Community Action to Save Strays

CATSS Board Meeting Monday, November 14, 2011
Present: Liz Burgess, Jan Cooper, Sheila Harley, and Nancy Garver*
It was a dark and stormy night at Magpie Pizza....

ACTIONS
1. New Board Member*
Nancy Garver, who has fostered kittens and collected cash from our donation jars around town for quite a while, has been talked into agreed to be considered for membership on the Board. Because the Board meeting did not have a quorum for voting at this meeting, Board chairperson Liz Burgess decided to collect votes of the members present (who unanimously voted to add Nancy Garver to the board) and then poll other board members via email afterward.

2. Donation Box replacements
Liz reported that the donation tube kept at the Kitten Corral has been stolen again and speculated that its long, narrow shape made it easy to carry out under the cover of a coat. Several possibilities for replacing it (and possibly the donation tubes at other locations in town) with a more inconveniently shaped jar were discussed. Sheila Harley and Jan Cooper agreed to experiment with upcycling jars they already have on hand due to their respective affections for scented candles and chocolate covered salted caramels, to make new donation containers. Visions of Hello Kitty are floating around in your correspondent's head; stop her now if you object.

3. Alternative Gift Fair
Participating in the 2011 Oberlin Alternative Gifts Fair was discussed. For everyone's information, I have looked up the dates and times, which are as follows:
11:30am – 1:30pm Monday - Friday, December 12 - 16 in Bent Corridor
first floor of the OC Science Building (119 Woodland St)
1pm – 4pm Saturday, December 17 - Oberlin Public Library
(for the full information sent to us, see Appendix 1)
Liz reported that several people had already volunteered to work the fair, but we need someone to coordinate the details. Pam Snyder and/or Susan Morse, who so ably set up the table at last year's on-campus fair, were suggested. Liz will contact Pam about organizing this year's participation. Note that the email message from the Fair's co-organizers includes information about applying to participate, which looks relatively easy. [Later correction from Liz: Rachel has already filed our application.]

4. Adoptathon
The Board considered the feasibility of holding an adoptathon for our 50 or so cats currently being fostered. The only open Saturday for the public library space we had hoped to use was during the weekend right after Thanksgiving, a time most members will not be able to work the event. Concern was also expressed about holding it so close to the gift giving holidays. The Board voted to postpone holding an adoptathon until after Christmas.

5. Sierra's Research Project
After talking at the last meeting about her plans to apply for funds to research the number of mating pairs are producing the cats we are helping to spay or neuter, Sierra Zuber has determined that Oberlin College can assist her work by providing some funding if students are involved in the research. Sierra also would like to apply for outside grants, but the College has asked that we be the recipients of the funds and be billed by the college for whatever facilities or equipment Sierra uses. The board voted to agree to this arrangement conditionally, and that Treasurer Nancy Matthews be consulted about our ability as a group to handle the bookkeeping for such an arrangement. Members of the Board suggested that David Lazcko might be approached to help with the expanded bookkeeping if necessary, as he has extensive experience with accounting and is very devoted to helping cats in the community.

FURTHER DISCUSSION

1. Updates
Liz reported that Peg Tucker will be picking up the grey and white cat trapped by Carol Sedgewick to show to the Morgan Street folks who reported missing a cat that fit its description.

Cats from the Willowbrook problem area have been trapped and spayed/neutered, but Liz thinks that the complaining neighbor may need further information about to prevent the colony from causing problems for her day care areas.

2. Newsletter
It is time to start working on the annual newsletter. The Board expressed interest in including recognition of everyone who has volunteered or donated to the organization this year. The board also brainstormed a large list of ideas for articles for the newsletter (see Appendix 2). Jan has volunteered to coordinate putting together the newsletter again, hoping she can prevail upon Rachel to help and Dorothy to consider assisting with design.

3. Ongoing consideration of which veterinary services to use
Liz reported on her continuing research into veterinary services in the area, for consideration in our spaying/neutering and medical assistance, specifically services located in Medina and Wakeman. The Board discussed weighing the variables of pricing, transportation costs in time and stress on cats, ease in billing, and the convenience of personal connections, like Peg Tucker's very valuable willingness to pick up and drop off cats in town for 4Pets procedures. The Board agreed to continue to research services and monitor the situation.

Respectfully, if somewhat rain soaked-ly, submitted by Jan Cooper