2305 West Shaw Avenue, Fresno, Ca 93711
January 15, 2005
8:00 am – 2:10 pm

Officers Present:
   Sandy McCarthy, President
x Tamara Parker, Vice President
x Carol Ludlow, Secretary
   Cindy Elwell, Treasurer

Director’s Present:
   Jeri Blatt, Past President, Nominations and Elections
x Carl Knoll, Public Relations
x Nancy Newlin, Newsletter
x Robin Schumacher, Membership and Administrator
x Marcia Burke, Professional Standards
   John Hughes, Legislative
x Betty Cole, Education
x Marcel Neumann, Technology
x Connette Blalock, Conference
x Connie Crockett, Fundraising
x Jim Wood, Finance Committee


Others Present: None

8:15 am Called to order by Tamara Parker
Roll call taken by Secretary

BOARD REPORTS

1. President's Report - None
2. Vice-President's Report - None
3. Treasurer's Report - Handed out at meeting
4. Secretary's Report - Attached
5. Past President's Report - Attached
6. Professional Standard's Report - Attached
7. Fundraising Report - Handed out at meeting
8. Conference Report - None (E-mailed but not received)
9. Education Report - Handed out at meeting
10. Technology Report - Handed out at meeting
11. Public Relations Report - Attached
12. Newsletter Report - Handed out at meeting
13. Membership Report - Attached
14. Administrator Report - Attached

MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION/NEW BUSINESS:

1. Discussion regarding the possibility of the first Board Meeting taking place closer to the elections in October. The first 3 months appear to be unproductive especially for new Board Members. It was decided that this is a matter for Sandy to review after her return.
   
2. Cindy reported that sales have been good with most of the revenue coming from membership. Cindy suggested outsourcing bookkeeping and membership drive as well as looking into the possibility of a shopping cart on the website. Discussion regarding a change of Bank in order to process funds received in a faster manner. Jim Wood will look into this possibility. Questions were raised about the possibility of an Association Credit Card and Tamara reported that this has been approached in the past but credit card companies require an individual's name be on the card.
   
3. It was suggested that a Newsletter should go out as soon as possible but Nancy said that she would prefer to spend some extra time in gathering articles so that this can be an edition that members will enjoy reading. The Board is to have all articles to her by February 5, 2005.
   
4. Robin reported that membership has doubled in just over a year bringing the membership to a total of a 164 members. 61 of these are in Southern California. There are approximately 700 LDA's in California.
   
5. Marcia has set up 3 Professional Standards Committee Meetings and has notified the members via the talk list. These are to be held on:
      Saturday, February 5, 2005, in Fremont, Ca.
      Saturday, March 5, 2005, in Laguna Niguel, Ca.
      Saturday March 19, 2005, in Douglas, CA.
   She has received a call from the Merced District Attorney informing her that they have a non-registered, non-Calda person in custody and they intend to prosecute.
   
6. Tamara is meeting with Bruce Bratton, a Marketing Consultant who specializes in small business promotion and Bob Carlton of Carlton Graphics to obtain their assistance in vamping up the membership package and Calda's image. Robin suggested a deadline and a plan. Tamara will try to meet during the next 3 weeks so that she can provide the Board with a plan.
   Betty Cole made a Motion for the Board to approve this meeting to implement the plan to upgrade Calda's membership package and image. This is not to exceed $1,500 until we receive the plan. The deadline of the return of the plan is the end of February.
   Robin Schumacher seconded the motion.
   Motion carried.
   
7. Connie said that there are still additional brochures that are not yet available on the website. There was discussion as to whether the work on the brochures should be a paid position. It was suggested that there should be a Brochures Chair Person to handle publications and revisions of brochures.
   Connie Crockett made a Motion for the Board to add another standing committee Board Chair to be called the Publications & Revisions Committee to update brochures and other publications created by CALDA.
   Marcia Burke seconded the Motion
   Motion carried.
   
8. Marcia asked Betty if she could summarize the evaluations from the 2004 conference and bring this summary to the next Board Meeting.
   
9. There was discussion regarding workshops and Tamara felt that these should be held, frequently, at different locations throughout California.
   
10. Discussion regarding potential speakers for the October Conference. It was suggested that rather than pay guest speakers $100 that their accommodation and lunch be paid for by CALDA. They would be considered a Leisure Guest. Marcel suggested that UPL speakers focus more on Bankruptcy and Immigration. Questions were raised regarding the procedure for sending out materials prior to the conference. Marcia suggested 3 mailings. Robin suggested that mailings be sent in June and August. Marcel suggested that classes be given by seasoned LDAs, covering specific topics with approximately 20-45 minutes per topics. Carl suggested a discount on membership dues for new members joining at the conference. Tamara asked that the bag, which is given to members, be a larger one than the one made for the last two conferences and also be darker in color.
    
11. Discussion regarding the statement placed by SBC in the Legal Document Assistant section of the yellow pages inferring that this section is only for Attorneys. It was decided that the most appropriate response would be for SBC to issue a press release informing the public of their error. They have acknowledged that this is an error on their part. Marcel will talk to SBC regarding this press release.
    
12. The next Board Meeting will be at Tamara's house. This will focus putting CALDA and CALDA's logo more in the forefront and revamping membership packages. Tamara would like to receive a list of goals for each position and the Association from all Board Members. Tamara will send out reminders which will include directions to her house.
    

AGENDA ITEMS:

1. Discussion regarding amendment of the bylaws, which would enable a member of any length of time to become a Board Member. Tamara appointed Connie as ad hoc committee to look into this amendment to include electronic notifications.
   
2. Discussion regarding the format and timely submission of Board Reports to Carol so that they can be circulated to the rest of the Board at least 3 days prior to the Board Meeting.
   
3. Marcel is in the process of gathering information to enable him to redo the web site. He is also investigating the possibility of changing from the current talk list to a discussion/board forum. He is in the process of putting together the history of CALDA but only has the history to 1999. It was suggested that Dianna and Tamara would be able to assist him with any missing history. When he has gathered all the required information he will seek the approval of the Board before proceeding.
   

Meeting adjourned at 2:10 pm