09-07-04 Conrad Mansion MinutesCONRAD MANSION BOARD MINUTES
September 7, 2004
Offices of Jordahl & Sliter
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at 8 a.m. at location to be announced.
Present: Rita Fitzsimmons, Ev Sliter, Mark Munsinger, Shirley Miller, Betty Norem, Rick
Champoux and Tia Robbin
CALL TO ORDER: Rita called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. The Board approved the
August 17, 2004 minutes as presented.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT:
Rita reported that she has not yet seen the sandwich board advertising the Mansion as "Open"
and "tours on the hour" displayed by the Woodland Avenue parking area. She will discuss this
with Teri and encourage it to be used to advertise the Christmas Bazaar ticket sales.
Rita reported that the MSU students were in town this past Labor Day Weekend, and spent time
with our gardener, Jeff, reviewing the grounds. The Garden Rejuvenation Project is underway.
Rita reported that she will know soon about the possible donation of the printing of the brochure.
She'll report more at the next meeting.
Rita asked that each Board member bring a list of 5-10 names of potential donors to the next
Board meeting. Rita asked each Board member to thoughtfully consider who we would invite to
a private gathering to be held in late November - early December with the definite intention of
asking for donations.
Rick asked the Board for input as to what the Board may want Rotary to undertake. It was
discussed that there are several possibilities and the Board is open to Rotary's suggestions, too.
Possibilities include a storage shed (built to be authentic or historically accurate), sidewalks
possibly with the Rotary emblem and historical messages being placed in them, holding a Garden
Rejuvenation Project fundraiser, etc.
Rita mentioned that she has called the Mayor to discuss the need for a City representative on the
Board to fill Gayle's position.
L.A. BIBLER ENDOWMENT FUND:
Rita turned the floor over to Treasurer Ev Sliter. Ev reported that Jim Johnson had contacted
him and informed him that the Bibler Foundation had met and agreed to give the Mansion
$50,000 on the condition that it is put into a permanent endowment fund, which would keep the
corpus intact and allow the Mansion Board to use the interest. Ev conducted a thorough
investigation into the Board's past minutes and endowment pursuits, and provided the current
Board Minutes - September 2004 Page I
Board with a history of the ideas the Board had in the past, and the decision that the Board
should oversee the Endowment Fund, not create a separate endowment entity. Accordingly, Ev
prepared a Resolution to be incorporated into our Board bylaws. A copy of the Resolution is
attached to these minutes. Ev explained that the Conrad Mansion Board of Directors, Inc. is a
501(c)(3) corporation and acts as the umbrella under which we operate the Mansion, will oversee
the LA Bibler Endowment Fund, an are pursuing the Garden Rejuvenation Project, which will
provide us unrestricted funds for immediate use on the gardens. The Board unanimously adopted
the Resolution entitled "Resolution re: L.A. Bibler Endowment Funds, September 1, 2004."
Rita announced to the Board that we have received the resignation of Teri Florman as the
Mansion Manager, to be effective after the Mansion Christmas Bazaar. Teri has volunteered and
agreed to help train a new Manager.
The current Assistant Manager, Chris Prior, has submitted his letter of interest for the Manager
position and his resume. The Board held discussion concerning the best means to operate the
Mansion in the immediate future and possibly through the winter season, and to conduct a search
for Manager.
It was moved and seconded to accept Teri's resignation, with thanks and gratitude for her many
years of service and excellent leadership, and to be given a gift certificate in the amount of $100
to a local restaurant as a token of our appreciation. The Motion passed unanimously. Rita agreed
to speak with Teri, and Tia agreed to get the gift certificate for Teri.
It was moved and seconded to ask Chris Prior to remain in his current position of Assistant
Manager until Teri leaves, and to tell Chris that it is our immediate intention to ask him to
become the Interim Manager while the Board conducts a search for a Manager, and that his
application will be considered for the position. At this time, the specifics concerning the Interim
Manager position are not known or decided, but the Board will consider it and make him a
formal offer for the Interim Position after our next Board meeting. The Motion passed. Rick
agreed to discuss these items with Chris.
Adjourned at 9:35 am.
Respectfully Submitted by: - —1,/1 /V--i
Tia R. Robbin, Secretary
Tia's new contact information:
Mailing address:
256 Dairy Drive
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 755-2144 (home) 250-9659 (cell/work)
email: tiarobbin@centgWel.net
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at S a.m.
at location to be announced.
Board Minutes - September 2004 Page 2
Conrad Mansion Directors, Inc.
Resolution re L.A. Bibler Endowment Fund
September 1, 2004
WHEREAS, the Conrad Mansion Directors, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Directors") at
their duly convened meeting of their board of directors on January 15, 2002 moved to
activate the previously dormant Conrad Mansion Heritage Foundation, Inc. (hereinafter
referred to as "Heritage"), and recommended that Heritage designate a permanent
endowment fund to be named the "L.A. Bibler Endowment Fund."
WHEREAS, at the Director's duly convened Meeting of September 11, 2002 it was
reported that the Conrad Mansion Heritage Foundation, Inc. Articles of Incorporation and
By -Laws as previously adopted will not qualify under Internal Revenue Code Section 501
(c)(3) and it was decided to allow Heritage to lapse by not filing corporation annual
reports with the Montana Secretary of State, and
WHEREAS, it has been decided to not establish a separate corporate entity but rather
establish a permanent endowment fund within Directors, and
WHEREAS Directors have previously accepted gifts qualifying for the Montana
Endowment Tax Credit;
NOW THEREFORE, Directors hereby codify their previous intentions and to include the
following in Director's By -Laws:
L A permanent endowment fund as defined in 72-30-102(1) Montana Code
Annotated shall be established.
2. The name of the permanent endowment fund shall be named "L.A. Bibler
Endowment Fund
3. Management of endowment funds shall be subject to the provisions of 72-30-101
through and including 72-30-207 Revised Codes of Montana as they are amended
from time to time.
The main purpose of these By -Laws is to restrict the current expenditure of funds from
the endowment fund to the earnings there from and to preserve the principal intact.