Annual meeting records Belasco ownership statement and elects officers

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HERMOSA BEACH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
MINUTES: Annual General Meeting of 18 January 2001
Board Members Present: Al Valdes, Charlotte & Bill Malone, Cathy McCurdy, Toni Empringham, Betty Evans, John Hales.
Also Present: Jack & Pat Belasco, Gabor Kossuth, CLM Ron Schneider.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. at the Hermosa Beach Library by President Al Valdes.
Minutes of November 9, 2000, were approved upon a motion by Al Valdes, seconded by Charlotte Malone. Charlotte
asked that the meeting's location be included in the minutes from now on. (For the record, meetings of March 30, July 20,
and November 9, 2000, were held at 1309 Bard Street.)
Annual Treasurer's Report: Receipts for 2000 totaled $13,899.33, while expenditures totaled $19,171.51. Balance on
hand December 31 was $5,725.73. Motion to approve report by Charlotte, seconded by Jack Belasco. It was agreed that
the Treasurer's Report will include special funds from now on.
Library Hours: Corresponding Secretary Cathy McCurdy read a letter from Acting County Librarian Wendy Romano in
response to the Friends' request for later library closing hours three days a week and for shelving along one, side of the
library entrance for FOL interim book sales. According to a study conducted in August 2000, there were 173 more library
patrons during its first open hour as opposed to its last hour. When Ms. Romano sees the results of public opinion on this
topic, She will direct her staff to review them. Toni Empringham will make up a survey form to be placed inside the library for
patrons to indicate their preferences for open hours, and Al Valdes will follow through on his commitment to write letters to
local media asking for public response on this issue. Charlotte also requested that a letter be written to the County
requesting more open hours in light of increased property tax revenue from Hermosa Beach in recent years. As for
shelving, this is neither available nor necessary since the FOL has provided its own bookcases for interim sales.
Computers for Children's Section: The FOL purchased two computers for children's use at a cost of $3,998.36. The
computers arrived on January 3, and tables have been set up to accommodate them. The county will be sending someone
to program the computers shortly.
Interim Book Sale: Four bookcases have been purchased and set up in the entrance space allotted the FOL by Regional
Supervisor Jean Alexander. Sales are slow but building gradually; Charlotte reported receipts averaging $5 per day as
opposed to $10-$15 per day with more books on display last year.
Consultant for Feasibility Study: City Manager Steve Burrell is still reviewing applicants for the position of independent
consultant regarding the feasibility of separating from the County library system. The sub-committee appointed to review
this issue will meet in the near future.
Election of Officers: The slate proposed for 2001 officers by a nominating committee composed of Naoma Valdes, Elaine
Doerfling, Kathy Dunbabin, Dick McCurdy, and Tom Humbarger is as follows:
President: Charlotte Malone
Vice President: Jean Lombardo
Recording Secretary: Toni Empringham
Corresponding Secretary: Cathy McCurdy
Treasurer: Bill Malone
It was moved by Jack Belasco and seconded by Charlotte Malone that the secretary cast a unanimous vote for the slate. So
ordered.
Charlotte appointed the following chairmen, who, after acceptance by elected officers, became board members:
Entrepreneurial: Al Valdes
Publicity, Grant Applications: Jean Lombardo
Book Sale Chairman, Government Liaison, Newsletter: Charlotte Malone
Assistant Book Sale chairman, Interim Book Sales: Toni Empringham
Membership Acknowledgment, School Board Liaison: Cathy McCurdy
Newsletter Printing & Mailing: Bill Malone
California Collection, Cookbooks, Children's Section: Betty Evans
Graphics: John Hales
Computer Consultant: Tom Humbarger

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Belasco Fund: Jack Belasco read the following statement of intent into the minutes: "This is to affirm that my intent is, and
has always been, the the Evelyn Harris Belasco Perpetual Memorial Fund shall be the property of and under the control of
the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library. Further, all gifts to the Hermosa Beach Library made by the Fund to the
children's section, including but not limited to the Caldecott-Newbery Collection, shall remain the property of the Hermosa
Beach Friends of the Library." Ron will inform the County of this statement.
Other Business:
-Cathy read a letter of thanks from Dr. Ar-Young Wang of the Asian International University Chinese Cultural Association.
The books donated to his organization by the FOL will be sent to Asian countries, where they will be given to those who
would otherwise not have access to reading material.
-Al Valdes will apply for a permit for the FOL to have a float in the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17.
-Charlotte contacted the Redondo FOL about guidelines for local business support but has received no response to
date. Al will follow up with some form of written guidelines for the HBFOL.
-Charlotte, Bill, and Al Will conter on updating the by-laws and will possibly report in March.
--$150 has been donated in memory of Lois Thompson. The money is to be spent on videos.
--Betty Evans has bought nine books for the California Collection.
--Charlotte will investigate and report on t-shirt and/or sweatshirt sales
-Jack mentioned the need for a second story addition to the library building and asked whether we could elicit a response
from the city on such a proposal. Cathy then spoke about the general movement toward a master plan for expansion of
Hermosa Valley School, the Community Center, the city hall, and parking facilities as well as for the library. She also
mentioned the possibility of holding a town hall meeting and conducting a survey to assess needs. Cathy will talk with Jack
about what was done in the past to meet growing community demands and will come up with a suggestion for the City Council.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Toni impringham
Toni Empringham, Recording Secretary