In Attendance:
Lisa Jackson, President
Ethan Calhoun, Vice-President
Toussaint Kirk
Richard Osborne, Past President
Jeanne Anne Marsh
Randy Mannino
Others in Attendance:
Sharon Fenneran
Chrissy Marlowe
Unable to Attend:
Nayna Mistry
Mike Mastrario
Tom O’Bryant
Norman Pope
1. President Lisa Jackson called the scheduled board meeting of GAZA to order at 4:40 pm.
2. Minutes of the previous board meeting held on November 2, 2023, at the Putnam County Administration Building were distributed to all in attendance. After review and discussion, Jeanne Anne Marsh made a motion to approve the minutes. Her motion was seconded by Toussaint Kirk, which then passed unanimously 5-0.
a. Lisa Jackson informed all in attendance of Jannet Hyde’s recent passing. Jackson then recommended that she would begin the winter conference with a moment of silence in Janet’s memory as a GAZA board member.
b. Lisa Jackson discussed the appointment of a new secretary. It was recommended by Lisa Jackson and Ethan Calhoun that the nominating committee nominate Nayna Mistry to be appointed as the GAZA secretary during the February 8, 2024, GAZA business meeting. This nomination would fill the vacant officer’s position of secretary.
3. Financial/Treasurer’s Report
Ethan Calhoun gave a summary of the financial/Treasurer’s report citing total expenditures of $15,226.42 and a current checking balance of $16,808.68. Calhoun stated that the total funds, including the CD and Edward Jones investment account, were $36,523.79. President Jackson sought a motion on the financial/treasurer’s report. Randy Mannino made a motion to accept the financial/treasurer’s report as presented. Mannino’s motion was seconded by Toussaint Kirk which then passed unanimously 5-0
4. Committee Discussion/Reports
a. Scholarship
Jeanne Anne Marsh remarked that scholarship applications were being accepted up to the deadline in May. Marsh went on to state that paper copies of the scholarship application would be available at the conference.
b. Legislative
Richard Osborne gave a brief update on the Georgia Choice Act legislation.
c. Website/Communications
Ethan Calhoun gave a brief update on the Facebook page and GAZA website noting the conference had been posted as an event and that the GAZA photo backdrop, retractable banner, and tablecloth would be set for the conference with membership applications, committee forms, scholarship applications, and other GAZA information. Toussaint Kirk gave a brief update regarding the online credit card payment option to be added to the website as well as the recent creation of a GAZA email account.
d. Sponsorship
i. Lisa Jackson noted that upwards of $10,000 in giveaways had been donated by Putnam County businesses to be raffled off during the February 8th networking event.
ii. Jackson then stated that Responsive Technology had expressed interest in sponsoring the 2024 Summer Conference networking reception and encouraged the board to solicit sponsors. Chrissy Marlowe remarked that a representative of the GA Association of County Commissions (ACCG) expressed an interest in attending the GAZA summer conference as an exhibitor.
e. Membership/Nominating
Discussion occurred regarding board member terms, and Lisa Jackson informed the board that Norman Pope and Jeanne Anne Marsh had agreed to serve another four-year term on the board. Jackson then noted that Richard Osborne would not seek another term after fulfilling his term as Immediate Past President. Jackson also noted Mike Mastrario’s scheduled retirement and stated that he would not seek nomination for re-election. Jackson stated the board would be charged with seeking replacements for Mastrario’s vacant seat to be discussed at the next board of directors meeting. Randy Mannino stated that Lisa Jackson’s transition to Immediate Past President would occur without the need for a nomination or a board vote. Discussion occurred that resulted in Toussaint Kirk’s willingness to serve as Vice-President. Lisa Jackson sought a motion for a nomination for Vice President and President. Jeanne Anne Marsh then made a motion to elect Toussaint Kirk as Vice President. Her motion was seconded by Ethan Calhoun which then passed unanimously 4-0. Randy Mannino then made a motion to elect Ethan Calhoun as President. His motion was seconded by Lisa Jackson which then passed unanimously.
f. Award Program
Richard Osborne stated that no Community Achievement Award applications had yet been received, and Osborne encouraged the board to solicit applications from the membership.
5. Future Conference Locations 2024-2025
a. Sharon Fenneran stated that everything was in order for the summer 2024 conference at the Augusta Marriott and Convention Center in Augusta, GA. Lisa Jackson asked Jeanne Anne Marsh to begin researching registration gifts for the summer conference.
b. Sharon Fenneran brought to the board’s attention that a preliminary contract with Columbus Iron Works was in progress for the Summer 2024 conference in Columbus, GA.
c. Some discussion occurred regarding potential locations for the summer 2025 conference where Jekyll Island was considered as a possible location to get preliminary estimates.
6. Assign Board Members to Introduce Speakers
Discussion occurred resulting in board members volunteering to introduce speakers during the winter 2024 conference. Speaker biographies were distributed by Sharon Fenneran.
7. Board Member Introduced Topics
No additional topics were discussed.
8. Set the Date and Time for the Next BOD Meeting
After discussion by the board, the next board meeting will be held on April 12th, 2024 at 10:00 am in the Putnam County Administration building.
9. Closed Session Board Members Only
Sharon Fenneran and Chrissy Marlowe exited the meeting room in order to begin conference registration/check-in. Ethan Calhoun then reported on the GAZA Strategic Plan progress along and discussed additional projects to be added to the plan. The discussion resulted in a list of new goals and projects to be added to the strategic plan and a plan for incomplete projects to be a top priority.
10. Adjourn
With no other topics to discuss, the meeting adjourned at approximately 6:16 pm.