Board Minutes: December 9, 2017

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Nation’s Capital Chapter of Ohio University

Board Meeting Minutes: December 9, 2017

Introductions

Attendees: John, Lauren, Rick, Nicole, Marjorie, Amanda

Ohiou.org web page update

  • Now active; has had over 1,000 visits and over 500 unique visitors
  • Ways to promote the page, get people responding to the content
    • Including links in Facebook to the website as well.
    • Quizzes with information on the website, requires them to drive traffic
    • Link to sign up for the listserv on the website
  • Create page to advertise for new board members and upcoming election
    • Can create subpages of the board page to meet those needs

Recent events

  • Halloween party
    • Ugly Mug in the DC
    • Low turnout, previous year had over 100 attendees, sold 37 tickets this year, Bar was generous about bar sales
    • Made $240 off pre-sales, but owed $75 to the bar, balance of $165, went to the scholarship
    • Next year, might give it a rest and try again in 2019
  • Akron-Ohio football game watch
    • At the Ugly Mug, turnout of 12, including two interns
    • Trying to find a new home for sports viewing
    • Cleveland Park: there's a downstairs, pool, near metro; Will find out the name and see if it is a good place
    • Rock Bottom Brewery in Bethesda is also an option
    • Crystal City Sports Pub is also an option
    • Clarendon bars--lots of them
  • Toys for Tots Happy Hour
    • At the Ugly Mug, promotion: every person that brings 2 toys gets a free beer
    • Partnered with Ohio Society, OSU, Miami, OU
    • Fairly low turnout, 20 attendees
    • Collected: 60 or 70 individual toys, filled a full bin at a donation site
    • Raised $90 in raffle donated to Toys for Tots
    • Some new attendees, new graduates
    • Worthwhile to get the chapters together more often
      • Union Station: Junior league of Washington does a Holiday Shops event there and it is super fun
      • Union Market also an option
      • Brewery tour
      • Tying it into something more socially conscious, move around to different causes to draw different interests
      • Could put it in a newsletter: questionnaire on the website, on Facebook about what types of events folks are interested in?
  • Ohio vs. Maryland basketball game
    • Given the issues around planning it, UMD not particularly cooperative
    • Sold 30 tickets for the suite
    • 30 tickets for general seating, handful of others who bought tix in other sections
    • Net balance is likely to be $0, don't owe anything! School took care of much of it
      • Treated to a visit from former OU president, Roderick McDavis
        • He is more than happy to do an event with our chapter, knows we are one of the more active
      • Game wasn't very close, but it was a good time!
      • Pictures from the game were great--good to attach to future events to show folks what to expect at events

Upcoming events/calendar planning

  • Sexual harassment speaker (Jenny Hall-Jones, Dean of Students)
    • In light of Harvey Weinstein/#metoo movement
    • OU likes the idea and Jenny Hall-Jones does this for the students on campus
    • School is willing to help us set up a location for it
      • Our focus will be focusing
      • Date: February 15th, location to be announced
      • Could potentially draw on the other societies (Ebony Bobcats network, Ohio Women, LGBT group)
      • From here, what are some other topics they could pursue?
    • Creating a culture that doesn't support sexual harassment and assault
  • Wreaths Across America (Arlington National Cemetery, Dec. 16, 8:30am)
    • Will send another notification this week
    • New security--include in the notice (similar to pro sporting events)
    • 8:30- parade of trucks with the wreaths
    • Layers, gloves, boots
    • Meet by the flag
    • Link to Wreaths Across America website
    • Wreath pick up date in January
  • MLK Day of Service
    • Call to Action: Day of Service
    • Partnering with DC United Way on their project on homelessness
    • Nicole to send more information, Amanda to send to the group in a specific email
      • Then can post it to Facebook, website with sign-up URL
  • National Cathedral tour
    • Kari and Rick are working on it, talking w/Cathedral
    • When are they least busy? At what point do tickets start to become less expensive?
    • In the middle of fundraising because they don't have enough money to finish repairs
    • $40-60 groups, could dip into tier funding
    • Coffee shop there is very lovely, if you could combine
    • Maybe shift to the late summer/early fall
      • Could send a survey monkey to see if folks would be interested and would they be willing to pay within certain ranges.
  • Golf Scramble (June 9, South Riding), need sponsors
    • Rob has negotiated June 9th at the South Riding course (near the Pleasant Valley course where we've been in the past)
    • Need to have a sponsor
      • Generally one of our biggest money generating events of the years
      • Not limited to one field
      • John and Rob will have materials ready soon to share with the group, post and host on website thru Dropbox so the forms are easily accessible for folks in the community (sponsor events, holes)
  • Former OU President Roderick McDavis
    • John will email again to gauge interest and timeframe, if he has any ideas on what kinds of events he would like to be part of.
  • Basketball game watch/Sock Drive (new location?)
    • Game against Buffalo on a Friday night in January 26th, 6:30pm, CBS Sports Network
      • Location? Lauren to look around for potential locations
    • Bowl game on December 22nd, post on website, Twitter, Facebook
      • Bahama Bowl JPG
      • Penn Quarter Sports Tavern
  • Baltimore Aquarium
    • Justin has a happy in the works for Baltimore area folks
    • Will be looking into the Aquarium (could be a good event for February)
      • Tickets aren't cheap so we can see if it is a good use of tier funding
  • Capitol Hill pub tour (Tune Inn)
    • John talking to folks at Tune Inn to let them know we are planning such an event in the spring
    • Can other members reach out to at least 1 bar?
    • Six bar minimum, 3 on each side of the Hill
    • Lauren suggested forming a committee, will lead
      • Send an email, to let folks know we are forming a committee, planning for spring, please reach out to Lauren
      • Tshirts?
      • Stamp card?
      • Could be a good opportunity to involve Ohio Society, OSU, Miami, etc
  • 1804 party
    • Locations: John  to get in touch with Matt Schultz who is working at a bar in Arlington
    • Networking event
    • Can include the interns who are in DC for the spring
    • April 18th
  • Pete Souza (tabled)
  • June Board meeting at Irish Whiskey, near Farragut

Discussion of finances, how much to transfer from Operating Funds to Scholarship Fund

  • John talked to Tyler, he is investigating what our balances are for our funds
  • OAA's accounting office is way behind,
  • Last seen, had roughly $12,000 but don't have recent accounting.
  • Hold off on voting until we have the actual accounting

Schedule next meeting (March)

Tuesday, March 20th, 6:30pm start, John to look into a location: Cap City Brewery is a possibility.