BoD Minutes – Oct 16, 2020
CTSS BOD ZOOM Meeting Minutes – 10-16-20
Attendees: Louise (host), Phil, Norm, Duck, Bob, Jane, George & Jacqui
Call to Order: 7:34
Officer Reports:
Chairman – Charlie Allen & Bill Dexter
President – George McCleary
Looks like everyone is gearing up for virtual work for those who want it. If anyone is interested, “Jingle Ring” is begging for Santas!
Jingle Ring is highly motivated company that is setting up 5 to 10 minute virtual visits, including all US military bases around the world! They think they will have over 1 million visits they will have to cover. They will train you if your video resume is accepted & will provide all that you need for a virtual visit. One could make as much as $100.00 per hour! Bookings will start Nov. 14th and go until after Christmas.
The malls are also planning to have Santas this year.
Bass Pro/Cabala’s is starting their season Nov 7th and will go until Christmas.
Some people & country clubs still want to have private visits.
All will have to have safety features!
It is recommended that Santas do not wear white cotton gloves for sanitary reasons. Bare hands (can be washed between sessions) or leather gloves (use sanitizing wipes between visits) are recommended. Asked Jane if the leather would be harmed from the wipes; she did not know. This is something that should be shared on our Facebook page & also our Website if it is up & running correctly.
George stated that there is a spray available that one could spray on your suit to sanitize between kids. He will try to find out the name of the spray.
Bob asked how do we get this information about all the Santa opportunities out there to our members. Louise & George both said the website/Facebook. This should be done ASAP!
George asked how we are going to handle requests that come in to the public Facebook page. Send to Dianne? Handle it ourselves? George asked Bob if the group liability insurance would cover CTSS if we post jobs to the website/Facebook. Bob did not think so.
Jane stated that our Facebook/Websites are not job sites nor clearinghouses for employment situations.
Jacqui stated that if we put it on Facebook & say something like…..this is a job that came in & list a few details. If you are interested please contact…………..
All transactions would then be between the Santa & the requestor. Norm said that is exactly what Dianne does.
Louise asked if we should put it on Facebook or Website or both? George & Jacqui said Facebook because the website is not up and running the way we would like it to be. George will help Louise with requests.
We would like to welcome Santa Duck to the Website committee. (All applauded). George stated that he did an excellent job with the Zoom meeting for CTSS members on virtual visits. Santa Duck then posted that meeting on YouTube for those who missed the meeting & for future references. Thank you Duck for all your hard work! Norm also stated that the Zoom meeting with CTWebFactory was also a success. The website committee now has a better understanding of how to proceed thanks to Santa Duck & his abilities.
Treasurer – Bob Smith
There is no change from last month’s report. The bank balance is $9,054.79. There was no income and no output this month.
Secretary – Jacqui Kuzmik
Need a motion to approve the meeting minutes of 9-18-20. Norm made the motion & Jane seconded the motion. All were in favor. Follow ups from previous meetings are after these meeting minutes.
Committee Reports:
Events (Workshop Weekend) – George McCleary & Phil Desjardins
Website – Duck Unitas, George McCleary & Norm Ward
George stated that he asked Dave from CTWebfactory to email step by step directions for certain applications because he spoke to fast to write them down. Dave sent email to George. Duck stated that he understood all that Dave from CTWebFactory was telling us. If further instructions are needed, Duck should be able to help us.
Jacqui stated that she would like to discuss how to use the Memorial section of our website. She asked how long do we leave obits on Memorial page? Louise thought one year; Norm says forever. Jacqui suggests that the deceased name, dates of birth & death & town & state be listed along with picture. If you click on the deceased name, it would take you to an obituary.
Jane said that names & dates & a caption should be on the Memorial page with a link to the obituary & a place for people to leave comments will accomplish what we are trying to do for our past members.
Duck stated that the newest members to pass should be put at the top of the page & everyone else would be in chronological order.
Norm suggested listing what that person did for our group; what events did he do & maybe have a picture of that person at an event.
George stated that he likes the idea of what the person has done rather than just the info on an obituary.
George suggested that the website committee have another meeting soon to implement these changes & get some type of control of the site from Dave other than just making changes. It’s imperative that more than one person has total access to our website. Duck leaves the meeting at 8:30PM.
Elections & Membership – Jane OGrady & Louise DesJardins
An email will be sent to all past, present & future members inviting them to be a member in 2021 for free due to Covid 19! There is enough money in our account to cover this expenditure.
Jane has made up a draft of the membership application with an Auto fill feature. This will make applications & member spreadsheets much easier. Once application is receives, then the welcome letter will be sent out which will include:
Our membership cycle will be changing from a fiscal year to a calendar year starting in 2021.
Officer elections that were to be held this year at our Workshop Weekend have been postponed to 2021 due to lack of nominations during our summer picnic &the inability to have our Workshop Weekend; all due to Covid 19.
Announcing that Santa Duck will help us organize our website & Louise is our virtual & Facebook guru.
Louise suggested putting this letter on our Facebook page also.
Jane will try to clean up her Excel spreadsheet & send out letter in early November.
George suggested that we take a vote on suspension of dues. Jane made a motion to suspend dues in 2021 & invite all past & current members to take advantage of it.
Norm seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Picnic – Louise & Phil DesJardins & Jane OGrady
Facebook – Louise DesJardins & George McCleary
Louise has been sending out email invitations for the Claus Chat & has gotten a response saying please don’t send any more email….this person has passed away. She will send the deceased name to Jane & Jacqui to update their records.
Newsletter – George McCleary & Louise DesJardin.
Old Business:
Food Drive:
Norm suggests that we make monetary donations because the need is so critical. We should check out sites for donations. Jane suggested the Salvation Army in Winsted.
Bob suggested the Litchfield Hills Northwest Elderly Nutrition Meals on Wheels Program of Torrington for their Thanksgiving 365 appeal. This program is for over 400 homebound seniors in 18 towns in the Northwest corner of CT.
Norm suggests sending donations to Litchfield Hills Elderly Nutrition Program & to the Salvation Army.
Phil made a motion to send Litchfield Hills Elderly Nutrition Program $400.00 for their Thanksgiving 365 Appeal & $100.00 to the Salvation Army for their holiday meals or their food bank. Norm seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Jacqui asked if these donations are in place of our annual donations or in addition to them. All agreed that we will address that issue at a later date.
New Business:
Next Meeting: Nov 20, 2020
Place of Meeting: Zoom
Time of Meeting: 7:30 PM
Adjournment: 9:30 PM – Motion was made by Jacqui & seconded by Norm. All were in favor.
