THIMBLELENAS BOARD MEETING NOTES
FRIDAY 3/20/2026 Sewing Room Call to Order: Carol Myers called meeting to order at 8:27am.
Attendance: Carol Myers, President; Susan Radka, V President; Linda Wickline, Secretary; Bertha Medina, Purchasing Agent; Sue Garcia, Treasurer; Lesley Monroe, co-Monitor; Kathy Foster, Membership Chair; Sue Devaney, Member-at-Large. Not present: Georgine Smith co-Monitor.
Carol asked if additional items be put on agenda: open houses; display boards at Copper Center; long arm quilting machine; email concern for Sue R; email addition/clarification for Thimblelenas. Kathy made motion to approve; second by Georgine; agenda approved.
President’s report:Carol has turned over paperwork for obtaining the 501c(3) non-profit paperwork to Bertha. Foundation grant – talked with Randy Trenary and he needs to get answer by end of month, has to be approved by the HOA Board, but needs formal approval to move forward. Equipment installed from grants – table purchased for cutting has been widely used and seems to be a big hit. Monies left to spend is less that $200. Carol would like to use balance of money to purchase a second table which can be raised and lowered based on user’s height. Original table cost $212 and old cutting mat was cut down and installed on new table.
Discussion about club’s time. Board members are asked to be courteous and respectful. Please be courteous and respectful of each club’s posted time and wait until end of club to enter room and use equipment or perform tasks. Communication is key and be cognizant to accommodate each other’s needs.
Open House in Artisan’s Center, specifically in the Sewing Room, on March 17 was a great success. Good comments. The HOA Board did not ask about ceiling leak over the Embroidery Machine.
Open House at Copper Center for week of March 22: Table Tennis tables are set up in Thimblelenas area, CC stated they will have tables moved to their respective area/rooms and not in the Thimblelenas area. If in CC, please check to make sure tables have moved out.
ByLaws state that Thimblelenas Agenda should be posted prior to the meeting, but does not state by who. When the ByLaws are reviewed again, this should be addressed. In the meantime, Linda will make sure that the Agenda is posted and given to the web person to be updated on the computer.
VPReport:Susan Radka stated Tipster and TWISCOV articles are being submitted without problems.
Secretary Report: Motion to approve February’s minutes: Sue R, second by Kathy. Motion carried.
MembershipChairReport:Kathy reported that membership through February 28, 2026 was
165. She has eliminated those members who have not paid, off the list. Room usage for February 2026 was 464, an increase of 131 from February 2025, which was 333. Membership list, most current, is posted in the book. She is still working on getting the link onto the
computer for anyone to see, which will reflect the most current roster. Kathy will write up instructions on how to find the information on the Thimblelenas website.
Discussion regarding what email is used by the Treasurer as well as the Purchasing Agent and is it different from those wanting to ask questions, concerns, requests?
2025Thimble@gmail.com is the email for banking needs (such as payments using Zelle) and for general email type transactions such as requests, concerns, questions, etc. Regarding banking, Sue Garcia and Bertha Medina have the capability to associate the gmail account to the banking transactions. If an email comes in and it is not bank related, either Bertha or Sue G will forward that email to the appropriate person for resolution.
thimblelenas@yahoo.com is used for signup.com. If a member responds to a signup.com email using the yahoo account, Carol responds directly back to them using the Yahoo email.
Kathy asked that Bertha set up on the computer, with read-only capability, for viewing the current roster. This will be done via a ‘folder’ which the user will click on to access. Monitors will be given information and instruction about accessing the most current roster list by Georgine and Lesley. Kathy will write up instructions on how to find the information on the new computer.
Treasurer’s report:Sue G gave update on monies on hand. As of February 28, 2026 there was $2,219.44 in checking account. Sue wanted to affirm before she cashes in the CD – to get blessing again from the Board that indeed to cash it in. One CD has a balance of $3,094.51; the second CD has a value of $3,067.56, which matures end of May. Carol stated that the board had made decision and voted on cashing in of the CD now valued at $3.094.51 during the February meeting.
Audit requested by Sue G to Sam Phillips – he will report back by March 31 with completed audit. Motion made by Sue Devaney, second by Kathy to accept Treasurer’s report. Motion carried.
PurchasingAgent’sreport:$116.35 is left of Foundation money after purchasing electric table for cutting. Original amount given by Foundation was $2400. YTD purchases for Thimblelenas is $424.46.
Discussion regarding wrong serger thread that was purchased for Casa Amigas. Carol asked for an update: Bertha stated she returned the thread for refund. Sue G stated the refund is shown on the bank statement. Carol will discuss this matter with Casa with this information given.
Bertha is still working on the computer updates and instructions. Regarding the 501c3 update since Carol passed the paperwork on to Bertha: she has researched and has questions and will get clarification after the meeting. Linda suggested Bertha talk to Debra Dirks about how Seniors For Kids was set up.
Member-at-Large Report: Sue Devaney stated that the ceiling is still leaking however, when there is rain in the forecast, someone will come into the room and put up a rain type guard (like shower curtain) over machine. Carol suggested that someone be in charge of covering the machine, someone in the Embroidery Club – will be discussed at their next meeting.
Sue signed up for Zoom meeting for Fabulous 40 planning meeting and was not able to connect. Linda will take over that function of continuing representation for Fab 40 committee.
Co-Monitor’s Report: Lesley stated that everything is going smoothly. She stated that people are not locking rotary cutters, and some blades are wide open. She will include in the Monitor training/duties to check the rotary cutter storage area to make sure all are locked.
As a side note: the code to the door has changed. In the future, when a new code is keyed in, the old code will remain for 5 or 6 days, as well as the new code functioning.
Donation Committee: Susan Radka said there has not been distribution. Little has been donated.
Policy and Procedures Manual: Formerly tabled until move to Copper Center and at that time, many procedures will need to be changed or included. Motion to table by Lesley, second by Sue D; motion carried.
CommentCard:No comments.
Website:Debra Dirks does update – please review website to include or remove if needed. Regarding Secretary’s minutes: the President reviews, then Secretary sends to board, once all have reviewed and changes made, then sent to the website (Debra) to be uploaded.
Old Business:Talking points for open house were developed and sent to all who will be attending at Copper Center. Thank you to Sue D for making name tags to wear. Printer usage
– has it been abused? Seems not, hopefully this is not an issue.
Long arm quilting machine: Randy Trenary and Sandy Seddon are in agreement that the long arm machine can be purchased. FoundationSCOV will be discussing its contribution amount at its meeting on March 26. The Foundation requests clubs have “skin in the game” by supplying some of the dollar amount they are requesting from the Foundation. Originally Thimblelenas put three grant requests into the Foundation. A grant for computer/tv equipment, a grant for the long arm, and a grant for shelving at Copper Center. The foundation informed Carol of its rules to only supply funds to one group in a year, and asked Carol to re-write the applications into Thimblelenas Club’s names. She contacted the Presidents of Embroidery and Sun City Quilters to verify it was okay to use their group to submit requests. The shelving request for Copper Center was rescinded due to the uncertainty of the move-in date. Both the Embroidery Club and the Sun City Quilters agreed to allow use of their club to submit grant applications.
Carol sent emails to Sun City Quilters, Casa Amigas, and Seniors for Kids requesting a contribution toward the long arm from each of their groups. The other Thimblelenas groups were not approached as they don’t use the machine and they have no money. Since any member of Thimblelenas can use the machine as long as they are trained on it, Thimblelenas Board approved a $1500.00 contribution from a cashed in CD. In addition, a private donor for
$500.00 to $SFK to be earmarked to Thimblelenas toward the purchase of the machine is forthcoming.
Carol stated according to Thimblelenas ByLaw, there is no mention of asking the general members approval for spending money, but ByLaws state an expense like this must be taken to the Board for approval. A commitment of $4,700 from asset reserves along with whatever dollar amount the present machine sale is has been approved by Randy and Sandy. Question was raised as to whether the new machine and frame will fit in the room. The new frame is 12 feet. It comes in 3 four foot sections. At present two sections would be used to set up an 8 foot frame, and the remaining 4 foot section would be stored. Once the system is moved to Copper Center, it would be set up as a 12 foot frame.
Sue G said the quilt group called a special meeting March 24, called by that board, to vote on whether to donate to the Food Bank and how much to give, based on the intake of monies collected from their Annual Quilt Show. The quilt group donated last year to the Food Bank, and this new request to donate to Thimblelenas has caused conversation. Carol stated she had a conversation with the President of the Quilters about the long-arm donation and the President said they had to wait until a board member returns to have a board meeting about this. Casa will be discussing March 23. Seniors For Kids will have this on the agenda for their April 2 meeting.
Goals for 2026: none discussed.
How close is the move to Copper Center? No updates at this time.
Next meeting will be April 17, 8:30am in the Sewing Room. Note: Sue D and Sue R will not be available at the April meeting.
Motion to adjourn by Sue R, second by Kathy. Adjournment at 9:42am.
Respectively submitted by Linda Wickline