COMMITTEE MEETING: MANES & TAILS
DATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2004 TIME: 7 PM
MEETING PLACE: THE CARLETON PROJECT, PRESQUE ISLE
PRESIDING: Nancy Dumond
RECORDING: Shelley Taylor
MEMBERS PRESENT: Pam Scheppele,(VP/Treasurer) Don Violette, Ginger Prior, Sara
Wotton, Megan Scheppele
CALLED TO ORDER: 7 pm
MINUTES: Minutes of 01/08/03 approved as written.
OLD BUSINESS
TOPIC: Federal Nonprofit Filing (State was done in 2003)
DISCUSSION: Finalized and signed. This is sooo absolutely awesome! Maybe we shouldn’t tell everyone that Pam did all of this because other organizations are going to steal her…..Terrific job Pam. (and thank you Alan Morris for the mentoring) $150 agreed on for processing at this time. We can send in the larger amount required when our annual gross income increases to $10K or more. In the mean time some cash will be free to scholarship special needs riders.
ACTION: Pam see Bill Flagg for money and will send for approval.
FOLLOW-UP: As needed when approved.
TOPIC: Finances
DISCUSSION: Rick Tagget has respectfully resigned as M&T's treasurer, citing unexpected family business taking an unexpected amount of time. Our thanks to Rick and Tara. We look forward to their continued support and enthusiasm throughout the growth of this organization. The committee moved/seconded/approved for Pam to
assume the responsibility of treasurer. Now Pam is holding down two positions (I think she can handle three) but is there anyone who can step forward to reduce Pam’s load?ACTION: Pam will contact Rick for any materials he had.. Pam
will be meeting with Bill Flagg and set up accounts.
FOLLOW-UP: Next meeting
TOPIC: Spending of Grant Money
DISCUSSION: $3,000. in grant money. Paying:
$170 – Lawyer and State filing
$150 - Filing Federal Non-profit status
$1000 – Three scholarships for AHPC members to attend NARHA training
$500 – Cary medical center administrative (this amount is under question since as writers, we expected this to be expenses toward future grant writing expenses but according to Bill this amount belongs to Cary for administering this grant)
$1180. Balance
ACTION: Pam to discuss account balances with Bill Flagg. Nancy will notify some community organizations of the availability of funds for special needs riding programs and how to apply to M&T. The committee approved to fund 75% of program costs, spread county wide until funds run out. (this could mean three to four riders spread from ‘the valley’ to the Houlton area.
FOLLOW-UP: requests expected by our next meeting, stating the need, location, cost/location/provider of lessons, and that the other 25%is secure.
TOPIC: Mounting Steps
DISCUSSION: Discussed building steps again. Determined cost @ $100.
Decided not to purchase small plastic steps. Don offered to build Sarah some steps as soon as the snow melts and he can get to his stored materials.
FOLLOW-UP: Sarah please make diagram with approximate measurements. Revisit at March meeting.
TOPIC: Publicity and Fund Raising
DISCUSSION: Shelly has created a super (Draft) Brochure This was shared with members for feedback.
Nancy will contact Community
Organizations as stated in Spending of Grant money above.Pam brought in a fund raising flyer that we agreed to use after customizing to meet the needs of our organization. This will be sent to
members/mailers prior to next meeting with requests for time, energy or dollars.ACTION: Shelly will work on the customizing the fund raising flyer with help from the committee via email.
Shelley will also continue her work on the brochure with ideas from the committee. We are very lucky to have a ‘publisher’ talented secretary!!FOLLOW-UP: Next Meeting, Ideas for an activity to go public?
NEW BUSINESS
TOPIC: Maine Care Billing
DISCUSSION: Packet received. Ginger discussed the process of Behavior Specialist I (BS1) certification over the phone with Cindy Brackett at the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS). The department has not yet been able to bill MaineCare medically for horse program services. When certified (week long training) as a BS1, the instructor may charge MaineCare $25 per hour, teaching only one student per hour. The BS1 must also be supervised be someone of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) certification or higher (ie: psychologist..). This means the BS1 will contract a supervisor and meet with the supervisor once or twice a month to go over the student/client’s treatment plan and their progress with their horse program. The supervisor can trouble shoot, ask that certain activities take place, change, increase or be omitted, answer questions and generally see to it that the BS1 is carrying out the activities with the student/client as addressed in the treatment plan. The options for supervision include contracting someone individually, working for an agency with supervisory staff, or, Manes and Tails contracting a supervisor to work with instructor/BS1s. The BS1 training is something else M&T may be looking at funding in the future. The requirements for this certification also include college education and a background check.
FOLLOW-UP: Will revisit with demand.
NEXT MEETING: March 11, 2004 at The Carleton Project, Presque Isle, at 7 PM (southeast corner of Main and State streets, if you can’t get the doors to open, bang until help arrives)
ADJOURNMENT: 8:30 PM
THANK YOU EVERYONE AT HOME AND AT MEETINGS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, THIS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BELONG TO YOU!
Nancy Dumond, President
207-868-5324
nancyditr@ainop.com
Shelley Taylor, Secretary
207-538-9376
staylor@houltonregional.org
Pam Scheppele, VP/ Treasurer
207-498-3461
pscheppele@mfx.net