Community Vitality Center Board Minutes

Botanical Center,  Des Moines, IA
Tuesday, May 9, 2006

The Quarterly Board Meeting of the Community Vitality Center Board was called to order at 1:00 PM by Vice Chair Mayor Jim Erb. A quorum was present in person and via teleconference.

The Board reviewed and discussed several reports involving CVC sponsored activities:

Philanthropy

• Academy Evaluations
• Philanthropy Tools project with Iowa Council of Foundations
• Philanthropy Awards Program and Process

Entrepreneruship

• MyEntreNet Workshops for Spring in Carroll and Poweshiek
• Southwest Iowa Microenterprise Workshops in Red Oak and Villisca
• IU Pappajohn Center “Be Your Own Boss” Conference for High School Business Plan Competition students and teachers. 
• PDI rural entrepreneurship panel at Davenport Conference highlighted CVC projects in Mount Pleasant and Carroll.
• CVC and Fairfield Entrepreneurs are hosting second annual Entrepreneurial Rural Communities Gathering on May 12.  Gathering will feature “Economic Gardening” networks, renewable energy, MyEntreNet, and Fairfield’s Eco Village.
• Tentative plans for a proposed Fall Entrepreneurship Academy are ongoing with Extension and Economic development leaders in Newton for October 19, 2006.   

Rural-Urban Policy Studies 

• Sandy Burke provided a power point presentation on preliminary results of the Recent Movers Study

Old Business

A motion was made and seconded to approve the second reading and adoption of the amendment to the Terms of Governance for the Community Vitality Center relating to the State Director of USDA Rural Development serving in a liaison position.   Motion Carried amendment was adopted.
 
Craig Hertel led a discussion of Board goals regarding the disposition of the CVC project relating to the development of web tools for use by local community foundation affiliates.  Craig reported that the Iowa Council of Foundations had commissioned a web designer that consults with community foundations nationally to develop Iowa’s web sites.   The Board expressed continued interest in the use of web tools for enhancing local partnerships in philanthropy and urged a “wait and see” approach for evaluating the effectiveness of the tools that are under development.

Ellen Huntoon of Senator Harkin’s Office presented a power point presentation regarding the history of the rural development title of the 2002 Farm Bill and issues that may emerge during the 2007 Farm Bill Debate.

A motion was made and seconded to approve CVC involvement in organizing a limited number of listening sessions regarding the 2007 Rural Development Title in collaboration with the State Public Policy Working group and the Center of Rural Affairs.  Funds received from Farm Foundation would be used for this purpose.  Motion Carried.

The Board advised CVC to seek more information regarding an inquiry for developing a case study of a metro area nonprofit entity founding a for profit entity for purposes of sustaining the nonprofit entity.   The Board advised prior review of the legal research project on this topic before any action would be considered.

Meeting Adjourned.