12-07-2007

Board Meeting Minutes

South Carolina Victim Assistance Network

December 7, 2007

President: Brett Macgargle

 

PRESENT:

Brett MacGargle

Ritchie Tidwell

Renee Mattox

Dottie Cronise

Margaret Frierson

Don Zelenka

Larry Bergmann

Saylor Fox

 

ABSENT:

Mary Ann Stroup

Dean Kilpatrick

Riley Bost

Luck Campbell

Gwen Herod

Cassandra Keller

Dolores Mendez

Hope Blackley

Jami Goldman

Patty Patterson

Rhonda Morgan

Vicki Bourus

Gail Few

 

Brett Macgargle called meeting to order.

 

Financial Report – Ritchie Tidwell

SCVAN finances are mostly covered by grants, but we would rather be in a surplus. 

We must increase our fundraising efforts.  VRW should be marketed very well.  We need a written marketing strategy with an effort expand beyond SC, to include GA and NC.  

 

Victims’ Rights Week:

Try to find corporate sponsors to underwrite expenses for VRW –

            SCANA

            Bellsouth

            Hospital Association (Ritchie knows Ken)

Local churches to sponsor a victim/ victim family (Renee will provide a list from   Eric Skidmore)

            Baptist Association

Bank of America

At next Board meeting, expand above list, discuss who has contacts within specific organizations, and then develop specific letters to each organization to ask them to sponsor scholarships.

 

Since the Charleston Embassy includes a full breakfast for all people staying in the hotel, meals have been cut back this year for the conference in an effort to save money.    SOVA’s contract will be discussed at the first of the year.

 

A subcommittee will be formed to locate organizations in GA and NC to invite to VRW.

 

Renee: Bank Robbery Fund will donate whatever money is left in the fund to VRW.

 

Organizations that are sending numerous participants to VRW:

DSS  (Wendell Price is the head: Brett will ask Kathleen Hayes)

DJJ

SCDPPPS

Recommendations for VRW Speakers: First Lady in Tennessee, Mrs. Conte

 

EXECUTIVE REPORT

Veronica - Reviewed the board members and their terms. 

 

New Board Member, Dottie Cronise, was sworn as an SCVAN Board member.  All new board members will receive SCVAN notebook.

 

Victim Services Coordinating Council Proposal – led by USC Dana DeHart’s group

 

Bob Rightsell recommended the passage of a piece of legislation which changes the way Victim Impact Statemetns are forwarded to DOC/PPP, etc. after sentencing.  The words “Victim Impact Statement” has been stricken and replaced with “Victim Information Sheet.”  In short, the proposed legislation changes the law that solicitors forward Victim Impact Statements to the agency holding the offender to Clerks of Court forwarding Victim Impact Sheets (listing the  names, addresses and phone numbers of victims) to agencies down the line.

 

Victim Services Coordinating Council voted to approve the legislation, but Ashlie Lancaster, who originally voted to approve the Bill, requested to revisit the issue during the next meeting held January 25th.  Veronica requests a statement from the Board to submit at this meeting.

 

Barbara Scott (Chair of Clerk of Court) is opposed to this practice.

Why is it necessary for Victim Information Sheet to be at the Clerk of Court’s office?

 

Board made a motion to draft a Statement to be discussed at the next Board meeting (January 10 for review and recommendation to the VSCC.

 

Veronica will also ask the Council to forward information regarding proposed legislation 10 days in advance of SCVCC meetings for SCVAN Board review and response.

 

The duty of forwarding VIS to post-conviction agencies should stay in the Prosecutor’s office.  VIS is vital to post-convictions agencies in order to consider conditions of parole, sex offender civil commitment recommendations, etc.

 

Try to determine from Bob Rightsell, what problem are we trying to fix?

 

Don Zelenka noted that in order to receive records from some Clerk’s offices for his cases, a Judge must sign an Order to get case files.

 

REVIEW OF STRATEGIC PLAN

Progress has been made.

 

Capacity Grant was not awarded to us.

 

Comprehensive Training: SCVAN will work with Hope Blackley on this initiative.

 

Margaret – Children’s Issues

            Admin code on sex offender’s drivers licenses

            Age of consent changed

            Child endangerment – add penalties

 

Ritchie made a motion (seconded by Larry) for staff to develop a timeline for Board members to reach goals listed in our Strategic Plan

 

Election of Officers

 

Brett Macgargle – President

Renee Mattox – Vice President

Ritchie Tidwell  -  Treasurer

 

Send board elections out by email.

 

Board meetings will be held every 2nd Thursday of every other month.

 

NEXT BOARD MEETING: January 10th, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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