Members of the Blaine Senior Center nonprofit (BSC) voted to reject a proposal to move its nearly $300,000 investment fund to the Whatcom Community Foundation on December 15. The fund, which constitutes about 80 percent of the nonprofit’s treasury, will remain in an Edward Jones investment account.
The election also included the appointment of 11 new board members, drastically increasing the number of members from three during the previous board’s tenure.
BSC bylaws require a turnout of at least 10 percent of its membership, meaning about 70 votes were required for the results to be legitimate. After 171 votes were cast, 115 voted to reject the transfer of funds to the foundation and 47 voted to approve.
Speaking to the crowd of voters after tallies were announced, BSC board president Sieneke Stevenson said that with the results finalized, the new board will work with a clear mandate to keep the nonprofit serving Blaine seniors.
“With the ballot measure not passing, it looks like we’re going to continue the nonprofit as-is, which does mean there’s going to be a lot of work ahead,” Stevenson said. “It would be great if everyone could be patient with the board while they go through reorganizing the entire nonprofit so it can become whatever vision it is that people want it to be.”
The proposal to transfer BSC’s investment portfolio to the foundation emerged after the senior center lost its contract with the city of Blaine for use of the Blaine Community Center in July. That space now provides crucial services for senior citizens under management of Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2), which was awarded the city’s contract.
The Whatcom Community Foundation, Stevenson said, was considered because of its track record with other local nonprofits and because traditional investment portfolios have become less reliable in today’s economic climate.
BBBPRD2 executive director Heather Lindsay presented the senior center board with a plaque from the city of Blaine honoring its donation of gym, kitchen and entertainment equipment as well as decades of service to Blaine’s seniors.
BSC still had legal ownership of tens of thousands of dollars in various equipment sitting in the building. Instead of selling it privately, BSC decided to “sell” the equipment for $1 to the city of Blaine, so that most of the equipment – almost everything in the building – could remain in the community center.
“The time and the effort that everyone has put in here, from being a participant to being a board member, to deciding to donate all of the tables and chairs and everything that’s here, you guys have left a lasting legacy,” Lindsay said to the crowd gathered for the board meeting. “We thank you, and the city acknowledges that. You all are a part of this.”
