Baby Disco Ball February 5, 2011

Third annual Disco Ball sponsored by North Minneapolis PAC (ECFE Parent Advisory Council) will be held on February 5th 2011 Saturday from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Mona Moede at 2406 Girard Ave. North, Minneapolis. There is a $5 dollar admittance suggested donation per fam-ily. There will be snacks and juice avail-able for purchase. There will be lots of fun music and activities for the everyone.

January 5, 2011 PAC. meeting minutes

PAC meeting January 5, 2011

Minutes

Attendees Sharon Bartlett, Kelly Brown, Manu Erickson, Annette
Gagliardi, Khadiga Mohamed, Billi White, and Celine Woods

Treasurer’s report: delivered by Annette: balance is $ 211.54 plus
our $300 reserve, after projected expenses for this school year.

LAC report: Delivered by Annette: salient information is that the
School Fair is January 8, 2011 and East PAC now has a website. There
was discussion of a social for all PACs city wide, and a member of LAC
should be contacting each PAC. Manu suggested that a wellness event
would be a good idea for such a social. There was a reminder that the
Children’s Museum will be open to ECFE parents and children on
Thursday January 13, free.

Lending Libraries: Date is currently being reviewed for a possible
Monday session or two. The childcare room would be open then and
Kelly would keep the children in that room while adults organized and
recorded the books.

Events Updates

Disco Ball, February 5, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Manu is still coordinating
with Lisa Bromwell about the lights and Brian about the music. Lisa
will need help and Manu will find out what kind of help, and offer
help as needed. Sophie is donating the snacks. We will need to
purchase some juice boxes. Manu will ask Laura to contact possible
donors (need to contact donors on PAC letterhead describing the
event—Laura did this last year).

Couples night out, Wednesday, January 19, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Billi
contacted Elsies and found out we could not use the bowling alleys.
Kelly is checking to see if we could use Good Sports at 2nd and
Broadway. If not we will stick with Elsies and use the dining area
only.

Communications:

Celine presented the newsletter. We talked about the BLOG and the
website, and all information should be posted in those places.

December 2010 meeting minutes

North PAC Meeting

Dec. 7^th, 2010

Present: Annette, Aqueelah, Laura, Billi, Phamala,

Treasures’ report: (Aqueelah)

North Minneapolis ECFE PAC
Treasurer's Report
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Beginning Balance
Revenue Received
Cook Book Sales
Book Fair
Total Revenue Received
Balance $58.00
Budgeted Expenses (Based on Prior Years Minutes) $27.17
Disco Ball $85.17
Momcation $1,923.82
Healthy Families Yoga Event
Parent Educators break -even
Child Educators $500.00
Scholastic $150.00
Petty Cash - Miscellaneous $200.00
Total Budgeted Expenses $400.00
Remaining Balance after Budgeted Expenses $150.00
Less Reserve $25.00
Ending Balance $1,425.00
$498.82
$300.00
$198.82

We have budgeted for classes $600.00

400 for Early Childhood

200 for Parent Educators

In the past, we have sent in receipts and been reimbursed or Aqueelah has made purchases for us.

We decided on $300.00 per site. People can give Aqueelah the orders to purchase

Annette will turn in the book orders for the two classroom sets she recently purchased.

There is a separate budgeted line item for Scholastic classroom sets.

LAC Representation: (Annette)

The LAC meeting was held at Hale on November 18, 2010.

1. There is a Gingerbread House making Event on Dec. 11^th at Burroughs school hosted by the South PAC.
2. Jennifer Barshack (Parents as Teachers) is working on a Transition to Kindergarten Curriculum and is working with NAZ teachers on this.
3. Kat Kemp (Ready4K) noted that the Jr. League would like to help with advocacy for Early childhood.
4. Jolene Pearson is a new Community Liaison to the LAC. She will represent “Help Me Grow” which is an infant & special needs umbrella with the district. The website like is: MNParentsKnow.info and the district has a website: Minneapolishelpmegrow.mpls.k12.mn.us This is all about the service providers in the district.
5. Online Payments: We will test the online payment system by asking members of each PAC to try it for Winter trimester. Selected people can call Ginger at 612.668.2147 on Tues, Thurs. or Fri.

(Billi White volunteered to do this)

6. Budget Task Force: the LAC needs 8 to 12 people. The dates will be either Jan 11,12 or Jan. 25,26, 27 (2 out of 3) A reminder that the LAC meeting is Jan 2oth and the Children’s museum is Jan 13^th.

Billi White and Aqueelah Worthing will be on the Budget task force. They prefer the 25, 26, 27 of Jan.

7. High Five/kindergarten flyer: Helen will begin this flyer and the LAC will give feedback. The flyer will a tips to parents about getting ready for kindergarten.
8. Intro to schools: the LAC suggested that each area invite the welcome center to speak about schools in their area- perhaps a special event hosted by the LAC. This could be a fall event so parents could find out about the schools.

Open Secretary Position: Laura

Sharon is a possible secretary

Barnes & Noble Book fair: Annette

The book fair was held at Barnes & Noble on Nov. 20^th. We had 15 staff volunteers, and 5 PAC volunteers. Everyone had a wonderful time. Teachers read all day long.

We made $78.09 in store, $2.00 on Nook sales, $18.07 on Online Sales for a total of $98.16. They well send a check in three weeks.

Discussion about whether we want to do this next year tabled for future months. We need to think of our goals for the literacy event and make a decision about whether it is for money, for the experience or a non-profit event.

Lending Libraries: Laura

Can teachers be available on site to watch the children when parents work on the library? Annette can at Hall. We will have to talk to Valerie for Mona Moede.

Annette suggested that one parent could watch kids while others sorted

ACTION: Annette Ask Sharon if we can get EA time for childcare for this.

This is tabled until after Winter break.

Events Update

Disco Ball: Feb 5^th 4-6 PM

Sophie and her husband will donate the food for this

Manu is the coordinator. Laura will have Manu contact her.

MOMcation:

Celine is the coordinator. Laura will contact her for an update.

Book Swap: is tabled until after the break

Suggested that this be added to the Book fair for a literacy event next fall.

Couples night out:

Billi contacted Elsies (Marshall & 8^th) and go some information from them. She will look at Jan 18^th or 19^th. She will continue doing research and will price out a couple different places. Suggested to have a time for food and a time for bowling.

Plant Sale:

Sophie will help do this. Who will help with this? She has communicated with Wagners. Billi will help Sophie with this. Sherri Rutman was really instrumental in doing this, so will Annette help this year and connect with Linda Case.

Bring to LAC:

What times work best for you for meetings? What are your best days? Can we do a survey to poll parents (Mid year) about what days and times you will like for next year.

Service Opportunities:

Do we, as a PAC, want to do Service as a group? Feed My Starving children and Nursing Homes, Apple picking, Reading buddies, go and read with seniors, were some ideas offered.

What can we do with our children that will encourage altruistic behaviors?

ACTION: Billi & Laura will research what other kinds of things are available to do, in the area.

Meeting adjuourned: 5:35 pm

November 2 nd, 2010

ECFE North PAC

November 2^nd, 2010

4:30-5:30PM

Attendees: Annette, Valerie, Celine, Amanda, Billi, Sharon, Aqueelah

Introductions

Treasurer’s Report

*same as last month with addition of one cookbook sale - $8.00

LAC Report

*goals for the 2010-2011 year were discussed, including: how to coordinate all PACs together, focusing on marketing and outreach

*Billi suggested the idea of a newsletter to consolidate events and increase awareness and interest in PAC news and events

Barnes and Noble Book Fair - November 20^th 10am-4pm at Calhoun Village B&N

*volunteer sign-ups have been placed on parent tables for 2 hour increment time slots for activity/snack table and gift wrapping table

*fliers are also available on parent tables with info also regarding online purchasing

*a suggestion was made that we publish in Northside and Camden News, also the high 5s and 3school

*Amanda also has the goal of visiting some of the other Mpls ECFE sites to inform parents of the Book Fair

Lending Libraries

*a volunteer sign up is available for Hall and Mona Moede sites for parents to get together in groups to go through libraries and catalog books

*once info is gathered and a wish list made, we can decide to allocate funds to purchase more up-to-date books

Events to Plan

*Disco Ball - Saturday, Feb. 5^th 4-6pm Manu is early in planning stages of this event

*Momcation - Celine is coordinator

*Book Swap discussion will be tabled until next meeting

*Dad’s day and Wellness day are ideas we have raised for taking place in the spring. All agree that details and follow-up can be done as time goes on.

*An idea was raised for “couple’s night out” for parents. Billi volunteered to call Elsie’s to start fact-finding for details. Bowling and dinner were ideas to consider

PAC Communication

*Celine volunteered to try using PAC minutes to publish a newsletter that would be available on parent tables. She also felt we could do a better job advertising to encourage interest.

*the idea of yard signs was discussed. Sharon will check on pricing estimate for yard signs.

PAC Organization

Celine will review South PAC bylaws and consolidate our PACs position responsibilites and get them in written form to have for future.

Next meeting will be December 7^th 4:30-5:30pm

October 5th 2010 PAC Meeting minutes

ECFE North PAC meeting minutes

Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Attendees

Laura O., Manu E., Aqueelah W., Sharon B., Billi White., Kelly Browne

1. Introductions of members present

2. Announcements

Teacher Valerie Matthews stopped in to greet us, and explain the use of the Mona Moede

building which is limited to early childhood education. She told us Annette had set

October 26th as the date for sign-up sheets for volunteers for the Barnes and Noble Book

Fair.

3. Treasurer’s report (Aqueelah)

Balance: $1,838.65

Budgeted items:

Disco Ball (break even—no budgeted expense anticipated)

Momcation: $500

Healthy Family Yoga: $150

Family educators*: $200

Child educators*: $400

Scholastic books for classrooms: $150

Reserve: $300

Petty cash (cards/postage for thank you notes, etc): $25

Laura will contact teachers to see if they want funds per

teacher or per classroom.

•

Balance less budgeted items: $1838.65 - $1,725 = $113.65

4.

LAC (Leadership Advisory Council) ( Billie)

Children’s Museum: discussion on how that went.

Discussion re: seeking funds for vehicle rental for families that can’t get to events.

Discussion re: on-line payment for ECFE classes. Apparently this is being held

up by the school district, and discussion related to whether parents should

start making calls to get it going.

Started to discuss priorities but will continue next time.

Talked about using code for DONORS CHOOSE, which is an on-line opportunity

that would give ECFE $15 per person who logs in and votes via a

code This is apparently connected to the Waiting for Superman

movie about education issues in Minnesota. Ariah Fine is

collecting codes until such time as ECFE is added to the

promotion, which is funded by a private donor.

5. Lending library (Laura)

People seem not to know that there is a lending library for books and toys. Laura will ask

teachers to tell parents about it.

The materials may be outdated, and since they are not catalogued, Laura thought we

could get volunteers to go through the books and weed out/make a list, and get funding to

add new titles. We would need to get a sign-up sheet to parents and a list of times when

classes are not in session where the books are located. Laura will type up the sign-up

sheet for Hall and Mona Moede. It was recommended that volunteers make notations

of author, title, year published, and book location (Hall or Mona Moede), so a database

printout can be available.

Also, we discussed the idea of a book swap and or purchase of books. Could

parents get a tax charitable donation receipt if they gave books to the program?

6. Event planning

1. Disco Ball: Manu agreed to coordinate this event, with Kelly Brown assisting. Manu

has contact names for the DJ and lights people. Manu will contact Valerie to find out

if the space at Mona Moede is available for February 5—the first Saturday in February,

from 4 to 6 p.m.

2. Momcation: Aqueelah will coordinate this event, and will see if Sheri can contact

the “anonymous donor” who contributed to the event last year. We increased the amount

in the budget in case the donor does not come forward again.

We tabled discussion of other events for a future meeting.

7. PAC organization

Topic was tabled until next meeting for Celine’s report. However, Aqueelah has some

information about the by-laws which she will forward to Laura and Laura will forward to

Celine.

8. Other

1. A suggestion was made to look into possible outreach services that moms/children can

do such as apple picking for the food shelters.

2. Information on past or currtent PAC meetings and events happening at ECFE, log into our web site. www.http://mplsecfenorthpac.blogspot.com or you can find us on Face book. ECFE North Pac.

3. Many more parents sign up for the PAC meetings than actually show up. Laura will

try to get lists of email addresses for those who sign up, and send a reminder the evening

before the meeting to see if that helps increase attendance.

4. Annette sent in two titles of Scholastic books for classes. Laura will check with her

to see if one of the titles was ordered last trimester (Dinosaur Roar). The other title is

Winken, Blinken and Nod.

Next PAC meeting will be on November 2ND 2010 from 4:30 -5:30 PM at Mona Moede.

Minutes taken by Sharon B.

September 21, 2010 minutes

ECFE North PAC

Introductions and sign in

Attendees: Amanda, Aqueelah, Celine, Annette, Manu, Laura, Billi, Fred, Kelly

Purpose of PAC explained

To help support ECFE classes and teachers. This includes fundraising, communicating with parent educators, and planning events such as the Book Fair, Disco Ball, and Momcation to help build bonds among ECFE parents and children.

Introduction and Election of 2010-2011 Officers

Liaison: Annette

Co-Chairs: Laura and Celine
Treasurer: Aqueelah
Secretary: Amanda

Class Representatives: All of us
LAC Representative: Billi
Volunteer Coordinator: Fred
Web Master: Manu

*Anyone can attend LAC meetings. They are held at Wilder Elementary School (34th and Chicago Ave S). Dinner is provided from 5:15-5:45, and the meeting is 5:45-6:45.
Childcare is provided. Call Rita @ 668-2127 to RSVP.

Treasurer's Report
Approximately $1800 total
Details will be discussed at next meeting after review of May meeting's minutes.

New Business

• Vote to decide night/time for PAC meetings : Monthly meetings will now be the 1st Tuesday of each month 4:30-5:30pm @ Mona Moede.
  
• Barnes and Noble Book Fair fundraiser will be Saturday, November 20TH, 2010 from 10:00am-4:00pm at Calhoun Village Barnes and Noble. Proceeds will be: 10% for sales between $1-$2000, 15% if over $2000. Annette will design flyers and vouchers to be submitted to B & N by October 1st, 2010. Amanda volunteered to help plan/run the Book Fair.

Next Meeting October 5th, 2010 4:30 - 5:30 PM we will discuss the lending library, as well as planning topics for upcoming meetings.