She encouraged early submissions.  (see also Old Business, below.)

Lynn, Bill, and Anna will count the ballots for the new Council members on April 6th.

Travel  (Mary Folan/Joan Sciorra)
Joan reported that the trip to the Library of Congress very successful.   The docent was welcoming and the reception our group received was wonderful.

The Falstaff and Hamlet trips are both on.  The New York trip has had merely one cancellation; 55 are on the waiting list.

Joan would like to plan a trip to the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC, in June.

Community Relations (Dolores Fiegel)
Dolores reported that catalogues will be distributed to two libraries, and there will also be special events at which catalogues will be distributed.  The Lewes Library will be closed in May and Dolores solicited ideas on how to replace that distribution point; Ruth offered a couple of ideas; Dolores and Anna will put their heads together on this question.

Dolores has turned over to Renée a list of people who wanted to be added to our mailing list from the South Coastal area.

Bud is working with Jo-Ann Vega to do a 3-part Taste of Osher series about the electoral college at the South Coastal Library.

Social & Catalogues (Bernie Fiegel/Joan Sciorra)
The Mix and Mingle luncheon is getting set up; many people are registering online.

The catalogues for June are coming out soon.

Old Business:
At Anna’s suggestion, which the Council had solicited at its February meeting, the old camcorder will be given to Sussex Academy.

Annual reports from the committees are required by Bylaws.  Bill asked each committee to contribute an article to Tides in the form of an annual report.  Bill will do the same on behalf of the Council.  April 18th is the deadline; please send the reports to Lynn with copies to Bill and Anna.

New Business:
Anna noted that we used the Ocean View facility two extra days, for which we owe the town $75/day.  The Council approved the expenditure of $150 to pay the Town of Ocean View.

Next meeting:  10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 20th.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:42.

Rob Morgan, Secretary