TGAGNOI – Board Meeting 1/13/07

 Aunt Leni’s Café in Algiers

Verret and Pelican Streets

Present:  President, Madeline Axtman; 1^st Vice President, Gene Reyes; 2^nd  Vice President, Barbara Robicheaux; Treasurer, Alfred Rodriguez;  Recording Secretary, Estelle de Verges; Corresponding Secretary, Beverly Buisson; Standards/Continuing Education Chairman, Adam Stevenson;  Membership/Registrar, Darleen Landry; Public Relations, Mary LaCoste.

Absent: Newsletter Editor, Saundra Green.

Madeline had passed out binders/index tabs/paper and notices/agendas, suggesting all board members use these supplies to keep paperwork together in an organized fashion.  She mentioned new classes are available for everything from computer literacy to foreign languages through AARP on both sides of the river in New Orleans and Metairie (see AARP peoples programs.com)

UNO is offering a free lecture series where one can earn a certificate – and TGAGNOI CEUs  – see the TGAGNOI website for information.

Estelle advised she heard that Mary Helen Schaeffer is now at her home across the lake (the first floor was demolished by the hurricane) but hasn’t learned of any classes restarting at Delgado.  Mary advised that Friends of the Cabildo completed a Fall class but is still looking for students for the Spring semester.

The meeting was called to order at 10:30am

Document signing –

            Officers were listed for the State of Louisiana forms.

            A “street address” must be provided for the organization – not just our P.O. Box.  Motion by Darleen Landry/Seconded by Adam Stevenson that President Madeline Axtman’s home address be listed for “corporate headquarters.”  Unanimously approved.

            Signature cards for the 2 Whitney Bank Accounts were provided as a corporate resolution is needed for online access along with our Federal ID number.

            Resolution #1 Access of bank accounts be provided to the President (Madeline Axtman) and Treasurer (Alfred Rodrigues).  Motion by Gene Reyes/Seconded by Adam Stevenson/unanimously approved.

            Resolution #2 – The two signatures for checks and other banking be provided by the President (Madeline Axtman) and Treasurer (Alfred Rodrigues).  Motion:Gene Reyes/Seconded Barbara Robicheaux/unanimously approved.

Minutes were read and approved - Motion by Gene Reyes/Seconded by Barbara Robicheaux/unanimously approved. 

Old Business:

Continuing Education pins/certificates – these are still being processed to verify CEU amounts for members.  A form will be available for members to complete at the next regular meeting and announcement made soliciting anyone who has outside credits to advise the Standards/Continuing Education committee.

Adam advised that he obtained more Wetlands Certificates from the Annual Conference to be completed and presented at our next general meeting.  The patches are still back ordered by Dr. Thomas’ office.

Certificates of Deposit – Estelle noted that in reviewing December 2005 minutes, the Board had approved purchase of some CDs using some of the association’s savings funds.  The certificates should be coming due.  Alfred advised that CDs were not purchased due to Whitney Bank regulations requiring a minimum savings account balance in order to receive free checking.

New Business:

2007 Goals Sheets were outlined by President, Madeline Axtman

Gene Reyes – 1^st Vice President – at the next General Meeting Gene will solicit input and volunteers to be on committees.  He plans to pass out index cards or forms to ask what the members would like so he can plan our functions, trips, fundraisers, etc.

Cemetery Tour – St. Louis #1 – should be planned for the Spring (perhaps I           in conjunction with the French Quarter Fest.)

Public Belt Train Excursion – from French Quarter/Esplanade Ave. to Huey P. Long Bridge.

            Other functions – assist Standards with seminar planning, etc.

            Day trips focus on history for CEU credits; fund raisers including 50/50                             at meetings, assist programs with monthly meetings, Parliamentarian

Barbara Robicheaux – 2^nd Vice President – announced that our January 18^th  meeting will be held at the Presbytere with Carnival historian and author, Arthur Hardy, providing a lecture on Mardi Gras.  (Madeline later advised that a check for a $150 donation must be made out for the Presbytere). For February, Barbara had proposed a River Barge Excursion meeting.  The Board discussed the February 15^th meeting date and possible conflicts with traffic and the busy carnival schedule.

A Motion was made to change the February meeting date from the 15^th to the 22^nd to accommodate schedules with Carnival parades.  Motion by Estelle de Verges/Seconded by Gene Reyes with unanimous approval.

Other general meeting dates:  March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18 (Nomination for 2008 Board), November 14 (Election of 2008 Officers), December 20 (Christmas Social & Installation of Officers).  Meeting planning should be 3-6 months in advance 

Barbara reviewed other meeting venues and lecture topics:

            Café Amalie at the Princess of Monaco Hotel &Alice Hiney

                Port of New Orleans                                                                           

                N.O. Cold Storage

                N.O. Railways

                Coffee/Produce companies

                The African American Art Museum

                Convention Visitors Bureau

                Lakefront Airport

Westwego Museum

Corps of Engineers

Algiers Court House

Mardi Gras World

            Chief’s Daughter who lectures on Mardi Gras Indians

                “Buried Alive” / Yellow Fever - Dr. Colomb (possibly October meeting0

                Flooding – Richard Campenella

                Metals and Iron Fences, etc. – Ann Mason

                River Road – Mary Gamon

                Indians of South Louisiana

                New Orleans topics– Errol & Peggy Scott Laborde

                Speakers – Louisiana Landmarks Society has a list of local speakers

                Jim Letton and the FBI

                 Christmas Social – Audubon Golf Club at the Golf Course

Darleen advised that Popeye’s provides food donations for nonprofits!

Adam Stevenson – Standards/Education.  Madeline advised that she had been approached by NAGFTA President Bobbie Gattuso regarding assistance in hosting the 2007 National Conference.  It will be held during the Summer – dates similar to those of our local conference.  If the TGAGNOI members wish to co host the Conference, the seminars attended by our members would count toward our CEUs and replace the local conference.  The conference usually consists of two days of solid seminars.

Bobbie Gattuso arrived to provide a brief synopsis of her plans.  No firm date has been established – she’s still checking with hotels such as Harrah’s or a similar location that would have accommodations & availability of meeting rooms in the same place during the hot Summer as well as being convenient to attractions.

            She has already established commitment from tour companies for buses.

Approximately 200-250 people will attend the conference from across the U.S.

Volunteers from TGAGNOI would assist with various committees.

Motion by Darleen Landry that TGAGNOI participate as co-hosts with the National Association’s Convention in lieu of a local seminar for 2007.  Seconded by Barbara Robicheaux and passed by unanimous vote.

Darleen Landry - Membership/Registrar and Mary LaCoste – Public Relations

We need more members!  Membership has dropped from approximately 270 to 86 paid members at the time of this meeting.  We also need more publicity – possibly with an article/photo of the Board in “Up The Ladder” or similar columns in the “Times-Picayune”.  This is the time for a real membership drive.  Delgado’s class has not reorganized, but should be visited when reestablished.  Friends of the Cabildo,  Preservation, Resource Center and Save Our Cemeteries organizations have provided us with some members in the past.  Estelle suggested we contact the Taxi Bureau for a list of licensed tour guides.  Madeline said she will be attending a meeting soon and will check.

We also need corporate members who will be provided our directory (to be updated soon).  Darleen was given CVB corporate mailing list that can be contacted with letters. 

Darleen suggested that correspondence with newspapers (“Times-Picayune,” “St. Charles Ave.,” “New Orleans Magazine” etc. be handled with all methods – phone call, FAX, Email & letter as often messages “get lost”.  Nell Nolan has advised that particularly during debutante/carnival seasons, articles must be submitted 6-8 months in advance.

A “Welcome Committee” will help new members feel at home.  Gene suggested different color nametags as well as an introduction at meetings.  Jennie Branch and Sharon Bitzer have volunteered to be part of the Welcome Committee.  

Estelle de Verges, Recording Secretary and Beverly Buisson, Corresponding Secretary

Along with monthly minutes, Estelle will assist Chris San Marco with his new committee trying to get hotels/parking facilities to provide discounts to working tour guides.

Beverly will get monthly notices out on time and handle all organization correspondence.

Saundra Green – Newsletter Editor

Will publish quarterly newsletter that will include a Calendar of Events.

Alfred Rodriguez - Treasurer. The Treasurer’s Report & Budget was reviewed.  Motion by Darleen Landry/Seconded by Mary LaCoste and passed unanimously.

There was an open discussion regarding the National Park Service’s providing tours in direct competition with guides trying to make a living.  Madeline explained how Lindy Boggs helped establish the French Quarter Unit to send tourists to National Park sites in Chalmette & Jean Laffite.  They later became established as a venue for French Quarter and Garden District Tours – which does compete with guides trying to make a living.

Times and places for Board Meetings were discussed.  Madeline reminded everyone that the location should have a complimentary, quiet, handicapped accessible (hopefully separate room) place to meet, relatively convenient for everyone, food availability, and free parking. Suggestions are welcome.  Our next meeting will be here at Aunt Leni’s Café on the 1^st Wednesday of the month, February 7^th  at 6:30 pm.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45pm.

Respectfully submitted by Estelle de Verges, Recording Secretary.