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The nominated and
elected members to the Board of Trustees present during the
meeting accepted their mandates, albeit reluctantly. The spirit of
“Aditako Bokodan di Gawis” [i. e. let us share our blessings],
their commitment to the vision and mission of their beloved alma
mater, or their desire to be of help to their less fortunate
brethren in the hinterlands of Northern Luzon, apparently
overwhelmed any resistance they were entertaining at the moment.
Hopefully, the other
members of the Board of Trustees elected in absentia willl also
be overwhelmed by the same spirit of “Aditako Bokodan Di Gawis”
and likewise accept their nomination and election to the Board of
Trustees. Lambert Sagalla then proposed that he will try to get
their acceptance by phone follow-up, by email or through a
Confirmation of Nomination and Election Return Form he will set up
in the “Save SMS Sagada Website”.
As per the SMSSAFF
By-Laws, “no two (2) offices may be held by the same person”.
In view of this, the Chairman of the Board, currently vacant, will
have to be voted on. Since not all Members of the Board of
Trustees were present during the meeting they decided to conduct
the election through the web/internet. Those present nominated
and cast their votes in favor of Edwin Abeya . The others will
have to post their nominations and/or votes.
C. Officers
Article VIII, Section
I of the SMSSAFF By-Laws (Revised Draft, 10 February
2005). The term of elected officers was amended to three (3) years
and the term limit was amended to no more than two (2) consecutive
terms.
Lambert Sagalla raised
the issue of the need to have an Assistant Treasurer. Norman
Killip then was nominated and elected as the Assistant
Treasurer. While Norman Killip was not a nominated and elected
member of the Board of Trustees, it was explained that officers of
the Foundation need not come from the Board of Trustees.
At this juncture, Mia
Abeya and Lita Killip presented the Chair a proposed
Organizational Chart defining the relationship of the Board of
Trustees vis a vis the Officers and Programs of SMSSAFF. The
Chair liked the proposal and accepted the same, but somehow he
forgot to present it to the body for discussion and approval.
Perhaps Kabunian meant it to be presented and discussed further
during the next SMSSAFF meeting. This could also be a concern
which the incoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees would like to
mull over.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Computer Project
Report
The major fund raising
for the computers is a golf tournament to be held in the
Philippines. Alumni and Friends were asked to sponsor one or more
of the 18 holes. As of 18 June 2005, 15 of the 18 holes are
already sponsored. There is also a donation for 1 computer.
B. Treasurer’s
Report
Due to health reasons
Inez Killip Saley was not able to attend the meeting. She,
however, sent her report and was distributed to the attendees. The
report will be posted at the SMSSAFF website.
An SMSSAFF check amounting to $ 6,932.00
prepared by the SMSSAFF Treasurer was handed by Lambert Sagalla
to Rhoda Bondad, the SMSSI Treasurer. The amount represented
donations to the SMS Computer Lab [$1,500.00 : $400.00 from
Geoffrey and Christina Dongalen; $400.00 from BIBAK-NE; $400.00
from Francis Killip; $100.00 from Pastor A Aperocho, Jr.; and $200
from Nellie A Pit-og]; Science Lab [$5,232.00 from Dr. and Mrs.
John Alipit] and Librarian’s Salary [$200.00 from Mia & Edwin
Abeya].
C. SASFAC
(Sponsor-a-Student Funding Assistance Committee) Report : by
Lita J Killip (LJK)
LJK gave a brief
history of the SASFAC. The committee has met twice in New Jersey
and continue to communicate thru the internet. Esther Lacbawan
Marshall is the latest addition to the committee members.
Four thousand three
hundred ten dollars [$4,310.00] was delivered
by LJK to the Philippine partners of SASFAC. This amount covered
12 Academic scholars, 20 Student grantees, and 5 Specific
grantees. Of the available scholarships funds only 7 of the
Academic Scholarships were availed of; only 7 of the 20 Student
Grants were availed of. One student grantee backed off and
enrolled instead in Bumabanga. The scholarship information was
well disseminated. It was published in the Midland Courier.
Information was also sent to the elementary schools and the
students and parents.
Several reasons came up
as to why students don’t want to go to St. Mary’s School.
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Lack of
accommodation. Where will the out-of-town students stay? There
are no funds to renovate the dormitories.
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The reputation of
St. Mary’s School’s academic standard as lower than the other
high schools. This is proven by the regional tests taken by the
students.
-
A specific incident
wherein a Math teacher failed 23 of his/her students.
The issue of faculty
evaluation and development was raised and was duly noted by Rhoda
Bondad, the SMSSI Treasurer. She will take this up with the
administration but there is still the lack of funds for the
faculty to avail of development and improvement programs/seminars.
D. Library
Facilities Committee: by Edwin Abeya
Edwin Abeya reported
that he wants to expand the fund-raising base so the same Alumni
and Friends don’t get hit over and over with fund-raising plea(s).
He is soliciting ideas from everyone.
E. Endowment Fund
Committee: by Dr. John Alipit, Edwin Abeya, & Lambert Sagalla
The target amount for
the Endowment Fund is $50,000.00 in five (5) years.
There was a question on
why are there several endowment funds. Do these go to separate
accounts?
The separate endowment
funds are just for record purposes only. Donors want their monies
to go to certain endowment funds, but all these go to one
account.
Another issue was
raised on the immediate needs versus endowment funds. There are so
many immediate needs so why not meet these needs before setting up
Endowment Funds.
It was pointed out that
some, if not most, of the immediate needs are being taken cared
of. The computer funding is almost complete; the laboratory
renovations, thanks to Dr. John Alipit, are going on schedule; the
library salary is being met by the Abeya/Pit-og families; the list
of donors for the sponsor-a student is growing.
While funds are being
raised for immediate needs, the endowment fund has to be built up,
too.
There is a consensus
among many Alumni and Friends that the Endowment Fund is the best
means of financially supporting SMSSI in the long term.
OTHER MATTERS:
1. The body requested
the lone delegate from California, Mary Zabala, to communicate to
the SMS Alumni and Friends, California Chapter whether they are
amenable to a change in their name to: SMSS Alumni and Friends
Foundation, California Chapter. This request is being made on the
assumption that SMS Alumni and Friends, California Chapter has no
plans of applying for a 501 ( c ) (3) status and would instead
use SMSSAFF’s 501 ( c) (3) status in their fund raising
activities.
2. The body further
requested Mary Zabala to discuss with SMS Alumni and Friends,
California Chapter, the possibility of holding the next SMSSAFF
annual meeting in Los Angeles, California. At the same time this
will serve as a US or Overseas SMS Alumni and Friends reunion. Of
course Philippine based SMS alumni and friends are welcome to
join.
3. Rhoda B. Arranduque
reported that the Philippines-based Alumni are doing their part.
They raised 600,000 pesos. This information generated a lot of
“hurrahs” from the meeting attendees.
4. The registration fee
collected ($25.00/family) totaled $445.00. This was to help cover
some of the food expenses incurred during the meeting/re-union.
This amount was donated to the operational fund by Mia Apolinar
Abeya after consulting Nellie Pit-og, as she, too, spent quite a
bit for the food.
5. SMSSAFF will
eventually have to be incorporated when the Foundation will be
handling quite a sum of money. This is to safeguard the financial
accountability of Officers. Otherwise, it may be very difficult to
convince people to volunteer their services to SMSSAFF.
6. Fr. and Mrs.
Lacbawan, Esther Lacbawan Marshall, and Phillip Lacbawan were not
able to attend the meeting but they brought some mispiros and
persimmon from Kinlupsik, joined us for a sumptuous dinner, and
joined in the crazy night “craziness”.
7. Mia Apolinar Abeya
announced that they are opening their Sierra Mia Vacation House
for retreats, family re-unions, family vacations, etc. Some of the
proceeds will go to SMSSI.
8. The prayer service
offering went to the SMSSAFF General Fund. The amount came to
$615.00.
9. The Penny Challenge
Collection which goes to the SASFAC amounted to $50.21.
10. One other concern
which the chair forgot to present for discussion was the creation
of an on-line Newsletter for SMSSAFF with Gettie Ullocan Thompson
as editor. This will have to be addressed at the next SMSSAFF
annual meeting although we will try to set-up a trial version
before said meeting.
The meeting was
adjourned at 6:30 PM.
Submitted by: Alice M.
Vickers,
Acting Secretary [SMSSAFF Secretary Annabelle Marchadesh was not
able to attend the meeting].
Reviewed by: Lambert
Sagalla
SMSSAFF President |
