Members Present: Betty Bakker, Peter Bergamo, Suzanne Christensen, Christine Cuttler, Mary Desole, Gayle Garin, Susan Hill, Gae Hutton, Ike Rubin, Reed Sparling, Noel Tepper, Norma Torney, and Frank Van Zanten. The PPLD was represented by Janet Huen, Skip Patterson, Teresa Kerin, and Lauren Muffs.

Members Absent:, Deborah Eisberg, Barbara Hespenheide, Jackie Klein, Wanda Mitchell, Mark Pastreich, Art Punsoni, Murray Solomon, and Jennifer Teague.

President Sparling called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. In the Arlington Branch Library.

Minutes of Previous meetings: The August minutes were distributed. Chris Cuttler moved to accepted them as submitted, and Ike Rubin seconded the motion. The minutes were accepted..

Treasurer’s Report: Chris Cuttler reported. (See attached treasurer’s reports.) Chris reported our annual dues are paid to NYLA and FOLUSA, and we transferred $15,000 to the money market account.

Our total unrestricted balance is $52,151.72, and our unrestricted balance is $10,000. In a separate treasurer’s report, booksale proceeds were detailed. Chris pointed out this wasn’t final, since we were still receiving money from the auction, and expenses were still being determined, but as of Sept. 29, the 2004 total was $54,600.02. This is $15,890.23 more than 2003 proceeds, or a 41% increase over 2003, but we had 60% more books to sell.

President’s Report: Reed thanked everyone who helped with the book sale. He wants to appoint a task force to study the future of the booksale, at the request of Frank Van Zanten, the Booksale Committee Chairperson. He’d like a 5-member group, with at least one PPLD Board member, one Friends’ Board member, and a PPLD representative. Tom Lawrence has already agreed to serve. Anyone interested is asked to notify Reed of their interest. He hopes the task force can meet by themselves and with the booksale committee, and hopes they return to our Board with recommendations by January or February.

OLD BUSINESS

Program Committee Report - Susan reported tote bags have arrived. Suzanne reported that several were sold at the booksale, but volunteers weren’t sure of prices. The ones we sold were sold for $8.00 each.

We will be part of the Arlington Street Fair on October 2^nd. The festival will be from 12 to 7 p.m. and Lauren said the PPLD staff will cover the whole time period, but could use Friends’ volunteers. Frank and Barbara offered to help, probably from noon to 4 p.m.

Suzanne reported that the Mystery Book Discussion group at Barnes and Noble is ending, and she and Eleanor Charwat will try to continue it as a Friends’ sponsored program. We are hoping to have one discussion in December, and then begin in January with a regularly scheduled program, once a month at the same time every month. More details will be available at the next meeting.

Newsletter - Skip Patterson passed around the 6 page version of our newsletter that Murray provided for us on our website, http://www.poklibfriends.org. Chris suggested we find a historian who would keep our records, cut out newspaper mentions, etc.

Book Sale Committee - Frank Van Zanten reported we had 9 sorters the first day we resumed sorting and we have a backlog of 21,000 items. We need about 9 sorters each day, and he asked all of us to think about someone who could help us. The Booksale Committee has been lax on written reports in the past, but this year, they will issue a written report for the Board.

Frank is frustrated that people do not respond to his email messages.

The Holiday Sale is 9 weeks from now, from Dec. 3 - 5, and Frank hopes it will be in the same location, Bob’s Store, at the South Hills Mall. He estimates we will have 5,000 - 6,000 books, a little more than last year’s Holiday Sale.

We have already placed our ad on http://www. booksalefinder.com

Suzanne showed a three minute video clip of the beginning of the booksale when customers rushed in.

Bylaws Committee - Reed asked Frank to hold a bylaws committee meeting, and Frank agreed.

Nominating Committee - Norma thanked Board members for suggesting new members and reported we have 10 good new candidates. At least 4 members will be leaving the Board.

Funding raising - Theresa reported the Annual Appeal will begin within a week or so after the election. She is busy reviewing the database of names on the database; she reports there are 12,000 people on it at present. A "Dear Friend" letter will be sent, as well as a different letter to previous donors. This year, we’ve added over 300 businesses.

Theresa also mentioned a program on October 6 titled "Leave a Legacy."It is about planned giving.

PPLD Report - Lauren discussed plans for the Arlington Street Fair. (See above.) She also brought our attention to the Friends’ 25^th Anniversary display, and the large sign over the Children’s area which thanks the Friends’ for the funds that bought furniture for the Children’s Area in the Arlington Branch.The sign reads "Friends of PPLD Children’s Area."

Reed adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne Christensen
Secretary