BOARD MEETING MINUTES
November 21, 2024
Meeting called to order and quorum established 6:59 pm. Board members present: Mark Alexander, Melissa Bourbon-Ramirez, Diane Decker, Diane Kelly, William McLean, Wendy Scott, Meg Stouffer (virtually), Tess Tessier and Shannon Turlington Also in Attendance: Nancy Crews, Branch Manager, and Jody Smith, Assistant Library Director Diane Decker also introduced Laura Sumrell who attended the meeting as a potential Board member. Absent: Grace Johnston Minutes of October 17, 2024 approved
TREASURER'S REPORT
Our total bank balance is $36,989.71. Since the last meeting we have received $398.85 from the ongoing book sale, $250.00 in donations, $155.00 in memberships, $130.72 from Ed McKay’s (book sale), $81.26 in interest, and $8.62 from online shirt sales. Cash out includes $500.00 for Eryk Pruitt’s honorarium (author event), $364.06 to Purple Crow (Giving Tree purchases), $350.00 for the handyman who installed the book walk installation, $64.02 to Cup A Joe’s for gift card purchases, $25.00 for a membership refund, and $4.19 in fees.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
We have 156 active members. Since last meeting, we have received nine gifts totaling $560.
LIBRARY REPORT
Planned events include Stiches and Stories (crafts and tea with a showing of the film Little Women) on November 30 at 1:00 pm, Sew Together on December 8 at 1:00 pm, a Wrap Party (library will provide wrapping paper and hot chocolate) on December 15 at 3:30 and a Winter Movie and Waffles event for teens on December 20 at 5:30. The library will also conduct programs for kids from K2 through teens on December 21 at 5:00 pm to create lanterns for the solstice lantern walk
BUSINESS
Diane Kelly reported on the write-in event and horror panel. There were only 2 participants in the write-in event, possibly because of not connecting with NaNoWriMo. There was a discussion of the controversy going on in that organization. $150.00 was approved for coffee and pastries. The horror panel went very well. $200.00 was approved as an honorarium offer for a possible program on videogame writing. Alexis Vreeland, the coordinator of teen programs, will be the library contact.
The book trail is now installed at Efland Cheek Park. There was a brief discussion about the possibility of removing the plexi over the panels, because the panels are treated, and moisture under the plexi may hamper visibility. The groundbreaking will take place after the panel naming the sponsors is complete and installed. We purchased 16 books for the Giving Tree at a cost of $364.00. We received an email request to sponsor an online reading by North Carolina Mountain poets as a fundraiser for Western North Carolina. Diane Kelly will follow up and gather additional information. Diane Decker raised the issue of problems caused by a large book donation being dropped off at the library and dumped in the hallway. Several board members offered to be on call to help if this happens again. Meeting adjourned 7:46 pm
