Meeting minutes

Meeting Minutes: 16 December 20

  1. Reviewed LinkedIn posts and information

  2. Wounded Warrior gift cards

    1. How can we get our nonprofit out there with something like that

  3. Team RWB subscription option

    1. How can we get our nonprofit out there with something like that

  4. GoFundMe issues

    1. Very few donations thus far

    2. Hoping the new year will bring more donations

      1. “With a new year comes a new opportunity to get our feet off the ground as a nonprofit. Every dollar helps so please consider contributing to our cause and help us in our pursuit of supporting our nation’s heroes.”

    3. Need to re-post donation link on January 2nd and delete old post

  5. Website review

    1. Need to update bios by COB December 20th

  6. Facebook ads

    1. Donations – older audience

    2. Engagement / people to help – younger audience

  7. Next meeting

    1. Wednesday, January 6th @ 6 pm

Meeting Minutes: 2 December 20

  1. Start go fund me for legal fees

    1. Need to figure out if we can set up a go fund me for a nonprofit that hasn’t filed for status yet

    2. Need to raise $1,400

    3. All other money raised will go towards other business fees

    4. *Note on go fund me about SWAG – if you donate a certain amount then you get some kind of SWAG

  2. Business plan

    1. Background

      1. Each person look at it and add comments in business plan before next meeting

    2. Objectives

      1. File business plan and create website by end of Q1 2021

      2. Grant requests submitted by end of Q2 2021

      3. Connect with Team RWB on events by end of Q1 2021

      4. Learn grant writing by end April 2021

      5. Career coach certifications by end of 2021 (pending funding)

    3. Measures for success

      1. Based on goals / objectives

      2. $10K in fundraising (Jan - Dec)

        1. Partnerships with businesses to have events to raise money rather than just asking for all of it

          1. Quick quack

          2. San Fran Coffee Company

          3. Mr. Pickles

          4. Veteran / military owned businesses

      3. Help 12 military members / veterans with career coaching (Jan - Dec)

      4. Filing for nonprofit status (June 2021)

      5. Add more to business plan if you can think of any before next meeting

  3. Next meeting

    1. Wednesday, December 16th @ 6 pm

Meeting Minutes: 18 November 20

  1. Business plan

    1. Background – Mike

    2. Vision – work on it as we go

    3. Values – work on defining our three core values (add a few comments under each and what they mean to you)

      1. Compassion

      2. Empowerment

      3. Commitment to Success (execution)

    4. Marketing and communication plan - Carmen

      1. What groups do we need to serve most?

        1. People who are about to separate from the military or recently separated veterans

        2. Targeting Sacramento region at the beginning so we don’t have to cut out age ranges

      2. What do they need to hear from us?

        1. The service(s) we provide

      3. What is the best way to find and communicate with them?

        1. Facebook, LinkedIn, Website

      4. What will we communicate with them? How often?

        1. Service(s) we provide

        2. Resources

        3. Possible quarterly newsletter

      5. How will we know if they have heard out message?

        1. Click through rate

        2. Facebook analytics

        3. Survey

    5. Goals for next year (2021)

      1. Each person create one goal for the program you are responsible for

      2. Each person create two goals for the organization

    6. People development plan

      1. Recommend courses through LinkedIn learning

      2. Working on this as we go / as needed

      3. Kristen – take grant writing courses on LinkedIn

      4. Operating budget (remove from plan – Mike)

      5. $0

      6. Will input costs as non-profit grows

    7. Risks and opportunities

      1. SWOT analysis

        1. Strengths – passion to help, experience as veterans, success navigating military to civilian transition, overcame challenges during transition process

        2. Weaknesses – getting the word out, building initial trust, grant writing, web design, no funds, still figuring out what we are doing and how we can help

        3. Opportunities – partner with other organizations, California has more veterans than any other state, good networking skills

        4. Threats – operating in crowded space, competing for money / people to help, no funds

    8. Risk register – Mike

    9. Success measures

      1. Will come back to this when we have six goals written up

    10. Management plan

      1. Review business plan:

        1. Monthly during the first year

        2. Quarterly for years two and three

        3. Bi-annually (every 6 months) for years four and five

      2. Reviewed by board and executive leadership

    11. Action plan – Mike

    12. Look for attorneys – All

      1. Pro bono or discounted rate

  2. Next meeting

    1. Wednesday, December 2nd @ 6 pm

Meeting Minutes: 5 November 20

  1. Bylaws

    1. Need attorney to review changes before we post them when we file to become a non-profit

  2. Discussed how helpful Mike’s career and resume coaching has been for an active duty military member

    1. Talked about making coaching a large portion of our mission

  3. Business Plan 2021-2026

    1. All add bullet points and answer questions

    2. Kristen will summarize and write paragraphs

  4. Mission / vision statements

  5. Next meeting

    1. Saturday, November 14th @ 5 pm (in person)

Meeting Minutes: 30 September 20

  1. Business plan

  2. Bylaws

    1. Generic version that came from attorney

    2. Need attorney to review changes before we post them when we file to become a non-profit

  3. Mission / vision statements

  4. Next meeting

    1. Wednesday, October 17th @ 12 pm

Meeting Minutes: 17 September 20

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRAD!!!

  1. Zach stepped down and Dan won’t be participating for the foreseeable future

  2. Review logo

    1. Settled on two versions and they will be single colors

    2. 6 stars at the top are the for the branches of the military

    3. 1 star at the bottom represents America

  3. Process Review: Vet Recognition Form (Brad)

    1. Must log in as Vet Overwatch on share drive and navigate to recognition folder

  4. Talk through program outlines

    1. Brad

      1. Each header is a different class

      2. They do not need to attend every class

    2. Kristen’s friend to provide questions from active duty spouses regarding what to expect when their spouses get out of the military and questions from the service members as well

  5. Review website

    1. Suggestion: go to Mike’s house and look at it together to come up with suggestions, additions, etc.

      1. Saturday, October 17th (Mike will send out invite)

    2. Website is paid for through the next year

  6. Review board position descriptions

    1. See document in Vet Overwatch folder

      1. President – Mike

      2. Treasurer / Finance – Brad

      3. Secretary – Kristen

    2. Look at your position and add / remove what is / is not necessary

  7. What’s next

    1. Need to focus on business plan

    2. Bylaws

    3. Mission / vision statements

    4. Need to focus on processes

      1. Create turnover documents if someone leaves

    5. Look into who you think could join and help out

  8. Next meeting

    1. Wednesday, September 30th @ 6 pm

 

Meeting Minutes: 1 September 20

  1. Review logo

    1. Move to next call 9/15

    2. Circle logo is “busy”

      1. Remove “est 2020” and the two stars in the outer circle

    3. Circle logo on virtual items (website / social media)

    4. Shield logo on promotional items / gear

  2. Talk through program outlines

    1. Mike: Resume review / career coaching

      1. Operation: Return to Work (see document in Vet Overwatch folder)

      2. Monthly micro learning session

      3. Repeats 2 x per year

      4. One on one sessions

        1. Talking about experiences and teaching veteran how to write their own resume

      5. Career coaching

        1. Strength finders

      6. Interview prep

        1. Mock interviews

        2. How to dress

    2. Brad: Financial programs - planning / budgeting (shortly after launch)

      1. Won’t know audience until at least 1 or 2 months after launch of non-profit

      2. Total money makeover book / workbook (bulk discounts)

        1. 10-15 of each at time of launch

      3. Looking into other outlets we can utilize

      4. More info next call 9/15

    3. Kristen / Zac: Fitness program - different types of workouts / events

      1. See document in Vet Overwatch folder

      2. Launch anytime (sooner rather than later)

        1. Start working on partnerships with local companies)

      3. Make sure we express when we are advertising events that they are inclusive of and adaptive to all activity/skill/fitness levels

        1. No one left behind

        2. Family friendly

    4. Carmen / Dan: Military / veteran spouse program

      1. See document in Vet Overwatch folder

      2. Find a counselor or therapist who takes Tricare insurance

      3. Understanding benefits and what needs to happen to get them the help they need

      4. Understand the veteran’s feelings and how to deal with the family dynamic while also dealing with a veteran who needs help

      5. Education benefits

      6. Financial education

      7. Career advice / guidance

      8. More info next call 9/15

  3. Timothy’s responses (homeless veteran)

    1. See document in Vet Overwatch folder

    2. Move to next call 9/15

  4. Review website

    1. In Squarespace (vetoverwatch.org)

    2. Launch when we think we are ready

      1. Make sure we have everything we want on there

      2. Go through with a fine tooth comb

    3. Suggestion: go to Mike’s house and look at it together to come up with suggestions, additions, etc.

  5. Review board position descriptions

    1. See document in Vet Overwatch folder

      1. Please review prior to next call 9/15

    2. President –

    3. Treasurer / Finance –

    4. Secretary – Kristen

    5. Move to next call 9/15

  6. Next meeting

    1. September 15th @ 6 pm

Meeting Minutes: 18 August 20

  1. Review Minutes from last meeting

    1. Ground rules / how we operate

    2. Phase discussion

    3. Mandatory positions

      1. Secretary - Kristen

      2. Treasurer

    4. Mission / Vision statements

  2. Close loop on organization name

    1. Vet Overwatch

      1. Each program will be Operation: XX (care package, food drive, etc.)

        1. OPERATION will be capitalized for each program

    2. Mike will look at military themed font for logo

  3. Build list of questions for Homeless Vet

    1. What were the most helpful programs?

    2. What provided the most value?

    3. What kind of experiences brought you hope?

    4. What can we do to help homeless veterans want the help?

    5. Did you reach out to anyone or did someone come to you?

    6. Why did or didn’t you accept help?

    7. Did you see homelessness coming?

    8. How did you end up homeless?

    9. What would you have liked help with that you didn’t get?

    10. What could have helped you avoid homelessness in the first place?

    11. What are the common threads that occurred throughout the homeless community?

    12. What is the best way for us to get the word out that there is help and resources out there?

  4. Program Ideas

    1. Transition resources

    2. Resume assistance

    3. Family transition assistance

    4. Mentorship program: military to corporate mindset training

    5. Partnering with SVA chapters

    6. Put a call together for heads of organizations to talk about partnerships (Wounded Warriors, MAVEN, etc.)

  5. Donations from the board

    1. No need for donations at this time

    2. If you are comfortable with donating in the future, please do so

    3. We are hoping to get grants that will make this topic unnecessary

  6. Graphic Designer (logo design)

    1. Mike has a few pictures on Facebook page

    2. Look within our network for someone who can create our logo

  7. Grant Writer

    1. Mike reached out to contacts to see if anyone can write grants for us

    2. Non-profits usually stay in business because of large grants

    3. Non-profits typically have a grant writer on staff ($100 per grant)

    4. Need to identify grants we are going to apply for prior to receiving non-profit status and submit grant proposals once we are “in process” status

  8. Marketing

    1. Carmen will be helping us with marketing (she’s very qualified)

      1. Will make sure we are on track with guidelines and that we aren’t doing any false advertising

      2. We will start utilizing ads on Facebook in the future

    2. Create a quick survey to send to veterans and ask them what they want to see from a non-profit

  9. Web Designer

    1. We don’t need a website until we are ready to file as a business

    2. Focus on social media for the time being (Carmen)

    3. Look within your network to see if you know anyone who can help us create a website in the future

    4. Websites to look at for inspiration: Wounded Warrior Project, Gary Sinise Foundation, Veteran Community Project

  10. Current Timeline

    1. Fluid timeline

      1. If we aren’t ready, we will push the timeline

    2. At this moment, we will try to file our paperwork in January 2021

      1. Research grants in November 2020

      2. Grants ready by December 2020

    3. We want a website up and running by the time we submit our grant proposals along with a pitch and plan on how we are going to use the funds

  11. Discuss 2-3 programs we will launch with

    1. Mike: Resume review / career coaching

    2. Brad: Financial programs - planning / budgeting (shortly after launch)

    3. Kristen / Zac: Fitness program - different types of workouts / events

      1. Collaborations with companies

    4. Carmen / Dan: Military / veteran spouse program

    5. Monthly zoom call / town hall: helpful information for veterans

      1. Pick a topic such as VA home loans, disability ratings, taxes

    6. Resource list

    7. Sponsor a career fair

  12. Next meeting

    1. September 1st @ 6 pm

    2. Outline what you want from the program you are assigned to, info you have gathered, general plan

Meeting Minutes: 28 July 2020

Introductions

  1. Ground Rules

    1. Were all equals

    2. Treat each other fairly/respect each other

    3. Wont tolerate negative behavior

    4. No politics - within board and within larger group

    5. Follow through - hold self accountable

  2. Organization Name - to be revisited in next meeting

    1. Option 1: Operation: Vet Overwatch

    2. Option 2: Vet Overwatch

    3. Option 2: OPERATION: VET OVERWATCH

  3. Long Term Goals

    1. See Phase 2 and Phase 3

      1. Open to breaking down in smaller phases

      2. Will properly plan and organize each phase prior to launch

  4. Phase 1 goals

    1. Set foundation

    2. Build programs

    3. Determine what phase 2 will look like at launch

    4. Need to find grant writer

      1. Grant application should be submitted prior to receiving Nonprofit status

  5. Open Positions

    1. Need Secretary and Treasurer

  6. Mission/Vision Discussion

    1. Start thinking about what these will be

    2. Group effort to write them

    3. Need initial finalized prior to business launch

  7. Open Floor

    1. Next meeting on Aug 18th at 6pm

      1. See calendar invite

      2. Will send reminder 1 day before