River Falls Library Foundation Wednesday, February 25, 2026 Minutes
Call to order: President Rita Kozak called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
Present: Rita Kozak, Callie Trautmiller, Sarah Nelson, Mary Baumgartner, Linda Jacobson, Patricia La Rue, Mary Torgersen, Anna Zalusky, Theresa DeRusha, Tanya Misselt (Library Director, Ex-Officio.)
Absent: Linda Vivoda-Sadee
Visiting: Library Board Trustee President Michael Metro.
Approval of meeting minutes: Motion to approve the meeting minutes from December 3, 2025, meeting by Theresa DeRusha, seconded by Linda Jacobson. No questions or comments. Motion passed.
Financial report: Treasurer Sarah Nelson.
Capital Campaign donations – $1,269,255.
- Large donation in January H.J.A. Foundation
- February donations $1,800
- Held in money market account, monthly move money from checking account, to the money market account at Edward Jones.
Jennifer Shutes is our CPA, working through financial details.
Will make entries for the pledges, funds pledged up to three years out.
Once final numbers will determine type of review. Possibly a full audit.
Signed up for electronic payments, getting donations through them including 3M. There is a fee to receive the checks. Signed up for ACH payment of those donations.
Summary of Foundation membership donations provided.
Pay $62 fee for electronic payment, we pay a percent received from credit card or ACH.
Investment changes are shown on report for January 2026, not final for February.
SCVF is St. Croix Valley Foundation, we have a balance there.
Edward Jones- the Foundation has a money market account, an investment amount and a capital campaign amount.
Financial statements provided.
Kozak asked about Jennifer’s timeline. Discussions of possibly filing for an extension. Submissions due the end of April 2026. Will know more next week with final numbers.
Membership report: Linda Jacobson
Membership numbers are the same as Nelson’s financial report. Membership of 47 new who joined and 7 in February. Each paid $10. Donations above and beyond $10 membership fee were $3,219.77 for January and February 2026. Jacobson will keep a running total throughout the year.
Will discuss if anyone who makes a donation of $10 becomes a member.
Library Director report: Tanya Misselt
Tanya indicated if ever there is a Director who tries to take over the Foundation, or thinks they are in charge of the Foundation, there is a problem. Director is not in charge or the leader of the Foundation. The Foundation is independent. Foundation helps the Library financially and the Library supports the Foundation. Packets are not written by the Director, but the Board. Work the Foundation does to raise and protect the library funds, is critical to the services the Library provides. Provide the programs, support the library. It’s a big deal. Not all libraries have a Foundation. Might have a “Friends” group that volunteer their time. River Falls is extremely lucky to have the Foundation.
Misselt serves as the Director and head of the Library, working closely with the Library Board of Trustees, which functions as the Library’s governing body. The Board holds statutory authority over library operations, ensuring strong and focused leadership.
The City plays an important supportive role by providing funding and essential services, while the Library maintains autonomy over key decisions such as hiring, policies, and overall direction. The Library also partners with the City for facilities work through contractual arrangements, reflecting a collaborative relationship.
Policies are thoughtfully developed by the Director in partnership with the Board of Trustees, ensuring they align with the Library’s mission and community needs. It is also important to note that the Library Board of Trustees and the Library Foundation Board are distinct entities, each serving unique and valuable roles supporting the Library.
The Library reports to the Department of Public Instruction. We provide an annual report. Some oversight there. There is a System Director, if notice we are out of compliance they can report the Library to remedy a non-compliance issue. Not true that all the library does is check out books. The Board has the authority and the Foundation is more like their support group. Foundation provides strategic planning, is a valuable stakeholder and contributes.
The current construction projects are ahead of schedule and below budget.
We thought we might get the solarium done but that might not happen. We have to make decisions. Solarium has always had a leak. The leak has caused damage to the back bench. The tile of the floor is coming up. That has never been in the scope of this renovation. Need to figure it out. There may be more money available from the Andersen Foundation.
The Library will be closed from March 2 through likely the 18th. People can pick up their holds. During that time the Library will be retiling, work on ceiling with new lights. Second week is moving stuff around. Whole first level, may not be finished, but people can see it. After that is completed, all that will be left is the lower level. Over 2/3rds done. Maybe tack the solarium on the end.
Old Business: Patricia La Rue.
La Rue attended the Board of Trustee’s meeting. La Rue was unaware she was to take notes. Can only report that the Trustees discussed upcoming scholarships.
Kozak: Discussion on Map sell of a reprint. Do want to move forward? There is interest. Suggestion to wait until the Library’s Grand Opening to have the maps available.
Misselt does not have any celebrations until possibly May, at which time a musician is coming. Special invitation. The furniture is not in yet, some ambiguity on when the Library will be formally finished. Agrees that at that time would be good to sell the maps.
Discussion is to wait until Grand Opening.
Nelson referred to sales tax collections. If you give a $20 donation you get a book but not sell. Donation with gift.
Kozak suggested how to address the maps sale or donation is tabled.
Kozak: Discussion on philanthropy and participation/website. Discussion is tabled.
New Business: Callie Trautmiller.
Trautmiller discussed two scholarships for $500. Essay questions are out to students to apply for the scholarships. “How has the River Falls Public Library positively impacted your social and academic years.” Open until February 28, 2026. Looking for volunteers to read through the essays. Mary Baumgartner and Rita Kozak volunteer. Review in mid-March with a decision in mid-April.
Kozak discussed new member packets. Helpful information coming onto the Board and how it works. Put on the website. Email Rita if you need clarification or have suggestions. Will put a link to a chart on the website. Go to the Foundations page and there is a cartoon video, does a good job of explaining the various entities. The Library Patron, the Library Director and Staff, the Foundation, the Trustees and the City. Discussion of using the movie theater to provide information and video before the movie begins.
Kozak discussed the question of $10 donation means automatic Foundation membership. Do donors specifically say they want to be a member. Donors will get an email and an annual letter, with ballot they can vote. Everyone for which the Foundation has emails are getting a letter. Who gets invited to vote is a quandary. Not specific to the Foundation. Tanya will check with Eau Claire to see how they have done it. May be in our By-Laws as to what a member is. Push for memberships throughout the year not just in the annual letter. Traditionally the Foundation recognized membership for 12 months, January through December. Now the Foundation can track monthly, a 12 month membership. Discuss an annual fund drive and how to implement fund drives in the future. Review of the portion of By-Laws identifying membership. This year we have 54 members. Numbers are important because it informs more people on what the Foundation is. Should send something to everyone who donates. Request their desire to become a member. They may not know. Mike Metro suggested a sustainable membership. Decision is made to revisit with new ideas. Jean Ritzinger at one time floated a lifetime option. If you are on the Board you need to be a member. Table the discussion and check out other ideas for future meeting.
Kozak discussed Quarterly Meeting Schedule for the Foundation meetings. Only meet for fund raising? Main drive is fund-raising. Talk about meeting regularly – monthly or quarterly. Be respectful of people’s time and work life. Some specific months for meetings may be required for financial discussions, other dates, there are other dates we must adhere to. But other times. 10 times a year? We currently do not meet in July or November and our December meeting is early. Tanya indicated that the Foundation is more of a money manager and fund raiser. Workload for fund raising many times falls on Staff, that’s not uncommon. Staff is used to it, but not great. Doing some grand fund raiser is a lot of work. Meeting every month, creating the financial and the agenda is a lot of work, but would hate to see the momentum, elevating the profile of the Foundation, that has happened this last year to dwindle. Would like to continue to build on that. Any time there is a special event, important to have a Foundation member there and let the community know what the Foundation does and keep it in people’s minds focused, with any publications. Board members did the table for summer kick off. So much success with parents coming by, make donations, wear our shirts to have a physical presence. Doesn’t have to be everybody, just one or two. Metro discussed having a consistent message, follow the brochure. Highlight the benefit of the Foundation. “30 second elevator pitch.” Highlight new things, technology, may not realize what all is availble. Tanya suggested to have a reception table that identifies the Foundation independently. Rita suggested having someone available at the Library on weekends. Callie suggested keeping our Foundation meetings monthly for a while, maybe not put together the financials every month. Most financial reports are quarterly anyway. Maybe verbal updates.
Linda indicated if there is a Grand Reopening in the fall with the map sells/donation, decision has to be made long before. Preorders or print a bunch and hope to sell. The maps are expensive. Tanya hopes to have regular music on Saturday, summer kick-off is right after school is out. Have a table available for the Foundation. Rita indicated we would talk more about this as we move forward.
Future business:
- Talk about Board Member Packet, if any questions or suggestions.
- March meeting will be a group photo at library. Photo will go on Foundation page.
- Membership questions to be addressed further.
- Contact movie theater to see if our ad can run before movie.
- Create a tablecloth for Foundation table and spur discussion. Outreach plan.
- If the Library has special events, provide the Board with dates. Not many now due to construction.
- Callie will attend next Trustee meeting.
- Mary Baumgartner will do the June Trustee meeting.
- Next Board meeting will be at the Library in the Board Room
Rita entertained a motion to adjourned. Anna Zaluskiy so moved, Mary Torgersen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.