September 2,
2008
James Speirs
3007
Stockade Dr.
Rapid City,
SD 57702
Dear James,
Your name was given to me by Linda
Rabe about your possible interest for being considered as a Board Officer on
the Rapid City Public Library Foundation. I have enclosed an information packet
about the Foundation and will plan to contact you to talk further about this
consideration.
Under a reorganized structure for
the Foundation, the officers shall meet four times a year for business
operations, donor events and capital campaigns.
The officers consist of the President, Vice President and
Secretary/Treasurer. They in turn would call upon other people as needed to
assist with the promotion of donor events and capital campaigns.
Historically, there are three annual donor events of an public
awareness dinner and author speaker held previously at the Downtown Library. Two
additional author and dinner gatherings have been held in private homes.
Capital campaigns happen on average every three to four years and generally seek
to raise approximately between $300,000 to $600,000. An event coordinator would
assist with these activities. A successful $350,000 capital campaign was
recently accomplished this year for reconfiguration and enhancement of public
space on the first floor at the downtown library.
The Board also oversees approximately
$200,000 in an Endowment Fund, which is deposited and administrated through the
Black Hills Area Community Foundation. Record keeping and event coordination
for annual operational costs of approximately $20,000 is maintained by a
contracted bookkeeper, who attends Board meetings and tracks the budget, gifts,
correspondence, and other Foundation records. The event coordinator is hired by
contract as needed.
The Rapid City Public Library’s progressive vision for
library services has been nationally noted in the USA Today and Madison WI (http://www.madison.com/tct/entertainment/289537)
newspapers. The Library Foundation was instrumental in achieving that notice, thanks
to raising over $600,000 for the 2002 library expansion, as well as funding the
recent downtown space reconfiguration with new public furniture.
I look forward to a further conversation with you about this
opportunity to serve on the Rapid City Library Foundation Board and thank you
for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Greta
Chapman, Rapid City Public Library Director