Oregon 211

OR211

Board Conference Call Meeting

Agenda

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Agenda Items

PRESENT: Kathleen McHarg, Jeri Shumate, Julie Massa, Stephen Guntli, Vic Falgout, Tom Page

EXCUSED: Jimi Smith (visiting new grandson!)

ATTEMPTED TO JOIN (Inadequate conference call capacity): Howard Klink, June Sedarbaum, Wendy VanElverdinghe, Mark Tennyson

1. Impact of budget deficits at 211info and OCCRRN

Both agencies are moving into new fiscal years with deficit budgets, and are expected to raise the difference—requires us to do fundraising for our own organizations as our first priority. Biggest obstacle is competing funding, but even having a good conversation with a potential funder becomes problematic. Jeri could participate in joint asks with OR211 more easily than Stephen and will do so when appropriate. Question: is there a possibility at the state level of joining CCR&R operations with the 211 system? This is not on anyone’s agenda at CCR&R at present, in fact considerable resistance exists. There may be a certain logic to it but there are also strong arguments opposing it coming from the CCR&R System.

OCCRRN is funded primarily by federal Block Grant money, flows through state Child Care Division, in Employment Department and DHS.

2. Discussion on immediate fundraising needs

Current fundraising activities won’t generate revenue ‘til late fall, possibly early next year—nothing available in immediate; contract with Tom Page expires August 13. We determined we’d need an extra $12,000 to keep Tom on through year-end. Tom offered to continue working on a contingency basis through end of September—if funding comes in he gets paid for that time, if not he doesn’t. Summary: Looking for $15-20k to allow for additional expenses. Additional requests during this period to 211info and United Way of the Columbia-Willamette are not feasible.

IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR IMMEDIATE FUNDING POSSIBILITIES, PLEASE EMAIL THE ENTIRE BOARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

3. Discussion of Stephen’s idea for focusing the fundraising and goals of OR211 around preparing for use of current statewide phone network in an emergency

At the last meeting Jeri told those of us who did not know that when 211info started their service in the Portland area, a phone system was put in place statewide that could be turned on in case of an emergency or disaster in Oregon. We do not currently have in place a system of staffing or volunteers who could answer calls coming in from around the state. This strategy for developing funding support would propose that we get a system in place that would allow us to respond to a disaster through agencies or volunteers available in local communities. This would give us a solid, tangible product we can seek funding for in the next two years. It was noted that energy and insurance companies would find this especially appealing. Significant details need to be worked out before anyone is approached, especially including identification of appropriate local partners while 211 is still in development, presenting them with the opportunity to use the 2-1-1 dialing code during a disaster if it happens. FEMA would likely be available for the actual phone operation costs that would be incurred when a disaster happens, and 211info is bearing the cost of initial set-up as part of its telephone conversion. More discussion will follow. 211info is participating in federal TopOff 4 terrorism response exercise in October, and can offer the experience as a demonstration project for our larger development.

4. Next steps based on these discussions

Ford Family Foundation – may consider joint ask with UCAN that could look at state 211 and possibly state CCR&R.

PGE Company – Stephen will ask

Qwest – Tom will explore

Development Director at OFB will be approached for ideas re: ideas for quick turn-arounds

Tom and Jeri will confer about logical joint asks for capital development support (Collins Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust larger ask, Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation, etc)

NEXT STEPS:

Jeri – Meeting Dates for year to be sent out

Stephen – Monday, send out a one page synopsis of #3 above with questions to consider at next meeting

Tom—NNLM by Saturday morning

Jeri – Will secure improved conference call access for August meeting.

Meeting concluded at 9:51 a.m.

Respectfully submitted, Jeri Shumate

NEXT MEETING IS JULY 25 FROM 9 TO NOON IN PORTLAND