Minutes of the 2020 Summer Virtual Board Meeting

Saturday, June 13, 2020.

Meeting called to order at 8:03 am, Pacific Time by President Lisa Parady

Present: Lisa Parady, James Harvey, Ruben Alejandro, David Berliner, Martin Brooks, Martha Bruckner, Virginia Cardenas, Beth Houf, Bill Mathis, Kevin Riley, and Jack McKay

Guest: Patricia Trejo

Artemis: Christy Johnson, Jessica Oman, Ben Early, Mark Carlsen

The feedback on our work is essential to moving forward towards a sustainable model for the League. We are going to dedicate this week to look into membership management software & membership tactics in other organizations across the spectrum of education and beyond.

Hypothesis so far (6/15/2020):

We believe that the Horace Mann League has an honorable legacy that should be carried on for the betterment of public education. While the league currently experiences sizable financial setbacks, these limitations can be eliminated with the right steps going forward.

Questions for you:

• Management Software: Our three leading contenders for the needs of HML are Personify, Patreon & Qgiv. Do you have any familiarity with these options or have any other systems you are familiar with that you want us to look into?

Progress from last week:

• Board Meeting
  • Great opportunity to get feedback from the board
  • Presented our findings and the recommendations that we will pursue
• Financials
  • Took a close look at the financials & determined some areas for consideration moving forward.
    • Corporate donations
    • Postage & printing
    • Time spent on Database management

Priorities this week:

• Database management software
  • Finding an inexpensive system to manage member emails & collect dues.
  • Compare usability across software
  • Consider costs associated with each system & the benefits over manual management.
• Follow up 1:1s
  • Scheduling 1:1 calls with board members for this week & into the next couple weeks to give space for individual discussion and feedback.

We are confident that there are measures that the Horace Mann League can take to preserve its historic prowess through a financially stable structure.

Minutes: Winter and Annual Meeting, February 15-16, 2020, San Diego

Motion by Ruben Alejandro, second by James Harvey to approve the 2020 Winter Board and 2020 Annual meeting.  Passed

Strategic Planning Workshop, led by Christy Johnson, President of Artemis Connections.

Highlights:

1. Mission and Vision: Tabled to await the outcome of the strategic planning process.

2. Horace Mann League Anniversary Book – David Berliner. To date, twelve chapters have already been submitted.  Berliner is the lead editor.  To be published in 2022. On schedule.  Chapters are 8 to 25 pages.  Not necessarily research-based – more essay style, beliefs, opinions, the essence of public schools.

3. Corporate Partnerships – Jack McKay. Reviewed past and present corporate partners.  Current partners are K-12 Insight, School Impact Consulting, School Leadership LLC, and Artemis Consulting.

4. Horace Mann Director’s Handbook – Jack McKay. Handbook updated to include officers, directors, legal documents, history, etc.

5. Communications and Engagement – Jack McKay. Reviewed current activities that include the HML Post, the HML Website, the HML Blog, The HML Twitter page, and the HML Flip Flipboard magazine.

6. The HML – NSR Infograph – James Harvey reviewed the design and printing cost implications.

7. Collaboration with AASA – Lisa Parady reported on conversations with the Executive leadership about working together to promote and schedule luncheons.

8. 2020 Financial Report – Jack McKay reported that Revenues were on schedule, but some concern about projected membership dues. Expenditures were, year-to-date at 42% of anticipated expenditures for the 2020 fiscal year.

Horace Mann League Membership Report – Jack McKay

The state membership:

9. Horace Mann League Recruitment Brochure – Jack McKay

Briefly reviewed with a suggestion to display the diversity of the board and membership.

10. Horace Mann League Recruitment and New Member packet – Jack McKay

The contents of packets were reviewed.

Action Items

1. Executive Director Transition – Lisa Parady.  Place on hold pending the results of the strategic planning process.  No action.
2. Dues Structure – Ruben Alejandro.
   125. Motion by Ruben Alejandro, second by James Harvey to set the following dues structure for “Regular Annual Membership” be $125.00; and
        Annual “Retired and Graduate Student” be $75.00. Passed
   126. Motion by Martha Bruckner, second by James Harvey to set the “Life-Time” membership at $1,000. Passed
3. Corporate Partnerships – Lisa Parady. Renewed recommendation that each officer and director identify one lead person that represents a possible corporate partner.  Through the lead person, the officer or director explains the possible partnership options.  The Executive Director will then follow-up with the corporate representative to set up the agreement.  Suggested corporate partners: Aramark, School Innovation and Achievement, DBC Publishing, Corwin Publishing, Routledge, Lifetouch Photos, Edgenuity, Scholastic and Curriculum Advantage.

A sub-committee on Corporate Partnerships to formed to deal with corporate partners (Kevin Riley, Bill Mathis, and all officers) Recommendations to be sent to Lisa and Jack

4. 2021 Annual Meeting – Lisa Parady. Reviewed options of in-person and virtual, depending on AASA plans.  Suggestions were to have a virtual meeting next February with a $30. , Should be prepared for having a regular luncheon on Friday of the AASA Conference.
5. Speakers at the Annual Meeting – Lisa Parady. Decided on two speakers with a follow-up panel discussion.  Business meeting to follow luncheon.  The following were suggested with the list and biographical information sent to each officer and director to be prioritized. Consideration is to be given to diversity.
   1. HML Educator and Friend of Education: Dr. Joshua Starr PDK, (1^st) Consuelo Castilll Kickbush, Ted Dintersmith, Pasi Sahlberg, Joel Westheimer, and Rev. William Barber.
   2. HML Friend of the League Award Suggested were James Harvey and Kathleen Hurley and Linda Darling Hammond.

The Executive Director will create a ballot for officers and directors.

6. Marketing the Annual Meeting – Lisa Parady. Tabled pending the decision to be virtual or in person.
7. Vice President Nomination – Lisa Parady. The following were nominated to serve as Vice President for the 2021-2022 year: Brent Clark, Kevin Riley, Bill Mathis.  The Executive Director will create a ballot for officers and directors.
8. Nomination for Reappointed Directors for a three-year term:
   1. Linda Darling Hammond and Martin Brooks
9. Nomination for new directors – Lisa Parady. The following were suggested for nomination:

• Patricia Trejo (FL),
• Carla Santorno, Supt (WA),
• Zandra Galvan (CA),
• Gregory Hutchings (VA),
• Morcease Beasley (GA),
• Jeanne Collins, Supt (VT),
• Jimmy Casas, Author (

The Executive Director will create a ballot for officers and directors. A brief background of professional experience will be developed for each person.

10. Recruitment of New Members.

Motion by James Harvey, seconded by Ruben Alejandro to restate the need for each officer and director to provide a minimum of five names, each year, of potential new members. Passed.

11. Suggestions for the betterment of the League:

• Quarterly meetings – brief meetings – Ruben
• Annual Donation – Kevin
• Leadership in public education – Virginia
• Virus implication and Horace Mann – Bill
• Focus on Diversity – Eric
• Focus on teachers and the classroom in Post – David
• Methods of defending public education – David
• Consider brochure redesign – Lisa
• Celebrity endorsement connections – Lisa

12. Meeting Adjourned at 11:45 am Pacific Time

To do list:

1. Send draft minutes of the June 13^th meeting to Lisa Parady for review.
2. Connect with Lisa Parady to create a ballot for voting on speakers, vice president, and new directors.
3. Follow-up with AASA on the latest plans for the 2021 Conference.
4. Follow up with officers and directors on connections for corporate partners.
5. Follow-up with Lisa and Kevin on the Corporate Planning Committee.
6. Include a summary of Strategic Planning activities to officers and directors as well as highlights in the HML Post.
7. Look into Menti.com for usefulness by the League.

Some of the participants in the Strategic Planning

Some of the slides from the strategic planning