SANTIVA ISLANDERS 2024 ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES, DECEBMER 13, 2024

The meeting was called to order by president Robin Christian.  Board members in attendance included Susan Talmage, Bernard Arroyo, Katrina Wilhelm, Laura Korn and Robyn Moran. Carole Fallon, Linda Hines, and Deborah Butler were absent. FISH members in attendance were Maria Espinoza and Erika Arnowitz. 56 people attended the annual meeting at the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ.

Secretaries Report: Robyn Moran read a brief summary of the 2023 Annual Meeting minutes and copies of the complete minutes were distributed to members in attendance.  A motion was made and the minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Bernard Arroyo presented the Treasurers Report YTD 12/10/2024.  Reported income is $35,684 with reported expenses of $25,402.  Total savings reported as $223,814. Motion made by Katrina Wilhelm and Seconded by Lina Riggs, the report was unanimously approved.   Treasurer Arroyo reported that an audit was performed on August 24, 2024.  Treasurer has scheduled another audit in January, asking for volunteers from the membership to participate.  Our membership has grown to 225 paying members.  Bryant Korn was mention for creating our membership database.

 President’s Report: Robin Christian presented the following speech.

Santiva Islanders has for over 30 years, provided islanders and visitors with a sense of community. Like all of Sanibel, Ian has forever changed us. But rest assured that our mission remains the same—

…to provide a place to call home where everyone is welcome, there is always stuff to do and to look forward to, and lots of comradery. We care about and take care of one another.

Last year when I spoke to you, we were not sure of our next steps. We were looking for a way forward that included

•        A permanent home where people could drop by and connect and

•        Someone to help manage all our activities, financials, and everything else we need.

I’m proud to say that we have come a long way this year and that our future looks bright.

It is because of you (our members), your willingness to organize and pursue joyful activities, that our membership is up to 225 and growing. And that’s because Santiva Islanders know how to have fun. We enjoy being together. Over the last year we’ve—

•        Gotten our blood pumping with thrice weekly exercise classes.

•        Drank tons of coffee and other beverages (some adult) and enjoyed sumptuous meals while getting to know one another.

•        Engaged our brains with countless mahjongg and bridge games, plus dozens of book club meetings

•        Worked together to Clean the Sanibel beaches

•        Taken to the roads to attend a hockey game, theater performance, and comedy club.

•        Channeled our artsy side at the Naples Botanic Gardens, Edison Ford Winter Estates, and the Baker Museum

•        Been awed by the sunset and dancing dolphins while cruising in Pine Island Sound

•        Even tried our hands at hurdling bowling balls down the lanes to knock down pins.

Together we have created such an outstanding organization that we caught the attention of FISH who decided that Santiva Islanders could help them meet and expand their senior services mission. 

Together the boards of FISH and Santiva Islanders decided that a merger between us would greatly benefit the island adult population.

•        For Santiva Islanders, partnering with FISH opens opportunities to expand our kayaking, day-tripping and overall activities calendar, as well as getting a place of our own to call home.

•        For FISH, partnering with Santiva Islanders allows them to provide residents with set activities and socialization to aid in its “Age in Place” mission.

We are very much looking forward to accomplishing great things together.

 FISH Partnership: Maria Espinoza spoke of the FISH merger and how it came to fruition.  Santiva Islanders has a space in the Palm Ridge Plaza designated as our new home!    FISH will take over some of our clerical responsibilities such as newsletter and promotional materials.

 New Business: Katrina Wilhelm presented gift cards to Susan Talmage who is vacating her seat on the board. A gift card will also be given to Deborah Butler who is also vacating her seat on the board, but was not able to attend the meeting.  Katrina also presented gift cards to the Volunteers of the Year, Bryant Korn, for his outstanding contribution of creating our membership database, and to Dan Hopta for his readiness to lend a hand whenever needed.

 A special thanks was given to St. Michael and All Angels Church and the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ for providing us a temporary home. Mahnaz Bassiri was presented with an orchid in thanks for all of her many contributions to the organization.

 Katrina presented the slate of nominees for the 2025 board along with a brief description of their bios. They included Robin Christian and Carole Fallon, who have agreed to stay on the board for another term, and Margie Peters.  A motion was made to approve the slate of nominees by Linds Riggs, second Susan Talmage, and was unanimously approved.

 Question and Answers: Board and Maria Espinosa responded to questions asked by members.

 Announcement of Winners of the Table Decorations: Laura Korn conducted the drawing for table decorations prior to adjournment.

 Respectfully submitted,

 Robyn Moran, Secretary.