Participating: Rubin Alejandro, Martin Brooks, Martha Bruckner, Toa Cohen-Dunning, Jeanne Collins-Deweese, Carl Hermanns, Jimmy Minichello, Kevin Riley, Tobin Novasio, Mike Simeck, Jerry Thacker, Louis Wool and Jack McKay.
The Horace Mann League board discussed organizational restructuring, focusing on strengthening the current board rather than streamlining it, while exploring strategies for membership growth, funding sources, and advocacy initiatives.
Various approaches to financial sustainability, including sponsorships, foundation grants, and a proposal for board member contributions, with concerns raised about potential financial barriers for valuable contributors.
The conversation ended with plans for expanding membership through state partnerships, merchandise opportunities, and educational content development, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for September 5th.
Next steps
Individual Steps:
- Carl: Create a shared folder containing the Google Doc and working documents for board members and send a link to all board members within the next couple of days.
- Kevin and Jack: Review the organization’s articles of incorporation regarding advocacy and lobbying restrictions.
- Carl: Present 10 potential action steps incorporating suggestions from the shared Google Doc at theOctober meeting.
- Carl: Continue documenting questions and suggestions from the board regarding the restructuring proposal.
- Carl and Toba: Continue planning the presentation and reception at the National Association of Education Foundations conference in Phoenix.
- Jack: Provide Jeanne with website access credentials for creating a coaching web page.
- Carl: Share Tobin’s collaboration proposal with the group.
- Carl: Share information from the ASU “Prevent” grant with Marty for his school safety initiative.
- Jeanne: Present her committee report at the October meeting if not covered in the current meeting.
- Tobin: Continue providing resources for colleagues affected by mental health funding cuts.
- Carl: Collaborate with Rebecca to develop a professional development Zoom series for state superintendent organization legislative lobbyists.
- Carl: Update the board in October about the progress with the education foundations partnership.
- Carl: Send everyone the link to the Southern Poverty Law Center resources.
- Kevin and Jack: Start preparing the agenda for the October meeting and share it with the board.
- Carl and Toba: Create a template for bringing Horace Mann League to state conferences and state conference presentations.
- Jack: Provide bookmarks and membership brochures for the spring conference reception that Toba is supporting.
- Jack: Explore using RedBubble.com for creating Horace Mann League merchandise.
- Jack: Resend membership information to Barry Haybrock and Violet Glasshoff.
- Carl: Obtain bookmarks and membership brochures from Jack for the Phoenix conference reception in March.
- Carl: Send Jack email addresses of Arizona State University Department of Education contacts to receive the post.
- Kevin: Forward membership information to Andy Rickley.
- Jeanne: Help with updating bylaws to expand membership beyond superintendents and administrators.
- Toba: Help support a conference reception to introduce Horace Mann League to attendees at the NAEF conference.
- Martha: Suggest that each board member to host some sort of local panel discussion about public education and democracy.
For All Officers and Directors:
- Board: Begin the process of finding a full-time Executive Director to replace Jack.
- Board: Review, revise, and update the strategic plan.
- Board: Consider revisioning, strengthening, and diversifying the board structure rather than restructuring to 5 members.
- Board: Discuss the sponsorship model and funding strategies at the October meeting.
- Board: Explore enhancing existing initiatives like Champions for Public Education, podcasts, and posts.
- Board: Focus on developing the communications toolkit as a member benefit.
- Board: Consider reviving the annual yearbook concept.
- Board: Discuss potential changes to articles of incorporation at the annual meeting in February.
- Board: Consider potential partnership with the National Association of School Boards.
- Board: Review and consider narrowing down strategic priorities for the organization.
- Board: Consider surveying membership about their expectations from the organization.
- Board: Connect with their state education organizations to create partnerships and expand Horace Mann League’s reach.
- Board: Explore utilizing University of Nebraska at Omaha’s educational leadership department as a research resource for position papers.