Community Vitality Center

Minutes of the November 21, 2006 Governance Board

The quarterly board meeting of the Community Vitality Center (CVC) Governance Board was held at 1:00 pm on November 21, 2006 at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa

Present: Jim Erb, Curt Heidt, Rand Fisher, Sandy Ehrig, Carol Richardson Smith, Jane Halliburton, Mary Beth Foster, Mike Wells, Maureen Collins Williams, Burt Chojnowski, Mark Hamilton, Rick Morain, David Osterberg, Deb Houghtaling, Linda Barnes, Roxanne Carisch, and Bill Menner

Conference call members present: Dal Grooms and Lars Peterson

In Attendance: Ellen Huntoon, Sandy Burke, Mark Edelman, Craig Hertel

Guest Speakers: Mark Peltz, Nikki Brevig, Rich Leake, Brenda Ranum, Danny Young, and Scott Pavoling

A presentation was given on the pilot college internship program sponsored by CVC with a mini grant to the Winneshiek County Extension District which developed a collaboration with Luther College and the local Chamber/Economic Development Group. The goal of the Winnesheik County program is to connect students with the business community, so that they would have a better understanding of the opportunities in a rural community setting.

Chair, Jim Erb called the business meeting to order at 1:30 P.M.

Foster moved to approve agenda and Hamilton seconded. Motion carried and the agenda was approved as presented.

Business Meeting

Mayor Erb opened the meeting with a discussion concerning evaluation of center projects

Administrative Report

Director’s Report

Edelman reported on current project evaluations and gave a fiscal report on funding from Washington D.C.

Board Member Activities Reports

Chojnowski – Michigan State University speaking engagement
Ehrig – IDED Study of Economic Impact of Non-Profits will be available soon
Fisher – ICAN and IADGCF presented a $250 check for support of CVC Entrepreneurship Academy
Heidt – Highlighted a Conference on Rural Development

Entrepreneurship Project Reports

Edelman - CVC/U of I JPEC High School Business Plan Competition

Chojnowski- Summary of Fairfield entrepreneurship gathering, CVC is developing short case studies on a few of the presentations. Erb, Smith, Edelman also attended.

Williams – Summary of MyEntrenet project activities supported by CVC. Two communities will be selected for the coming year to provide an opportunity for building local entrepreneurial networks in the four communities that started programs in the previous year.

Philanthrophy Reports

County by county Wealth Transfer Study -Power Point presentations have been distributed to ICOF for use by local affiliates in local discussions. After the first of the year ISUE offices will receive a copy

Discussion was held concerning the CVC sponsored Statewide Community Philanthropy Academy agenda. The conference is scheduled for February 20, 2007 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in collaboration with the Iowa Council of Foundations, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center, and Iowa Area Development Group Community Foundation. The ICOF will host a Legislative reception at Finkbine Mansion following adjournment of the Academy. The Board suggested adding breakout sessions on the website and wealth transfer outreach.

The Board discussed the disposition of funds in the philanthropy web site project. Since the project was envisioned, the Iowa Council of Foundations moved to develop and pay for a statewide linked web site network. Discussion centered around whether local affiliates had sufficient flexibility and resources to address the unique needs, preferences, and strategies for local philanthropy. The Board consensus was to maintain the current funding for future use after more time has been spent evaluating the performance and flexibility provided by the new sites.

Rural Policy Studies Report

Burke - Discussed findings from the recent New Mover’s Study

Edelman – National Farm Bill Survey Study is available and work is being done on Iowa survey results.

Edelman reported on a series of National Rural Development Listening Meetings conducted by the Center For Rural Affairs to discuss their concepts include in their white paper have recently been conducted in collaboration with the Regional Rural Development Centers, CVC, and Farm Foundation. Copies of the White Paper and meeting reports were distributed.

Budget Requests

Edelman reviewed the budget requests for the coming year. Discussion on the need to narrow budget requests either by evaluating and prioritizing and/or trimming the project budget requests. The suggestion was made to have a series of 2-3 conference calls for each committee to review the project concepts for each of CVC’s three initiatives and to provide peer review recommendations to the full board. Finalized recommendations are to be discussed by the full board at the January board meeting.

Edelman gave an overview of the EIEIO concept paper “Endowments for Iowa Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Opportunity” and reported on recent brainstorming meetings with selected philanthropy and economic development leaders which included Hamilton, Erb, and Edelman. Legislative interest had been expressed in the concept and the development of a working group. The Chair ask for a sense of the Board. The Board consensus was that CVC should proceed in collaborating to form working group to proceed with developing and modifying the EIEIO incentive concepts for potential consideration.

Fisher discussed the fiscal status of the Iowa Rural Development Council. Fisher moved that the CVC explore any synergies with sustaining some of the IRDC forums and nonprofit organizational structure if the IRDC discontinues operations. Chojnowski seconded, and the motion passed.

The next quarterly board meeting of the CVC Governance Board will be held in January 2006 - time and place TBA. The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 P.M.