The Friends of the Libraries Kona (F.O.L.K.) board meets every third Tuesday at 4-6 p.m. The minutes from each meeting are available below.

August

In Attendance: President Ken Guerra, Vice President Bill Lazar, Treasurer Mary Ellen Jaske, Secretary Julie Leonard Program Director Alysha Naone, Ways and Means Director Mardee Richardson, Publicity Director Trish Sierer
Kailua Kona Branch Manager Allison Holbrook
Absent: Kealakekua Branch Manager Judy Andrews
Call to Order 4:03 pm

• Review and Approve July 18, 2023 FOLK Board Minutes MSA
• Kona Library Report, Allison Holbrook: The plans for new air-conditioner for the Kona Branch are under way. President Ken offered if the library needs volunteer support with moving and preparing to let us know and we will bring it to our volunteer pool. F.O.L.K. has moved books out of the storage area to make room for AC supplies.
• Kealakekua Library Report, Judy Andrews: Judy was absent.
• Treasurer’s Notes, Mary Ellen Jaske: Report filed
• President’s Notes, Ken Guerra: Report filed
• Old Business:
  • Mission Statement re-write. Julie will complete this month and send to board for review prior to the next meeting.
  • FOLK Website management and publicity roles re-defined. Bill Lazar will be designated as “webmaster” responsible for the management and maintenance of the website. Trish Sierer, as Publicity Chair, will maintain calendar of events and programs, manage advertisements and promotions via print materials (flyers, brochures), print ads (newspaper and other websites) and radio and PSA spots. She will coordinate with Julie re: social media links, etc. and Ruth Savakinas for Book Club and Book Sale announcements. Mardee will temporarily resume Membership, monetary donations and In Memoriam duties for three months. We will begin looking for an additional board member to assume Membership for 2024 onward. A nominations committee will be formed in November.
• New Business:
  • Mardee brought forward the idea of F.O.L.K. hosting a mahalo event at Kona Bay Books. It could serve as a membership event and thank you to both Kona Bay Books and the F.O.L.K. Membership. We will look into the possibility and if our insurance and by laws will allow.
    A member requested some financial information regarding F.O.L.K. Ken will contact her.
• Meeting Adjourned at 5:45.
• Next Meeting is September 19, 2023

July

In Attendance: President Ken Guerra, Vice President Bill Lazar, Treasurer Mary Ellen Jaske, Secretary Julie Leonard Program Director Alysha Naone, Ways and Means Director Mardee Richardson
Kailua Kona Branch Manager Allison Holbrook, Kealakekua Branch Manager Judy Andrews
Absent: Publicity Director Trish Sierer
Call to Order 4:00 pm

• Review and Approve June 20, 2023 FOLK Board Minutes MSA
• Kona Library Report, Allison Holbrook:
  Summer programs are going well. Game night to continue.
  The plans for new air-conditioner for the Kona Branch are under way. The current time line is for the library to be closed from mid October through mid November. F.O.L.K. will need to move books out of the storage area to make room for AC supplies. The last F.O.L.K. book sale will be in August.
• Kealakekua Library Report, Judy Andrews:
  SCUP Mr. O’Sullivan guitar performance July 26, fossil casting and story drama are on the schedule.
• Treasurer’s Notes, Mary Ellen Jaske: Budgets are on track. There was a question regarding gift cards that F.O.L.K. possesses. They were purchased as thank you gifts to high school volunteers.
• President’s Notes, Ken Guerra:
  – Mid-year letter to Members was sent.
  – Inception of Antiquarian book cataloging, Micheal Cohen and Clear Engelberg will manage the online book sales.
  – Executive Board Strategic Planning meeting was productive,
  – President’s Tab in Drive: a presidents folder is now on the Google Drive. It was discussed that all board members including the president should file their monthly report in that monthly file so that we can all read reports prior to the next meeting.
  – New Business: Draft of FOLK Mission statement for review and comment. Will be presented at the next meeting.
• FOLK Website transition. In progress.
• Publicity: We may need to recruit a new board member for publicity. We hope to have new features for web and social media such a pictures of programs, book sales and other library and F.O.L.K. activities as well as featured stories.
• Directors’ Forum: Alysha brought up the topic of F.O.L.K. facilitating items for sale in association with programs such a book sales etc. It was discussed that the author or presenter is responsible for paying GET on any proceeds and that Mary Ellen will develop a form to be signed by presenters acknowledging that. F.O.L.K. will have a representative at events to handle monies. It was voted on and approved that F.O.L.K. will not take a percentage of sales but will accept a donation by the presenter.
• Adjournment at 5:50
• Next meeting August 15, 2023

June

In Attendance: President Ken Guerra, Vice President Bill Lazar, Treasurer Mary Ellen Jaske, Secretary Julie Leonard, Program Director Alysha Naone, Publicity Director Trish Sierer,
Ways and Means Director Mardee Richardson,
Kailua Kona Branch Manager Allison Holbrook, and Kealakekua Branch Manager Judy Andrews
Guests: Sheila Braithwaite
Call to Order: 4:00pm

• Minutes from May 16th meeting review and approve: Two typos were identified, corrected.
• Kona Library Report, Allison Holbrook: Allison reported that the programs have been successful. About 50 people attended the kick off of the summer reading program event, about 30 attended the Ukulele lesson, movie and story time each brought in about 30 people and 8 teens attended the teen program. She is hoping to host game nights and is looking for a few chess sets. Trish Sierer and Shiela Braithwaite offered to donate three chess sets.
• Kealakekua Library Report, Judy Andrews: Judy reports that inventory is complete and she was very happy with the volunteer support that she received. Programs have resumed at Kealakekua Library and the next one is presentation on balance and safety by a therapist from Club Rehab. Judy continues with her reading programs in the community. Kealakekua Library is still looking for a Library Assistant 3.
• Treasurer’s Notes, Mary Ellen: Mary Ellen provided a budget update. She noted that we received a check from Amazon for $159.00 to close out our smile program earnings as Amazon no longer has that program. Mary Ellen is working with both Branch Managers on their annual budgets. Mary Ellen noted that a large percentage of our income comes from annual grants and that it is a good time to consider new ways of raising money.
• President’s Notes, Ken Guerra: Ken noted that we have 252 members of F.O.L.K., 3 new members, 4 renewals, 4 deleted members.
• Motion to change book award for membership level –Bill: The Board reviewed the proposed changes and decided to not make changes at this time. It was identified during the discussion that our F.O.L.K membership brochure needs to be updated and we will do it at the end of the year when we are ready for a new printing.
• Motion to purchase digital voice recorder—Mardee: If we need to record the meetings we can use our cell phones.
• Recap of Chairs’ Reports: All board members were reminded to post their reports in advance of the meetings and to read all reports prior to the meeting so that we can save time listing to reports and use our time in an actionable way.

New Business:

• President’s Mid-Year Report: Ken reviewed all of the changes of this year and noted how productive the new board is. Congratulations to all.
• New Library Volunteer hours and Book Donation hours will be on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9-11:00am starting July 1st. 2023.
• Mardee and Allison will need to schedule the book sales for the rest of the year and the web page will need to be updated. Now all volunteers have to be F.O.L.K. members and apply to volunteer on the website.
• Some Restructuring-Role of the President: Ken feels that all new board members are proficient in their rolls and he will step back from assisting and move into a more administrative role.
• FOLK Mission and Vision: Ken will call a meeting of the executive branch ( president, vice president, secretary and treasure) to review our mission, vision and make sure that our foundational documents are in line with our mission.
• Public update/ Web Page: Ken requested that we assume management of our web page. Julie will contact Alane and facilitate Trish or Bill to work with her on that.
• Directors’ Forum: Julie requested that Ken submit his report each month in writing as the other directors do and add more detail to the agenda so that we have time to think about his suggestions prior to the meeting and come prepared to act.

Adjournment at 5:45. Date of next meeting July 18, 2023.

 

May

In Attendance:
President Ken Guerra, Vice President Bill Lazar, Treasurer Mary Ellen Jake, Program Director Alysha Naone, Publicity Director Trish Sierer, Ways and Means Director Mardee Richardson
Kailua Kona Branch Manager Allison Holbrook
Guests: Sheila Braithwaite, substituting for Secretary Julie Leonard
Absent: Secretary Julie Leonard, Kealakekua Branch Manager Judy Andrews

Review and Approve April’s FOLK Board Minutes were edited to include:
1. Mardee Richardson was absent.
2. A review of the By-Laws was recommended.
3. The Board voted to award two scholarships.

The Arne & Ruth Werchick Foundation MLIS scholarship was awarded to Kerri Glickstein. The Friends of Library Kona scholarship was awarded to Brianne Imada

Kailua Kona Public Library Report
Allison Holbrook

• Comic Book Day was a HUGE success! Wonderberry Comics and Kona Pizza delivered on every level.
• Next Book Sale is Friday June 16th and Saturday June 17th. Stacey is now Teen Librarian. Please review the website for comments and recommendations.
• Our inventory is going well.
• There was a dumpster fire and putting a security person in place is a challenge.
• Here are the programs in short:
  June 3rd – Mu’olaulani – Hula Performance. 10am-10:45am. As I said in the meeting, we might try to add an attendance list just so we have a heads up for how many people plan to attend.
  June 6th – Intro to ‘Ukulele With Maka. 3pm-4pm. We have a sign-up page for this, but it’s ONLY for patrons wanting to reserve a ‘ukulele for the program. Anyone who wants to attend and is bringing their own ‘ukulele does not have to sign up. I know this may be confusing, but we’re trying!
  June 1st – July 29th – Kau’i was contacted by a public librarian in Arizona who wanted to have a Pen Pals program and we loved the idea! I have very fond memories of doing this myself! This is a “passive” program in that children write their own postcards throughout the summer and we will have the ones we receive from the library in Arizona available for children to read and respond to. On July 29th at 10am, we’re planning a Zoom get- together with the children from Arizona and those here who participated so they can “meet” each other. We’re very excited to see how it goes!

No Kealkekua Library Report

President’s Notes: Ken Guerra
Donations continue to community libraries. Book Sale was stellar on Friday May 12th, slower on Saturday May 13th. Donations from the community continue at a high number and then there is the weeding by the libraries. Inventory is challenging. Current membership is 233.

Treasures Notes: Mary Ellen Jaske
All is going well, but she would like a backup treasurer.

Old and New Business
We discussed how to sell rare books and creating a store on our website. The board members were updated on the website. We continue codifying our policies. Maile Melrose’s thank you was posted by Bill Lazar.

Meeting adjourned at 5:45. Next Meeting June 20, 2023.

April

In Attendance:
President Ken Guerra, Vice President Bill Lazar, Treasurer Mary Ellen Jaske, Secretary Julie Leonard, Programs Director Alysha Naone, Publicity Director Trish Sierer Ways and Means Director Mardee Richardson
Kailua Kona Branch Manager Allison Holbrook and Kealakekua Branch Manager Judy Andrews
Guests: Shelia Braithwaite: Shelia has offered to assist with Secretary role while Julie is out of town.

• Review and Approve March 21, 2023 FOLK Board Minutes- MSA
• Kona Library Report: Allison Holmes
  Wednesday, April 26 Chris Carvalho graphic artist and comic book author will visit the Kailua Kona Branch library, give a presentation and possibly sale comic books with F.O.L.K. acting as the facilitator. May 6th is free comic book day Wonderberry’s is hosting the event with raffle prizes and pizza. Ukulele classes will be coming soon.
• Kealakekua Library Report: Judy Andrews
  The Kealakekua Branch is completing the weeding of old or damaged books prior to inventory and the RFID program. Haley Barte, our University of Hawaii, Manoa intern is in her last week of service. She will be missed. Continued works with preschool keiki. Both Kona Hongwanji Preschool and Sonshine Preschool are coming to the library. Story time and they select books to check out. Kealakekua Library. The West Hawaii Master Gardeners Free Seed Library is providing this resource to libraries throughout Hawaii Island.
• Count Week is in full swing giving library staff more details to keep track of.
 Mahalo nui loa for the Maile Melrose in memoriam donation. Purchasing will begin after the May 12th deadline for the inventory.
• President’s Report: Ken Guerra
  Ken reviews that no sales of books can take place at the libraries except by F.O.L.K. per FLA guidelines: See the FLA guidelines for more information. Some one from F.O.L.K. will need to be present for the Chris Carvalho presentation as he would like to sell books.
 Count week is underway and Kona Branch has enough volunteers.
 F.O.L.K. donated 540 books to the book exchange area at Denny’s and 60 to the little Library at Lani hou plaza. 160 boxes of books have been donated to F.O.L.K. that will be sold at the monthly book sales.
 Our “free” MailChimp account is not longer free. It is now $13.00 per month. All were in agreement that it is a good value.
 Ken announced that the April Book Sale was canceled due to a family emergency and Mardee will not be available. Ken is also unavailable to lead the book sale. The need for more board members to train to host the book sale was identified.
• Treasurer’s Notes: See report in the Google Workspace Folder.
• Old Business
  Codification of policies re: donations, in memoriam, retirement: in process.
  Develop on-line book sales program (ABE, eBay, Marketplace, etc.) Trish and Bill will work together to identify a platform to sell books online.
  Newsletter replacement: There was a discussion of re-instating a newsletter and it was decided to change the format to a monthly message from the president that will be emailed to F.O.L.K. members directing them to the website for detailed information.
  Labels, nameplates, logos, letterheads are all stored on GWS.
• New Business
  Blue Binder for hard copies of governing docs found in the Kailua Kona Branch Library.
  State Reg 414D re: recording votes in the minutes and minutes
 available to the public. They will be posted on the F.O.L.K. Website.
 C. FLH Guidelines for Vendors, p.16 r reviewed.
  Website—activation of “Members Only” section-Done
  Website Thank you for Maile Melrose donation- Julie will write a thank you note to be mailed and to post on our website.
  Directors’ Forum- Alysha offered to be the F.O.L.K. representative to sell books at the Chris Carvalho event.
• Meeting Adjourned at 5:45. Next meeting May 16, 2023

 

March

In Attendance:
President Ken Guerra, Vice President Bill Lazar, Treasurer Mary Ellen Jaske, Secretary Julie Leonard, Alysha Naone Programs Director, Trish Sierer Publicity Director, Mardee Richardson Ways and Means Director, Julia Riley Kailua Kona Interim Branch Manager, New Kailua Kona Branch Manager Allison Holbrook and Judy Andrews Kealakekua Branch Manager attended via phone.
No Guests

1. Call to Order at 4:00 by President Ken Guerra
2. Review and approve February Minutes. MSA.
3. Kailua Kona Library report: Julia Riley and Allison Holbrook.
Summer reading program challenge theme is “Seeds of Knowledge”.
Upcoming programs:

• Today Nova Mcbee author talk, June 10th Feng Shui for real estate. Books will be for sale and 40% of sales revenue will be donated to F.O.L.K.
• May 6th is free comic book day. Comic books provided by the State and it is possible that some will be donated by Wonderberry’s and a gift card to the Wonderberry’s store may be a raffle prize.
• Discussions with the producers of Wind and Reconning in hopes of a screening at the library. There are discussions with Chris Carvalho graphic artist for a possible visit to the library with comic books.

Honey from Fabric and Quilting Delights in Keauhou Shopping Center is making a quilt out of old summer reading t shirts and it will be displayed in the library.
The five year theme of summer reading is The Five-year theme of Summer Read is
“E Heluhelu Kākou – Let’s Read!”, with this year’s sub theme being Seeds of Knowledge. Julia is interested in purchasing local authored cardboard books for the Books 4 Babies in the future.
4. Kealakekua Library report: Judy Andrews. A water leak was discovered in the wall of the Kealakekua Branch and Judy reports that funds donated by F.O.L.K. were used to purchase a large fan to dry the carpets and wall. Judy continues with story time every Tuesday at 0900 and she visits local pre schools and reads to the children. There is a string art program on March 30, 2023. They are working on weeding and inventorying books in preparation of the RFID program. Volunteers needed. Judy will contact Mardee for volunteers.
5. President’s Report: All Directors reports were received via the Google Workspace. Moving forward each Director will place their report in the Folder of that month so they will be easily found and stored with the minutes of that month. Membership revenue was $399.00 last month. We received 2 applicants for the F.O.L.K. Scholarships but neither meet all of the criteria. Ken and Bill will discuss and possibly alter the criteria. The two day book sales continue but we earn 1/2 as much on Friday then Saturday. We earn about $50.00 per hour on Friday and $100.00 per hour on Saturday, we will consider moving to Saturday only.
6. Treasure’s Report: MaryEllen posted the document in the Google Workspace Treasure’s Folder.

7. Old Business:

• Articles of Incorporation: Vote by membership was successful and the Articles were passed.
• TD Ameri-Trade account was closed and funds were transferred to F.O.L.K. Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union account.
• Keiki Science Museum/Library MOU has been sent to the State Library for review.
• All Board Members are now on GWS and have a Gmail account for their position. Trish is actively managing and updating the website.

8. New. Business:

• A committee was formed to create a in memoriam policy and re-write the web page information regarding that. Ken, Mardee and Julie volunteered for the committee.
• Bill and Trish volunteered to research options to sell special books on line and how to process payments.
• Alysha will work on creating new labels for the books donated for the Books4Babies with
  updated information.

9. Directors Forum: All Board members were encouraged to put all F.O.L.K. and Library activities on the GWS calendar and use the Board Gmail addresses. All Board members were encouraged to post their vacations on the calendar and seek coverage for any out
standing events during their absence.
10. Meeting was Adjourned at 5:40.
Next Board Meeting is April 18, 2023 at 4:00 pm

February

F.O.L.K. Monthly Board Meeting Minutes January 31,2023
Kailua Kona Branch Library Lanai.

In Attendance:
President Ken Guerra, Vice President Bill Lazar, Treasurer Mary Ellen Jaske, Secretary Julie Leonard, Alysha Naone Programs, Director, Trish Sierer Publicity Director, Mardee Richardson Ways and Means Director
Julia Riley Kailua Kona Interim Branch Manager and Judy Andrews Kealakekua Branch Manager
No Guests

1. Call to Order at 10:05 by President Ken Guerra
2. Review and Approve December 20, 2022 Minutes: MSA
3. Set Schedule/Calendar of Board Meetings for 2023: The Monthly Board Meetings will be on the third Tuesday of the month from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Kailua Kona Branch Library and on occasion at the Kealakekua Branch Library. Ken will coordinate with the Branch Managers for scheduling.
All Board members were encouraged to post their scheduled vacations on the Google Workspace Calendar and to partner with someone to cover their responsibilities while gone.
Electronic attendance will be possible but as we are a new board in person attendance is encouraged.
4. Match Job Descriptions w/ Tactical Activities (handout). Reviewed.
5. Transition Strategies (who has what, who trains whom) Reviewed. It was discussed that F.O.L.K. will not be buying books for the book club anymore and that club members will be encouraged to order the book from the Library, Buy the book or use Libby or Overdrive if cost is an issue.
6. Strategy Building/ FOLK Foundations (handout). Reviewed.
7. Homework/Progress Reports:
A. Mardee needs access to Mail Chimp
B. Is PayPal the best collections app or should we use something else?
C. Get Google Workspace running and access for all board members. Establish a calendar, upload founding documents.
D. Each Branch Manager will present their Budget at the February Meeting.
8. Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 21,2023 at 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Kailua Kona Branch Library.
9. 11:45 Meeting Adjourned. Respectfully Submitted by Julie Leonard, F.O.L.K. Secretary.