CFC Cabinet Meeting
Minutes of March 21, 2007
Host:  Rodger Matthews & Sandra Champion-Jones
1500 E. Bannister Road , Kansas City , MO

Cabinet Members in attendance:      

Mike Anthony, USMC                                   Gary Beets, FMS
Christina Bennett, NTEU #66                         Sandra Champion-Jones, NTEU #66
Patrick Bustos, EPA                                       Charlie Garrett, SSA
Randall Hawkins, USDA                               Cindy Hillman, FEB                  
Larry Hisle, CFC                                            Mike Jaromin, DHI-CIS
Benita Jordan, AFGE #1336                          Rodger Matthews, USDA               
Matt Mitchell, USDA                                     Dennis O’Connell, GSA     
Jason Parman, OPM                                        Joe Parnacott, NATCA          
Capt. Vincent Weber                                      Mara Whitaker, NTEU #264                                                           

Alternates & Others:

Linda Day, USPS for Terry Freeman, Donna Kingston for Dennis Johnson

 

Welcome & Introduction– Rodger Matthews & Sandra Champion-Jones:

Rodger thanked the cabinet members for being involved in the campaign this year and is looking forward to the commitment in making CFC successful. Sandra welcomed everyone and urged continued and enhanced Union & Management collaboration for the 2007 campaign year. Each member in attendance introduced themselves & their roles on the cabinet.

   

Cabinet Responsibilities & Progress Report – Rodger Matthews & Sandra Champion-Jones

¨         Each cabinet member received a notebook with information pertaining to job descriptions, timeline, meeting notes and agenda.

¨         Rodger went over the tabs in the booklet and explained their purpose

¨         The 2007 org chart was discussed

¨         Larry pointed out the successes of 2006

o       Total Dollars up $14,777 or 0.54 %  (8 straight years of record setting amounts)  Increase of $1 million over that period of time

o       Per capita increased by over $3.00

o       Participation was up by 1.5%

o       Eagle Club continues to grow. Up 3% in 2005 amounting to 790 donors contributing $999,785 or 32.8% of the campaign

o       Day of Caring: 60 federal agencies working on 81 different projects. 

o       The Topeka/Fort Riley Area CFC outpaced the campaign with an 8.05% increase over the previous year. 

 

Recruitment & Agency Head Calls - Larry Hisle:

¨      Need commitments for ten (10) LE’s.  Potentially we have 3 identified at this time.

¨      Purpose of Agency Head Calls were discussed, 1) The commitment of support from the Agency Head  2) Identification of an internal campaign coordinator  3)  financial commitments (goal) for each agency

¨      Agency Head Calls need to be completed by June 30th. Over 200 calls will be made during the next few months.

¨      LE’s will continue to make calls vs Team Leaders

¨      Training for Team Leaders/LE’s will be scheduled for early May. 

¨      Training will be done at a non-profit agency.  Dates, times and locations           will be forthcoming.

¨      There was discussion on having a critique breakfast for Agency Heads as was done in 2005 & 2006.  The thought was to invite the new accounts in the Topeka area. This meeting will take place on May 2nd at the Topeka Main Library.  It was requested that a former LE attend, as well as a representative from the Kansas City area attend this breakfast to give testimony.  
 

Campaign Timeline/ Meeting Schedules – Larry Hisle:

¨      Cabinet Meetings –          

¨      Larry went over the timeline

¨      It was decided that cabinet meetings would directly follow the monthly FEB meetings (3rd Wednesday of every month) when ever possible

¨      Each month you will receive an email regarding the meeting time and location.

¨      Next meeting was set for April 18th.

¨      Vote and discussion of a six week period will be for the 2007 campaign.

¨      New OPM’s regulations state that the campaign may run between September 1st to December 15th.  It was suggested to continue to maintain a primary six weeks to focus the campaign time period.

¨      After discussion, campaign time frame was set for the 2007 campaign from October 3rd to November 14th.  An original motion was made by Patrick Bustos, seconded by Christina Bennett & unanimously passed by the cabinet.  It was also approved to allow fundraising activities outside these dates, if approved by the agency head.

           

Committee Reports:  

Awards & Recognition – Larry for Nadine Johnson

Requests have been sent out for bids have been sent to vendors, due by March 31 

Items we have previously bought are:  

·         Rally Kick-off Items:        8000 items at   .60 to .75each

                                                            Last year’s item: rally towels 

·         Campaign Coordinator :

Pre-gift                        1000 items at .85 to $1.00                 

Last year’s item: tape measure  

Post-gift                      350 items at .$3.00 to $4.00

                                                Last year’s item:  Lunch Bag   

Every Person Gift       15,000 items at .10 to .15 each    

                                                Last year’s item:  GiveSmart Card

 2007 Gift Levels:       

·         All donors of $50 or more received a GiveSmart Card

·         $390 to $649 or 1% of a donor’s pay entitled them to our Pillar Club. A CFC Heart pin was awarded to them.

·         $650 to $999  or 2% of a donor’s pay entitled them to our Commanders Club level and was recognized with a coin

·         $1,000 or greater entitles this special giver to be included in the EAGLE CLUB.

A laser cut crystal with a flying eagle illuminated recognized this level.

·         Suggestions were encouraged for this year.

·         All gifts should be focused on that a younger audience would be attracted towards

·         This would be the year to replace the Eagle Gift.  A discussion was held whether to continue with a new eagle each year or have one for multiple years.  The majority of the cabinet liked the new eagles each year; however it was decided to research both formats.

·         There was discussion of a Double Eagle Award for donors that give $2,000 or more.  There was a request to evaluate the worth of this program :

·         Stats show 60 donors would qualify for this presently

·         73 additional donors between $1,500 & $2,000, if 25% of these donor elect to move up, it would be $6,106 additional.  Cost to bump up would be approximately $1,000 extra dollars.

·         This is also a need to purchase some individual items for Fort Riley .

·         We hope to present samples at the next meeting. 

·         Any suggestions or comments can be sent to nnanko@ora.fda.gov or larry.hisle@gsa.gov

           

Communications – reported on by Larry Hisle

            We do not have a chairperson at this time

·         Purpose:  Prepare information to tell the CFC story

·         Target Audience:  Federal Employees and community at large

·         Projects:  Annual Catalog, Newsletters and speeches, website, public service, public service announcements, News Releases

·         Responsibilities of the Communications Chair are the newsletter, media coverage (public relations), video, graphics and website.

·         Activities:  Monthly meetings, Work on Projects, Attend Events

·         Committee Recruitment (recruitment from the attendees in the room of quality individuals in their organization)

·         Campaign Theme –  The National Theme is “Help Our World Forward (discussion of last year’s theme and what theme we would like to use this year)  The following themes were discussed and were to be emailed to the cabinet to pick their favorite.  Once the top three have been chosen, the communications committee will proceed with a design. 

Catch the Spirit!                                      Give a Little, Help a Lot -CFC

Invest for A Better Tomorrow                Pay It Forward

Share Because You Care                        Let the Sun Shine In

 

·         Sub Committee Groups were discussed.  People Needed

·         Graphic Design:  Create graphics to brand and market the Heartland CFC Theme used in catalog, newsletters, posters and on the website

·         Writing:  Complete Research, write stories and speeches, help with proofreading used in all CFC Communications

·         Media Liaison:  Establish contacts with local media, used to get information out about the campaign

·         Photography:  Take photographs and videos at CFC events and at local charities used in newsletters, on the website, produces the local film

·         Special Events Planner:  Plan employee appreciation outings, build team spirit, celebrate accomplishments

·         Local Film –

·         Newsletters (explained the timeline for the newsletters

·         Web Site

·         Federal Employee Appreciation Nights (special discounts for federal  employees) 

·         Online Pledging  (we would like to test run this year)

·         Any suggestions or comments can be sent to bustos.patrick@epa.gov or larry.hisle@gsa.gov

   

Eligibility Status – Dennis O’Connell

¨   The eligibility process involves the annual review of all local agencies listed in the CFC Catalog for Caring.

¨   The eligibility period runs for 30 days from March 12th through April 13th.

¨   Letters directing organizations to the CFC website to download applications were mailed out to 300 Local Independent Organizations (LIO) and 9 local federations that makes up an additional 250 agencies.

¨      We are holding two eligibility workshops for non-profits, one Tuesday, March 13th and the second on Thursday, March 22nd.

¨   An email was sent to all past campaign coordinators, announcing the 30 day application period.  This was also enclosed at the FEB Meeting.

¨      A copy was available to those in attendance at the March FEB meeting.

¨   Letters are currently being sent to agency heads to solicit volunteers to review the applications for this year. The dates of those meetings are set for April 24th and 26th at the CFC office, 1500 E Bannister, Kansas City , MO.

¨   If there are agencies that you would like to see apply to be included in the Catalog for Caring this year, please have them contact the CFC office at (816) 823-2010 or the materials can be downloaded at the CFC website: www.heartlandcfc.org .

            

Training Committee – Matt Michell

¨      Up-date the cabinet on what we hope to do this year.    

¨      Campaign Coordinator Training (considering going to Alpha Pointe, Harvester and looking at other locations)

¨      Loaned Executive Training

¨      Speaker Bureau Training

¨      A plea was made for recruitment of quality presenters.

¨      Talk about the proposed workshops, discuss possible locations, preliminary dates are August 2nd & Aug 8th for the Kansas City area.

¨      Additional Workshops will be held in Topeka and the Junction City Area

¨      An original motion to accept these dates and locations was made by Mike Anthony, seconded by Linda Day & unanimously passed by the cabinet.

¨      Enhance training to focus on participation

 

Other Committee Assignments –

·         Discussion of additional committees

   

Other Discussions:

   Campaign Kickoff

¨      Voted on continuing the City-wide Kick-off Committee member:  Linda Day made the motion to continue with second motion coming from committee member Christina Bennett the motion so carried.

¨      Decision was made to may the event at the Ilus Davis Park again.

¨      The date will be decided by the Kick-off  Committee, but around Mid September

¨      It was noted we need to do more about marketing this to a broader  employee base

¨      This is above and beyond local agency kick-offs

¨      Planning would begin immediately with prior committee

   

CFC Golf Tournament

·         Voted on continuing the Golf Tournament member Linda Day made the motion to accept this change with second motion coming from  committee member Capt. Vincent Weber, motion so carried.

·         A request for volunteers was made

              

   Dollar Limit for Allocations of Designated Funds-Larry Hisle

            ¨  Official LFCC vote for the minimum check payment amount to agencies   (one time payment of $500 or less). Committee member Cindy Hillman  made the motion to accept this amount with second motion coming from  committee member Charlie Garrett & unanimously passed by the cabinet. 

            ¨  There was also a motion to continue to make payouts on a monthly basis vs.  quarterly to those agencies which received over $500 in designations.  We will note to the participating agencies that payouts beginning in 2008 may be quarterly and by Electronic Funds Transfer.  Committee member Jason Parman made the motion to accept this amount with second motion coming from  committee member Charlie Garrett & unanimously passed by the cabinet. 

   

   Sponsorships for the 2007 Campaign-Larry Hisle

¨      For the last several years GEHA has sponsored the CFC Victory Breakfast. Do we want to continue this?  All those present agreed that Larry should make the “ask” again for GEHA’s sponsorship of the breakfast.

¨      Blue Cross/ Blue Shield sponsored the Kick-off

¨      This year’s cruise was sponsored by GEICO Insurance and Ridge Prairie Travel. 

¨      Official Voting on continuing the Sponsorships, committee member Mike Anthony made the motion to accept this change with second motion coming from committee member Linda Day & unanimously passed by the cabinet. 

¨      Other sponsorships were encouraged. 

¨      If you have any suggestions on sponsors for the upcoming campaign please call Larry at (816) 823-2010.

    Federation Involvement -Larry Hisle

¨      Official LFCC vote on continuing to have monthly meetings without federation involvement. 

¨      Committee member Capt. Vincent Weber made the motion to accept this change with second motion coming from committee member Mike Anthony. Motion so carried.

 

   Union Partnership Meetings-Sandra Champion-Jones /Larry Hisle

            ¨   The purpose of the Union Partnership Council is the support of                                            representatives from more than 20 area federal employee unions.

¨      The council has played a major role in increasing employee awareness and support of CFC.

¨      Once again urged the Division Co-Chairs (Management & Union) to work together for a stronger campaign.

¨      A Union Partnership Meeting has been scheduled for April 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Internal Revenue Service at 333 Pershing Rd. , Kansas City , MO.    Encouraged members to identify labor folks within their agency and get a commitment for the campaign.

   

Upcoming Events:

                        Eligibility Period                                 March 12th to April 13th
                       
April Cabinet Meeting                        April 18th
                       
Eligibility Review Meetings                 April 24th & 26th
                       
LE’s recruited                                     by April 30
                       
Team Orientation                                by May 11th
                       
Agency Head Calls completed           by June 30th
                       
Day of Caring                                     Saturday, June 23rd