The Langston Hughes-Andrew Carnegie Center, Inc.

Minutes

November 21, 2005

4:00 p.m.

Plymouth Congregational Church

Attendance: 

Mike Caron, Hans Fischer, Reta Cosby, Barbara Watkins, Linda Luckey, and Elizabeth Schultz

Seniors Read to Tots & Kansas Reads to Pre-Schoolers Program Report

Kudos to Reta for her work at organizing the Seniors Read to Tots program as part of Kansas Reads.  Last Saturday more than 100 people attended the session at the Library.  There was positive feedback, especially from the seniors that participated.  Pairing were made between retirement communities and pre-schools.  Reta made certificates for all the participating partner agencies.  A successful event

Discussion on the future of the HCC

Barb suggested that each individual in the room respond to this week’s e-mail about the future of this group:

• Hans:  We have discussed a business plan in the past.  We should follow it.  Is there enough energy on the part of this group to continue?  If we take on just an advocacy role then we have essentially voted to disband.  We should continue with programming.  Would be willing to work on press releases about our activities
• Linda:  I do not see the energy and commitment in this group to take on multiple tasks.  Would endorse either folding or doing one small focused project only.
• Reta:  Want to continue – perhaps by getting more people involved in our programs like members of the retirement community who participated in Kansas Reads.
• Mike:  Supportive but one of the biggest problems we have had was focusing on a specific and accomplishable task.  Right now Mike has a deep commitment to the jail programs and the wetlands program which is taking all of his time.  Although supportive, would not be an active member of this group in the future.
• Barb:  Thinks we should ask all active members of our working group to vote and we will meet next time in late January to assess the impact of this vote.

Action:  Voting

Barb will ask each member of the working committee to vote on the following. (NOTE:  We had three options – then Beth arrived and suggested a good modification)  Membership will vote for one of the following options.

1. Disband
2. Be an advocacy group only – no programming
3. Focus only on one program – that being Seniors Read to Tots
4. Focus on one program and still maintain an advocacy role for literacy

Other Business

• Reta will send an evaluation form to the seniors who participated in Kansas Reads and ask them if they would be willing to continue to participate.
• Agreed:  “We all owe Reta a big debt…no matter what happens with the HCC”
• Next meeting late January at Linda Luckey’s house.

L.Luckey