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Meeting Minutes January 2022

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February 21, 2023

Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Minutes

January, 10, 2023- Board Meeting 2:00 P.M.

VIA ZOOM

Welcome and Administrative Business

  1. Call to Order/Roll Call

   Present:  Jim Remis – President

  Karen Woodson- VP Operations

  Megan Allers – VP Donor Development & Events

  Kathryn Klar – Treasurer Chair Governance Committee

  Christy Hennessey-Secretary

  Katie Moses – Park Manager and State Relations

  Louise Kowitch- Education Chair

  Jason Dolle-Chair Development Subcommittee

  Sandy Foreman-Events Chair

         Guest:    Janet Cassise

         Absent:  Mark Generales- Building Committee

                          Tim Horvatich-Building Committee

                        Tina Tyler- Donor Development Advisor

                         Izzy Prieto- Assistant Park Manager

                         Frank Cassise- Purchasing/Print/Supplies

  1. Approval of November 15, 2022 via email

Motion to approve: Kathryn

Seconded: Mark

Minutes approved

Report of the Park Manager

  1. Park Managers Report-Katie Moses

  1. Update on park damages and clean-up:  We have a five-million-dollar sand replacement going through Lee County permitting process.  At that point upon completion, we would transport people out to the beach by Tram.  The remnants of the south beach restroom and gazebo have been removed.  Time it will take to get all electric back in the park is about 5 months from now. Amazing debris removal crew, sunrise to sunset.

  1. Plans for reconstruction: Getting a temporary ranger station which is basically a big shed but that is a ten to twelve-week delivery. 

  1. Plans for reopening: State wants the park open March 1, 2023.  We will reopen with portable restrooms or a restroom trailer. Waterways might be ready by April 1st.  Trails are completely impassable and anticipate being open around May 1st.   Priority is getting parking and beach ready. Boat ramp closed for foreseeable future.  State has requested Bayside Park to be open January 20th, with no electric, no restroom or water available.  Just a picnic area. Extra staff will be coming over from Koreshan and Delnor Wiggins state parks, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays to help and a few maintenance type volunteers.  In a month, we hope to open up to our volunteers. Once we get our electricity on, we will be able to find out if our sewer system can operate.  The panels that tell the system to pump out, might be completely damaged from being under water. The brand we use now is backordered for 15 months so looking at another brand.

  1. The Welcome and Discovery Center:  Received minimal damage, railing and ramp.  Downstairs storage needs mold remediation. Until the WDC has power, it will not be open to the public.  Maybe be able to start programs in the summer and hopefully by fall. Around March 1st we are to be getting a mobile shop building which will be our administration building for the foreseeable future, until we get a ranger station rebuilt.  At that time we will be able to move out of the Community Room.

  1. Answers to Q and A with Board Members:  The beach sand will all be sifted when we open.  A couch was almost completely buried in the sand.  Sifting of beach sand will be ongoing into April and additional sections opened.  Tallahassee is giving good support to the Park, but pushing too strong to open.  Todd Richards will be back and eager to reopen.  He will reopen with Tram Service, and looking into beach sand chairs and umbrella rentals.  Also, a little concession stand at the beach.  Trams have arrived and looking into new trucks.  The state has provided lunch for staff once a week and FOLKS have allocated $5,000 to Katie to use as needed for staff appreciation lunches. The lunch time is a fun 45 minutes they sit together.  The donation received to buy a UTV was huge.  The state will pay for the rest of them but 6-8 months out for delivery.  Louise said she has gotten outstanding reports back from people about the programming and asked Katie how to respond to emails of people asking how to help.  Louise asked about water quality.  Lee County says the water is safe but Katie and others advised not to go in the water.  Signage or verbal message will alert people to be careful and wear shoes.  We can only sift so far and there will always be debris coming in over time.  Starting next month rangers will be testing water quality weekly. 

Reports of Board Officers

  1. President’s Report- Jim Remis
  2. It is Time for Folks to Re-engage – Planning for Reopening and 2024: We need FOLKS to create program planning for 2024.  Plan and execute and make the future better than ever.  
  3. Fund Raising/Development Plan for 2023:  In the last 10-20 days we have raised $145,000 for the Park, with $100,000 from the Ketchum Foundation, $10,000 from Desalvo, a check from a New York foundation we do not know for $10,000 and King Foundation donation for $25,000. This is a tough time for many board members who lost so much.  As for the $10,000 “do, give or get”, just donate something, whatever you are able to give.  Katie and team will put together a list of things needed that the state isn’t going to pay for.  Over the next couple of months we will work at getting those things provided.  
  4. The board’s role going forward: We need a new point of sale system in place.  Plan for 2024 programming now.  Help get the park back together.  Be ready to help the volunteers.  We need so spend time in the park and share information.  
  5. We need an effective PR – marketing: – Development plan to keep our   members, the State Park Service, and the community informed and motivated to rebuild the park:  Concern about renewals. The budget going forward is not great.  Need to step up communication with the members.   
  6. 2023 Annual Program Plan: Hope to have some sort of Beach and Brews, some small events to get people into the park, no summer camp but some educational programs.
  7. We need to develop a list of Park needs: that Folks can assist in funding     internally or externally.  Izzy has a list that far exceeds the money we currently have and want to fill those needs.  How best to assist the park in their needs will be discussed.  Need mechanical shades for the community Room to block out the sun. 
  8. Replace Lost Copier:
  9. Kathryn made a motion to buy Katie the same copier we had purchased for her previously $7,004.00
  10. Motion seconded by Christy
  11. Discussion: Will not be delivered until there is ability to have electricity
  12. Motion approved
  13. UTA – Reaffirm Purchase: We voted by email to purchase the UTA with 10 positive votes and no negative votes.
  14. Authorize Purchase of DR Power Versa Trailer: This will go with the UTA and has a crane.  We would like to purchase that with roughly $2,000 of Desalvo’s money left, using $1,000 of FOLKS money, we can purchase the trailer.
  15. Motion was made to acquire the trailer by Louise
  16. Seconded by Kathryn
  17. Discussion: None
  18. Motion approved
  19. New Folks Shed: 10 x 20 Shed in process of being researched:  There is a way to get sheds through Amazon, which Dan Allers did for the Woman’s Club and cost $10,000.  It goes through a local vendor and they take care of the permitting.  The Woman’s Club shed was approximately 11 x 20.  Megan will get that information.  Katie asked Megan to get with Izzy who is working on shed orders with Rosa.  We hope to make a decision at the next Board meeting.  
  20. All history items and minutes in print form were destroyed:  Kathryn is going to connect with Rich’s wife to see if she still has his records.
  21. Authorize Purchase of T Shirts:  Current T-shirt supplier, Everglades T-shirt Factory, did a good job.  We need to get more ordered.  The original logo shirts were popular and we need to reprint those, but also want to create a new T-shirt that speaks to the hurricane and us being back.  People love the bright pinks and coral colors.  Jason suggested being able to purchase the T-shirts online.  A company out of Ohio has done it for all the restaurants and hotels in Fort Myers Beach.  Advertised strictly on Facebook and handed the check in person.  Create a special new additional T-shirt as a fundraiser. Possibly “Hurricane Ian Strong”. 
  22. Jason will reach out to a friend about marketing and design.  With Valentine’s Day coming up, “Fall in Love with Lovers Key”
  23. Katie suggested “Wear the Fun”’ who sells T-shirts online (Note: Christy could not find them after the meeting, with Internet search)
  24. Louise said photographer Carol Matthai was a graphic designer and been asking what she can do for the park.
  25. Jim asked Jason, Christy and Sandy to make this new T-shirt happen.
  26. Kathryn will look into the lead time for printing T-shirts
  27. WDC Landscaping Update:  Katie, Louise and Christy will oversee the landscaping.  The gardens are in rough shape, so we have a bit of a blank canvas.  Make the entire WDC a native plant garden.  We will look into a landscape architect donate their time.  Planting could be a volunteer event and even open up to the public.  Louise will spearhead this and communicate with her contacts.  Fencing company is coming to put up a fence to keep people out of the north end park entrance.  Sand sifting consists of going down about four to five feet.  State wants the mark open March 1st.  The sand might be cleaned by then and excess sand on Bonita will be placed on Lovers Key Beach.  Trams have been ordered and we would need to Tram people to the beach, but concerned how soft the sand will be for the Tram.  Bayside with picnic table to be opened January 20th.

There entire electrical infrastructure has to be rebuilt throughout the park and is a five month project.  All remaining structures have to have mold remediation.  Trails will possibly be open in May.  Ready for kayaking and possibly beach chair and umbrella rentals.  Cut off for park entry is based upon the number of parking spaces.  Two parking lots have been lost for now.  Tallahassee wants the WDC parking lot open.  Katie has a five page document as to all the needed repairs and will take a year to a year and a half to complete.

  • Planning for other events: Beach and Brews in November. Some type of reopening celebration to have people back on the beach and enjoy the park, but not really making any money. It would be great for Louise to plan an educational program before the end of the year. Sandy is thinking about events for the future and will get back with everyone. As the park opens get Todd’s permission to put up a tent and have a cook-out for $10 to have people come back.   

  • Review and Finalize 2023 Budget :  We would like to raise the funds for shades for the WDC.  We have not gotten the remainder of the WDC grant from Lee County is $45,000 but we are close to getting $20,000.  We had $14,600 of dues last year.  We had budgeted $17,500.  Jim feels we will be lucky to get $11,000 this year.  Only two life members last year.  $10,000 income assumes we open up the Nook by June1st.  Looking for a gross profit of $268,000.  We hope to raise $45,000 from outsiders going forward. Wendy who worked part-time with the nook suffered hurricane damage and might not be available.  Karen has another possibility to hire.  Kathryn and Karen are meeting with Spot On next week and hope to have it ready to go in time.  Contract services for the Web $250 and month for the first six months and then $500 a month when the park reopens.  There is $5,000 for Linga.  $7,500 for CPA fees. $155,000 to be used for the park, which includes the WDC Shades. $8,000 for Miscellaneous.  Postage and printing is high because we lost everything. Kathryn and Jim are going to the CSO meeting.  In our worst case scenario, we have $137,000 in cash.  Budget is balanced.   (For complete information, refer to actual Budget document for 2023)

  • Motion to approve the budget: Kathryn
  • Motion Seconded: Megan
  • Discussion: None
  • Motion approved
  • Status of Manatee Sculpture: Chuck still owes $50,000 which is not due until it is delivered.  
  • Volunteers – how and when: Nothing set yet.
  • Folks Insurance:  Agent thought we were closed indefinitely  
  • Nook Inventory: Kathryn will follow up with available day to do inventory  
  • Need to continue the Newsletter:  Christy and Katie will ride around the park once a month and Christy will put together a draft for the newsletter.  Karen M. is very eager to get back to it.   Members need to know what is going on.
  • DEP Inspector General Audit:  Katie and Jim will do a Zoom to discuss.  
  • Engaging Outside Accountants
  • Treasurer’s Report- Kathryn Klar: Most was covered with the budget.  Should have had another $20,000 from the King Foundation. Hesitant to ask because of the $25,000 they gave for the Gala that was cancelled, but need to talk with them about that remainder of money they have to pay for the exhibit they sponsored.  Chuck will have another $50,000 when the Manatee Exhibit is ready to be delivered. 

  • Other officers reports if necessary: 

  • Katie reported Ranger Stephanie found the Park Sign in the mangroves behind the bait shop, repainted and repaired it, and it was installed yesterday.  Almost all the furniture in the outdoor classroom was found in the mangroves. 

  • Karen: Membership:  Colleen did not respond when contacted by Karen.  She may be going through a difficult time. Possibly need to hire a new membership person and roll together the job responsibilities with the Nook person.  There is a lot of down time at the Nook and this would work well combined.  Hope to eliminate Salsa.  In 2024 we are definitely having the GALA.  Need to talk with Jeannie and get started on it this summer.  Hotel commitments here at the beach and Sanibel will not be able to honor their commitments with the hurricane damage.  People tend to write those missed auction opportunities and consider them donations.  We are still looking at the end of February.

  • Guest Janet Cassise: Offered to have Frank print the stationary destroyed in the hurricane.

  • Louise: This meeting was very inspiring and uplifting, thankful for generosity of the group.  Katie’s report was unbelievably thorough.

  • Katie: Expressed thanks for the Board and tells the staff how supportive we are.  Contact Katie, as she can drive a small group of the board, a few at a time, through the park.

Other

  • Open Board Members discussion about the future

Louise: This meeting was very inspiring and uplifting, thankful for generosity of the group.  Katie’s report was unbelievably thorough.

Katie: Expressed thanks for the Board and tells the staff how supportive we are.  Contact Katie, as she can drive a small group of the board, a few at a time, through the park.

  • New Business: None
  • Adjournment                                          
  • Motion to adjourn: Christy       
  • Motion seconded: Megan
  • Meeting adjourned 4:00

Next Board Meetings

February 14, 2023  Zoom or WDC          March 14, 2023 WDC

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