SIL Board Meeting - Qtr 1
Mon, Jan 27, 2025

Summary:

Sarah Simister introduced Logan Matzke, the new board member, to Dr. Matthew Shepherd and Aaron Larson, highlighting their connections to the Wichita and Emporia areas. She provided updates on essential documents, including the board member agreement and conflict of interest disclosures, which require signatures from all board members. The meeting commenced with Matthew discussing the approval of minutes from the last meeting, which Aaron agreed to assist with in Mariah's absence. The minutes were preliminarily approved, and Logan introduced himself, sharing his background in commercial real estate and his focus on leasing and development projects.

Sarah updated the group on Jenna Curtis, a certified personal trainer and nutritionist developing activities for the TPUR program. Sarah also outlined the board's legal and fiduciary responsibilities, emphasizing compliance and governance. She proposed a meeting calendar with quarterly meetings and a training session, while also indicating plans to recruit new board members before a strategic planning session in November. The organization has recently expanded its staff from five to eight members, prompting discussions about scheduling flexibility and proper calendaring of meetings.

The meeting addressed various operational challenges, including the implications of transitioning from fringe benefits to regular salaries and the lack of maternity leave policies for part-time employees. Matthew discussed the dual mission of his organization and the importance of sustainable youth development programs. He expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to his company's involvement with Social Innovation and the need for rotating board members to maintain independence. The group recognized the progress made in separating operations and the importance of allowing the organization to function independently, with Logan expressing enthusiasm for his new role despite the learning curve associated with nonprofit terminology.


Chapters & Topics:

Meeting Introductions and Administrative Updates
Sarah Simister introduced new board member Logan Matzke to Dr. Matthew Shepherd and Aaron Larson, while also discussing the necessary documents for the meeting. She confirmed that the board member agreement and conflict of interest disclosures were required to be signed. Sarah also mentioned that she recorded the meeting and that a read AI was taking notes.
* Introduction of new board member Logan Matzke and his background.

Introductions and Program Development Updates
Logan Matzke shared his experience in commercial real estate, specifically his role in leasing and development projects at Slauson Real Estate Company. Sarah Simister mentioned Jenna Curtis, who is unable to attend, and her work on integrating nutrition and activities into the TPUR program. Jenna is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist based in Wichita.

Board Responsibilities and Meeting Calendar
Sarah Simister highlighted the board's legal and fiduciary responsibilities and the necessity for compliance. She proposed a meeting calendar featuring quarterly meetings and a training session in June, aiming to enhance board effectiveness. Additionally, she mentioned her goal to recruit new board members and the importance of onboarding before a strategic planning session in November.
* Overview of board responsibilities and legal obligations.
* Discussion of the upcoming three-year strategic planning session.
* Updates on new staff hires and their roles within the organization.

Staff Updates and Program Initiatives
Sarah Simister introduced new team members LaWanda, Amanda, and Deja, highlighting their roles and contributions. LaWanda, a community engagement specialist, is also running for city council, while Amanda is tasked with streamlining project management applications and has aspirations in grant writing. Deja will focus on program facilitation and participant recruitment, with all three staff members understanding their positions may be temporary.

Federal Funding and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Strategies
Sarah Simister indicated that federal health initiatives are currently suspended, with no information dissemination allowed until further notice. Matthew Shepherd noted that any changes in administration might lead to a shift in strategies from sexual risk reduction, which emphasizes condom use, to sexual risk avoidance, which promotes abstinence. He highlighted the ongoing tension between these two approaches within the field.

Funding Opportunities and Grant Proposals Update
Aaron Larson informed the team about the cancellation of funding opportunities by the National Institute of Justice, which could impact their proposals. Sarah Simister highlighted the upcoming grant season and the need for a shared acronym sheet to assist new team members. Matthew Shepherd discussed the significance of the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Family (HMRF) grants, emphasizing their expertise in the field.
* Review of funding opportunities and the impact of recent cancellations on the organization.

Team Growth and Management Challenges
Sarah Simister acknowledged the difficulties of managing more employees and referred to the current year as a rebuilding phase. Aaron Larson pointed out that as the team grows, Sarah may become a bottleneck in processes and recommended hiring an administrative assistant. Matthew Shepherd added insights on the organizational changes required as the team expands.

Discussion on Fringe Benefits and Maternity Leave Policies
Sarah Simister expressed uncertainty about how to handle fringe benefits and their impact on employee salaries, particularly in light of potential changes to benefits. Aaron Larson cautioned against reducing salaries to offset benefits and suggested focusing on new hires for salary considerations. The conversation also addressed the absence of maternity leave for part-time employees, with Sarah seeking guidance on how to support Madison, who is expecting a child.

Social Innovation Laboratory Initiatives
Matthew Shepherd outlines his journey in establishing the Social Innovation Laboratory under Midwest Evaluation and Research, aimed at improving social programs for at-risk populations. He shares the development of a summer feeding program that reimagines how meals are provided to children, emphasizing quality and choice. This initiative significantly increased participation rates compared to traditional summer feeding programs.

Transitioning Board Leadership and Structure
Matthew Shepherd highlighted the necessity of introducing new board members to avoid conflicts of interest, given his long-standing role as chair and his company's relationship with Social Innovation. Aaron Larson supported this by stating that removing MER employees from the board is a crucial step for the organization’s independence. Both acknowledged the evolution of their relationship and the need for the organization to operate autonomously.


Action Items:

* Sarah Simister will work on recruiting new board members to eventually roll off current members, excluding Logan Matzke.
* Sarah Simister will send the sheet with acronyms and initialisms to Logan Matzke to assist with understanding the nonprofit terminology.
* Logan Matzke will send a sheet of acronyms and initialisms to Sarah Simister to assist new team members.
* Matthew Shepherd will discuss the HMRF proposal during the meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 10 AM.
* Sarah Simister will reach out to recruit partners for engaging youth and their parents in selected communities once the model is settled.
* Logan Matzke will send a sheet with acronyms and related information to the team for their reference.
* Sarah Simister will send out the read notes from the meeting to all participants for their reference.


Key Questions:

* What are the new policies regarding board member agreements and conflict of interest disclosures?
* How will the organization manage the transition to new board members?
* How will the organization handle the funding opportunities that have been canceled?


Notepad:

* No notes