Wicomico Neighborhood Congress

GENERAL MEETING
April 27, 2010
Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Office
East Park Professional Center Building, Suite # 401
East Park Drive off Belmont Avenue, Salisbury, MD

WNC OFFICERS
Chair Cindy Pilchard
Vice Chair Mike Pretl
Secretary Mary Jane Marine
Treasurer Lena Wallop

WNC COMMITTEES: (1) Community Concerns - Joe Austin, Dot Truitt, John Bonas Dexter Lunsford & Richard Widdowson; (2) Convention and Forums - Jim Ireton & Lena Wallop; (3) Recruitment and Membership - Chairman Cindy Pilchard & Vice Chair Mike Pretl; and, (4) Website - Kurt Drechsler and Terry Potterton.

I. PRESENT: Lou Rimbacher (Brookshire) Kurt Drechsler (Harbor Pointe) Janice Hughes (Delmar), Dexter G. Lunsford (Salisbury), Mary Jane Marine (Sharptown), Patti Potterton (Wolfe Creek), Terry Potterton (Wolfe Creek) and Mike Pretl (Riverton). ________________________________________________________________________

II. CALL TO ORDER: Vice President Mike Pretl called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM.
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III. MINUTES: By motion Kurt Drechsler, seconded by Dexter Lunsford and carried, the minutes of March 23, 2010 were approved as submitted.
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IV. TREASURER'S REPORT: Treasurer Lena Wallop was absent. No report was available. It was noted there was likely no change from her financial report last month.
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V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

1. Report/Update - Community Concerns Committee (Austin, Truitt, Bonas, Lunsford & Widdowson). Dexter Lunsford reported no meeting has occurred since last general meeting.
2. Web-site Update - Terry Potterton and Kurt Drechsler suggested the web site home page list a quote from one or two local persons that would be well known in the community and add greater status to the WNC. The arrangement to have PAC 14 videos of various WNC events to be shown on the website is not easy to implement.
The group discussed listing WNC membership by HOA and each individual membership by name on the website. Lou noted that this could give personal identification to the WNC within the County. Janice Hughes said that some persons may not want their name listed. Another comment was that the names could serve as potential contacts for someone interested in the congress that may recognize a member's name. It was noted that no individual name would be listed without proper permission and the opportunity to opt out.
Additional photos are needed for the website. Please email them to Terry This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Kurt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
3. Smart Growth Day at SU on April 28: Chairman Pilchard, Vice Chair Pretl and Shelton Lankford will take part in this seminar. Topic for WNC will be neighborhood associations.
4. HOA Workshop Follow-up: Vice chairman Mike Pretl said that speaker John Stern, managing partner of PKS in Salisbury talked about changes in the law that would affect HOA and Tim Wisniewski, from Avery W. Hall Insurance was also a speaker. t
Terry Potterton, as co-chair of the event, reported attending such a workshop is a good way to get involved and provides for resource development. He believed the subject of crime and crime prevention would be an excellent topic for a workshop. It was suggested that links to other organizations that would benefit the WNC would be a good idea and that the website should serve as a tool for information. It was also noted that some HOA's have their own website.
Terry noted that the NEXEL program through the County Sheriff's Office by information sent on line is very informational and useful.
In response to the question, Kurt Dresher said the idea of all WNC HOA's purchasing insurance as a group was discussed but could not be an option since there was no way to equitably determine the fee for each group since the number of members varies from one association to another. He also said there have been advantages for associations in the WNC in hiring Nicole Green as she is experience in such matters and a valuable facilitator
It was clearly noted that perhaps one of the greatest benefits in being a member of the WNC for HOA is the networking opportunities available including resources and sharing of information.
5. Metro Core Community Watch - No report.
6. Government Filings - Vice-Chairman Mike Pretl reported he has not received acceptance from the State of Maryland for the application he submitted concerning the 501 (c) 3 process. Once he receives that he will file with the IRS for an EIN status. The entire process should take 3 to 6 months.
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VI. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Guest Speaker, May 25, 2010 General Meeting: County Executive Rick Pollitt has suggested that consultant Jennifer Hicks with Sustainable Delmarva may information that would be of benefit to the WNC. It was decided that she would be invited to the next meeting. The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore's Conference room will not be available on May 25th. Dresher volunteered to see if the Harbor Pointe Community Center would be available to use.
2. Nominating Committee - Chairman Cindy Pilchard, Vice President Mike Pretl and Treasure Lena Wallop. Vice President Mike Pretl said the committee would soon be getting some suggestions together.
3. 1st Annual WNC Dinner and Presentation @ SU. It was decided that September would be a good month to schedule such an event. It would be a social as well as a short business meeting event with the elections, by-laws changes if any and financial report.
Secretary Mary Jane Marine and Dexter Lunsford agreed to serve on the planning committee including arrangements, time, place, speaker etc. with the floor still open for additional volunteers. The suggested program would be dinner, speaker and short business matters.
4. Election Executive Board Members: Vice President Pretl said the By-laws could be changed to include how to select an Executive Board. An e-mail could be forwarded to everyone asking for volunteers to serve. The by-laws could be amended to include assurance of a geographically balanced board. He noted that those who currently attend the general meeting act as Board Members.
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VII. Good for the Order: Kurt Drechsler reported the Harbor Pointe Community Association held an Easter Egg Hunt with 480 eggs which was attended by 50 to 60 kids. The association had a recent Ribbon Cutting event for the new playground and a Halloween Party was held last year.
He said such events are a great time for networking and enjoyable for everyone in the association. It was noted that such successful activities would be of interest to other associations, especially in that they were free, well organized and well attended.
Ideas for a forum included Going Green, alternative energy and getting DP&L to reduce their rates. _______________________________________________________________________

VIII. ADJOURNMENT: By motion of Terry Potterton, seconded by Kurt Drechsler and carried, the general meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM.
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IX. NEXT MEETING: The Community Foundation office will not be available next month until after 7 PM. Kurt Dreschler offered to see if the assisted living facility meeting room would be available for our May meeting. He will advise the secretary as soon as possible if we would be able to meet there. The next meeting of the WNC is scheduled for May 25, 2010 at 6:30 PM with the location to be determined in the near future with members notified accordingly by e-mail.

Secretary, Mary Jane Marine