Meeting Minutes March 12, 2024

FRIENDS OF LOVERS KEY, INC.
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda – Minutes
March 12, 2024 – Board Meeting – 2:00 PM EST
Welcome and Discovery Center

Welcome and Administrative Business
I. Call to Order / Roll Call:
Present: Jim Remis-President
Karen Woodson-VP Operations-Chair Nominations Committee
Christy Hennessey-Secretary-Printed Supplies
Tina Tyler-VP Donor Development and Advisory Committee Chair
Katie Moses-Park Manager and State Relations
Tim Horvatich-Building Committee
Louise Kowitch-Education Chair-Historian
Mark Generales-Building Committee
Jason Dolle-Chair Development Subcommittee
Frank Cassise-Volunteers
Kathryn Klar-Treasurer-Chair Governance Committee
John Wesley Nash-Volunteers-Technology-Education
Absent: None


Additional Attendees:
Assistant Park Manager: Miranda Murphy was introduced


II. Approval of the January 9, 2024 board meeting minutes

  • Motion to Approve: Karen
  • Seconded: Mark
  • Motion Approved
    Report of the Park Manager

    III. Park Managers Report-Katie Moses
  • Update on park operations: we have received a dead osprey from
    C.R.O.W. which will be sent to taxidermy, and displayed in the WDC. Four
    Lee Co. environmental teachers want to teach summer camp. Trish and
    Ursula have been working on this. There will be scholarships for kids
    impacted by Hurricane Ian and disadvantaged youth. The camp costs will
    be paid for by the fee to attend the camps. The FMB Coast Guard
    disposed of perfectly good lifejackets to purchase new, because if the
    money wasn’t spent, they would lose it. Karen and Mark Woodson
    collected the discarded 100 lifejackets and boated them over to Lovers
    Key for the park to use. Dennis Goodman is donating the photos for the
    window glass images which will keep the birds from flying into the glass.
    The images will be contiguous around the community room and vary on
    other windows.
  • Introduction of Assistant Park Manager: Miranda Murphy
  • Folks Inspector General update: The Inspector General completed the sixmonth
    review of the Friends of Lovers Key CSO Audit. Three items will remain
    open to be reviewed in another six months:
  • Finding 1: Adherence to the CSO’s Financial Policy- The CSO’s
    Financial Policy was not always followed, as required by the
    Agreement.

    o Two checks were signed without two signatures during this sixmonth
    period. Remain open for secondary evaluation to ensure
    all checks that require two signatures have them during next six
    months.
  • Finding 5: Grant Proposal Approval – The CSO did not obtain approval
    prior to applying for a grant, as required.

    o No Grants were applied for, if a grant is applied for then
    appropriate approval will be verified.
    o Tallahassee Departments need to update verbiage and polices
    to align with Operations Manual and CSO Handbook- No action
    required by FOLKS
  • Finding 8: Outdated/Conflicting Policies – The Division’s CSO
    Handbook and the Agreement have not been updated to reflect current
    practices and control- requirements.

    o Tallahassee Departments need to update verbiage in CSO
    Handbooks, Agreements and Operations Manual- No action
    required by FOLKS
  • Update on Washer and Dryer Purchase for park rags, wildlife towels, etc.
    and resident volunteer use (lost in the storm) – Previously authorized:
    The building for the washer and dryer has had its power restored and the
    washer and dryer is ready to be ordered and can be put into use.
  • Park’s Unit Management Plan Update Overview and next steps: The
    park’s Unit Management Plan has started its review process (current plan
    is dated 2005) and Park Service planners visited the park to get oriented
    and provide feedback on necessary changes and future facilities. Office of
    Park Planning will work on updating the existing plan, chances for
    comments will be provided as well as a public comments session to be
    held locally in the area. Unit Management Plans are now updated
    districtwide at the same time, and the format has been updated to
    incorporate regional chapters to eliminate redundancy in updating plans.
  • Landscaping Project/native Garden Update: there has been great
    feedback on the landscaping and people are walking the garden trails and
    sitting at the benches enjoying it.
  • Other: None

    Approval of Projects for the Park

    IV. Katie Moses and Jim Remis
  • WDC Community Room Shades/Window Tinting Vote to approve and
    $30,000 budget amendment
    o Motion to approve: Kathryn
    o Motion seconded: Karen
    o Discussion: Nice job Ursula! Needed to amend the $25,000
    approved with an additional $5,000.
    o Motion approved
  • Osprey taxidermy for exhibit hall-Vote to authorize purchase not to exceed
    $1,000
    o Motion to approve: Mark
    o Motion seconded: Louise
    o Discussion: Hoping to get an alligator
    o Motion approved
  • Summer Camps Update-Vote to authorize expenditure of budgeted
    $30,000
    o Motion to approve: Mark
    o Motion seconded: Karen
    o Discussion: Fund-a-need at the Gala
    o Motion approved
  • Beach Basket Litter Program-Vote to authorize purchase not to exceed
    $10,000
    o Motion to approve: Karen
    o Motion seconded: Mark
    o Discussion: $2,600 a station each year, baskets scanned,
    trash weighed. We will have three stations as a part of this
    pilot program.
    o Motion approved
  • Buffalo Turbine Blower-Vote to authorize purchase not to exceed $10,000
    o Motion to approve: Mark
    o Motion seconded: Kathryn
    o Discussion: Ketchums want to use their $100,000
    o Motion approved
  • Duramen Landscaping: $1,115 to finish the mulching and add a drip
    irrigation to the pots. Duramen quoted $750 a month to manicure and
    manage the landscaping.
    o Motion to approve $1,115,00 to complete the mulching and
    add the drip line to pots and a $10,000 line item for annual
    landscape maintenance: Christy
    o Motion seconded: Frank
    o Discussion: Still look for other bids
    o Motion approved
  • Definitive Concrete Cutting: $550
    Reports of Board Officers
    V. President’s Report- Jim Remis
  • Planning for our future-Today’s planning session and longer term planning
    for resource uses.
  • Park Tours for Donors: Tina and Jim took the Ketchums on a tour of the
    park. Suggest doing that for our donors so they can physically see it.
  • Buoy’s Trailhead Water Fountain Project: Katie and crew are tasked with
    locating where to run the water line
  • Bodenhoffer Manatee Donor sign: Bolt and hole do not line up.Tim
    working on this and Jim asked Katie to be involved.
  • FOLKS Tax Return and Legislative Report: May 15 planning to the state.
    Due to high fundraising dollars, we will be audited.
  • Other: We need to expect and plan for two or three FOLKS employees.

    VI. VP of Operations Report-Karen Woodson
  • Gala debrief Including next year’s thoughts: 2025 Beauty and the Beach
    theme is “Havana Nights”. Square tent will bring everyone closer to the
    emcee. Calypso café lighting. 1950’s cars. Goal of 180 people and all
    $500 VIP as those sell the best. Everyone red carpet champagne.

    Smaller stage will take up less unnecessary room. Have the auctioneer
    and emcee Matt Devitt confirmed. Sponsorships are coming in. Have all
    bars on ground level with one inside the tent. QR code to donate at each
    table. Suggested wording, “Thank you for donating” showing what we
    have done this year. Build onto the after party with Game of Chance and
    simple Salsa lessons. Great band. Ends at 12:00 midnight. Have Uber
    signage because they did not know where to go. Have donor cards and
    membership cards to sell. Had $68,000 in sponsorships. $110,000 was
    our budget and came in under-budget at $102,000 spent. Under 200
    people, alleviates some permitting. We will mail out invitations next year.
  • Rushing beforehand to get Shopify up and running plus Salsa transfer in
    time and everything associated with that, we will be way ahead of the
    game for next year’s gala. In addition, being able to cancel Salsa after the
    Gala and switching our bank accounts from Fifth Third to Sanibel-Captiva
    is going to help tremendously.
  • Other: We need to keep the kitchen cleaned up and have standards for
    the community room upkeep when used.

    VII. VP of Donor Development and Chair of the Advisory Committee- Tina Tyler
    Advisory Council: The first call is next Wednesday with introductions, strategic
    planning, update them on the park and how they might help. Show them their
    time is worthwhile and having an effect.

    Other: None

    VIII. Secretary Report-Christy Hennessey
  • WDC Landscape Project Updates: Project has been completed with our
    landscaper. We are very pleased with Duramen Landscaping’s work and
    reliability. Katie will be locating Gumbo Limbo trees in the park to relocate
    to the WDC garden landscape areas.
  • Other: Mark and Tim were to be working together on an information sheet
    of the history, building design and construction of the WDC, for the
    docents to refer to. Tina found her folder from the initial planning for the
    WDC.

    We have notecards with our logo to write personal notes to donors.
    Manatee folded notecards will be ordered to sell in the Nook and also for
    use by Katie and board members.

    The FOLKS section on the Florida State Park’s website needs to be
    updated. Particularly the sentence that a portion of the FOLKS
    membership fees also go to the capital campaign for building the WDC.

    IX. Treasurer’s Report-Kathryn Klar
  • Review of January Financial Statements: As of March 1st we have
    $500,000 cash. Gala grossed around $290,000.
  • Other: Pre-ordered 200 Manatee stamps and will also use the new
    Manatee stamps for next year’s gala invitations.

    Christy and John Hennessey are donating $100,000 with $90,000
    sponsoring the WDC Kayaker display and additional $10,000 to help see
    the dog watering station to completion. Gross amount from the Gala
    $290,000.

    X. Other Reports
  • Internet Options-John Wesley Nash: going to work on trying to set up a
    mail merge. Working on WIFI options for the park and collaborating with
    Jason. Starlink can do a down link to an antennae. John and Katie have
    researched locations. For the WDC it would be a system that would
    service a small business. For now, John is working on a system for the
    WDC and a possibility for the entire park, will be considered at a later
    date.
  • Native and Pollinator Garden Update and Docent Training Enhancement –
    Louise: We need to engage new people in the WDC and focus more on
    community sustainability.
  • Other: Our very own Park Manager Katie Moses was awarded “Ranger of
    the Year”. Jim asked Katie to look into Tectonics to install permanent blue
    lights for the manatee. Katie asked when we will have monthly
    membership updates and Karen will look into it.

    Other

    XI. New Business: John Nash expressed concern about a possibility of selling critters
    down at the beach and is concerned for families who can barely afford the entry fee,
    to have young children asking parents to purchase one. The board agreed.
    XII. State Training – Park Staff: Katie Moses conducted our annual state training.
    XIII. Planning for the Future – Goals and Objectives open discussion – Tina and Katie

    XIV. Adjournment and board reception
    Meeting adjourned: 4:00

    Next Meetings
  • Executive Committee
    o April 2, 12:00
    o Usually, first Tuesday at 12:00
  • Board 2024
    o May 14-2:00 WDC
    o August 13-Format TBD
    o October 8-Format TBD
    o December 10-2:00-WDC