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Hi Hallie, Hunter,

As you know, we have an open board seat, which was vacated by Adrienne Arsht. I think we should consider adding two people, to bring us to 11 total.

Right now, aside from Fred Sears, not many of the remaining board members are particularly involved. I give Emily and Xanthi a pass, because 1) they’re in NY and 2) both have actually helped us with $ and programming connections in their respective communities. But Tony and Louie are so busy and pulled in so many directions, and we’ve not really gotten to the point where we need Dr. Borin’s help (though that may change in the next month as we launch the BBF Shield of Protection Initiative). I’m not saying we need to remove anyone from the board at this point. I simply think we should add a few now and then in the last meeting of 2017, put folks in groups and establish cycles/classes and term limits for rotating board members off.

I think there are a few folks we should consider asking to join this year, possibly before the July meeting:

1. General Vavala. I raised this with you folks a few months ago, and I still think he’s a great idea. We’re already doing work with the DNG because of him and we think the US National Guard and other armed forces are a great lane for us. Patty will have a bit more to say about this at tomorrow’s meeting. But with Gen. Vavala, we have a board member who will do just about anything we ask - go in to donor meetings with us, go in to programming meetings with us, be a visible spokesperson (I can’t imagine a civic group in DE he couldn’t walk in to and be recognized by 75% of the people). I think he’d throw himself in to helping us, which is something we could definitely use.

2. Tom Hanna. I think one of the best opportunities for this BBF Shield of Protection Initiative growth this year is youth sports leagues. Tom can be a tremendous help here, and has frankly offered already. He’s also a donor and has great ties to the business community, and could definitely help us expand our fundraising beyond the usual suspects for the golf outing.

3. Tim Mullaney. Tim’s relationships with DE law enforcement could not be better. He’s currently the director of labor services for the National FOP, which is a big job managing specialists in over 100 police departments who handle all of the contract negotiations for their employees. That means he has direct access to over 100 police agencies across the country - and can help us get in to those agencies with Stewards of Children (and training law enforcement in Stewards is one of our major goals this year). Where as Tom is a money and a connections guy, Tim is all connections - but right in one of the biggest growth lanes we have.

The biggest need we have is for someone of Vavala’s stature. May I suggest we think on this for a week or so, maybe come up with a few additional names and aim to have at least Vavala and one more on the board by the July board meeting? Alternatively, if you guys are ok with Vavala and one more, or all three - we can just move forward and ask them.

Thanks, see you all tomorrow!
/ja

Joshua Alcorn
302/295.8340 (office)
302/598.1885 (cell)
josh@beaubidenfoundation.org