THURSDAY, 5/16 - 6:30PM

Fiesta with us at our final 2023-2024 meeting! Lots of food, fun, socializing, new board installation, special gifts for moms of graduating Aggies and a few surprises! 

We will also vote to add Zhen Lin to our 2024-2025 board for the position of 3rd VP Directory-B to work with our 3rd VP Directory-A, Marilyn Stauss. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: We will be meeting in the HIGH SCHOOL STAGE ROOM at Bethel Church instead of the Fellowship Hall for THIS MEETING ONLY. The entrance is off the same breezeway, but closer to the back parking lot, outside the metal gates, through double glass doors.

$10 donations are appreciated to help provide the food and beverages (cash basket at the meeting, as well): https://houstonaggiemoms.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/264377

Please RSVP by Tuesday, May 14th: http://evite.me/Uy6ZWw6w68

Invite any new Aggie Moms who might be interested in joining us!

Bethel Church of Houston

(825 Bering Dr.; Houston; 77057)

Our HAMC Board made a critical decision on May 6th that prevented our club from potentially losing its 501(c)(3) status and charter with The Federation of Aggie Moms' Clubs.

Recently, I consulted with the Federation’s 2023-24 Parliamentarian, Linda Cristan-Rodriguez, regarding an issue in our HAMC bylaws unrelated to ROH. I stated that I reviewed bylaws from the Federation, our club and our ROH regarding the issue. Linda stopped me and asked, “Your ROH has its own set of bylaws?” I replied, “Yes, since 2011.” 

I also communicated with the following 2024-25 Federation officers who began their roles on April 13^th: Tara Boyle (Parliamentarian), Roxanne Forrest (President), Johnna Lenamon (VP at Large) and Nancy Skokan (President-Elect, Club Concerns Chair and Former El Paso Aggie Moms’ Club President). After consulting with our Parliamentarian, Debbie Hance, I presented written directives and guidance from Tara, Roxanne and Nancy to our HAMC Board on May 6th, including this statement from Tara:

“A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization can only have one set of bylaws and one governing board and is legally binding from the point of adoption. If a club does not follow the bylaws and is out of compliance, the Federation Board will step in and help the club take any actions necessary to get back in compliance. If there is no resolution, then that club could lose its charter. This is a last resort, however we need to ensure the club is abiding by all the appropriate rules.”

Per these Federation officers, no other club’s ROH has their own bylaws or officers. Nancy Skokan guided the El Paso ROH group and club back into compliance in 2019 before she became their president. The Federation has no record of our ROH bylaws being filed and would have required us to dissolve them years ago had they known of their existence.

When I presented this situation to our board, I stated that many members of HAMC were aware that our ROH had bylaws and officers but did not question it since they have been in place since 2011. I emphasized that our job was not to point fingers or assign blame, but to correct this situation immediately for the sake of our nearly 100-year-old organization.

Our HAMC Board voted to dissolve our ROH bylaws and officer positions on May 6th. The motion passed with only one dissenting vote and was effective immediately. 

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OUR ROH GROUP?

- ROH will continue to hold the same social events it has held for years.

- An additional fee that has been collected from ROH members per our HAMC bylaws, which has been $5 annually for many years, will continue to be collected and used only for ROH activities.

- ROH no longer has separate bylaws or officers, but the HAMC president may appoint a committee chair/liaison if she chooses, per our HAMC bylaws. The Federation officers suggested considering not appointing a ROH chair this year while we finish sorting out details.

- Because ROH is a committee/subgroup, our HAMC Fundraising VPs and Social Chairs will be an added support to ROH, which will help relieve some of the workload previously on the three ROH officers and will ensure that our club continues to follow proper protocol through appropriate board members. Of course, ROH members may continue to offer ideas and volunteer to help!

- ROH may continue to collect separate funds for scholarships, for which we already have a separate line item in our accounting, but ROH members will work with our Fundraising VPs and may propose to our board for approval the organizations/departments to which those funds would be distributed. If the proposed recipients are within our club’s guidelines (university-approved organizations, etc.), our board members stated they would be inclined to support them.

ROH members are a valued part of our organization! We love that our HAMC members will continue to be able to join ROH if they choose to enjoy additional fun social events once their Aggies become Former Students.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Laura Spilman '93

2023-2024 President

Houston Aggie Moms' Club

laura.spilman@houstonaggiemoms.org

210-560-9656

SUPPORT EACH OTHER - SHARE RESOURCES - GROW AS WE GO 

At our January and March general meetings, I mentioned that many of us are navigating the care, support and loss of our parents while we're still parenting our children in many ways, even if they are in college or beyond. 

We are all at different stages in this process and could benefit from learning about experiences and resources from other members. I am not certain whether this sub-group within our club will meet monthly, occasionally or just share resources and support each other, but we can determine that as we move forward.

I received interest from members in pursuing this idea after both general meetings, so if you are interested and/or have ideas on the way we can develop this group, please contact me at: Laura.Spilman@HoustonAggieMoms.org