Lopez Island Hospice and Home Support Board Minutes April 21, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Marge Karpen at 10:00 A.M. The following Board members were present; Heather Arps, Connie Baesman, Sue Cook, Dick Karpen, Sue Kintzley, Nancy Luebke, Jeanne Marks, Mary Ann RIggs, Dave Savage, George Woodbury, and Peggy Schuld. Ginger Lowell, executive director and Mary O’Bryant, coordinator of client services were also present. New Board member Charles Givens was introduced. The agenda was amended to include Strategic Planning and Retreat Recap. The amended agenda was approved.

The minutes of the last meeting were corrected and approved as corrected. The treasurer’s report was received. The financial highlights were as follows; a CD is expiring 4/22 and George will cash this and use the money to put into the lease for LOHO if that part of the lease is accepted. We received the $1000.00 grant from the Seattle Foundation as we had voted in the past.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

1. Skagit Valley Hospice has a new director. Medicare Hospice will begin on SanJuan Island then Orcas, Lopez and Shaw. Houston Taylor is not doing work under Medicare Hospice at this time.

2. Volunteer training will be on Lopez in the Fall and on San Juan in November. The manual is being reviewed for readiness for Medicare Hospice. The manual will cost $25.00 a copy. We are also looking for designated trainers for the training.

3. The Lopez Thrift Shop approved our grant request for 2008.

4. Bob Myhr of NWRC supports networking .A grant proposal for NWRC was drafted . We need to become more visible to the County Council.

5. Grant Station , a Web site , allows working on the Internet from your home. This is possible by a free subscription through the Lopez Library. This subscription is for a year.You call the Lopez Library to get a password .

6. Bay Company Lease is allowing us to remain at the same level of cost until December 2009.

7. Marge Karpen and Connie Baesman will attend a conference at Skagit Valley College on fundraising board development and marketing.

8. Miscellaneous information via e-mail on Planned Giving, Boards That Make a Difference(Liz Illg), Letter from Dr. Ashbaugh re “San Juan Hospital” essentially not affordable, and LOHO progress report.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FUNDRAISING; Casino Nights (planned for Labor Day Weekend) needs Board approval . Any net over $10,000.00 must be designated for another 401C3. There is no money exchanged except for purchase of a ticket. Five of the gaming tables have already been sponsored. A motion was made, seconded and passed that we have Casino Night. A motion was made, seconded and passed that the Board pay for Connie Baesman’s cost of the class at Skagit Valley College on May 1, 2008. on fundraising and grant writing. The Goat Campaign will be held again and a chairman is needed. Poker Run is April 25, 2008 and 5 more volunteers are needed. A banner advertising the location of the registration for the Poker Run at Odlin is now available.

VOLUNTEER; the meeting held on March 12, 2008 was hopeful. The Web site is now updated with the most recent approved Board meeting minutes. There is no chairman for this committee. CLIENT SERVICE COORDINATOR; talked with Thais. Talked about the goal of LIHHS that is to support people in the spirit of hospice namely, support people where they are. The report by C.S.C. is 2 hospice clients,22 home support clients, 170 visits , 279 hours, 2 retakes and 1 discharge. 38 volunteers currently assigned, and 15 case conferences. Newsletter ; need a newsletter for June; Charles has offered to help with this.

OLD BUSINESS

1. There is a draft of an agreement between Skagit Hospice(SH) and LIHHS which was sent to SH. Our agreements were only verbal in the past. Kate is reviewing it says she wants to talk about a few issues. We will continue with our spirit to support people where they are. Differentiating between SH and LIHHS is explaining SH is bringing enhanced services to the Islands such as medicines, 24 hour nurse availability and access to large durable medical equipment. This explanation could be incorporated in our new brochure. At this time there are 3 Skagit Hospice patients one of whom is also being served by LIHHS. There will be no money for LIHHS services, as Skagit Hospice is not meeting costs in bringing Medicare Hospice to the San Juan Islands.

2. The LOHO lease agreement was reviewed by the Board members. There is 634 sq. ft with 2 private offices and a meeting room. The $10,000.00 payment is for finishing the interior space. By incorporating it into the base construction it saves money for the finishing. A motion was made, seconded and passed that we accept the LOHO lease with amendments that the $10,000.00 for finishing be placed in an escrow account to be paid to LOHO when occupancy permit is issued. As of December 2008 we need a firm date of completion of the building and decide at that time to renew or renegotiate the lease.

3. There is no motion about reorganization in the January minutes. It will be tabled until next meeting.

4. Retreat recap was also postponed until the next meeting.

5. Strategic Plan will be discussed at the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be May 19, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at the Lopez Library.

Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Schuld, secretary