CPI selects new executive director, recaps Wine, Dine & Win participation

California Progress, Inc. selected a new Executive Director in an addendum to last month's meeting agenda.

The Board of Directors voted to offer Marla Wright the position, who accepted. The board also agreed to evaluate Wright's performance following a six-month period and grant her a raise in her hourly pay rate if her performance is found to be exceeding the board's expectations.

The board will continue to see further changes in the near future, as CPI discussed potential board member additions during October's meeting.

Work on California's next mural has also started since September's board meeting. The mural is being added to the outside wall of California Lanes and will again be painted by muralist Dennis Holliday, who most recently completed the Moniteau County Fair mural on the side of the Moniteau County Historical Society's building.

In other business from October's meeting, CPI reported positive results from last week's Wine, Dine & Win fundraiser. In total, around 85 attended the event at Sweet Chipotle Catering Center, and CPI managed to pull in around $5,000 toward organizational projects for the next year. Last year's event brought in around 125 attendees and a higher dollar amount in profit, but board members mentioned that was a bit out of the ordinary in comparison with the event's traditional participation. This year's edition was fairly consistent with the norm.

In the run-up to the City of California's Christmas in Proctor Park, CPI discussed where the board might want to stake a claim on decorating for the approximately month-long lighting display. The board ultimately agreed to request to decorate one of the park's shelter houses, provided it is still available for the group to claim, and discussed display requirements to keep in mind as the month of December approaches. CPI is one of more than 30 area businesses signed up to participate.

CPI finished its meeting in closed session, discussing its ongoing proposal to purchase the Latham Hospital lot.

CPI's next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Moniteau County Library.