At 12:35 p.m., after networking and lunch, TIFTA delegates, alternate delegates, and ex officio members were convened by Tommy David, the acting chair of the meeting. Tommy provided an overview of the TIFTA purpose and then introduced Sheila Stille. She expressed Commissioner Breeden’s and Assistant Commissioner Norm Moye’s regrets that they were compelled to miss the meeting because of a last minute meeting called with the Governor. She conveyed Dr. Breeden’s support for the organization of TIFTA and his appreciation of all the effort that the foundation trustees do for the technical institutes.

Sheila Stille introduced Assistant Commissioner, Roger Slater who spoke about the potential impact and benefits of TIFTA and outlined some possible long-range strategic goals for the association. His major focus was on developing a passion for advancement and resource development.

Tommy David recognized the efforts of the technical institute advancement officers who were on the TIFTA planning team. The Council expressed their appreciation of the team’s efforts.

Tommy David opened a discussion of the draft TIFTA bylaws and proposed a minor amendment. A brief discussion followed in which one delegate suggested that approval of the bylaws was premature. After further discussion and general agreement that the delegates and others had all had adequate time to review the draft bylaws, a motion was made and seconded to approve the bylaws with the proposed amendment. The motion passed by a large majority and the bylaws were adopted.

Wendy Martin made the nominating committee report and announced the slate of officers that the committee was recommending. The entire slate was accepted by acclamation. The resulting officers were Tommy David, president; Lanie Shipp, vice president; Daniel Smith, secretary; and Mike Lott, treasurer. It was agreed that other executive committee members would be solicited prior to the next meeting.

Claire Farnell expressed TIFTA’s appreciation of the assistance given to the group by Macon Tech and the Macon tech staff for making the meeting possible. Claire presented a small token of appreciation for all her help to April Moore.

Tommy David, then turned the meeting over to Sheila Stille to facilitate the planning portion of the meeting. She directed the council participants to break into their assigned planning groups and to brainstorm concenring TIFTA activities for the next year. When the groups returned, the group reporters and group recorders presented their ideas for TIFTA activities to the council for discussion. Reporters and recorders included Sharon Baker, Diane Blair, Ellen Harvill, Bill Sanders, Susan Stephens, Carol Topping, Frank Newman, Page Estes, Debbie Butler, Jack Patrick, Lorraine Werner, and Wendy Martin.

In the ensuing discussion, the point was made that the word Georgia did not appear in the name of the association, in the bylaws, or in the draft promotional brochure. The discussion resulted in a unanimous vote to change the association’s name from the Technical Institute Foundation Trustee Association, Inc. (TIFTA) to the Technical Institute Foundation Trustee Association (TIFTA) of Georgia, Inc. and to reflect those changes in the bylaws, promotional brochure, and all association documents. Sheila indicated that she would make all the needed corrections.

At the end of the panning discussions, Sheila indicated that she would take the suggestions, compile them and send them out to the council participants for their further consideration prior to the next Delegate Council meeting.

Tommy David opened a discussion concerning the annual dues for TIFTA membership. He acknowledged that we did not yet have a budget because we had just begun to plan the association’s activities; however, he expressed the need for the association to set dues to be able to begin operations. He reported that the TIFTA planning group had recommenced initial annual dues of $500 to be submitted by January 1999. Sheila indicated that one of the first financial needs of the organization would be the fee for incorporation.

One delegate suggested that the dues should be $400. An alternate delegate asked if additional dues would be required on July 1, 1999 at the beginning of the fiscal year. Sheila Stille stated that the dues suggested by the planning committee would be for January 1999 through December 1999 and that no additional dues would be required July 1999. A motion was made and seconded to establish $400 as the annual dues. The motion did not pass. Another motion was made and seconded to establish $500 as the annual dues. The motion passed by a large majority.

Tommy David closed the meeting with a discussion of the date for the next meeting. The consensus was that the next meeting should take place relatively soon to build on the momentum the organization had gained in the present meeting. Sheila was asked to work with the officers and technical institute advancement officers to arrange a time and place the next meeting. At 3:00 p.m., after it was agreed that no further discussion was needed, Tommy adjourned the meeting.