March Member Meeting - 03/23/2021

Minutes not yet approved

Present: Nikki Carrion, Steven Eilers, Christine Carpenter, Tammy Turner, Katie Boaldin, Sarah Steinmeyer, Clarissa Klosterman, Anna Banfield, Brenda Vavroch, Rachael Chapman, Sally Browne

Minutes: Minutes of the previous general meeting were accepted as written. e

Treasurers Report:

• Showed a balance of $3, 816.78, with no income or outgo during February. An audit will be held when those participating are fully vaccinated.

Theme Group Updates

Sustainability

• The Backyard Tour brochure will be started on March 29. Prizes donated so far include items from the City of Waterloo, Petersen and Tietz Florists, Wapsi Pines, and Earl May. The locations are all set.

Health & Wellness

• Katie noted that the Covid-19 vaccine would be available to anyone 16 or over after April 5.

Fresh Produce Availability

• Planning has started for the Garden in Every Plot program to install gardens in backyards. Fifteen households have already signed up. They will offer plant starts and seeds. Extension and Master Gardeners will provide help and expertise, and the program will be advertised heavily through community health clinics.
• Area farmers' markets will open May 1.
• ISU Extension will hold a seed giveaway next week Monday through Wednesday for school, community and church gardens. Then it will be opened to the public.

Promotions and Development Report - The application for a Cedar Falls Tourism grant was submitted on March 12. Kim Manning at the CF Tourism and Visitors Bureau will inform us after March 25 if the application is approved.

Unfinished Business

• Nikki is keeping a record of Health Champion Award recipients. In discussion about selecting future recipients, it became clear that, although school nurses have been exemplary during the pandemic, they make up too large a population for the award. Other suggestions for the award include Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health and the Waste Trac Education Team. You and I Care, providing nonthreatening mental health support in the community, will receive the award in March; Pathways in June, during Alcohol Awareness month; and Good Neighbor Iowa in April.
• Embrace the Race is working to finalize a date and still considering June 19. Their goal this year is to be more accessible by moving to Waterloo and inviting participants in wheelchairs. Nikki points out that June 19 would not conflict with the Backyard Tour since the Race might not overlap in time and would have different audiences.
• Zoom meetings may continue to be the default format even after the end of the pandemic, with perhaps biennial face-to-face meetings.
• Nikki asks that the Board send head and shoulders shots and a brief bio to Val and find out what format photo she would need to put these on the website.

Member Announcements

• April 24 will be the Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling event from 9 am to 2 pm in Cedar Falls.
• The Clean Power Hour will take place online March 24 from 6 to7 pm. See the HCVC Facebook page.

Steve moved we adjourn; Katie seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned.
Submitted by Sally Browne