Friends of Jesse Lee Home minutes

THE FRIENDS OF THE JESSE LEE HOME
Minutes
June 21, 2007

Attendance:
Barbara Donatelli, CIRIhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.bold.gif
Doug Gasek, DNR
Olen Harris, NPRHA
Anne L. Henry, grant writer
Jim Jager, CIRI
Dorene Lorenz, Seward
Alexandra J. McClanahan, CIRI, secretary
M.E. Rider, consultant
Arliss Sturgulewski, former senator
Tom Swann, Seward Historic Preservation Commission
Kirsten Vesel, City of Seward (via teleconference)

Agenda/Minutes: The meeting was called to order by Barbara Donatelli at 1:42 p.m. The minutes from the May 17 meeting were approved on a motion by Dorene Lorenz and seconded by Jim Jager. The agenda was informally approved.

Communications: Alexandra J. McClanahan read an email from Sam Combs, indicating he could not attend the meeting and attaching a letter from the Alaska Association of Historic Places that the Jesse Lee Home was again on the 10 “most endangered” list.

McClanahan also mentioned an email from Carol Lee Cooper who said she and three of her sisters were residents of the Home in 1947-48 (Marianne, Anne, Carol Lee and Judith Miller) and that they would appreciate receiving JLH photos. McClanahan said she emailed some photos.

She also distributed an email from Bonnie Jack, announcing that Jackie Pels will be the featured speaker at the organization’s July 11 monthly meeting in Anchorage. Pels will talk about her research and two-volume book on the home.

Donations: Marcia Hastings was traveling, and so there was no report on donations.

Anchorage Daily New interest: Barbara Donatelli reported that Matt Zencey, Anchorage Daily News editorial page editor, had indicated he was interested in the project. She said it was a cordial discussion. (The ADN published a favorable editorial on June 22.)

State Capital Budget: Sturgulewski said she was concerned about the fact that Gov. Palin may veto a number of capital projects passed by the Legislature and said it might be a good idea to send a letter to her. Lorenz offered to contact Lt. Gov. Parnell to follow up. There followed discussion the timing of a possible editorial by Zencey, and Jim Jager volunteered to contact him. Palin will make her decisions on any vetoes by July 4.

Seward 4th of July: Jager distributed a mockup for panels for the Jesse Lee Home Float for the Seward 4th of July parade, and all agreed it was an excellent design. Swann suggested that the wording of the JLH color flier motto – “Preserve Alaska’s Past, Build Alaska’s Future” – be added to the panels.

Jager also noted that more buttons have been ordered, as well as the color flier. At Sturgulewski’s suggestion, it was decided that a smaller, less expensive flier would be created for the parade and other such gatherings.

Lorenz noted that Friends members are encouraged to participate in the parade or simply go to Seward to view it. She said the parade line-up is at 1:00 p.m. near 2nd Avenue. Swann said he would see whether it would be possible to obtain blue and gold taffy to distribute from the float.

Lorenz volunteered to take publications and the float panels to Seward when they are ready.

Seward July 9th flag day event: There was discussion of who might consider traveling to Seward for the city festivities on July 9, and it was agreed that McClanahan should contact Paul Ongtooguk to find out whether he would consider representing the Friends. (He later agreed to do so.)

Other upcoming meetings, events: M.E. Rider said there are other upcoming events and meetings in Seward, and she volunteered to coordinate that. Lorenz agreed to contact the “breakfast group,” an informal business group of Seward leaders.

Stakeholder meeting: At Rider’s suggestion it was agreed that there is a need for a major one- or two-day meeting of stakeholders. This was tentatively set for Oct. 8-9.

Engineering Committee: Rider said she was pleased to report that an RFP has been prepared, thanks in large part to Olen Harris’s assistance.

Legislative Committee: Sturgulewski said the key concern she has heard from legislators is that they do not want so many charter schools in Alaska that the regular school system is weakened.

Academic Policy Committee: Henry said that while the education group has not met, there have been important discussions with Wendy Battino, executive director of the Re-Inventing Schools Coalition, and that a meeting was planned with Roger Sampson, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. She said one issue that will need to be researched is what percentage of the Jesse Lee Home charter school students will be classified as “at-risk.”

When Sturgulewski asked what the total number of students would be at any given time, Henry said it’s likely it would be 50 to 75 students. She also noted that there are only three residential charter schools in the nation, and that the Jesse Lee Home school would be the fourth.

Discussion followed on what the annual costs might be, and it was agreed that this cannot be determined at this time.

Purchase of Flags: Swann distributed flags to Friends members, and all expressed gratitude for his work and the quality of the flags. Swann urged members to sell as many as possible and also to let him know of any groups or individuals that might be interested in selling the flags, which come in boxes of 24 and retail for $10 each.

Other business: Sturgulewski, Rider and Lorenz said they would be talking to people who might be of assistance in furthering the project, such as the founder of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, as well as landowners who have land near the Jesse Lee Home. Lorenz noted that Doug Lechner of Seward expressed interest in entertaining an offer for his nearby property.

Kirsten Vesel suggested that key points about the project be developed, and Rider volunteered to have a draft ready by the next meeting for review.

Next Meeting: The next meeting was set for Thursday, July 26, at 1:30 p.m. at CIRI.


To make tax-deductible contributions to the Jesse Lee Home Restoration Fund:
Mail contribution by check (payable to ACF- Jesse Lee Home Restoration Fund) or money order to:
The Alaska Community Foundation
301 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 408
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Credit Cards:
Contributions can be made to:
The Alaska Community Foundation
Phone: 907-334-6700
Fax: 907-334-5780
(ACF will need type of credit card, account number, expiration date, name on credit card, billing address and zip code for card holder, amount of contribution.)