Minutes of the Foundational Meeting of the "Friends of the Broadwater Library"

Meeting April 4, 2011
Meeting convened at 11:30

Present: Elizabeth Kulacz, James Kulacz, Naomi Loxterkamp (Library Director)

Beth opened meeting.

Naomi mentioned 10-16 April is National Library Week, spoke to Rex about putting that and 75th Anniv. Of library at Village meeting, to-night at 1900 (7:00 p.m.).

The purpose of this foundational meeting is to agree on our purpose, put that into a "Purpose Statement" for organizational bylaws and incorporation papers.

We have samples from Friends section of the American Library Association (ALA) website, bylaws samples from ALA and Friends of the Library of Norwalk, California, and others. Read sample mission statements.

Provisionally adopted mission statement:

Section one: the purpose of this organization shall be to focus public attention on Broadwater services, facilities, and needs; and to encourage donations, gifts, endowments, grants, and bequests to the Library, thereby stimulating increased usage and enhancement of Library resources and services, and thus helping enrich the lives of the local community.

Section two: It is recognized that the administration of the Broadwater Public Library is vested in the Town of Broadwater, Nebraska, through the Library Board; and the Library Director.

Discussed memberships. Memberships will be offered to persons, families, students, businesses and organizations, and seniors. The Friends annual dues are to be determined by the Board of Directors. This is deferred to a future meeting.

Officers: It is acknowledged the Library Director is a member of the board ex officio. James has been provisionally selected as President. Elizabeth has provissionally assumed the other offices of Vice-President, and Secretary, Treasurer.

Physical address: The Broadwater Library will be the physical address of the Friends of the Broadwater Library, 106 Guthrie Avenue, Broadwater NE, unless changed by the membership. Meetings shall be held at the Broadwater Library, or as agreed by concensus and advertised in advance of the meeting.

Elizabeth will work up the paperwork necessary to be recognized as a corporation in Nebraska. The Library Board, library director, or Town Council will be free to accept, or reject, any gift for a particular or general purpose from the Friends. The Friends are likewise free to accept or reject any gift, donation, grant, &c. to the Friends.

Statements to be included in the formal organizational paperwork:

The Friends take no political position in any election or on any political issue, and any political discussion must include all sides, nor do the friends engage in any political lobbying efforts. The Friends do not discriminate on basis of age, race, class, disability, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or belief system.

No member of the Friends shall have financial gain solely by virtue of membership in the Group. The Group may, at the discretion of its directors, employ such persons or companies as needed to carry out its mission.

Members will attend the Village Meeting to-night.

Next meeting is Friday, May 6, 2011 at the Broadwater Library.

Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.