Ogle-Lee RTA Board E-Meeting Minutes Summary, March - August 2020
The Ogle-Lee RTA Executive Board Meeting scheduled for April 14, August 11, and October 13, 2020 at the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library were canceled per Covid-19 Guidelines recommended by the Illinois Governor during the Covid-19 outbreak. Instead the Board conducted business via e-mail communication to discuss an informal agenda and President Kim McKenna conducted e-mail voting as needed. The Ogle-Lee RTA Constitution and Robert's Rules of Order guidelines were temporarily adapted for the e-mail format. Any major policy changes or funding requests were voted upon with several days allotted between presenting the motions and voting deadlines. Board members receiving e-mails were Kim McKenna, Carole Sutton, Linda Kenney, Jean Whipple, Becky Cheek, Michele Glen, Phil Bratta, Gene Chaplin, and Elke Grennan.
Secretary Elke Grennan e-mailed the minutes from the January 21, 2020 Executive Board Meeting. The minutes were accepted. Treasurer Linda Kenney e-mailed the Ogle-Lee RTA Treasurer's Report on April 30, 2020. As of April 30, 2020, the Checking Account balance was $8,509.28, the Memorial Fund Balance was $320.81, and the Life Account Balance was $7,861.62. Total assets are $16,691.71. The treasurer's report was accepted.
By unanimous vote, all Membership and Executive Board Meetings were canceled for 2020.
Kim McKenna will notify the IRTA office about these changes, cancel the speakers for September, and plans on continuing to use email to communicate amongst the board members. Due to the unusual circumstances relating to Covid-19 guidelines, any changes to the meeting schedule will be on a trial basis and reviewed later for amending the Constitution.
In June 2020 all previously scheduled speakers were notified of cancellation and the Ogle-Lee RTA Board will not to try to host the speakers for a virtual meeting such as on Zoom.
President Kim McKenna announced that the IRTA executive committee voted to hold IRTA committee meetings via Zoom rather than meet in Springfield for the balance of 2020.
IRTA has canceled all June training sessions for local units.
Kim McKenna conducted an e-mail vote from 4/25/20 to 4/27/20 on whether or not to approve the new Ogle-Lee RTA website at OgleLeeRTAonline.weebly.com designed by Elke Grennan (chairperson), Kim McKenna, Jean Whipple, and Richard Longfellow. It was approved 6-0 with Elke Grennan abstaining and three no responses.
Jean Whipple and Kim McKenna inquired about setting up recurring dues with a website provider. Jean and Kim decided not to pursue setting this up at this time as costs outweigh the benefits. The membership chairperson and treasurer will continue to collect local unit dues per current practice.
Jean Whipple has updated our membership brochure and sent membership information to all "new" retirees from our local school districts. Recruiting new members continues to be a concern common to most local units and IRTA. Members are reminded to encourage recent retirees to join. The new Ogle-Lee RTA and IRTA website both list some member benefits.
Jean Whipple reported on the following changes to the Contact Caller List: Sharon Maybe taking over for Anita Gallick, Linda Engle taking over for Joe Thiele, Armande Vasilopoulus taking over for Loretta Bell, and Betty Ebert taking over for Janice Bates. Callers will contact members on their contact list the second week in May to check in with members to let them know they can contact Ogle-Lee RTA if they need assistance or want someone to chat with. The May newsletter will include a reminder that the IRTA Foundation has an assistance program for retired educators facing financial difficulties.
Kim McKenna will prepare Legislative Updates for the May and September Newsletters. A July memo will be e-mailed or a newsletter will be mailed to notify members by their preferred communication method of the canceled meetings and remind them of IRTA Foundation Financial Assistance Program.
Submitted by Elke Grennan, Secretary [email protected]