Our May meeting was called to order by Susan Mazanec. A motion was made by JoAnne Heitmiller to accept last month's minutes as posted on the website. Shirley Lands seconded the subsequently passed motion.

A copy of The Baylor Experience, a publication sent to all Baylor parents--as opposed to just parents of incoming freshmen--was passed around. It had already been decided by an e-mail vote that we would buy three small ads to be run in the September, May, and August issues for $200.00 monthly, or $600 annually.

Brett Smith, of Worldwide Internet Publishing, consulted with Susan on improving our website. By using Susan's Rope The Wind website as an example, they discussed some of the following issues:

1) What are search engines really looking for? Brett stressed things like length of words; instances where abbreviations aren't recognized (such as "B&B" [so spell it out on your own website!]; and the fact that name/text links are better than picture links.

2) As an Association, we need to improve our "organic search," which is what people are actually typing in to find us. It is important to remember that normally people only look at the first five items listed by the search engines.

Brett shared with Susan many other ways we could increase the business generated by our Association website. Normally he charges $150/month for his services. However, until Susan can meet with him again and find out specifically what those services entail, she will have Jerry Walters get started on the ideas he has already shared. Then, at a later date, he could review our website with those changes incorporated and recommend how we could move forward from that point.

Rick Allen suggested that we consider having a booth next year in a Waco C.V.B. exhibition he went to last month that featured all organizations that bring visitors to the Waco area. The booths were staffed by a very disparate, interesting grouping of organizations, such as H.O.T. Mental Health, Central Texas' American Indian Chapter, and the Library Association. Pam Allen will contact Carla Lowe at C.V.B. to ensure we are alerted next year in time to participate.

Susan Mazanec said we are still looking into doing a group brochure, which could be done by Pam Allen or Barbara Epps. Susan will contact them again to discuss implementation. It was discussed that we should give them a small fee to express our appreciation for any services rendered.

After a wonderful evening hosted so graciously by Sandra and Don Twitty at The Farm, we were sad to leave their gorgeous grounds. But we did so following a motion, and second, by Marcia Boggs and Bruce Dyer respectively.

Minutes recorded  by  Pam Scobell

TREASURER'S REPORT

Beginning Balance .........April 1, 2006..................................................................... $2181.20

Ending Balance..............April 30, 2006 ................................................................... $2181.20