The William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center held its bi-monthly board meeting at 7:30 p.m. June 19 at 1315 Spruce St.

The meeting kicked off with the introduction of the center’s newest board member, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Ann Butchart.

Butchart is one of the city’s highest-ranking out public officials and the first openly lesbian judge to serve on Philadelphia’s Common Pleas Court.

“We’re honored to welcome Ann to the board,” said center co-chair Janelle Fulton.

Executive director ’Dolph Ward Goldenburg explained that Butchart did not replace anyone on the board, but rather filled an empty space.

“We can have up to 15 members, and Ann Butchart brought us to 13 members. We’re very privileged to have her on the board,” he said.

Co-chair Ted Greenberg, treasurer David Michelson and members Deb Francesco, Rick Lombardo and Louise Winski were unable to attend the meeting.

Co-chair Janelle Fulton, Secretary Liz Reasey and members Ray Becker, Stephanie Gross, Eric Ashton, Rich Aleong and Bill Gehrman were present.

Goldenburg relayed that volunteers contributed 800 hours of service in May, bringing the year-to-date total to 4,285 hours.

Participation in the center’s programs and special events has declined since last year with 2,883 participants so far this year, compared to 3,896 this time in 2006.

The center has generated $4,595 in program revenue year-to-date, $3,301 less than the anticipated $7,869.

The center had 1,090 household members (who contribute $50 yearly) as of May 31. This is 2-percent fewer household members than last year’s 1,115.

The center had 73 cornerstone members (who contribute $1,000 or more yearly) as of May 31, a 4-percent increase from last year’s 70 cornerstone members.

The center brought in $13,885 in major donor giving so far this year, $1,895 less than the expected $15,780.

Candice Thompson, director of front-desk operations, reported that the center had 19,574 visitors so far this year, 2,536 fewer than last year’s 22,110 visitors at this point.

Thompson also reported that the center generated $41,102 from tenants and $6,812 from rentals.

Goldenburg said that planning for fall Way Gay U classes has started and will include favorites like yoga and ballroom dancing, as well as new courses like self-defense, singles and dating, a name-change clinic and classes for healthy couples.

He reported that as of June 20, air conditioning on the ground floor of the center was fully functional.

The ground-floor restroom is also being renovated. The updated restroom will have two stalls, a baby-changing station and a new floor.

Goldenburg also announced that one of the silent-auction items for this year’s Indigo Ball, the center’s annual black-tie fundraiser held in October, will be a weeklong stay at an Italian villa.

Board secretary and finance committee member Liz Reasey then reported on the center’s financials.

Reasey reported that the center brought in $18,900 for the month of May and spent $62,663.

Jack Wilcox, a finance committee member, added that expenses included $19,000 in capital expenditures, which will be counterbalanced by capital-restricted funding from the center’s reserved accounts.

So far this year, the center brought in $330,459 in income and spent $274,760, resulting in a surplus of $82,699.

The net surplus results from restricted funds obtained this year for programs and capital improvements.

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, community member Mike Martin criticized the center’s information-technology network and security.

The center signed a contract with Martin, who is providing pro-bono services to update the center’s technology infrastructure.

“We’ve had some ongoing issues with e-mail, but we recently updated to a more reliable provider,” Goldenburg told PGN. “And our network has not been backed up in the past, but we’re getting to the point where it is.”

Goldenburg said the center is dealing with an aging system.

“Most of our computers are two to four years old and have slower software,” he said. “We do need some upgrades to our network and hardware, and we are addressing the issue.”