BEBA: Report by Sandra Castellino 5/1/03 Ð latest developments

 

  1. Major accomplishments since January meeting
    1. Trifold completed. We have run off 3 versions so far, each one improving. We have another ready to print once this version is used up. Thanks for those who helped with input. Suggestions continue to be welcomed.
    2. Website up and running.

                                                     i.     www.beba.org domain name obtained.

                                                       ii.     All the basic administrative info is on the website

                                                         iii.     All potential families are referred to the website. Families who decide to come to BEBA are downloading forms to fill in. Some potential families are using the website to check costs/policies and deciding not to come.

                                                        iv.     More to come:

1.     Testimonials

2.     More pictures including photos of staff

3.     Potential articles from Ray

4.     Perhaps a wish list for donors.

                                                      v.     Suggestions welcome

    1. Filemaker database for BEBA has begun.

                                                     i.     Forrest learned filemaker and so far has input all 87 family names/addresses/phones/email etc for all family members.

                                                       ii.     To come:

1.     Donor database: Sandra to supply info

2.     Ray and clinical staff to decide what they want to be tracking.

    1. Karuna Foundation grant was turned in at the end of March. They have generously supported BEBA for 2 years with $5000, then $4000. We will know the end of May. After this year we cannot apply for the next 2 years.
    2. BEBA's G3 computer stopped functioning. Within 1 day, the Castellinos' G3 simultaneously stopped functioning but for different reasons. MacMechanic melded the 2 together and Forrest did some major work supported by Apple's top technician (it was that complicated) to make it functional. It is working!
  1. October, 2002 Westside Clinic donated a copy machine and toner to BEBA when they bought a better copier. The Castellinos are buying the paper and using it for themselves as well as BEBA since they don't have room for 2 copiers. It needs servicing.
  2. Donations since January board meeting: $17,535.
    1. Myrna Martin: large stuffie crocodile for use with BEBA children.
    2. Laura Lynn Schatz and Charles Sveboda, BEBA family for 6 years, $100 in appreciation from Ray coming to address the Lou Grant parents in February.
    3. Anonymous during one of Ray's process workshops, $60.
    4. Andra Danzig, who took 2 process workshops with Ray, $400.
    5. J Kenny, BEBA dad for 6 years, did an appraisal for the Castellinos for $500 which they paid for, then gave $500 to BEBA.
    6. Tara Asuncion Blasco, a BEBA facilitator, an SBGI student: $10,314.
    7. Sandra and Ray Castellino donated a G3 Mac that needed some work that was melded with BEBA's G3 which needed different reparative work to making a working computer for BEBA.
    8. Carol Landsberg: a student in Ray's training and an SBGI student, $501 + a small crocodile stuffie, 'baby' version of the one Myrna gave to BEBA.
    9. Klaus Kaepelli, an assistant in Ray's training, $285 collected at 2 talks he gave about the work in his country, Switzerland.
    10. Christian Meyer, an assistant in Ray's training, $5000. He received something from an insurance fund and passed on a portion to BEBA.
    11. Maraiel Ruth, a student in Ray's training, $375, a portion of her sales of her handmade jewelry at Ray's training.
  3. CA Endowment grant proposal turned down.
    1. Myrna talked with Joyce Ybarra, senior program associate and to Bonnie, one of the proposal reviewers.
    2. Both emphasized that the Endowment Fund is committed to funding frontline services for the underserved low-income population. They do not usually fund programs that is not exclusively for low-income. They were concerned that BEBA has a research aspect.
    3. If we are to reapply, we would need to:

                                                     i.     Supply local statistics such as low birth weight, premature births, obviously traumatic births or hospitalizations of children to help establish the need.

                                                       ii.     List community agencies and referral sources we are connected with, highlighting requests for services over the past year which have been denied.

                                                         iii.     They also emphasized cultural competencies. If BEBA reachs out to Latino families, BEBA would have to show how we would incorporate a cultural perspective into our service.

  1. Myrna checked out the California Wellness Foundation which Dorothy had suggested. They funded an administrative assistant and grant writer for SB Neighborhood Clinics. Myrna decided it was not a potential funder for BEBA.
  2. Potential Board members
    1. Heidi deBra, BEBA mom would be honored to serve on BEBA's board.
    2. Vicki diOya, BEBA mom volunteered ( to Sandra), to contact BEBA parents to ask for stories/testimonials. Sandra and Ray have not made a format for her to use yet.
    3. Patricia or Jim Selbert, BEBA parents.
    4. Mark Daly, BEBA dad and immigration and construction lawyer.
  3. Michael Brightwood is probably moving to Canada. If and when this happens, he will want to remove himself from the BEBA board. He is in Mexico. Christie Barrack is on a vacation.
  4. Financial Report
    1. BEBA's Quicken file was damaged recently. It seems to have been permanently corrupted recently when the computer crashed so there is no financial report. It worked ok long enough for inputting deposits and bills paid so the balance was available.
    2. Costs for administrators (Sandra and Forrest) has been higher than usual. January and February Sandra earned about $3000 each. By April it was back to $1375. This was due to extra time spent on the brochure/trifold, website, and the Karuna grant. Forrest is being paid for the website out of the Special Account. He's being paid for creating the BEBA filemaker files and Quicken out of the regular account.

                                                     i.     Forrest has earned about $1000 so far for creating the BEBA website.

                                                       ii.     He's earned about $1375 in the last 4 months helping with BEBA deposits/computer support and filemaker database creation.

    1. Thanks to all the recent donors as well as clients, all current bills can be paid.
    2. Balance in BEBA's regular account will be at least $1500.
  1. BEBA's financial information needs to be transferred from the last good backup of Quicken to Quickbooks. Forrest can learn to use the program and help Sandra with it. Perhaps Isaac can help?