In Attendance- Peggy, Robyn, Jen, Lisa P., Betty, Lisa C., Stephanie C., Emily, Holly, and Laura
 
May’s Meeting Location: Nicole Grace’s House

Festival By The Lake 2011 -Nicole, Peggy, Jill
 Bouncy house booked. Looking for volunteers (passed sign up sheet around table).  Reaching out to Melrose Family room to see if they can run the craft table again this year.

Membership Update: Current members, comps, recruiting- 114 paying members, 2 new members, 8 comps

Holly & Emily – Updates
 New position: “Historian” that encompasses the recaps and taking/organizing PoT photos and maybe moderating the Facebook page- maybe Betty?
 WCNA contacted PoT regarding using PoT as agent for the grant for the new tot playground and fence for the playground at the lake.  WCNA can write the grant and PoT will submit on their behalf.
 End of the Year dinner- gifts for people whose children have aged out: Diana, Honey, Tasha, Barbara, Carrie.
 Moulton Playground- Cost approx. $50k.  Will use PoT as the agent for the grant.  Lisa Crane is meeting with town officials and looking into grant options.

Sunshine Committee-updates- None
 
Calendar-recaps- None
 Should we add the town crier events to the calendar or create a 2nd calendar with these events?

Events-recaps / updates -Winter Blues Party - Jump on In
 Spring Fling- May 12, 3-5:30 pm, $5 per family; Two ½ hour sessions with Kidz Fun; should we schedule rain date?
  
Field Trips:recaps / updates
 Holly and Betty will also plan fieldtrips going forward
 Stephanie has lots of fieldtrips for June (Boston Tea Parlour, T-Rex mini golf, Castle Island Park, Hammond Castle in Gloucester, Comic Book store).  Check out newsletter for more info.

Charitables-updates -recap / upcoming
 Kara taking over for Barb
 Ideas: Books and donate to both the Wakefield and Reading libraries.
 
Email Blast – Updates- email potfieldtrips@yahoo.com or lisacrane@gmail.com

Fundraising –updates
 Prince Pizza- Jen organizing.   Vouchers on sale 3 for $20, take home frozen cheese pizzas only
 Fun Pass- Holly- 15 passes for PoT and may organize again if there is interest

Website-Will Moore –paypal- up and running.  YAY!! 
 
WAW-March: recap / upcoming- NEW NAME: Mom’s Night Out
 May: Philip Ciampa Salon May 6th at 7 pm
 June: End of the year dinner- Emily will organize.  Ideas for location: Sam’s Bistro or Molise. Will schedule for a Tues, Wed or Thurs before June 16th.
 Since Eirene is moving looking for a replacement for MNO.  Ideas for going forward include just meeting at a restaurant or bar every other month and then have members with fun ideas for MNO organize on the off months.

Newsletter: Articles-  Feedback, New Ideas, 20th deadline Submittals
 Have members write cover letters so Emily and Holly don’t have to write it each month
o May- Stephanie C will write

Tot Time- Stephanie
 May- Jen and Carrie organizing- Pirates theme
 June- Stephanie organizing- Space theme
    
NSFCN: updates
 Alastair was a great success.
 Due to scheduling issues, no May NSFCN playgroup planned.
 May 1 magic show fundraiser at Galvin Middle School.

Treasurer:  No update
 
Playgroups: Jenn- No update
 
Open Positions –Marketing/ Advertising, Mom’s Night Out, Tot Time and Events

Attendees: Robyn Griffin, Holly Lannen, Eirene Matthews, Chrissy Franceschelli, Jennifer DeCourcy, Laura Ettenberg, Teresa Cook, Barbara White

Welcome - Would anyone like to go first that needs to leave early?

January’s Meeting Location: We are skipping December’s Meeting- Jan’s meeting will be at Teresa Cook’s house

Holly & Emily – Updates

Fieldtrips- Normally offer free advertising in the newsletter in exchange for classes.  However, the value of the classes varies.  What is a fair policy to ‘reimburse’?

Emily will organize a coffee shop meetup for moms with younger children.

Book Club- updates- may cancel if more people don’t RSVP…

Charitables- upcoming

            Nicole- Coats for Kids participation

            Cradles to Crayons collection at Holiday Party & earlier donations to arrange with Leigh Farber

             contact info in blast and Nov. NL

            "Interfaith Food Bank Saturday" dates? Will be a Sunday in February.  The food pantry is looking for PoT to provide 2 people for a 4 hour period.  We are looking for volunteers for 1 hour commitments.

            Possible fundraiser at Flatbread Pizza in Burlington in March… More discussion to come. 

Email Blast - Updates

Events-Halloween Party-recap approx 60 kids attended this year vs approx 100 last year

            Nov. 3rd--the child care/preschool open house Childcare Expo- 6-7 people gave names for free newsletter

            Holiday Party- Dec 20^th (Monday) at the Lynnfield Meeting house on the common from 3:30- 5 pm, free, need someone to lead the songs- Jen D. will ask Jill Tully if she can do this.  Also would like to have someone take pictures of the children with Santa- Holly will email Scott Farber at Hunt’s to see if they might be able to lend someone.  No strollers- make this is communicated to everyone BEFORE the event.  Include this in the newsletter writeup and in the blast. 

Festival By The Lake 2011-Nicole

Field Trips:recaps

            Santa's workshop- Holly is considering organizing for kids to get gifts for family members.

            Jen D is considering organizing a swimming fieldtrip at the Y if enough families are interested…

Fundraising -updates

            Heather Kelley-Tupperware    

            Heather will draft a blast for Eirene to sent to remind everyone.

Membership Update: Current members, comps, recruiting

Newsletters- 91 (+/-11), go green- 33 (+/-4), paying members 111 (+/-15), new members- 2 (Christine McLean and Lora Barker), comps- 3

Newsletter: Articles-  Feedback, New Ideas, 20th deadline Submittals

            Recipe Exchange- Robyn G to organize and provide write-up to Eirene to blast to the group. 

NSFCN: updates Laura has worked with Kathy to schedule.  Not always on the same day of the week due to varying schedule. 

Playgroups: Jenn- will ask her to include the town for all of the families seeking playgroups.

Open Positions - Secretary, FTC and NL Distributor

Sunshine Committee- Lisa Jen D will send an email to Lisa P to see if anyone brought a meal to Megan Salm who recently had a baby.

Tot Time- Stephanie

Treasurer:  Expense Reports, Budget, Financial Recap,2010-2011 Budget

WAW- Eirene - upcoming events

            November- Hunt’s Photo- to date approx 16 people have RSVP’d

            December- Pot luck at Nicole Grace’s (Dec 15^th)

            January- Defensive Edge kickboxing

            February- Scrapbooking

Website- Holly

Parents of Tots Meeting - Agenda for 11/8/10

Attendees: Robyn Griffin, Holly Lannen, Eirene Matthews, Chrissy Franceschelli, Jennifer DeCourcy, Laura Ettenberg, Teresa Cook, Barbara White

Welcome - Would anyone like to go first that needs to leave early?

January’s Meeting Location: We are skipping December’s Meeting- Jan’s meeting will be at Teresa Cook’s house

Holly & Emily – Updates

Fieldtrips- Normally offer free advertising in the newsletter in exchange for classes.  However, the value of the classes varies.  What is a fair policy to ‘reimburse’?

Emily will organize a coffee shop meetup for moms with younger children.

Book Club- updates- may cancel if more people don’t RSVP…

Charitables- upcoming

            Nicole- Coats for Kids participation

            Cradles to Crayons collection at Holiday Party & earlier donations to arrange with Leigh Farber

             contact info in blast and Nov. NL

            "Interfaith Food Bank Saturday" dates? Will be a Sunday in February.  The food pantry is looking for PoT to provide 2 people for a 4 hour period.  We are looking for volunteers for 1 hour commitments.

            Possible fundraiser at Flatbread Pizza in Burlington in March… More discussion to come. 

Email Blast - Updates

Events-Halloween Party-recap approx 60 kids attended this year vs approx 100 last year

            Nov. 3rd--the child care/preschool open house Childcare Expo- 6-7 people gave names for free newsletter

            Holiday Party- Dec 20^th (Monday) at the Lynnfield Meeting house on the common from 3:30- 5 pm, free, need someone to lead the songs- Jen D. will ask Jill Tully if she can do this.  Also would like to have someone take pictures of the children with Santa- Holly will email Scott Farber at Hunt’s to see if they might be able to lend someone.  No strollers- make this is communicated to everyone BEFORE the event.  Include this in the newsletter writeup and in the blast. 

Festival By The Lake 2011-Nicole

Field Trips:recaps

            Santa's workshop- Holly is considering organizing for kids to get gifts for family members.

            Jen D is considering organizing a swimming fieldtrip at the Y if enough families are interested…

Fundraising -updates

            Heather Kelley-Tupperware    

            Heather will draft a blast for Eirene to sent to remind everyone.

Membership Update: Current members, comps, recruiting

Newsletters- 91 (+/-11), go green- 33 (+/-4), paying members 111 (+/-15), new members- 2 (Christine McLean and Lora Barker), comps- 3

Newsletter: Articles-  Feedback, New Ideas, 20th deadline Submittals

            Recipe Exchange- Robyn G to organize and provide write-up to Eirene to blast to the group. 

NSFCN: updates Laura has worked with Kathy to schedule.  Not always on the same day of the week due to varying schedule. 

Playgroups: Jenn- will ask her to include the town for all of the families seeking playgroups.

Open Positions - Secretary, FTC and NL Distributor

Sunshine Committee- Lisa Jen D will send an email to Lisa P to see if anyone brought a meal to Megan Salm who recently had a baby.

Tot Time- Stephanie

Treasurer:  Expense Reports, Budget, Financial Recap,2010-2011 Budget

WAW- Eirene - upcoming events

            November- Hunt’s Photo- to date approx 16 people have RSVP’d

            December- Pot luck at Nicole Grace’s (Dec 15^th)

            January- Defensive Edge kickboxing

            February- Scrapbooking

Website- Holly

Jennifer DeCourcy, Gia Leach, Kara Brown, Peggy Macaluso, Honey Rossi, Tasha Festel, Roxanne Covalucci, Holly Lannen, Keri Capobianco, Diana Ellis, Lisa Paglierani, Emily Amico

1. Upcoming Events

a. Kick-off Party

1. 15 responses so far, expecting a last minute surge of responses

2. Table placement to be discussed

3. Lisa will provide dry erase board for the balloon servicing number board

4. Send email to remind attendees of the charitable at the event

a. In future the Event and Charitable will be in same location in the Newsletter

b. Halloween Party

1. 3-5pm, fix agenda times (Costume Parade & end time)

c. Holiday Party

1. Looking for venue

2. Secretary

a. Job Descriptions

i. Final descriptions to be sent in and compiled for October’s meeting

3. Membership Update

a. 3 New Members, 154 Members, 166 Newsletters

4. Newsletter

a. 20^th Deadline is very important

b. Reporter Position to be posted in the October newsletter

i. Peggy to email Tracy description

c. Feature Position is Field Trip Coordinator

d. In this months newsletter - give option to members to “Go Green”

With statistics about saving trees with going paperless

i. Need to contact Member Rep to go paperless (each

Individual)

e. Advertising Pricing to remain the same

5. Field Trips

a. See Calendar on website

b. Suggestions

i. Home Depot- offers classes 1st Sat of month

ii. Lowes- same timing they thought

iii. AC Moore has open crafts session

iv. Michaels has open crafts session

v. Prince Pizza does kids events

vi.Dancing Deer in Newton to tour

vii.Whole foods to tour...I have the contacts email from last year if

someone wants it, Rodney Poles was the director of marketing

viii.Touring a Police Station

ix.Sam Adams Brewery Tour

6. Sunshine Committee

a. 8 members

b. Two assignments coming up

7. Website Disscusion

a. Congratulations to Tasha on a job well done with the development of the website

b. Website - 169 different computers visited site / average 7 visitors a day

c. Check with Heather where we are linked (sites)

d. Password will be in the newsletter to access ‘member only’ sections of site

e. Event Full Status

i. Field Trip Coordinators to fill in calendar and the send note to Tasha

and Calendar Chair to enter full status into appropriate areas

f. Amount of information on site is in trial stages to see how much membership

increases / will revisit subject at further meetings

g. Investigate Pay Pal as a means for easier payment

8. NSFN

a. Dates to appear on calendar

9. Playgroups

a. Sullivan to continue for as long as weather permits

10. Nursing Home

a. Confirmed dates to appear on calendar

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