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Keep Knoxville Beautiful
Board of Directors, Regular Meeting

Minutes for October 2005

Present: Keith Austin, Harold Byrd, Neal Denton, Martha Dooley, Gary Drinnen, Terry Faulkner, Gary Loe, Sam Maynard, Cassandra McGee, Edythe McNabb, Page Pratt, Darrin Rhines, Goldie Simpkins, Sarah Surak, and Tim Wheeler

Absent: Mark Brown, Tisha Calabrese-Benton, Mark Cawood, Dino Cartwright, Ray Clift, Stevan Curtis, David Collins, Johnnie Conner, Scott Frith, Mary Lou Horner, Susan Long, Janet McGaha, Doug McGill, Jenny Raines and Garrett Wagley

Staff: Tom Salter

Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Cassandra McGee at 12:10. There was a quorum for this meeting (15/29).

Approval of the Minutes
Cassandra asked board members to review the minutes from the September 2005 board meeting. Sam Maynard made a motion to approve and Edythe seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

President's Report – Cassandra McGee
Cassandra announced that City Councilmember Barbara Pelot has asked for a photo op to present a check to the South Knox Beautification Committee and would like a KKB board member to be present. Sam and Tim volunteered to be in the picture.

There was a discussion of the Orchids & Onions Awards program. Tom presented the slides of the winning properties. The O&O Committee recommended that the old Public Defender Building receive the Butterfly Award. It is now the Joy of Music School and has been fully renovated. The committee also recommeded that the Tennessee Theatre receive the People’s Choice Award. There was a discussion of an action by the judges transferring a downtown property nominee into multi-dwelling category. The board determined the Orchid winner remain in the downtown category and keep its award. The board then selected a finalist in the multi-dwelling category to receive an Orchid. am and Terry made the motions that these recommendations be accepted. Approval was unanimous. There was an additional discussion to amend the rules to say a multi-dwelling unit must have a minimum of 12 units and that judges should not be allowed to move nominees to another category – something that has been occurred in the past.

Cassandra reported that she and Tom had discussed a long-range staffing solution involving AmeriCorps volunteers. KKB would pay $6,300 per person per year for two people. They would work 35 hours/week for about 47 weeks and could stay for two years. AmeriCorps would pay them a monthly stipend, a housing allowance, provide health benefits and a higher education grant at the end of their service. This arrangement would cost less than the current system of having one part time person with no benefits. We will report to the board as the discussions with AmeriCorps evolve.

Executive Director's report – Tom Salter

Tom presented the Financial Statement and Summary for September 2005. A motion was made by Harold Byrd to accept the report. Darrin Rhynes seconded the motion. The September 2005 financial statement and summary were accepted.

Activities Report - Tom Salter

Litter Prevention

South Knox Beautification Committee and Bearden Beautification Committee donated 300 pairs of gloves EACH to Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
Tom spoke to about 50 representatives of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs at Rachef Gardens to promote the idea of litter prevention and that garden clubs need to work more closely with KAB affiliates.
KKB shared a booth with City of Knoxville Recycling at the Pellissippi Balloon Festival. It was a good event and probably more than 100 people stopped at the booth.
CEMEX Corporation reported a litter cleanup on 2 miles of Rutledge Pike. 24 volunteers, 3 hours, 90 bags.
There were 4,362 website pageviews for September 2005 compared to 3,111 last year.

Beautification

Cassandra and Tom appeared on the WVLT noon show to promote The Orchids & Onions program.
The O&O committee met at least twice, the second time to approve the judging material and to make a decision on the People’s Choice Award and the Butterfly Award.
Sam, Gary and Tom took pictures of Orchid & Onion nominees in south, east and north Knoxville.
The Orchid Judging panel met and did their work. Panelists included: Knox Heritage President Finbarr Saunders, Architect Buzz Goss, Janet Oakes of the Knox County Council of Garden Clubs, KCDC Commissioner Craig Griffith and Garry Menendez, UT Ag School landscaping expert.

Membership

Membership donations for September were $200.
KKB staff mailed offers for discounted O&O seats to Clean Business Members and several took advantage of the offer.

Media

In addition to the WVLT appearance the News Sentinel ran a very nice article on the Orchids & Onions Awards with a call for nominations.

Other

KKB hosted a meeting at The Emporium of the Tennessee KAB coordinators in the Knoxville area. Eight counties were represented including Cocke, Hamblen, Sevier, Bount, Loudon, Roane, McMinn and Knox. The group discussed a joint marketing effort aimed at promoting the concept that all citizens must work together so our communities make a good first impression.
KKB managed the nominations and judging for the New Sentinel Environmental Achievement Awards. The judging panel met and did their job. Panelists included: Mark Penland of TDEC, Paul James of Ijams Nature Center and Kelley Segar of the Smart Trips Program.
A going-away reception was held for KKB staff member Emily Ditty who is moving to Colorado with her husband.
Tom attended a meeting of the Keep Tennessee Beautiful Advisory Council in Joelton. The meeting was an orientation session for new council members. The highlight of the meeting was a preview of major changes in the way TDOT and Keep Tennessee Beautiful manage the Litter Grant program.

Orchids & Onions Committee – Gary Loe
The O&O event was discussed during the President’s report.

Unfinished Business
Tom reported that funds have started coming in on the Pinkston project.

New Business
Sam announced that James Whites Fort would have its annual Hearthscares event the end of the month. There was a brief discussion to have the Christmas party at the Emporium. Board members were encouraged to send emails to County Commission to support passage of the junk car ordinance.

Meeting Times and Announcements

O&O awards banquet is Tuesday, October 11^th
KAB national award winners announcement on October 18^th.
Next regular board meeting is Thursday, November 3, 2005, Candy Factory board room
Regional Tourism presentation, sponsored by Keep Sevier Beautiful, Governor’s Palace, Pigeon Forge, December 1^st, 2005
KAB annual meeting, Orlando FL, December 7-10, 2005

Adjournment – Harold made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Gary seconded. Approval was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 pm

__________________________________________________________

Sarah Surak, Secretary Date

Keep Knoxville Beautiful Board of Directors, Regular Meeting