Family Resource Center Board of Directors

Board President:
Debbie Frisch

Board Vice-President:
Lawrence Rosenzweig

Board Treasurer:
Paul Partington

Board Secretary:
Allison Shank

Directors:
Chris Cerimele
Jim Dorociak
Michael Drelicharz
William Filan
David Flood
Marc Grapey
Mark Mulert
Kathy Wolf


Message from Larry Rosenzweig

Family Resource Center’s Annual Meeting of the board of directors was held on January 13.  Several important events took place at this meeting.

Following widely accepted guidelines for excellence in not-for-profit governance, our FRC bylaws specify term limits for all 4 officer positions on the board.  This limit is 2 terms of 2 years each.  One benefit of this is that board leadership does not become entrenched, stale, or complacent and new, energized leadership sets new goals and uses different skill sets to move the organization forward.

I have completed my 2 terms as board president.  Our newly elected board president is Debbie Frisch, previously board vice-president.  Many of you know Debbie as one of FRC’s Temporary Foster Care Angels; perhaps she cared for your child.  She is our recent vice president and, in the past year,  was instrumental in establishing FRC’s new Auxiliary Board.  Debbie has been on FRC’s board for 2 years and has served on governing boards of other organizations.

I have agreed to accept the position of board vice president for one year to work with Debbie as needed to create a smooth transition.  Our skill sets are complementary so this dual approach will benefit FRC.

Paul Partington was re-elected to Treasurer and he will also remain chair of the Finance Committee.  Paul, as well as other Finance Committee members provide oversight of, and work closely with, FRC’s accounting department to monitor our financial standing.  Our FY-2010 Audit report was recently completed showing the agency in good financial condition.  All areas that were recommended for improvement in previous audits were satisfactorily addressed and there were no new recommendations by the auditors.  Paul, his committee, and Amy Emerzian, Director of Accounting, did a great job.

Allison Shank was elected as board secretary and plans to become even more active learning about the oversight and forward planning needs of FRC.  Allison joined the board this past June and has been very active.  Allison has a legal background and is an adoptive mom.

Marty Lindenberger, former board secretary, and Mike Plecki, former board vice-president, both much valued and long-time directors, finished their terms this year and, due to increased family and job commitments decided not to run for re-election.  The board extends sincere thanks for their many years of service.

On January 31 I attended our annual FRC Open House which has become one of my favorite events at FRC.  I had the pleasure to meet loads of FRC families.  This family oriented event along with our Fall Picnic, reinforces why I participate on the board level.  At the Open House I can see how FRC matters to families and more directly to children.  Many parents were, for the first time, returning to the place where their quest of family first occurred.  Children, could see where they first me their parents.  Our home at 5828 N. Clark St. is part of many adoption stories.  It was a very special afternoon and many were touched in ways that were unanticipated.  The kids had fun in our new lower level staging area which was set up with paint and paper for art projects as well as a temporary tattoo parlor (the water stick-on kind!)  Sunday, for the kids, this was the place to be.  Pizza was up in our family Safe Haven Apartment (currently unoccupied). 

Though not totally complete our recent redecorating project really upgraded the front conference room which was set up as a photo studio for family portraits.  I think it was equally divided between kids who wanted more pictures taken and those who had not quite warmed up to the idea.  I hope to see more families next year at this annual week-before-the-Super Bowl event.

Larry Rosenzweig
Vice President
Family Resource Center