Membership Committee Annual Report FY11

The Membership Committee had a successful year in 2010-2011. The Committee was led by co-chairs Jacqui James and Tom Bean. Committee member included: Julie Brody, Jackie Colby, Barney Freiberg-Dale, Karen Honig, Noreen Kimball, Vanessa McClinchy, Brenda Roberts, Harriet Severino, and Judy Zacek.

 The Committee achieved the following:

The Committee held new member potluck dinners in the fall and spring. The fall potluck, which was attended by nine people, was hosted by Julie and Dan Brody. The spring potluck, which was attended by eight people, was hosted by Jay Flynn and Barbara Niles. Many thanks to our hosts.

FUSN welcomed the following nine new members on May 1:

• George Corey
• Sandy Jones
• Gail Yeo
• Jonathan Yeo
• John MacGaffey
• Rosie McInnes
• Conrad Buys
• Laurie Hackett
• Josh Cohen

We have four other people whom we expect to become members before the year is out, and whom we will formally welcome in the fall.

On May 1, 2011, FUSN recognized the contributions of seventeen long-term members, all of whom have been members for more than forty years. We recognized the following: Ginny Taplin, Jeanne Skinner, Jackie Colby, Charlotte Blackburn, Claire Karlson, Helen Lein, Axel & Marion Kaufmann, Yolanda Low, Cynthia Gilles, Fiora Houghteling, Lynne Karlson, Jane Yoffee, Faith Kreider, Anne Hartman, Brenda Roberts, and Holly Zeeb. We mourn the loss of Jeanne Skinner who passed away shortly after our recognition service.

FUSN hired a new Coordinator of Member Support & Development, Kristin Cleveland, effective in March, 2011. Needless to say, we are asking her to do more than she has time for. Kristin has begun meeting us, participated in the spring new member potluck and is, in general, a boon to the Committee’s work. Thus far, Kristin has

• Begun a special project to interview these long-term members to learn stories of how FUSN has been a part of their lives.

• Writing articles for the FUSN Newsletter and posting photos and interviews on the membership bulletin board.

• Participating in meetings of the Communication Committee to help enhance FUSN member participation in FUSN events and activities.

Assisted with coordination of several events, such as the new FUSN First Friday Fun Night series, and the 2011 Boston Pride Parade.

Jacqui and Tom will be continuing as co-chairs in 2011-12. We look forward to another great year.