Board Of Directors

Spanish American Center, Inc.

112 Spruce Street, Leominster, MA 01453

     Tel #: 978-534-3145         Fax #: 978-534-5146 

Board Of Directors News

Next Board of Directors’ Meeting: May, 2020   

SAC Board of Directors Meeting; Thursday, May 15, 2020, at 1:00 PM Va Google Meeting. If you did not get the Link, Please Contact Andy Mercik.

< was previously scheduled for 04/09/2020, at 6:00PM >

M I N U T E S of February 20, 2020 meeting

  1. Opening/Welcoming remarks/Apertura y Bienvenida: President Miggie welcomed all present and opened the meeting at 6:05PM./La Presienta Miggie comenzo la reunion a las 6:05PM y les dio la bienvenida a todos. 
  1. Board Member Attendance & Determination of Quorum/Asistencia de los Miembros Y Determinacion de Quorum: We have (  a  /  no  )/( No  /  Si  ) tenemos quorum.

12 Active Board Members/12 Miembros Activos: _P_ President Miggie Velez _P_ Vice

President Silvia Taurino  ___ Treasurer                            ___ Secretary

_P_ Atty M. Yanneth Bermudez Camp _A_ Alberto Cardelle _E_ Meredith Geraghty  

_P_ Jessie Olsen _E_ Georgie Rodriguez _P_ Eladia Romero _P_ Linda Velez Scullane  _P_ Luz Torres  _P_ Ruby Vargas  _P_ Leona Whetzel

Staff: _P_ Neddy Latimer _P_ Susan O’Brien _P_ Andy Mercik _P_ Mickey Guzman

Guest:  Cheryl Boissy* (Advisory Council Member by phone)

  1.     3 Special Votes:  Motion vote to  approve prospective member  (Meredith  Geraghty)  was

made by Eladia, seconded by Jessie (Passed); motion to approve 2nd terms onto the  board of Luz and Leona was made by Silvia, seconded by Yanneth (Passed); and motion to amend the by-laws’ term limits section to include, “exceptions can be made by board approval” was made Silvia, seconded by Ruby (Passed)/Votos Especiales: La mocion de votar y aprobar a Meredith Geraghty para ser nueva miembra de la Directiva fue hecha por Eladia, secundada por Jessie (Paso); la mocion para aprobar el 2ndo termino de servicios a la Directiva de Luz y Leona fue hecha por silvia, secundada por Yanneth (Paso); y la mocion para enmendar la seccion de limites en nuestras bi-leyes para incluir, “se pueden hacer excepciones si aprobadas por la Directiva” fue hecha por Silvia, secundada por Ruby (Paso).

  1. Select/appoint a Treasurer and a Secretary.  Give “Thank You’s” to Cheryl Boissy and to

           Richard Letarte for their many years of services to  SAC and the board./Seleccionar y aprobar

           a un Tesorero y a una Secretaria de la Directiva.  Darle “Las  Gracias” a Cheryl y a Richard por

           todo el tiempo que apoyaron al Centro y que sirvieron en nuestra Directiva.

  1.    Mr. Nestly, who is helping SAC  with succession planning, came from Boston and updated

           the board on the  status and that  board/staff  interviews need  to be  completed./El  Sr. Nestly,

           que nos esta ayudandonos con el Planes Futuro del Centro, vino de Boston e  informo del estado

           del plan  y  que  tenemos  que  completer  las  entrevistas de la Directiva  y  del  personal.  

    

  1.  Staff  Program  Presentation/Presentacion de  Programas:  Tamara  Castro introduced herself

presented her program and services (emergency services, Domestic Violence Outreach and assisting Attny. Bermudez Camp)/Se presento y nos hablo de sus programas y servicios  (emergencia, Abuso Domestico y ayudando a la Abogada Yanneth).

 

  1.    Past  Minutes of  Feb.  20,  2020 (motion  needed)/Minutas Anteriores  del  20  de  feb. de  2020

           (necesita mocion):  Mickey briefly read  the past minutes.  The  motion  to accept  the minutes

           was made by Jessie,  seconded  by Ruby  (Passed).  Mickey brevemente  repaso las  minuta.  La

           mocion  para aprobar  las minutas fue  hecha por Jessie,  secundada por Ruby (Paso).

  1.  Treasurer’s Report for  Feb. 20,  2020 (motion needed)/Reporte del  Tesorero del 20 de  feb. de  

           2020 (necesita mocion): Andy made the Treasurer’s Report informing us that  SAC was doing

            fine financially at this time.  The motion to accept  and  approve  the Treasurer’s Report  was

           made by Yanneth,  seconded by  Luz  (Passed)./Andy hizo el  Reporte del  Tesorero informando

            que el centro esta bien financieramente por ahora.   Se estan pagando  todas la cuentas a tiempo, 

            y estamos recibiendo los fondos a tiempo. La mocion de aceptar/aprobar el Reporte  del Tesorero

            fue hecha por Yanneth, secundada por Luz (Paso).

  1.  Director’s Report for Feb. 20,  2020 (motion needed)/Reporte de la Directora del  20 de  feb. de

           2020 (necesita mocion):  Neddy gave her report and stated that SAC had been very busy over

           the past months, especially with an increase of  food pantry and housing/homelessness) issues.

           The motion to accept  the Director’s Report  was made by Jessie, seconded by Silvia. Passed./

           Neddy hizo su reporte y  dijo que hemos  estado muy  ocupado los ultimos  meses, especialmente   

           con el almacen de comida (“food pantry”) y asuntos de vivienda,  La mocion para aceptar el

           Reporte de la Directora fue hecha por Jessie, secundada por Silvia.  Paso.

  1.   Director of Planning & Grants’ Report for Feb. 20, 2020 (motion needed)/Reporte de Directora

         de Planeamientos Y Propuestas del 20 de feb. de 2020  (necesita mocion): Susan gave her report,

           mentioning that there were  several grants  applied for  (and still pending approval).  She will

           continue to look  for more funding.  The motion to accept the Director of  Planning  & Grants

           was made by  Yanneth,  seconded  by  Eladia. Passed./Susan hizo su  reporte, mencionandonos

           que hay varias  propuestas hechas que no hemos  recibido informacion si seran aprobadas o no.

           Yanneth hizo la mocion, secundada por Eladia.  Paso.      

  1.  Committee Reports & New Updates/Reportes de los Comiteses Y Asuntos Nuevos:
  2.    SAC Fundraising Committee/Comite para Recaudar Fondos:
  3.    SAC Website Information/Informacion de la Pagina Cibernetica del Centro:
  4.    Mr. Nestly on Succession Planning/Sr. Nestly, hablar del estado del Plan Futuro del Centro.

                NOTE:  This was presented and discussed previously (in 2c), respecting Mr. Nestly’s long

                 trip back to Boston./Hablamos y discutimos esto anteriormente, respetando que el Sr. Nestly

                 tenia un viaje largo a Boston.

  1.      Any other committee report or SAC issue:
  1.  New Business/Asuntos Nuevos:
  1. Adjournment; Motion to Adjourn made by ______       _, seconded by ALL.  Passed. The

          Meeting adjourned at _______/Clausura; Mocion para clausurar hecha por _____   ____,

          secundada por todos.  Paso.  Se clausuro la reunion a las _______.

NOTE:  *means that a board member is present by phone/significa miembro/a presente por telefono.  

 

Mag

 

                                     SPANISH AMERICAN CENTER, INC.

112 SPRUCE STREET, LEOMINSTER, MA.  01453

TEL #: 978-534-3145         FAX #: 978-534-5146

 

SAC Board of Directors Meeting; Thursday, May 00, 2020, at ??

< was previously scheduled for 04/09/2020, at 6:00PM >

 

A G E N D A

  1. Opening/Welcoming remarks/Apertura y Bienvenida: President Miggie welcomed all present and opened the meeting at _______./La Presienta Miggie comenzo la reunion a las _______ y les dio la bienvenida a todos.
  2. Board Member Attendance & Determination of Quorum/Asistencia de los Miembros Y Determinacion de Quorum: We have (  a  /  no  )/( No  /  Si  ) tenemos quorum.

12 Active Board Members/12 Miembros Activos: ___ President Miggie Velez  ___ Vice

President Silvia Taurino  ___ Treasurer ____________  ___ Secretary ____________

___ Atty M. Yanneth Bermudez Camp  ___ Alberto Cardelle   ___ Meredith Geraghty  

___ Jessie Olsen ___ Georgie Rodriguez ___ Eladia Romero ___ Linda Velez Scullane  ___ Luz Torres  ___ Ruby Vargas  ___ Leona Whetzel

Staff: ___ Neddy Latimer ___ Susan O’Brien  ___ Andy Mercik  ___ Mickey Guzman

  1. Special Votes:  Votes  to approve prospective member (Meredith  Geraghty),  approve  2nd

                terms onto the board of Luz and Leona and vote to amend the by-laws’ term limits section

                to include, “exceptions can be made by board approval”/Votos Especiales:  Votar y aprobar

                a Meredith Geraghty para ser nueva miembra de  la Directiva, votar y aprobar el 2ndo termino

                de servicios a la Directiva de Luz  y Leona, y votar para enmendar la seccion de limites en las

                bi-leyes para incluir, “se pueden hacer excepciones si son aprobadas por la Directiva”.

  1.    Select/appoint a new Treasurer and Secretary. Thank  Cheryl Boissy and Richard Letarte

                 for their many years of services to SAC and to the board./Seleccionar y aprobar Tesorero y

                 Secretaria de la Directiva.  Darle las gracias a Cheryl  y Richard por todo el tiempo que ellos

                 apoyaron al centro y que sirvieron en la Directiva.

  1. 3.    Staff Program Presentation/Presentacion del Personal:  _______         _NONE_____      _____
  2.   Past Minutes of Feb. 20, 2020 (motion needed)/Minutas Anteriores del 20 de feb. de

 2020 (necesita mocion):

  1. Treasurer’s Report for May, 2020 (motion needed)/Reporte del Tesorero, mayo – 2020

         (necesita mocion)

  1. Director’s Report  for  May, 2020  (motion needed)/Reporte de la  Directora de mayo –

          2020 (necesita mocion)

  1.    Director of Planning & Grants’ Report for  May, 2020 (motion needed)/Reporte de la

          Directora de Planeamientos Y Propuestas de mayo – 2020 (necesita mocion)

  1. 8.   Committee Reports & New Updates/Reportes de los Comiteses Y Asuntos Nuevos:
  2.    SAC Fundraising Committee/Comite para Recaudar Fondos:
  3.    SAC Website Information/Informacion de la Pagina Cibernetica del Centro:
  4.     Any other committee report or SAC issue:
  5.     New Business/Asuntos Nuevos:
  6.    Adjournment; Motion to Adjourn made by ______       _, seconded by ALL.  Passed. The

            Meeting adjourned at _______/Clausura; Mocion para clausurar hecha por _____   ____,

            secundada por todos.  Paso.  Se clausuro la reunion a las _______.

 

NOTE: * means board member is present by phone (el/la miembro/a esta presente por telefono)

Mag

                                   SPANISH AMERICAN CENTER, INC.

112 SPRUCE STREET, LEOMINSTER, MA.  01453

TEL #: 978-534-3145         FAX #: 978-534-5146

SAC Board of Directors Meeting; Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 6:00PM

< was previously postponed on 12/12/2019, 01/09/2020, and 02/13/2020, at 6:00PM >

 

A G E N D A

  1. Opening/Welcoming remarks/Apertura y Bienvenida: President Miggie welcomed all present and opened the meeting at _______./La Presienta Miggie comenzo la reunion a las _______ y les dio la bienvenida a todos.
  2. Board Member Attendance & Determination of Quorum/Asistencia de los Miembros Y Determinacion de Quorum: We have (  a  /  no  )/( No  /  Si  ) tenemos quorum.

11 Active Board Members/11 Miembros Activos: ___ President Miggie Velez  ___ Vice

President Silvia Taurino  ___ Treasurer                            ___ Secretary

___ Atty M. Yanneth Bermudez Camp  ___ Alberto Cardelle  _^_ Meredith Geraghty  

___ Jessie Olsen ___Georgie Rodriguez  ___ Eladia Romero  ___ Linda Velez Scullane  ___ Luz Torres  ___ Ruby Vargas  ___ Leona Whetzel

Staff: ___ Neddy Latimer ___ Susan O’Brien  ___ Andy Mercik  ___ Mickey Guzman

  1. Special Votes:  Votes to approve  prospective member (Meredith  Geraghty), approve

          2nd terms onto the  board of  Luz and  Leona and  vote  to amend the by-laws’ term  limits

           section to include, “exceptions can be made by board approval”/Votos  Especiales: Votar para

           aprobar a Meredith Geraghty para ser una nueva miembra de la Directiva, votar para aprobar el

           2ndo termino de servicios a la Directiva de Luz y Leona, y votar para  enmendar la seccion  de

           limites en bi-leyes que incluya, “se pueden hacer excepciones si aprobadas por la Directiva”.

  1.   Select/appoint  a  new  Treasurer  and  Secretary.  Thank  Cheryl Boissy and  Richard

          Letarte for their many years of services  to SAC and the board./Seleccionar/aprobar a un

          Tesorero y una Secretaria de la Directiva.  Dar las  gracias a Cheryl y Richard  por todo  el

          tiempo que apoyaron al centro y que sirvieron en la Directiva.

  1. Staff  Program  Presentation/Presentacion del  Personal:  Tamara  Castro,  Outreach

 Community Engagement Coordinator (Domestic Violence Program)

  1. Past  Minutes of  Nov. 14, 2019 (motion needed)/Minutas Anteriores, del  14 de  nov. de

 2019 (necesita mocion):

  1. Treasurer’s Report  for Feb. 14, 2020  (motion needed)/Reporte del  Tesorero del 14 de

          (necesita mocion)

  1. Director’s Report for Feb. 14, 2020 (motion needed)/Reporte de la Directora del 14 de

          feb. de 2020 (necesita mocion)

  1.  Director of Planning & Grants’ Report for feb. 14, 2020 (motion needed)/Reporte de

          la Directora de Planeamientos Y Propuesta del 14 de feb. de 2020 (necesita mocion)

  1. Committee Reports & New Updates/Reportes de los Comiteses Y Asuntos Nuevos:
  2. SAC Fundraising Committee/Comite para Recaudar Fondos:
  3. SAC Website Information/Informacion de la Pagina Cibernetica del Centro:
  4.   Any other committee report or SAC issue:
  5.  New Business/Asuntos Nuevos:
  6. Adjournment; Motion to Adjourn made by ______       _, seconded by ALL.  Passed. The

          Meeting adjourned at 8:20PM/Clausura; Mocion para clausurar hecha por _____   ____,

          secundada por todos.  Paso.  Se clausuro la reunion a las 8:20PM.

 

 

  boardmeeting______________________________________________________

Migdalia Velez, BA,   President (2019)

Migdalia Velez

Migdalia Velez, Program Director, The Family Resource Center, MOC

Silvia Taurino, of Leominster, Vice President (2019). SAC Volunteer

Vice President Silvia Taurino

Meredith Geraghty, NuVue Communities

Meredith Geraghty, Program Officer, Community Organization, NewVue Communities, Fitchburg

Luz Torres, Leominster, SAC Reception Volunteer

Mary Yanneth Bermudez-Camp

Janet

Mary Yanneth Bermudez-Camp, Esq., Leominster

Ruby Vargas

Ruby Vargas Branch Manager, Main Street Fidelity Bank, Leominster, MA

Leona  Earley Whetzel

Leona Earley Whetzel VP Montachusett Opportunity Council

Jessie Olson

Events Planning, Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA

Eladia Romero 

Congressional Aide, North Central MA Office of Congressman Jim McGovern

Alberto J. F.  Cardelle, PhD

Provost and Vice President off Academic Affairs, Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA

Georgie Rodriguez

Linda Velez Scullane

Mt. Wachusett Community College

Director of STEM Starter Academy, Articulation and Curriculum Pathways

********************************************************************************

Executive  Committee Job Descriptions

SPANISH AMERICAN CENTER

JOB DESCRIPTION, SECRETARY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 Reports to: Board Chair or Board of Directors, as appropriate

Term:  3 years

Duties Specific to the Board Secretary

The Secretary duties/responsibilities are as following:

Serves on the Executive Committee.

Keeps copies of the organization’s bylaws and the Board’s policy statements.

Keeps lists of officers, Board Members, committees and General Membership.

Notifies Board Members of meetings.

Keeps record of Board attendance.

Makes sure that there is a quorum at Board meetings.

Keeps accurate Minutes of meetings.

Records all motions and decisions of meetings.

Signs Board Minutes to attest to their accuracy.

Records all corrections to Minutes.

Keeps copies of Minutes of both Board and committee meetings.

Keeps accurate record of Executive Committee meetings.

Distributes copies of Board Minutes and actions to Board Members promptly after meetings.

Distribute copies of Executive Committee Minutes and actions to Executive Committee Members promptly after meetings.

Conducts general Board correspondence.

Keeps records of all Board correspondence.

Signs official documents of the organization as required.

Orients the new Secretary as needed.

Makes sure members are notified of Annual General Meetings.

In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, chairs Board meetings..

(sob3/20)

Board Treasurer

The board treasurer is an executive and voting member of the board of directors of the Association and appointed in a manner consistent with the bylaws. He/she is accountable to the Board for the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities outlined below

Authority

The treasurer, as other board members, has no authority to direct staff or take independent action on matters outside of the duties outlined unless given such authority by the Board

Time Commitment

Ten hours per month (board meetings, meetings with the Executive Director, committee meetings)

Term of Office

Three years with the possibility of renewal for a second term.

Roles and Responsibilities

The treasurer will offer guidance to the Executive Director and financial officer in ensuring good fiscal planning, decision-making and oversight at a governance level.

His/her principle duties are to:

•  With Finance Manager, assist in the preparation of the annual budget and its presentation to the board for review

• Ensure that the appropriate monthly or quarterly financial statements are reviewed by the board

• Ensure that the board regularly monitors the organization’s financial performance and alerts it to any important discrepancies between planned and actual figures

•  Ensure that payroll and other liabilities are settled in a timely manner

• Serve as a backup signer of checks if needed

• Ensure that excess funds and reserves are properly held and invested

• Verify that donations are handled appropriately and that grants and service delivery contracts are accounted for in accordance with the requirements of funders

• Meet with the external auditor annually, or more often if needed, to identify any financial control and record keeping problems or deficiencies and  work with Finance Manager to address them

•  Assists the Executive Director and board chair with the development and presentation of the annual report

•  Helps, along with the Finance Manager, keep the board informed of important financial events, trends, and issues relevant to the organization

Committee Membership

The treasurer is automatically a member of the Executive Committee if one exists, and will normally chair the following committees when and where such are necessary:

•  Finance Committee

(sob3/20)

Emeritus Board Members

Richard Letarte, CPA

Cheryl Boissy, MSW, LICSW

Angelita Santiago

Anne Bissionette

In Memorium – Lionel D Reinford

Noted Artist, Educator, CommunityAdvocate

April, 24,  2020, Canton, MA

Lionel D Reinford September 9, 1942 ~ April 24, 2020

Lionel Reinford, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts,  a well-known and highly respected educator, community activist, and artist in this region. Born in Honduras and educated at Harvard University, Mr. Reinford moved to Leominster in 1973 to teach elementary school students. Shortly thereafter, he became involved with Leominster’s SpanishAmerican Center, a non-profit that serves area Latino/Hispanic communities, where he eventually became the Executive Director for many years. He also began to paint. Mr. Reinford’s work has appeared many times at the Fitchburg Art Museum in  annual juried Regional Exhibition of Art & Craft – in fact, the first time he entered the show he won first prize!

Mr. Reinford  wasalso an author.

Author Lionel Reinford’s Tomorrow I’ll Surface is a captivating memoir—a story of an idealistic immigrant’s journey

In Memorium  –  John I. Going 

John Going

John Going

LEOMINSTER- John Isaac Going, 66, of Leominster, died Tuesday, January 6, in Sterling Village after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born May 18, 1948, in Leominster, son of Patricia M. (Supple) and the late Sidney Going, Sr. John graduated from Leominster High School in 1966. He earned his Bachelor of Secondary Education in 1975, and Master’s degree in Community Counseling in 1992, both from Fitchburg State College. John immersed himself in his community as a Community Service Coordinator for Catholic Charities of North Worcester County, Board of Directors for the Spanish American Center, religious educator and active member at Holy Family of Nazareth Church, and as an election worker for Ward 4. John enjoyed writing poetry. He was involved with several literary magazines and weekly newspapers, including the Tribune and Pioneer. He also enjoyed merengue dancing.

Besides his mother, he leaves his brother, Sidney “Tom” Going, Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Leominster; one sister, Sr. Mary Going, OSB, of Martin, KY; and a large community of colleagues and friends.

Besides his father, he was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, John and Mary Supple, his paternal grandparents, Isaac and Mary Alice Going, and one brother, Thomas Philip Going in 1950.

The funeral will be held Saturday, January 10, from Simard Funeral Home, 14 Walker St., Leominster, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. in Holy Family of Nazareth Church, 750 Union St., Leominster. Burial will follow in St. Leo’s Cemetery.

Calling hours are Friday, January 9, from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. in the funeral home.