Board Meeting Minutes — March 2026

Minutes - LEAD Foundation Board Meeting

14 March 2026

Meeting called to order by Board Vice President at 1423.

Present at Meeting: Rhonda Baker, Terry Baker, Lani Cahill, Marc Cohen, Belinda Contreras, Kenny Cook-Askins, Grace Edinboro, Will Hicks, Ken Parris, Jacob Rodriguez, Susan Sirkin, Mike Smith, Denise VanLoo, and Dan Word. This constitutes a quorum of voting members. Non-voting members present: Lisa Cherry, Dustin Dionne, Sarahy Barrera, Dana Hicks, Helen Hansen

Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the 21 FEB 2026 meeting were reviewed and approved as published. Move to approve minutes as published: Will Hicks; Seconded: Terry Baker. Approved: 100%.

Treasurer’s Report:

Current balance $331,702.53 as of 13 MAR. New voting members as of today (3/14/26): None. Status of Monthly Reconciliation process: Current through JAN 2026.

Move to accept the Treasurer’s Report made by Terry Baker; Seconded: Ken Parris. Approved: 100%

Old Business:

1. CAT-T Tourniquets: CACC failed to issue the tourniquets to Brigade Advisors. Will Hicks will come up with a plan. No change.
2. Update on the MOU between LEAD and CMD: Pending response from Mike Smith, then response from CMD. No change.
3. Microsoft is ending its Office E1 skew for non-profits. May get Business Basic. 300 accounts free or Business account for $11K. 365 days to make a move. Status on IRS website could be a problem that costs full price. Basic Business accounts don’t get Teams, keep email. IF the IRS status is fixed. Consensus is that we need to put our issues with the IRS in writing. We are still waiting on a path forward. It might be cadet.org, which is grandfathered at the higher numbers of accounts. But Matt Kus who controls access has been unresponsive. Matt Kus heard from – owns the domain. May not be available to us as anticipated. Tech people will meet with Matt and try to work it out. There likely is a workaround giving individuals access to ShareDrive and Tools without email. Update: S6 requesting a meeting on way ahead. Starting in 60 days we get charged over 300 members. The meeting should include COL Smith and LTC Dewbre. COAs discussed to include CACC adults who may not need CACC email addresses.
4. Update on the billeting reimbursements from encampment. In the end we collected funds back from all but two CACC Adults, losing a total of $1017. Cdr, CACC has the issue of non-payment of debts. Closed.
5. New ID Card printer. On 2/24/26, 1SG Dionne reported via email that they had received quotes to repair the machine starting at $495. The model is obsolete. An updated model is $7018 with supplies. Mike Smith moved via email to authorize purchase of a new machine not to exceed $7250 and to trade in the old one for $150. Ken Parris seconded the motion. While votes were being collected, it came to light that we would not be able to trade in the old machine. Ken Parris moved to amend the motion to add $150 to authorize $7400 for the purchase. This was seconded by Roni Lopez. By 3 MAR, enough votes had been collected (12) for the motion to pass. Question from Will Hicks about whether we need a new laptop and software as well. Ken Parris moves , Lani Cahill seconds, to authorize $1000 for purchase of a laptop and software. 100%
6. Plaques shown. Move forward making CSLO DFAC and PX and CSLO Billeting and CSLO command. Also looking at Achievement Award for NACF staff. Update: The UK Staff Ride was cancelled, so no awards are pending. Lani Cahill took plates to be engraved for the DFAC, PX, Billeting and CSLO Command. Will add a plaque for JTFB Command. COL Smith needs to get verbiage for the plaques to Lani.
7. Still pursuing certification for high ropes course. Probably $5-6000 for a 40-hour course. Also 1-day Rappel Master for $1000. Grace Edinboro moves to authorize up to $10,000 to pay for this training if we can make it happen. Seconded by Belinda Contreras. Passes 100%. Still working on scheduling, no change at this point.

New Business:

1. Lani Cahill moves to authorize to purchase 100 laptops for $50,000 for required training support, especially during encampment. Rhonda Baker seconded. CACC doesn’t support computer purchase through J6. Belinda Contreras recommends only buying 50 and then more later. Andrew Roach seeking a bulk purchase to reduce the price. Lisa Cherry asks what they’ll be used for. Will tablets work for what they need? Andrew Roach says some of our needs will be satisfied with tablets. CACC may be able to set up a learning center during encampment. Use life probably not 10 years. Several members would like to see a written proposal. Mike Smith moves to table the motion pending receipt of a written proposal. Seconded by Ken Parris. Approved 100%
2. Need for a reliable sound system to support CACC operations. Andrew Roach has a quote for a system for $14K. Fulltimers report that we can use the Grizzly Youth Academy’s system in 2026. Lani moved. No second. Motion died.
3. Belinda Contreras moves to authorize purchase of restaurant buzzers for the CACC Drill Competition. Ken Parris seconds. About $1000 for 144 devices. Approved 100%.
4. Marc Cohen proposes seeking a donation from Cutco for knife blocks. Mike Smith moves to authorize Marc to solicit this donation. Susan Sirkin seconded. Approved. 100%
5. Report from Grace Edinboro that we gave 175 Encampment Scholarships, 109 of which have been used.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:09.

GRACE E. EDINBORO

LEAD Board Secretary

14 MAR 2026