Ogle-Lee RTA Executive Board Meeting- March 8, 2022 & Email Follow-up

The Ogle-Lee RTA Executive Board met in person on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at the Village Bakery's
meeting room in Oregon. President Kim McKenna called the meeting to order at 9:30 A.M. with the
following members present: Kim McKenna, Carole Sutton, Linda Kenney, Jean Whipple, Jean Hoff,
Becky Cheek, Michele Glen, and Elke Grennan. Scholarship Chairperson Phil Bratta was unable to
attend, but emailed his report.

Minutes from the online Board Meetings from 2020-2021 were previously approved by e-mail vote.

The motion by Jean Whipple and seconded by Carole Sutton to accept the Treasurer's Reports of
December 31, 2021 and March 7, 2022 as prepared by Linda Kenney was approved. As of 3/7/22, the
checking account balance was $8627.13, the Memorial Fund balance was $435.81, and the Life
Account balance was $8021.33. Total were $17,084.27. Linda Kenney presented the proposed Budget
for 2022-2023 based on previous spending/income patterns with income estimated at $1250.00 and
expenses estimated at $2500.00 with an estimated balance of $15,806.00 at the end of fiscal 2023.
The motion by Jean Whipple and seconded by Becky Cheek to approve the 2022-2023 budget passed.
After a brief discussion it was decided to continue with the current bank, First State Bank in Rochelle,
and continue having Elke Grennan as assistant treasurer.

Membership Chairperson Jean Whipple reported that Ogle-Lee RTA currently has 303 members. Only
54 members reported no e-mail addresses and thus will continue to receive the newsletter via U.S.
Mail with most members receiving electronic versions.

There are 16 callers who contact members about luncheon reservations. However, most members
prefer responding via e-mail. For the May 2022 Membership Luncheon Meeting, callers will contact
members or RSVP to Jean Whipple via e-mail.

Jean Whipple will update member deaths from 2019-2021 based on records from IRTA and share with
Historian-Memorials Chairperson Jean Hoff.

The Board has openings for a Member Benefits Chairperson, Legislative Chairperson, and Information
Services (Webmaster) Chairperson.

Legislative Chairperson Kim McKenna reported that Governor Pritzer has increased funding to all the
Illinois state pension funds including an expected 6.16 billion to TRS to help reduce the unfunded
pension liabilities created by past funding shortages. IRTA has also filed a lawsuit seeking to correct an
unconstitutional move by the State of Illinois which dramatically reduced contributions made to the
TRS Health Insurance Security Fund.

The motion by Jean Whipple and seconded by Becky Cheek to transfer $1000 from the checking
account to the Memorial fund in order to fund a $1000 Ogle-Lee RTA Scholarship for 2022 for a college
student planning on entering the education profession using the past criteria was approved.
Foundation -Scholarship Chairperson Phil Bratta will coordinate the scholarship application and
awarding process. The scholarship will be announced on the Ogle-Lee RTA website, Facebook, and
local media.

Ogle-Lee RTA Executive Board Meeting- March 8, 2022 Page 1 of 3

Vice-President Carole Sutton will explore membership luncheon meeting options for mid-May and
communicate with the Board via e-mail to discuss and make decisions. Criteria include centralized
location, ease of parking, handicap accessible, meal availability, cancellation policy, and reasonable
cost. The motion by Linda Kenney and seconded by Elke Grennan to charge members no more than
$10 for the May luncheon and have Ogle-Lee RTA pay the balance was approved. (See Email
Followup Board Meeting notes at end of these minutes for update) Registration will begin at 11:00
A.M. with lunch served at 12:00. The program will include a discussion/vote on the proposed changes
to the Ogle-Lee RTA Constitution and a Memorial Service honoring 2019-2021 deceased members
conducted by Jean Hoff and Becky Cheek.

The mid- September Membership Meeting will be planned at a later date pending attendance and
comments received after the May meeting. The program will include AMBA and Meet the Political
Candidates for Illinois Legislators.

A discussion of how to attract and grow our membership resulted in the following :
1. Present a $1000 Scholarship to a college student seeking a career in education and
provide information to local media to gain name recognition for Ogle-Lee RTA.
2. Create a Facebook presence as a more contemporary way to communicate in addition
to continuing all other current methods
3. Offer a reduced luncheon fee for all attending May 2022 Membership meeting
4. Host some Social Hours at local venues inviting recent education retirees to socialize
with members to learn about benefits of Ogle-Lee and IRTA membership.

The motion by Michele Glen and seconded by Elke Grennan to authorize Jean Whipple to create and
maintain an Ogle-Lee RTA Facebook page was approved.

The motion by Jean Hoff and seconded by Elke Grennan to have Michele Glen organize a Social Hour
from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Kennay Farms Distillery in mid-June inviting recent education retirees and
current members to learn about IRTA benefits in a casual setting. The motion by Becky Cheek and
seconded by Michele Glen to budget $500 for room rental, snacks, and drink vouchers was approved.

Jean Whipple will prepare flyers about Ogle-Lee RTA/IRTA for distribution to Ogle and Lee County
Schools and mail to retirees from 2019-2021 from lists provided by IRTA using TRS data. Michele Glen
offered to deliver to Rochelle Schools.

The following proposed Constitution changes will be voted upon individually by members present at
the May Membership Meeting:
1. Dues waived for honorary members
2. Reduce membership meeting from three to two ( May & September)
3. Change Board meetings to March, July, and November (with e-mail meetings as
needed).
Proposed changes will be announced in the newsletter and on Facebook. The Ogle-Lee IRTA website
will have the complete Constitution with proposed changes.

The next newsletter will be published in April. Most members will receive the electronic version and
54 members will receive the mailed version.

Ogle-Lee RTA Executive Board Meeting- March 8, 2022 Page 2 of 3

In news from IRTA:
1. 18 units were recognized as Units of Distinction each receiving $250. Ogle-Lee RTA did
not meet the membership meeting requirement.
2. IRTA will publish an online newsletter on the 1st and 15th of the month.
3. Charles Kinsella from Dixon was appointed region 1 representative to the IRTA
Legislative Committee.
4. Dave Davison from Rockton replaced Lind Nott as Region 1 Director.
5. Jo Anne Nelson will continue to serve as Area 1 Representative.

Becky Cheek thanked Kim McKenna for her serving as President and keeping us informed via e-mail
and hosting e-mail Board Meetings.

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for July12, 2022 at 9:30 A.M. at the Village Bakery in Oregon, IL.
Any required business prior to that meeting will be conducted vi e-mail.

President Kim McKenna adjourned the meeting at 11:15 A.M.

Email Board Meeting Follow-up to March 8, 2022:

The details pertaining to the May Membership Luncheon were later discussed and agreed upon by
consensus via e-mail. It will be held on Wednesday May 11, 2022 at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries
Center from 11AM - 2PM. Members will pay a reduced fee of $5.00 for the luncheon including
creamed chicken over puff pastry, salad, dessert, water, milk, coffee, or ice tea. The contract requires a
$75 non-refundable deposit for the $150 rental fee and $10 per meal with a final count due ten days
prior to event to vendor.

Email Motion to approve: On 4/30/22 Jean Whipple made the motion to accept the minutes from
the March 8, 2022 Board Meeting and Becky Cheek seconded via email. On 5/9/22, President Kim
McKenna declared that the motion was approved via email vote by the Board.

Ogle-Lee RTA Executive Board Meeting- March 8, 2022 Page 3 of 3