Parents of Tots

In Attendance:

Jennifer DeCourcy, Heather Spizuoco, Peggy Macaluso, Jennifer Cabral, Honey Rossi, Barbara White, Tasha Festel, Roxanne Covalucci, Holly Lannen, Heather Lane, Keri Capobianco, Diana Ellis, Christy Damphousse, Lisa Paglierani, Nicole Grace

1. Membership Update

a. 152 Current Members

b. 28 newsletter comps, September 174 copies of newsletter

2. Newsletter Articles

a. Please submit September newsletter content earlier the 20^th

3. Field Trips

a. Volunteers are welcome to plan field trips but need to follow the protocol that is in

place.

b. Jen to find list of questions that were created to “interview” venue for Field Trip

Coordinators for volunteers that are unfamiliar with the process

c. See Calendar on website for upcoming events - http://calendar.yahoo.com/potfieldtrips

4. Budget

a. Last year was a great year! From 2007 to present we’ve doubled our income.

b. $1300 in bank / this figure is ahead of last year’s numbers

c. Biggest expense was postage - $950

i. Christy volunteered to research postage discounts

d. Heather S. to provide Heather L. Non Profit Organization Documents for donations

e. Reimbursement

i. Reasonable Items

ii. PoT Tax Exempt forms handed out and filed in PoT binder (ST2 Form)

iii.Individual stores have PoT on file

iv. Keep receipts and write description on receipt (what function)

v. Individuals can not “cash out” from a cash box / need records to keep on

file to file with the state

vi. Heather S. to email Danielle M. Tax form

5. Treasurer

a. No Parents of Tots credit card will be issued

6. Charitables

a. Description for this position is vague

b. Suggestions for what position would entail

i. Woman’s Shelter, Silent Auction, Cradles to Crayons, Pair Charitables with

events, Channel 5 has charitables section on site for suggestions

ii. Barbara’s 1^st event -September 18^th Kick Off / Coordinate with Event Comm.

iii. Heather S. Food Pantry Connection

iv. Barbara to touch base with Kara to coordinate NSFN events

7. Fund Raising

a. Heather L. (Fund-raising) and Barbara (Charitables) to work together through Tasha

to communicate via email to advertise

b. Fundruckers - plan in conjunction premier or high traffic event to increase sales

c. Raffles - do not have to be PoT Member to participate

d. Couple raffles with adult events

e. Include “volunteer services” from PoT members (ie. Babysitting)

f. Be cognizant of newsletter deadlines for upcoming events

g.Suggestion - Approach organizations to receive a percentage of receipts

h.Suggestion - Entice donators by offering list of interested raffle participants to vendors

(Would have to be with raffle participants permission)

8. Sunshine

a. First Assignment went well!

b. Setting parameters on meal donations

c. Known assignment coming up!

9. Website

a. Under development

i. Committee to review and find problems - provide Tasha with feedback

1. If anyone has issues of information online please express concerns with

Feedback of site to Tasha

ii. Launch date - end of week

iii. Parentsoftots.org expires 8/25

1. Moving to a trial site called parentsoftotssquarespace.com

2. New Features to include blogs, photo galleries, sign up for

things on line (hopes to increase participation)

3. Any available pictures to be sent to Tasha for uploading to

site

iv. The site will be open to anyone

1. There will be certain areas that are restricted without a password

v. Website Moderator will periodically check on site for inappropriate language,

concerns, etc.

10. NSFN

a. Dates to be made and will be put on calendar

11. Playgroups

a. 3 playgroup to go in newsletter

i. Need to send to Tasha if it should be posted on site

b. Sullivan playgroup to continue thru the end of September

12. Nursing Home

a. Dates are on calendar

13. BoPot

a. Dates are on calendar

b. July’s book will be discussed at September’s meeting

14. WAW

a. Back to School Shopping in Maine - 9/13

b. Suggestions are welcome

i. Indoor Rock Climbing

ii.Race Car Driving

iii. Holiday Makeovers - repeat event due to it’s popularity

15. Reference Guide

a. Revised guide to be published again in Jan.

b. Solicit business on guide to increase advertisements in newsletter

i. Heather S to provide Peggy form to present to businesses

16. Summer Schedule

a. Attendance has been good

17. Secretary

a. Job Description handbook to be distributed at the September meeting

18. Open Positions

a. Reporters for Malden, Reading, and Stoneham

b. Welcome to Nicole Grace! Our new Wakefield Reporter

19. New Organization Chart distributed

a. See Binder for copy

20. Other

a. Kick Off Event 9/18 3-5pm at the Civic Center

i. Volunteers to set up and breakdown to contact Heather S and Roxane.

ii. Event is being advertised in multiple locations

iii. PoT is 25 years old this year

1. Theme of party is a birthday theme

iv. Budgeting details discussed

v. Tickets for the balloon guy to be distributed upon entry of event to

avoid long lines at the balloon station

1. Sign to read “Now Serving Numbers 1-___)

vi. Set up time 11am / return to open event at 2:30pm

vii. Committee Members to set up own tables with their own give aways

b. Suggestion

i. Party Stuff www.rinovelty.com

21. Next Meeting

a. September’s meeting - Tasha’s house

b. October’s meeting - Roxanne’s house