The board met on August 19, 2024, via Zoom. Watch the meeting recording on Facebook. President James Cech presents a summary of the meeting in the video above. A transcript of the video follows:
President Cech:
Hello, MIRID members. We hosted our first board meeting on Monday. Hooray! If you weren't there or haven't had a chance to see the recording on Facebook, I'm here to give you the highlights.
Our first meeting went great. We're on an exciting mission to add member benefits. We really want members to be involved in committees, especially the bylaws committee. The bylaws haven’t received any revisions for the past 10 years. It's time. Also we talked about reaching out to other organizations who have developed CDI training. we're looking at the possibility of making our own CDI training available to members.
Also, Sarah has been diligently contacting Michigan interpreter training programs to meet with students, encourage, help, and recruit them to become involved in our organization, allowing us the opportunity to invest in and support them.
We're also searching for new funding sources to help support our goals.
We have been seeking someone to fill the treasurer position, but not receiving any responses. I as president suggested that Daniel Bugosh be considered for the position. Daniel is deaf. He is an accountant. He works for Dow Chemical Company and is highly skilled. He is happy to take the position and the board voted to accept him to be the interim treasurer. MIRID will greatly benefit from his perspective and expertise.
The board discussed three additional items brought by Peter Norland. These items should not be considered to substantially change the strategic direction or operations of the organization. Rather they guide the board’s decision making and discussions about the future.
The first item is about the annual scholarships that we award, and where those monies should come from. Should we use membership dues? We have in the past received donations from the families of the scholarships’ honorees. Will the families continue to support these scholarships? It’s important to consider how these scholarships will be funded.
Second, we need to establish a clear budget to help us balance our income and expenses. In times of surplus, we should know if we have the financial breathing room to make investments. It's important to have a clear view of our financial standing.
Third, we are searching for a CPA. The bylaws require that we conduct an audit every 3 years. This has not happened in a while. We are looking for quotes to begin that process.
We are highly optimistic about the opportunities, benefits, and activities that lie ahead. We hope that members will get involved by joining or chairing a committee. If you're interested, please reach out to a board member.
Ideally this organization would not run by the efforts of its board members alone, but by the active participation of its members in committees. In meetings of the whole, the board would entertain the motions brought by its members and provide the necessary resources, facilitating a fully member-run organization.
We invite you to get involved today. We look forward to partnering together.
Comentários