TMC Administration Notes

Letter from the Chair

Welcome to the 25th year of the Men’s Center. On Jan 13, 2001, I led the annual meeting presentations to 18 member attendees. Highlights of 2000 included:

Outreach Committee

  1. Web Site was greatly enhanced this year, thanks to Bill Dobbs and Andy Mickel
  2. Special mailing to 1000+ therapists in the Twin Cities was done in Feb. with three follow-up mailings of Men Talk
  3. Another special mailing was sent to the 1239 area churches in Aug., informing them of our offerings. Follow-up Men Talk issues were sent.
  4. Mailing to the new Anger Management database was also done twice with Herb Jaehne providing inserts.
  5. Redesign of the general TMC brochure was done by Carol Evans-Smith
  6. Men Talk was regularly published with the following volunteers contributing: Doug Bronson, Carol Evans-Smith, Bill Dobbs, Bill Congdon, Dave Mueller, Andy Mickel, Randy Genrich, Scott Benson, Dave Webb, Harold Kallio, Carl Erickson, Mark Voth, Tom Perrault, John Hancock, and Ron Prieve.

Program Committee

  1. Social Activities of Sunday Brunches, Fall Campout, and Holiday party were again well-attended events.
  2. New support group—”Men Facing Retirement Issues”—was started
  3. Facilitator training in Feb had 28 attendees
  4. Wednesday Presentations continue thanks to Randy Genrich

Anger Management Program
(Director: Herb Jaehne)

  1. There were 10 classes this year with 119 graduates.
  2. Special publicity occurred in June when the Anger Management Program was featured on KSTP Focus Five newscast.
  3. Additional publicity was generated by Bob Anderson in neighborhood newspapers with feature articles on TMC and Anger Management.
  4. The computer database was updated to reach 1000 names
  5. Facilitator training with Dave Decker occurred four times in the summer

Finance Committee

  1. Major growth in membership from 167 to 289 members for the year was spearheaded by Andy Mickel and John C Hancock
  2. A financial revenue model was presented by John Kuyper
  3. A new building opportunity was received in July and totally evaluated. David Giancristoforo made an outstanding offer but many factors lead to the decision to not pursue at this time such a significant change.
  4. Revenues are solid, but expenses increased due to all the outreach activities.
  5. Special thanks was giving to the fifteen “20 x 12” members for 2000.

Areas of concern were:

  1. Fourth Quarter attendance and dollars declined from last year
  2. No CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP program has been started
  3. Poor response from area churches to our outreach activities
  4. No successful grants this year
  5. Board Members down to 5 after election.
  6. Committee system is not getting enough participants
Library Corner

The library is available during daytime office hours (M, T, Th, F) as well as evenings before support groups start, since facilitators show up 15 minutes before group starting times. This is your library, so feel free to come in and relax with a beverage, a bagel, and a book.

Currently available newsletters and magazines are:

  • Voice Male, Fall 2000: articles on “Boys having Gay Fathers,” “Men’s Rights What’s Right?” and “Raising Boys’ Emotional Intelligence.” (Free copies of this issue are still available on the shelf in the “big room.”)
  • Men’s Health
  • New Age
  • Men’s Journal
  • Lavender
  • The Journal of Men’s Studies, Fall 2000 Vol. 9 #1

Archive issues are available for many men’s journals and newsletters. THIS IS YOUR LIBRARY—USE IT!

-- Randy Genrich, TMC Office Staff

Dollars & Numbers*
2000
1999
1998
Memberships
289
167
214
Budget Dollars
$39,700
$44,358
$24,017
YTD Revenue
$46,576*
$48,243
$31,795
Support Groups
$9,246
$11,095
$7,612
Membership
$9,409
$6,093
$6,117
Anger Mgmt
$14,348
$7,800
$9,795
Grants
$0
$7,500
$5,159
YTD Expenses
$37,246
$30,844
$25,932
Bank Balance
$3,220
$6,312
$6,144
*As of December 1, 2000 reference point

The election of board members was as follows:

  • Two year term – Andy Mickel, Jay Randolph*, Michael Chatt*
  • One year term – Tom Perrault
  • Returning for Last Year of Term – John Kuyper, Gerald Obremski, Norm Petrik
  • NEED SEVEN (7) MORE BOARD MEMBERS
    *Resigned at the first board meeting

At the January Board meeting, the board elected John Kuyper, Chairman; Tom Perrault, Vice Chair; Norm Petrik, Secretary; and Gerald Obremski, Treasurer. These individuals will make up the Executive Committee which meets the fourth Sunday of each month. The Finance committee will start with Gerald Obremski, and Andy Mickel (Membership Renewal) meeting on the first Sunday of the month. The Program committee will be Norm Petrik, Michael Chatt, Harold Kallio, John Hancock and Randy Genrich; it will meet the third Sunday of the month at 6 PM. The Outreach committee will currently be composed of Tom Perrault, John Kuyper, Jerry Olson, and more members are needed; it will meet the fourth Sunday of the month.

This is a lot of facts and numbers, which reflect the current TMC status. What will 2001 bring? The Planning meeting on Jan 27 should open up ideas for the future. WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS TO EXPLORE ALL THESE OPTIONS!! Will we celebrate 25 years with a fall Men’s Health Conference?

TMC is important to me; it is important to the Twin Cities community (for 25 years); and it is important to the Men’s movement in the United States. I hope that you all will see and realize this importance and VOLUNTEER your time and talents by serving on our committees.

Hoping you see Glory in your life,

-- John Kuyper, Board Chair/MENTALK Coordinator