River Falls
First Responders, Inc.
Board of
Directors Meeting Agenda
Friday,
November 05, 2004 – 06:00pm
River Falls
Pizza Hut
Randy
B called the meeting to order at 0615pm.
1)
Roll Call
Members Present:
Kelly Ebben, Mary Waters, Tim Schreiner, Amy Schreiner, Wes Halverson,
Jeff Rixmann, Randy Beadles, and Joseph Raehsler.
Members Excused: Julie Powell
Members Unexcused:
2) Our Annual Budget
Randy B handed out past budgets so the board was
able to compare past budgets. The board discussed several prospective
numbers for equipment upkeep as well as additional equipment for members and
the possibility of hiring new responders.
Discussion was extensive but the budget was decided on.
3) Annual Funding Requirements
The board decided that we have enough equipment
sitting on shelves to hire twelve addition members. The additional funding would be use to
purchase radios and pagers for the new members.
Most felt the golf tournament would cover these cost.
4) Our Investment Fund
Randy B stated that we have two options; Put the
money in an investment fund or put the money in an account where it is readily
available. The board chose the later.
5) Desired Number of Members
Jeff R stated that the original intent was to have
ten responders from each township. The
board felt that the ideal number of responders would be forty. Randy stated we need to do our best to reach
that number by the end of 2005. Our
recent solicitations for new members, at the town halls and in the Journal,
have provided the board with a respectable list of interested candidates.
6) Redesigned Organizational
Chart
Randy B led the discussion. The basic change would be the elimination of
Past President and the addition of committees to manage finance, membership,
and equipment.
7) Purpose and Structure of
Committees
Many gave input concerning the move towards
committees. Randy B stated that a
committee would be made up of a chairperson and, at least, two additional
members. That would be a minimum, the
more members that were on a committee the better each committee could be. Joe R stated that he would send out a list of
those interested to sit on each committee to start with. Randy B stated that each committee would be
empowered to make decisions and attend a business/board meeting and make a
presentation as to what they are proposing.
Then the board/business membership would be allowed to approve or sent
the committee back to come up with another option. It is more of checks and balances for the
organization, so more people are informed as to what is going on.
8) Additional By-Laws and
SOG’s Needed
Randy B stated that there are a few holes in our
bylaws and SOGs. Topics such as
resignations, terminations, leave of absence, discipline, and sexual
harassment. Randy reported that most
will be designed along the RFAAS’s. Most
were in agreement with the concept.
9) Member Recognition Program
The board unanimously decided to scrap the current
program and look into an alternative.
Wes suggested going to a pin if a member reaches a certain number of years
of service. Randy B asked that the
membership committee look into a new idea for this program.
10)
Dave Johnson
Randy B reported Dave is still creating havoc for
the organization and explained quickly as to what Dave is doing now. Randy stated that the board should look at
some sort of legal action to put this issue to rest. Joe R stated that we will have to wait until
the first of the year to set something up with our attorney, the investment
bylaw has swallowed most of this year’s probono from Gwen. Randy reported that the town of
11)
The Nygaards Situation
Randy B asked what is up concerning the Nygaards. Kelly E and Tim S reported that they have the
equipment from both Val and Steve Nygaard and both have resigned. Steve will be submitting a letter of
resignation just to make it all legal. Kelly stated that she and Tim could sign a
letter to stating to this fact. Tim also
reported that Davey has resigned and he and Kelly will be picking up Davey’s
equipment.
12)
Change in Registered Agent
for State Dept. of Corporation
Randy B reported that Joe Covelli is still listed as
the agent for RFFRs. Randy stated that
due to the president changing each year that the board should look at making
Jeff Rixmann the organizations agent.
Board agreed.
13)
New Prospective Members
Mary W reported that she has two names; Kelly E
reported that she had one name and Randy B reported that he had two names of
individuals interested in joining the organization. The board talked about planning an
information meeting to bring these individuals in, along with some more, and
see where we are with the possibility of hiring new members.
14)
Discipline Procedures for
Not Meeting Requirements of the Organization
Wes stated that he had a couple of members that are
short but Wes felt that only one member would have a tough time meeting the
training requirements. Marty W stated
that she would contact this individual and see where they stand or if anything
has changed. Wes would be sending this
individual out an official letter stating their shortage of training for the
year and offer options as to how to get this taken care of. The discipline procedure portion was tabled
for now.
15)
Open Discussion
Jeff R brought up a couple of FR call that is being
revisited due to legal action. Jeff
asked that the organization look into a run report that can be filled out in a
very short period of time. Joe R stated
that he would look into designing a report for the group.
Jeff R stated that he would like to see this
organization move forward and stop all this bickering. Jeff hoped that this meeting and the results
from the meeting will bring calmness back to the group and the organization
gets back to focusing on patient care, the board agreed unanimously.
Randy B asked that the board answer most questions
that appeared on Cindy C handout from the October business meeting. The board discussed each question thoroughly.
Kelly E stated she would like to see equipment dispersement
handled by the equipment officer/committee or town captain. Randy agreed and added that once we get past
all these issues behind us we will be able to assess what is best for our
patients and where equipment is best needed.
Wes stressed RFFRs involvement in the two
extrication training dates, November 7 and 17, fire will be assisting with the
MVA extrication. Wes also asked for
ideas with training for RFFRs.
Discussion took off, many options were voiced. Jeff R agreed to look into using the third
Wednesday training as solely RFFR training night.
Tim S stated that he received another invoice for
our more vest. The board decided to look
into assessing our needs with our desire to get to forty members and the
equipment we need to achieve that goal.
Then, when more equipment comes in that is not needed the board would
like to have that merchandise sent back to vendor. Tim stated that he would contact Ken S and
see where he is at and if anything has changed with his plan to come back.
Joe R asked about Joe C’s suggestion for charging
Kathy B for her reimbursement that the organization covered for her for the KidSafe
checker. The board chose to not go that
route and denied Joe C’s suggestion.
Randy B summarized all proceedings and asked for a
motion to approve any or all proceedings.
Kelly E made a motion to approve the outline of the
budget; approve 40 members to be our official roster number; not approve the
bylaw change for the investment fund: approve the concept to move to committees
to govern our organization; approve to allow the organization to copy some
RFAAS bylaws/SOGs, for terminology and legality reasons, to help fill some hole
in our own bylaws/SOGs; scrap the current recognition program; approved the use
of the attorney, come the first of the year, to look into legal proceedings for
the Dave J; approve Jeff R as the new agent for the organization; approve the
answers to Cindy C handout; approve the denial of Joe C request for reimbursement
from Kathy B; approved the concept to allow the equipment officer/committee to
decide what equipment bought or denies an invoice; and approves the concept
that the organization move to focusing on patient care not money matters, Mary
W second the motions. Discuss was sparse. Vote taken, motion approved unanimously.
16)Adjournment
Kelly E made a motion to adjourn, Mary W second the
motion. Vote taken, motion approved
unanimously. Randy B adjourned the
meeting at 0925pm.