Written By: Kristen Philips, CAE
Just prior to the 2019 National Symposium “Awaken” taking place, the 2018-2019 AIFD National Board of Directors met one last time to work on important items together. Present were Frank Feysa AIFD, Jackie Lacey AIFD , David Shover AIFD , Kim Oldis AIFD , Janet Black AIFD , Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD , Brent Leech AIFD , BJ Dyer AIFD , Rachelle Neal AIFD , Jacob McCall AIFD , John Hosek AIFD , Pete Samek AIFD , Ron Mulray AIFD , Randy Wooten AIFD , Todd Sweeden AIFD , Wil Gonzalez AIFD , Kenny Snauwaert AIFD , Lynn Lary McLean AIFD , Sandy Schroeck AIFD , Laura Parker AIFD and Kristen Philips. Also present were: Incoming Director at Large Ken Senter AIFD , Incoming Regional Representative Theresa Colucci AIFD , and Incoming Membership Chair Louisa Lam AIFD .
After approving the agenda, prior meetings minutes and consent reports, Ms. Parker reviewed the May 31, 2019 financial statements. She also reiterated to the board plans to announce the incremental dues and Symposia increases at the annual meeting taking place the next day. It was then moved and seconded to accept the report of the Treasurer. The motion passed unanimously.
It was time for President Feysa to give one final report along with Ms. Philips. First he thanked Liz Seiji AIFD for the beautiful flowers at the board table. Ms. Philips updated the board on a staff change, with Rachel Schley being promoted to the position of Director of Certification and a new coordinator being hired to take on Rachel’s current AIFD responsibilities.
Ms. Philips and Mr. Feysa then reviewed the updated Code of Ethics, Ethics Complaint Procedure and Membership Oath as submitted. Ms. Philips explained that, according to legal counsel, members should be given notice of the changes and have the opportunity to agree that they have been made aware of the new processes, thus implementing during the upcoming renewal cycle in February of 2020 would be most ideal. It was moved and seconded to accept the Code of Ethics, Membership Oath, and Ethics Complaint Procedure as recommended and presented by the Ethics Task Force and Executive Committee, and implement upon the next dues renewal cycle per legal counsel’s advice. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Feysa and Mr. Lacey gave an update on the recent agreement between AIFD and Wildflower Media to publish a book featuring designs of all AIFD accredited members, with a book launch expected at the 2020 Symposium.
Membership Chair Sandy Schroeck presented her report and noted that there were 146 candidates that participated in the Las Vegas PFDE. Noting that product purchase budget had not increased in at least ten years, and the challenges associated with purchasing quality product with an outdated budget, it was moved and seconded to approve the policy changes as submitted in regards to product purchases for the PFDE and SAIFD Student Competition. The motion passed unanimously. In addition it was moved and seconded to increase the price of the PFDE to an agreed upon amount in 2020. The motion passed unanimously. The priced increase agreed upon was $100, with $60 of that going toward product purchases and $40 going to Symposium as part
of the already agreed upon ongoing Symposia registration increases.
Her reports included a list of new Laureates since the previous Symposium, as well as a review of the status of membership renewals for both the 2018-2019 and 2020-2020 membership years. She then presented the list of members who, as a result of not having paid 2018-2019 membership fees, were subject to being dropped from membership as stipulated in the Institute Bylaws and policies. It was, therefore, moved and seconded as stipulated in the
Bylaws of this Institute, to remove, with regret, from the membership rolls of this organization all those who have not remitted their 2018-2019 membership fees and to include a list of all such persons with the filing of the minutes of this meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Schroeck then reviewed the list of those members and CFDs who have not reported their 2018 CEUS due June 15, 2018 and were to be dropped from the Institute as members, as well as those members who have not reported their 2019 CEUs due June 15, 2019 and therefore placed on suspended status. It was then moved and seconded as stipulated in the Bylaws of this organization to remove from the membership rolls of this organization all those members and CFDs who have not remitted their 2018 CEUs and to include a list of all such persons with the filing of the minutes of this meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
On the recommendation of the Awards Committee, it was moved and seconded to direct Ms. Philips to add the names of the recipients of this year’s awards as determined in the March 18, 2019 meeting of this Board to the minutes of this meeting. The motion passed unanimously. 2019 Award Recipients are:
Award of Merit Industry – Gretchen Sell | DESIGN MASTER
color tool, inc.
Award
of Design Influence – Matt Wood AIFD, CFD
Award
of Distinguished Service to AIFD –
Sharon McGukin AIFD, CFD, PFCI
Ms. Mason-Monheim presented a final report of plans for the 2019 National Symposium, which will immediately followed this meeting. She noted that hiring a trash service to take everything out of the hotel since everything is downstairs to get rid of trash was one of the best decisions. She also noted that Wyatt had already stepped up going above and beyond in the absence of the volunteer stage manager.
Ms. Schroeck reviewed plans for the 2020 National Symposium, which will be held in Chicago, IL and Mr. Mulray reviewed early plans for the 2021 National Symposium, which will be held in Washington, D.C.
The meeting was adjourned and following a short recess President Feysa called the second meeting to order. He noted that this is a “Special” meeting of the AIFD Board called for the purposes of electing officers, appointing directors to fill vacancies that may exist, and for passing appropriate banking resolutions necessary to reflect any change in officers and thus bank account signing authority. He then called on Past President Kim Oldis AIFD to review the report and recommendations of the Nominating Committee.
Ms. Oldis announced that with no dissent having been given by the members of the Board, Mr. Shover would move into the position of President- Elect and Mr. Lacey would become the next President of the Board of AIFD.
Ms. Oldis then presented the names of Janet Black, Kenny Snauwaert, Wil Gonzalez and Todd Sweeden as the candidates nominated by the Committee for Vice President. She then asked that the candidates leave the room and that each then return individually to present his or her statement as to why he or she wished to serve as Vice President. After all candidates had addressed the board, and answered any questions that may have been asked, a discussion ensued. After all discussion, Ms. Oldis asked that a ballot be taken of voting board members only. Ballots were cast and tabulated and Janet Black was elected the new Vice President.
Ms. Oldis noted that those candidates who ran for Vice President that were not elected would now like to run for Secretary. Ms. Oldis asked the candidates if they had anything additional they would like to share with the board, and none did. Ms. Oldis asked that a ballot be taken of voting members of the board only. Ballots were cast and tabulated and Todd Sweeden was elected the new Secretary.
Having been elected Vice President, Janet Black resigned her position as Director at Large through 2020. President Lacey then recommended that Shonda Cunningham AIFD be appointed to fill the vacancy as Director at Large through 2020 created by the election of Janet Black to Vice President and finish the term remaining of 1 year through June 30, 2020 It was moved and seconded to approve such an appointment. The motion passed unanimously.
With the election of the new officers it was moved and seconded that all banking resolutions necessary to reflect the names of the new officers (President specifically) for the purpose of bank signatures be adopted. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was then adjourned, and the leadership team headed off to their respective volunteer duties throughout Symposium. A big “Thank You” to the 2018-2019 National Board, and “Welcome” to the 2019-2020 National Board and Executive Committee! Congratulations again to Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD and Brian Vetter AIFD for a successful Symposium.
