FOPPL BOARD MEETING: February 8, 2025

Friends of the Portsmouth Public Library, Inc.

February 8, 2025

Board Meeting

Board members present:  Amanda Taft, Ellen Franke, Mia Taft, Toby Pennell

Call to Order:  The meeting was held at the Churchland Public Library Book Nook. Amanda called the meeting to order at 4:00.

Minutes:  The meeting of 11/23/24 was reviewed. 

Correspondence: None 

Financial Report by Treasurer:  Ellen reported the Operating Account has a balance of $85,402.26.

Unfinished Business:  The Churchland library did their pets project (fleece blankets and pet care books) and it was donated to The Chesapeake Humane Society because the Portsmouth one did not get back to them. The Portsmouth Community Health Center is not interested in a Little Free Library this year (maybe next and they will be in touch) so Toby is pursuing another site to sponsor. Toby will be forwarding the information about the Main library replacement awning/tent bags to Ellen so she can order them. All the light bulbs were replaced (in the Book Sale area at Main) with LED lights and FOPPL funds. Amanda will create the renewal letter for membership. Toby went to a Portsmouth Title 1 teacher meeting to explain FOPPL’s mission, spread the word about our sales and offer to come to school parent night events and man a table about FOPPL. 

New Business:  We have not gotten all the 2024 tax information yet to file. Anne Carney passed away in 2024 and set up a trust fund in Oct. but we haven’t received any more information on it from Wealth Management since the original $5000. Amanda will contact them. Alexis from Churchland library would like to have a Poetry contest in April. The board voted and approved $150- $200 for prizes. Amanda will let Alexis know. St Brides Correctional Center sent an email requesting some books for their facility. Amanda will email her back to extend an invitation to come and pick them out personally at the Main book sale area. Amanda will look into a “public request” to have the inner rug at Churchland cleaned and the Board mentioned the rug in the Coleman Room was dirty also. Amanda will try to determine how the city of Portsmouth maintains the rug. Toby brought up the elevator at Main doesn’t always work in the cold weather and wondered about the maintenance of that. She will pursue that topic and get back to us. David Tinch is retiring so our new FOPPL lawyer will be Diamond M. Humphrey. Ellen got the Old Towne Business annual membership form to fill out for this year. April’s member meeting might have a Bingo theme. Ellen and Deb are heading that up. Toby mentioned that she will not be at that meeting due to a planned vacation but someone else can take notes.

Library Director’s Report:  None

Meeting was adjourned at 5:00.  

Texted Board conversation from 2/17/25: Gregory Pomije (not D. H.) will be our lawyer as he already represents PPL.

________________________________________Toby Pennell, secretary

________________________________________Amanda Taft, president