MGFA General Assembly Meeting Minutes

June 12, 2008page 1 of 4

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING MINUTES

June 12, 2008

Chapters Present:

Alabama ChapterArkansas Chapter

Carolinas ChapterGeorgia Chapter

Great Lakes Chapter Greater Florida Chapter

Jim L. Walker Arizona Chapter Maryland/DC/Delaware Chapter

Kentucky Chapter Massachusetts/New Hampshire

Metro New York Chapter MGNet Chapter

Minnesota Chapter MGA of Kansas City Chapter

MG Foundation of IllinoisOklahoma Chapter

Northwest Texas ChapterPacific Northwest Chapter

Pennsylvania Chapter Upstate New York Chapter

Virginia ChapterWisconsin Chapter

National Board Present:

Richard J. Barohn, M.D Madeline Batenjany

Steve Hawco Marc Kalish

Henry Kaminski, M.D. Michael Klingman Wilma Koopman Esther Land

Nancy Law Marcia Lorimer Ron McFarlane Janet D. Myer Marie T. Ronnlof Sam Schulhof

Chapters Absent:

Connecticut-Nutmeg ChapterGarden State Chapter

Greater St. Louis ChapterOhio Chapter

Utah Intermountain Chapter

National Board Members Absent:

Louis NemtsovRobert Ruff, M.D. Mike Rusinko

National Office Staff Present:

Jan GoldenMat Spaan

Call to Order:

  • The meeting was called to order at 8:44 a.m. Central Daylight Savings Time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

State of the Foundation by Sam Schulhof:

  • Sam Schulhof welcomed all to the 2008 Annual Meeting of the General Assembly.
  • Sam Schulhof’s State of the Foundation address included the following points:
  • 2005 was the year of listening and learning.
  • 2006 was year of assessment and change.
  • 2007 was year of building momentum
  • 2008 – 2009 are the years for accelerating the change
  • Mr. Schulhof then laid out the strategic plan as stated last year:
  1. Build a sustainable MGFA
  2. Build a diversified and stable funding base
  3. Increase public awareness about MG and MGFA
  4. Continue to grow MGFA endowment
  • We need to build our organization and have begun that process
  • We are developing our Board
  • Committee structure changed and is making progress
  • Website enhancements
  • Broaden the donor base
  • Created a sound investment policy
  • Created a reserve for unrestricted assets
  • Initiated branding program
  • Board approved hiring a Development Director and have begun the search for same
  • Reenergized the Nurses Advisory Board
  • Funded five post-doctoral fellowships and three student fellowshipsin 2007
  • Co-sponsored the International Conference along with the New York Academy of Sciences which had the highest attendance in the history of the Conference.
  • The Professional Manual is nearing completion
  • Pursuing the development of MG Summit (in conjunction with the NIH) with the purpose of establishing a multi-year focused research agenda
  • Exploring possibilities of collaboration with AmericanAcademy of Neurology to leverage research funds
  • Some things we will be initiating which will further our goals
  • Establish a Leadership Training program
  • Establish a Support Group Facilitator Training program
  • Establish a facilitator certification program
  • Quarterly conference calls with chapters with a goal of improving communications
  • Explore the possibility of regional chapter meetings
  • Expand internet visibility

Finance Report by Beth Tabak:

  • The 2007 financials have been audited and the result is an unqualified report.
  • National staff will distribute copies of the graphs and charts included with Ms. Tabak’s report.

Consent Agenda:

  • Motion: to approve the Consent Agenda, including the Minutes of the 2007 Annual Meeting, the Chief Executive’s Report and the Committee Reports, as submitted.
  • First: Dianne George
  • Second: Georgiann Davis
  • Result: Approved.

New Business:

  • Election of Directors:
  • There were no nominations from the floor.
  • The slate of nominees to the Board of Directors are:
  • For election: Steven Hawco, Susan Klinger and Louis Nemtsov
  • Result: The slate of nominees were elected and welcomed to the Board of Directors of MGFA.
  • Election of Committee Members:
  • Nominations from the floor were opened for membership on the Board Development/Nominating Committee.
  • Marilyn Buckner, Marilyn Ricci and Lindsay Knudsen were nominated.
  • Result: Marilyn Buckner,Marilyn Ricci and Lindsay Knudsen were elected to the Board Development/Nominating Committee.
  • Nominations from the floor were opened for membership on the Chapter Relations Committee.
  • Barry Levine was nominated.
  • Marika Bates was nominated.
  • Cindie Killeen was nominated.
  • Result: Barry Levine, Marika Bates and Cindie Kileen were elected to the Chapter Relations Committee.
  • Amendmentsto the Bylaws:
  • The national staff will generate a form that the chapters can use to submit their quarterly research restricted funds. The form will designate that any income earned is unrestricted.
  • Motion: To approve the amendmentsto the Bylaws as presented.
  • Motion was made by the Bylaws/Policies and Procedures Committee.
  • Result: Approved unanimously with no abstentions.
  • Policies and Procedures:
  • After considering the comments by the Chapters during the Town Hall meeting, as well as during the telephone conferences, the Board will entertain the following revised changes to the Policies and Procedures as previously proposed:
  • Effective today, June 12, 2008, any funds paid to national representing chapter assessments will be unrestricted.
  • Effective January 1, 2009, any funds assessable pursuant to the Policies and Procedures, will be assessed at twenty (20%) percent, and will be payable beginning in 2010. Twenty-five (25%) percent of any CFC/CHC or United Way funds received by the Chapter will be subject to assessment.
  • Effective January 1, 2010, any funds assessable pursuant to the Policies and Procedures, will be assessed at twenty-five (25%) percent and will be payable beginning in 2011. Fifty (50%) percent of any CFC/CHC or United Way funds received by the Chapter will be subject to assessment.
  • Any funds assessable prior to January 1, 2008, are assessable under the current Policies and Procedures.
  • Effective January 10, 2011, all CFC/CHC or United funds received by the Chapter will be subject to assessment.
  • Great Lakes Chapter Exemption from Section IV, Fundraising, #10 of the Policies and Procedures Request:
  • Motion: that the Great Lakes Chapter Exemption request be approved for this year and into the future so long as the terms and conditions remain the same and that the arrangement remains legal in the State of Michigan.
  • First: Marc Kalish
  • Second: Georgiann Davis
  • Result: Approved.
  • Illinois Chapter Exemption Request from Section IV, Administration:
  • Motion: to deny the Illinois Chapter Exemption Request.
  • Motion was recommended by the Chapter Relations Committee, the Board and the Executive Committee.
  • Result: Approved.
  • Illinois Chapter Probationary Status:
  • Motion: to grant the Illinois chapter an extension of their probationary status until August 1, 2008. In the event payment in full of its 2007 Chapter Assessments, the probationary status is lifted and the chapter will return to a chapter in good standing. In the event payment in full of its 2007 Chapter Assessments is not received on or before August 1, 2008, the charter for the Illinois Chapter would be revoked without further action.
  • Motion made by the Chapter Relations Committee.
  • Result: Approved.

Old Business:

  • Branding Policy:
  • Nancy Law gave an inspirational and uplifting talk about the advantages of and need to work as a team, chapter to chapter and chapter to national.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 12:36 a.m. Central Daylight Savings Time.

Respectfully submitted,

Marie T. Ronnlof, Secretary