Meeting Minutes – January 12, 2024

Guadalupe Coalition of Nonprofits
In-Person Meeting
Guadalupe Senior Center
January 12, 2024

Attendees:

  • Jose J Nichols – Comite Civico & Lions Club
  • Juanita G Nichols – Comite Civico & Lions Club
  • Albert Nunez – Historical Society
  • Karina Acosta – Childrens’ Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County
  • Garret Matsuura – GBA, GVPAC, Friends of the SMVRR

Minutes

Meeting Start: 3:40 (technical difficulties with WiFi)

Welcome and introduction
Karina with CRR spoke about their growth to 57 employees and a new location including leased space with First Christian Church for preschool classes

CRR has 51 years in the community and last year was able to distribute 1000 car seats to families in need in a single day event.

Karina / CRR would like to see a vision/mission for the GCON (there is one on the website but if members don’t see or know if it, that is an issue). Additionally, they would love to see/hear/identify what the COMMUNITY gets out of the GCON.

They would like to see private developers (that may need to consider child care in their developement) as well as city planning/administration involved with the GCON as well. They would like more information on the Farmers’ Market initiative and would like to be able to set up a booth at future markets.

They will be participating in the upcoming 211 event with CommUnify and will provide additional information on upcoming events.

Jose spoke about the Comite Civico and that they currently have ~10 board members. They are currently focusing on a Cinco de Mayo celebration and are figuring out what they are going to do with their building near LeRoy park. It is a possibility that FSA will move back and have it become the Little House by the Park once again.

While the Comite Civico Mexicano de Guadalupe, Inc is focused on maintaining traditions of Mexican heritage, they also serve and educate youth. They have been a part of the Wreaths Across America project and have held an Easter Egg Hunt for kids. While the focus is on Mexican heritage, Comite Civico is open to EVERYONE who is interested in learning more and being a part of this 100-year old organization.

The Lion’s club started in 1917 and Jose and Juanita are former Lion’s Governors. (Jose in 2016-17 and Juanita in 2019-20). There are parallels to other organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis, but the Lions focus on the local community with their eyeglass / vision screening program as well as disaster relief. They would like to maintain their charter and will be growing to 15 members with the inclusion of Comite Members; they would certainly welcome more. The Lions have programs related to grants, marketing, branding, and Youth Leadership with the Leos Program. The Leos have lost their advisor and need a new one to maintain and grow the program.

Al Nunuz spoke about the Historical Society and that they will be publishing a new walking tour map. They have a 6-member board and about 150 active members. They have been sponsoring and curating historical displays at City Hall commemorating heritage months and will be adding a new month this year. The schedule is forthcoming from Al.

Al also mentioned that he would like to see information on the website in relation to member organizations about:
1) This is what they need as a regular thing
2) This is what they need right now supporting an event

Garret spoke about the status of the theater; and explaining the difference between the rebuilding of the theater and the role of the GVPAC. The theater rebuild is a project managed by Tom Brandeberry and the City. The GVPAC is a 501(c)3 organization that is currently linked to the future operations of the Royal AFTER the building is complete. It was pointed out by meeting members that the longer things take that construction costs will likely increase. It was acknowledged that if that was the case and the granted funds were not enough to complete the build that a Capital Campaign would likely be necessary.

Garret also spoke about the hope that there might be a few hundred dollars available to advertise and market the GCON to the community on Facebook as a means to jump start participation and community buy in. This would likely come as a donation from the GBA or private donors.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:50pm.