South Carolina
Victim Assistance Network
Board
Meeting Minutes
May
2, 2003
Present: Absent:
Margaret Frierson Larry Bergmann
Tom Harrison Vicki
Bourus
Marian Lindsey Christa Wilks
Lynn Hawkins Mary Ann Stroup
Dean Kilpatrick Gwen Herod
Ritchie Tidwell Carol Wyatt
Brett Macgargle Betsy Lewis
Anne Laver Chilton
Simmons
Saylor Fox Greg
Flowers
10:25 am:
Brett called the meeting to order
Brett mentioned how convenient it is that
information has been sent via e-mail lately. Sent around a list to update everyone’s e-mail account.
Minutes of the February 14, 2003 Board meeting
were approved.
*Watched Fund Raising Video
*Discussion about Fundraising video
Ideas about SCVAN’s “emotional hook”
·
Lynn – Kids
·
Anne – Elderly
·
Lynn – If you are running into road blocks who
do you call (reminiscent of Ghostbusters)
·
Dean – Statewide programs have problems defining
their mission because they are so broad and encompass every crime. SCVAN needs to identify what SCVAN uniquely
does. Dean felt that the fundraising
idea is good because it’s a system.
Maybe we could get someone in the legislature to help us. Dean also felt that follow through is very
important.
·
Ritchie – Agrees that it is hard to get money
for operations; however, the Emergency Fund is a project that people would
support financially.
·
Dean mentioned he felt that this area may be
short on big-time “investors”. Ritchie
stated he recently visited a school in Hampton Co. that got in touch with a
plantation owner – it was the same type of thing as the video. He also feels that finding the right people
will be the key to successful fundraising.
Ritchie asked if there is someone who can help us refine our
message? Veronica mentioned CC Riggs
and Kevin Fisher.
·
Veronica – VRW is another project in which
people will invest. Someone like DJ
Coursen is a great example of someone VRW truly helped. There could be a thank you event at VRW.
·
Lynn – Safe Homes uses a speaker’s bureau that
she has put together of survivors to tell their stories. SCVAN could do the
same type of thing.
·
Veronica stated that the “Raising More Money”
book provides further details on refining messages. She will look it over again and get back to the board. Ritchie, Dean, Brett and Veronica will work
on fundraising strategy.
·
Sandy is the Regional
Coordinator in charge of Advanced Training for the CJA
·
2 years ago The
Academy won grant money to train regionally.
SC hosts the only Academy in the Nation to provide basic as well as
advanced training.
·
Sandy’s job is to:
·
Identify adjunct
instructors
·
Obtain a lesson plan
from those instructors
·
Get lesson plan
approved through CJA
·
Have instructor tell
her when they are available to present training
·
She finds training
site for those days
·
Everything is cost
effective for the agency as well as CJA
CJA “riffed” 26
people including 8 regular instructors
·
CDV unit of training
is now gone with restructuring.
·
CJA put out catalogue
of advanced, distance-learning training.
Most of those sessions are now defunct.
·
Officers desperately
need advanced training on domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, etc.
Distance Learning Lab
·
Interactive
classrooms now in York, Georgetown, Orangeburg and Columbia (as home site).
·
CD-ROM will be burned
and handed to people who attend trainings
·
By July 1 there will
be 2 more distance learning labs in place in SC
Sandy ended her presentation by telling the Board how much she truly
believes in what SCVAN is and does. She
stated that she knows what SCVAN has to offer and she needs us to help
coordinate distance learning / advance training.
Ritchie asked if Sandy’s job was secure and she said yes.
Sandy mentioned that
she had originally proposed SCVAN help coordinate the Basic Training courses at
CJA; however, as of the morning of the Board meeting, that initiative has been
suspended. CJA is
restructuring their training team and believes it can handle basic training
itself. Veronica handed out the current
basic training schedule noting specific program areas wherein victim advocates
could be used to train.
·
Brett suggested the Board write a letter to William Neill, CJA Director,
stating that SCVAN’s Board would be extremely interested in being involved with
CJA basic training.
·
Brett proposes each member develop an advanced training topical list with
proposed instructors to get back to Sandy.
April Revenue =
$38,901
April Expenses=
$30,388
Difference of $8,513
Merrill Lynch account
holds $57,152 (figured without
reimbursement of VRW expenses)
Bruce Dorman of DPS
has received the information he needs to begin reorganizing SCVAN’s Quickbooks
Program. After DPS moves to Blythewood
and he is settled in, he will sit down with Veronica and Fabienne and ask further
questions. Veronica, Fabienne &
Lynn will then sit down with Bruce to learn about the new program together.
Proviso is still in
place. Veronica does not believe we
will receive more in funding for Operational Support from SOVA because of
SOVA’s financial situation. (OPS now
stands at $20,476)
Line Item is now
$47,017 and the Proviso is $67,032.
Ritchie stated that we could make up the difference from monies raised
at VRW and the new fundraising strategy.
SOVA’s financial
support of VRW:
·
In past years, SOVA
reimbursed SCVAN for all costs, including hotel, up to $27,394. SCVAN expenses have always exceeded that
amount.
·
This year, SOVA
signed the contract with the hotel and agreed to give us $7,394 for conference
expenses.
·
The difference in
expenses and revenue from 2002 and 2003 is outlined in your packets.
·
69 victims from SOVA
that did not pay registration fees.
Nevertheless, revenue from registration was $1,600 more than in
2002. SCVAN received TTAC support for
speaker expenses again this year. We received
$11,540 in donations.
·
The hotel bill was
$28,000, which was the same it was last year.
SOVA allocated $20,000 to pay for hotel expenses. Renee Graham and Larry Harris met with Brian
and Veronica to propose SOVA not reimburse SCVAN $7,394 as contracted for
conference expenses. Veronica and Brian
agreed to help SOVA renegotiate their contract to cut their bill by a few
thousand dollars. Veronica told Renee
and Larry that SCVAN’s conference expenses exceeded their budgeted amount as
well, but SCVAN still expects SOVA to live up to their contracted agreement to
reimburse the entire $7,394.
Marian asked if there
was a possibility for SCVAN to be self sufficient in hosting VRW in the
future. While it would be financially
possible, the Board agreed that SOVA and SCVAN’s collaboration on VRW was
important to our working relationship, and that their sponsorship and
assistance was meaningful.
Discussion led to
discussion about SOVA’s leadership.
Board decided to make an appointment with Fred Carter & Chip Campsen
to discuss their concerns about several matters, especially the fact that the
Compensation Fund is drying up.
Veronica discussed
what she has been involved with since the last Board meeting. (See packet given at Meeting for further
information).
Circuit Court Judge
John Few spoke during the Crime Victim Ombudsman Training about the
Constitutional Amendment for Crime Victims.
Afterwards, Judge Few wrote to Veronica saying he would like to sit down
to discuss a Judge’s dilemma in sentencing after a prosecutor makes a plea
agreement for sexual offenses against children. *Margaret would like to be involved.
VRW 2003 was discussed in a favorable manner. Met all goals… Publicity was good …. less
quantity more quality… lunches more enjoyable.
·
Have considered
moving back to Columbia. Sheraton,
Adams Mark, Embassy Suites all options.
·
Board suggested SCVAN
Staff should do a presentation on SCVAN
Brett noted that in
June’s Meeting we will dedicate an hour to provide updates on all progress
regarding the Strategic Plan.
Brett also asked
Laura and Veronica to review themselves and their work provide him with a copy
of the Performance Review.
Laura’s Activities: (in
packet)
·
Laura spoke at LOMU.
·
Chester County is not
using Act 141 funds. Solicitor John
Justice not asking for money and Sheriff has 2 DPS grants to run victim
assistance.
·
Congratulation to
Margaret and Dean on recent press conferences
·
Magistrates Training
next week. Proposed curriculum for
five-day seminar.
·
Summary of Legislature
Activities:
·
Proviso directing
state auditor to audit every county and municipality
·
Proviso for prison
industries that is currently controlled by Federal Law PIE.
Tony Ellis would rename it Prison Services – takes all money into Prison
Industries and pays prisoners about 7 cents.
Philosophy of state should be that prisoner should be paying
restitution. “Lobbyists” are Bob
Sanders & people who are getting contracts. 10% of revenues go to SOVA – 20% to victims. David Wilkins is submitting into statutory
law 20% to SOVA & 20% to victims.
Dean noted that we should find somebody who likes prisoner rights to
form a lawsuit.
·
38.13: Upping Pardon fees. Money will go to PPP.
·
56DD.33: Fees go to SLED
·
33.3:
Mandy Bowden’s position funded at Prosecution Commission
·
A new proviso is being introduced to create a
committee to hold hearings around the state to determine how Act 141 money is
being spent and where.
·
S0180:
Currently in Senate Subcommittee packed with friendly people… probably
won’t go through this session
·
S184: Passed Senate Judiciary
·
S263: Passed Senate now in House Judiciary
·
S458: SRO beaten, youth only charged with simple
assault. Will provide a “safeguard” for
victims to be able to sue schools. Passed Senate – now in House Judiciary
·
S466: Passed Senate – In House Judiciary –
insuring confidentiality – 1st
tier Sexual Predator Hearing - insures Victim notification;
consideration of Victim Impact Statement; Victims have the right to be notified
and present.
·
S477: Significant CDV Bill – Elevates 3rd
CDV to Felony – Now in House Judiciary
·
S491: Changing stalking & harassing bill
·
S500: Children advocacy center
·
Child Hearsay Bill is
buried in Senate because House doesn’t want to see it again.
NEXT BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH
10:30
SCVAN