General Membership Quarterly Meeting
Oct. 4, 2014 – 3:20 p.m.
Hodges University – Ft. Myers
Submitted for approval by FSFAPA Secretary Charles Parker.
Meeting started as the final agenda item on the Quarterly Mini Conference with Trudy Petkovich (President), Harriett Wynn (Exec VP, President-elect), Maria Bond (Treasurer) and Charles Parker (Secretary), Chris Johnson (RVP), Kara Elliot-Jordan (RVP), Victoria Herrin (Band Manager). Coleen LaCosta (FAST Coordinator), Wendy Vernon (Advocacy), Lynda Thompson (Parliamentarian/Bylaws/Conference Chair), Lillie Blackshear (RVP), Dorothy Alvarez (RVP), Keith Best (RVP), Trish Allen (Adoptions), Harry Dubia (Membership), LaShaun Wallace (Duffels), David Brown (CBC Advisor), Gay Frizzell (QPI Advisor) and Carrie Toy (DCF Advisor). Not in attendance Amanda Williams (NexGen Teens) was with Nex Gen Teens at hotel, Director of Programs and Nominations Chair Orlando Avila was excused for family reasons.
The meeting was attended by approximately 158 mini conference attendees. (The mini conference served more than 400 people when Teens and Child Care are counted.)
The minutes for the previous Qaurterly Meeting were not filed by previous secretary who later resigned for health and family reasons.
Trudy started off the meeting with the introduction of Board (listed above.)
Trudy then introduced the updated FSFSAPA website (FloridaFAPA.org).
EVENTS: Trudy outlined the upcoming FSFAPA Events:
- Rally In Tally Child Welfare awareness events at the Florida Legislature – Feb. 3-4 2015
- Winter Quarterly meeting Feb. 14, 2015 in Fernandina Beach
- Awareness Day/Children’s Week (Legislative session, Tallahassee – April 12-17, 2015)
- FSFAPA Annual Education Conferences (2015 conference, June 19-21, Orlando Hilton)
DUFFELS: Trudy outlined the Duffels program and how it is funded, and explained why the distribution is specific to children in Foster Care (not adopted, kinship, relative care, or biological).
MEMBERSHIP: Trudy outlined membership benefits and explained that anyone signing up today would get the remainder of 2014 and all of 2015 calendar year. Membership information page was displayed on the screen while she discussed this.
NEX GEN BAND: A brief history of the NexGen Band was given, having started as a result of an idea that grew out of a teen talent show at the end of the 2013 FSFAPA Annual Education Conference at the Orlando Hilton. The band has now performed at the 2015 Children’s Week at the Florida Capital, 2015 National Foster Parent Association Conference, the DCF Summit and will perform at the upcoming National Faith Symposium. The group is not only developing the first group, but also a second generation of the group for longevity.
FAST: Coleen gave an overview of the FAST program and updates.
ELECTIONS: Per the association Bylaws, October is the month for the elections, however Charlie (standing in for Nominations Chair Orlando Avila) updated the membership that the nominations closed at the June Membership Meeting with all positions up for election facing no opposition. As such the slate below will assumes (or continues) their positions on January 1, 2015 through ascension/acclamation – negating the need for contested elections at this meeting.
- Harriet assumes the presidency
- Maria continues as treasurer
- Lillie, Kara and Dorothy continue in their respective RVP roles
The 50/50 was won by Ronnie Kiser of Ft. Myers for $234 (the other 50% was split by SWFL-FAPA and FSFAPA.)
At 3:49 the motion was made to adjourn (Motion my Lori Dubia, seconded by many; no opposition.)
