Statewide Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware 
Frederick Thomas Building
Lewes, DE
Joint Council Minutes

January 19, 2017

In attendance:  From Wilmington:  Carol Bernard, Joan Miller, Myriam Medinilla; from  Lewes/Ocean View:  Bill Sharkey, Kathy Henn, Phil Fretz, Anna Moshier, Dolores Fiegel, Joan Sciorra, John Lafferty, Carol West, Bud Zimmerman, Sabatino Maglione,  Mary Folan, Peter Feeney, Connie Benko,  Bob Comeau, Ruth Barnett, Bill Ashmore;  from Dover:  Ronnie Grady, Betsy Patterson, Betty Ipnar, Diana Faison, Lissa Scott, Madelyn Wright, Paula Wood, Phyllis Handler, Rosemary Engle and Tim Plimpton.

Bill Sharkey called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. 

Introductions were made.

Agenda:  The presented agenda for the January 19th Statewide OLLI Council Meeting was      
 	    approved. 

Minutes:  

The Minutes from the Lewes Council Meeting of November 21st were approved noting that Bud Zimmerman wished to adjust his Academic Affairs report to indicate that the planned pickle ball activity had not been confirmed.  The Minutes were approved. 

The Minutes for the Dover Council Meeting of December 5, 2016 were approved.

Staff Report:  Carol Bernard, Tim Plimpton and Anna Moshier

Carol:  Reported a wonderful Statewide Staff Meeting with Staff members from all four locations attending.  Marketing was focused on the “OLLI” brand name.  Advertisements were placed in the Middletown Theater in Dover.  At the Wilmington location 83% of members signed up for courses and 100% got the selections they chose with 260 courses offered. The impressive display case made by Lewes for their City Hall had inspired Wilmington to provide a display case for the Greater Wilmington Visitor’s Bureau.  With five months remaining on the Capital Campaign only $4,000 are necessary to reach goal.    

Tim:  Current Spring enrollment in Dover was at 74 with a hoped for 95.  The first summer program of four weeks is scheduled for June.  An instructor orientation is planned.  Tim announced he will be moving to an administration leave on February 6th as he transitions from the post to devote more time to his music business.  Carol Bernard thanked Tim for his work, especially his work on the new Dover facility.  She indicated that she, Diana and Paula, along with Anna Moshier will aid in the Dover transition.

Anna:  Two reminders:  
1. A written policy for the annual New York City trip is needed and is scheduled to be finalized by April.

 2.  Questions for the planned Survey are due to the office by February 1st.

Painting is scheduled for the Lewes offices of Anna and Renee.   

There were 83 courses on offer this spring with 551 members enrolled.  Last spring the enrollment was 455 and the last fall enrollment was 570.  We hope to find organizations to partner with in the future.

Committee Reports

Wilmington:

	Joan Miller (Vice-Chair) reported building renovations for the summer would require the facility to close one week early, making it a 12 week semester.  The fall term would begin one week late as well. Courses for the summer would be held at the DuPont High School.  264 courses are on offer for 2400 students.

	Public Relations:  Myriam Medinilla brings catalogs to 55+ communities in New Castle county.  Weekly electronic news is provided as well.

Dover:

	Ronnie Grady reported a course development survey to assess member interest and seek ways to expand their curriculum has been prepared.  Tim had suggested Musical Mondays with a plan to form small ensembles.  Two names were suggested for a possible choral director.    

	Member Relations:  Betty Ipnar reported duties on the Spring Open House were completed and the hospitality for first day of classes is on schedule.  Two new members have joined the committee.  She made 120 phone calls reminding members of registration which is still an on-going process. 

	Community Relations:  Betsy Paterson reported they are seeking new members, and have a special need for a technical person with computer knowledge.  With survey help they can organize to expand their outreach to communities with 55+ residents.  They give talks introducing OLLI at such communities. 

	Travel:  Madelyn Wright announced a trip to New York City for April 1, 2017.  The trip will visit highlight sites of the city.  Priority is given to students enrolled in the New York City class.  On April 7th a trip to Gettysburg is planned.

	Special Events:  Rosemary Engle indicated they were looking for a restaurant to hold the planned April 11th luncheon.  They were also seeking a speaker.  

	Diversity and Inclusion:  Lissa Scott is the new head of this committee.  Carol Bernard indicated that viewing the movie Hidden Figures presently at theaters will count towards members’ diversity training.  Additionally the author, Margo Lee Shetterly, will be a speaker in March at the University of Delaware. 

	Faculty Relations:  Phyllis Handler will replace Kevin McGrath and return to Council.

	Scholarship:  Betsy Patterson:  Two scholarship requests have been granted.  Anna Moshier and Betsy Patterson will be attending the National Convention in Irving Texas in early April.

Lewes:

	Social Committee:  Connie Benko reported that there would be an Orientation next Thursday.  

Community Relations:  Dolores Fiegel

Bill Sharkey praised the committee for the wonderful display at Lewes Town Hall.  Dolores indicated that they could leave the display up until the end of January. 
	
A meeting was held with the committee on January 17th to work out the summer and fall display schedule.  There are 4 members working with Dolores on the committee. 

Library:  Ruth Barnett indicated the library had an on-line catalog available.

Long Range Planning:  Pete Feeney reported that there would be another meeting with the RAL to share some art classes.  The classes are targeted for June or September of 2017. Scheduling might be for day or evening classes and for Fridays.  There are outstanding problems with the fees to be charged for RAL members and advertising is still to be finalized.  The potential for future mutual interest art courses will be explored. 
The Chamber of Commerce is a possible future partner with a painting class.  Anna agreed to check if we have membership with them or could acquire one.

Scholarship:  Sabatino Maglione reported five scholarships were offered for the spring term.

	Financial*:  Phil Fretz reported that revenues continue to remain above budget and expenses are currently below budget.

Academic Affairs: Bud Zimmerman reported that the Pickle Ball for next summer is not confirmed.  The goal is to set up an opportunity for OLLI with First State Pickle Ball, LLC.   The Spring Instructors Breakfast is scheduled for May 11th.  Bud would be attending an Ocean View Historical Society meeting with their Board today.  New Instructors have been proposed for the summer session.  Jim O’Leary is to teach an astronomy course featuring the solar eclipse of next August.  And Denise Levinten, a retired principal from Annapolis, will discuss instructor courses in the Spring 2017 term. Jane McGann could not be present but sent her suggestion that we pursue the use of the library conference room for short classes.  She suggested interesting Delmarva Life TV in featuring us on their program.  
 
Communications:  No report.

Travel:  Joan Sciorra and Mary Folan
Joan Sciorra:  A trip to see Elephant Man at the Delaware REP is planned for March 18.  On April 30 and May 7 there will be trips to the Delaware Opera. The New York City trip for May 2-5 is filled. At present there is a long waiting time to visit the new African American Museum in Washington but it is still being pursued.  Mary Folan announced that all members of OLLI were invited to participate in the Lewes trips.

Nominating Committee:  Phil Fretz.  Three positions will be available on the Lewes/Ocean View Council Term that begins next May.  Two current members have agreed to remain for a second term and one new candidate has volunteered to serve.

Old Business: 

	Dover:  Ronnie Grady:  
Approval of the proposed Survey with a replacement of Tim Plimpton’s name with that of Diana Faison was requested.
	Motion to approve:  Madelyn Wright
	Second:  Phyllis Handler
				Passed unanimously 

Lewes/Ocean View:  Bill Sharkey:
The Spring 2017 Instructors’ Breakfast is scheduled for May 11th, 9 a.m., at Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach.
A Strategic Plan is in preparation with guidance from Wilmington and will come to Council at the next meeting. 

Lewes/Ocean View:  Dolores Fiegel:
Displays showcasing the Spring Semester were mounted in 4 libraries (Lewes, Milton, Rehoboth Beach, and South Coastal) and for the first time at Lewes City Hall (extended to the end of January).  
315 spring catalogs were distributed among 9 libraries and the Lewes City Hall.  Lewes Library continues to run out of catalogs and replacement has become unsustainable from a fiscal viewpoint.  The new marketing flyer may be the solution. The chairperson of the Lewes Historical Society’s annual Christmas House Tour complimented our timely response in providing them with 12 docent volunteers. Our volunteers’ competence was also praised.   

Luncheon was served.

New Business:

	Dover/Lewes/Ocean View:  Anna Moshier indicated a need for a common calendar for the Dover/Lewes/Ocean View branches for 2018 Program Calendar.  Tim Plimpton said the calendars could be made compatible by starting both locations semester around the third week in January.

Motion:  To have the same program calendar for Lewes/Ocean View and Dover beginning in January 2018:  Sabatino Maglione
Second: Lissa Scott.
			Passed unanimously

Dover:  Ronnie Grady:  Three persons are willing to serve on the next Dover Council but a Nominating Committee team leader needs to be appointed.   Rosemary Engle agreed to accept the appointment.

Lewes/Ocean View:  Dolores Fiegel:  Display space has been reserved for the Summer Semester at Milton and Rehoboth Beach Libraries from April 24 to May 8 and at Lewes City Hall from April 24 to May 31.  Display space has been reserved for the Fall Semester at South Coastal Library for the entire month of August. Coastal Concerts Musical Perspective program will be held Friday, February 10, at 7 p.m. in collaboration with OLLI and Sussex Academy in Georgetown. 2 volunteers will set up an OLLI display, greet guests and provide handouts.  Possibly we could partner with the University of Delaware in our planned participation in the Coast Day on a yet to be confirmed fall date. We will need volunteers for 3 shifts.  A new marketing handout flyer has been proposed to be more cost effective as an advertising tool than the catalog.  Phil Fretz organized listing courses by category.  
	A draft copy was displayed and much admired.  200 copies of the proposed full color flyer with dated material would be printed.  Under the strategic plan for the next meeting the Community Relations committee wishes to seek new places to offer their advertising material, such as Realtors offices and community club houses.   

Next Meeting Dover:

	The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 13th at 10 a.m.

Next Meeting Lewes:

	The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 20th at 10:30 a.m.

Next Joint Council Meeting:

	The next Joint Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 15th at 10:30.  It will be hosted by Dover and lunch will be served.

Adjournment:  

Motion: Sabatino Maglione made a motion to adjourn.
Second:  Phil Fretz
				Passed unanimously   

Adjournment:  12:50 p.m.

									Kathy Henn
									Secretary

*Report on File