Board Meeting of 11/16/05
PRESENT: connie Green Bill
Pannill
Dan
Schneckenburger Del
Levia
Karen
Cline Tracy
Jentzsch
Holly
Hannum Lisa
Perkins
Ron
Perkins (Proxy)
Call
to Order – MARIO
Meeting called to order at
6:30 pm.
Approval
of minutes of AUGUST – MARIO/dan speakman
PRESIDENTÕS
REPORT – MARIO
mario, with assistance from Jim Campbell and Holly,
made quick presentation to Delegates Mike Smigiel, Mary-Dulany James, Richard
Sossi & Sheryl Kohl earlier this day.
Ms. James requested our curriculum for her reference. In general, the meeting was positive
with indication of support for our organization. Ms. James also indicated interest in visiting during a
class.
Nature
School report – holly
The fall school semester will
be completed on Thursday, November 17, 2005. In addition to our CCPS classes we hosted Holy Angels,
Bethany Christian School, Cecil County Envirothon training, a MomÕs Club, and
Home School Day. Invoices have
been sent for all fall classes.
As you know, Janet Fallon has
accepted a position with Dade Behring.
Her teaching position has been filled by Georganne Scott. Janet will continue to follow up with
scheduled fall weekend programs and will complete a yearÕs end IMLS
report. We need to find a
substitute for outreach and for the spring semester. Lisa is training as an emergency sub but she has other
essential responsibilities. If you
know of any please let me know.
This is of particular personal interest to me as my first grandchild is
expected in January and my older daughter is getting married in April and her
graduate degree in May. I would like to be able to get away for these important
events.
On the fundraising front--- I
sent out a letter of inquiry to Mt. Cuba in September and made a follow up call
in October. The person I spoke
with there was very nice and suggested another letter as there was no way to
speak with Mr. Phillips directly.
Perhaps Tracy could use her contact to get us an audience or at least a
response. Tracy has agreed to do
this and look into their Board makeup.
I sent a request to the St.
Mary AnneÕs Sturgeon Fund. Their
priority this year is basic human needs.
We donÕt exactly qualify but I sent a request for money for the North
East area kindergartens.
I sent a general letter to
all area LionÕs Clubs VFWÕs etc. I
offered to speak at their meetings.
So far no response but I will make some follow up e-mails and calls. Cecilton and Rising Sun Lions Clubs
received special request letters.
Cecilton Lions Club sent us $578.00 to cover program fees for
kindergarten and grade 5. In
addition that Club gave money directly to CeciltonÕs pre K class for us to
visit their class. Georganne made
that visit on October 20. Rising
Sun has promised $500.00 to cover their kindergartens. I will speak about that program at one
of their meetings prior to our kindergarten visit the first week of February.
On November 2 I spoke at a
meeting of The WomenÕs Club of Cecil County.
On November 11 I attended The
Waterfowl Festival at Easton. I
spoke with Rick Leader, Vice President of The National Audubon Society and
Cecil County native. He has spoken
with our Board in the past about the possibility of FHNC becoming an Audubon
Center. He is willing to meet with
us again in January or February at a Board retreat or a regular board
meeting. Let me know and I can set
that up if you want.
I arranged to speak with the
Glen Farms Civic Association on November 17. I have a conflict that night as I am supposed to attend the
Cecil Soil Conservation banquet that evening. Mario agreed to attend the Glen Farms meeting in my place.
We are scheduled to speak at
the December 12 meeting of the Board of Education. This is our annual budget request. Last year I asked for $6 per student for grade 3 and we got it. The current budget includes $25,000 for
grades one to three. Rick Lonie
and I have spoken about how we are to get any amount of that money that we
donÕt get through invoices for those 3 grades. Next year he has asked for $25,500. We need more.
Mario to request one on one
with Dr. Roberts and ask for $50K.
They gave North Bay $310K.
Maryland Association of
Environmental & Outdoor Educators Seminar in February 2006 - $1000
sponsorship needed to cover these costs.
Food Lion Foundation Grant
– Need letters of support.
Looking for Food Lion employee to provide letter of support. Rick Lonie
to provide letter. Mario to
provide letter. Asking for $4000
for Food & Nutrition program.
Personnel
committee
We need a substitute. Hinda has a candidate.
KAREN CLINE – Board
voted to name Karen to the Board
WATERFOWL FESTIVAL – MARIO
Fairhill Nature Center
represented by Holly on Friday the 11th, Jim Campbell and his wife
on Saturday the 12th, Mario and Ron on Sunday the 13th. Blackwater Wildlife Refuge does a
puppet show and may be willing to either do puppet show at Springfest or
provide us with their script.
FINANCES
– Bill pannill/Lisa Perkins
Financial Report - October
2005
Opening Balance
2364.77
Payroll liabilities
3678.04
Loan payment
81.38
Bank fees
63.00
Office
expenses
660.59
Payroll
4426.06
Foxtrot
3692.24
Insurance
renewal
1183.00
Accounting
475.00
14259.31
Misc
263.63 (136.43)
Income
13664.64
Remaining Balance 1506.47
Receivable
McCrone
450.00
FNBNE
300.00
IRS-overpayment
136.43
CCPS (3rd )
4032.00
CCPS (1st )
3780.00
CCPS (4th grade approx)
4500.00 13,198.43
Had to borrow
1600.00 from credit line as no invoices were paid to date for payroll.
Known
Liabilities for November
1st payroll
2050.00
Payroll withholdings
3128.11
2nd Payroll approx
1100.00 ( 1 week)
Insurance approx
625.00
Phone
150.00 7053.00
Remaining 6145.43
Kindergarten $ already
received
Utilities have only just begun
FOX TROT CASINO NIGHT –
MARIO/RON
Profit & Loss Foxtrot 2005
Income
Tickets pd 5350
Bar
452
Chest 132
Bucks 120
Net Income
6054
Tickets Receivable
McCrone
500
FNBNE
300
Total Income
6854
Expenses
Phantom 2500
Desserts
130
Liquor
136
DNR
450
Misc.
214
(
Table cloths
Gasoline
Ink jets
Paper, plastic, coffee, tea, mumsÉ)
Total Expenses
3430
Gross Profit
3424
Labor
At least 50 hrs—Lisa
600
Set up Holly/ Janet 105
Total Labor
705
Net Profit 2719
As you can see this is
probably our most financially successful Fox Trot Event ever. Special thanks to Lisa for making it a
successful and fun event. Also,
thanks to Tracy for her idea and her assistance. And thanks to everyone else for all their hard work.
Next yearÕs event is in
November due to facility already booked for all of October 2006.
Ideas for next year
SPRINGFEST
Last year the 5k run actually
cost money: In place of that I
would like to hold a ÒNature Walk-A-ThonÓ. Target group to help with this endeavor would be Troop 443,
pack 120, Pack 443, builders club, SHOUT and any other organizations that are
in the schools. This project would
offer students much needed service hours and any adults can use the volunteer
hours as a tax deduction, as wells as the donations collected would be tax
deductible. Volunteers would be
issued donation cards for their sponsors to have receipts for tax
purposes. The Nature walk could be
designed as an educational walk as well as a fund raising opportunity. Naturally in order to encourage people
to volunteer, we would offer prizes.
In much the same manner that the scouts give prizes to the kids for
higher efforts, I have selected several items for varying levels of
contribution. These items are
specifically chosen to reach the target market we wish to have help us. Yes, there are electronics. Although items such as these do not
coincide with our mission of appreciating the outdoors, I think you will find
that these are very high end level prizes and that if a child has reached that
level they have spent a long time working (probably outdoors) to attain this
item. I disagree with the theory
that electronics keep a child indoors.
We have plenty of highly active kids in the county that also have video
games. These bad habits are
developed through poor parenting, and I donÕt believe this would be the market
that is going to be inspired to help do a fund raiser. On the other hand, we also have some
very poor families who may well be inspired to help us in an effort to receive
a prize they may not otherwise be able to afford. My list is not yet complete and open to other ideas, but let
us not close the door on any idea.
The prize choice sheet could be required to have parental approval. Some items as the cell phones, pocket
rocket motocross bikes, would be in the parental permission required. I have set the reward plan at around
10-15%. Some of the higher end
items such as the PSP are at 12.5%
but I really donÕt think some one can reach the $2000 pledge level, and if they
do GREAT! Reward them well! I am looking at a variety of items for
each level to reach all ages and genders.
Some items also will be designated for 12 and over age groups. IE- Pocket Rocket motocross bike. So I will be choosing more camping
items, telescopes and binoculars, gardening and crafting supplies.
GOAL: 100
participants with $50 in pledges =$5000
Last Year: Spring Fest net: $6200
Historically: I
think it could do $100 pledges reaching $10,000
Having done this in the past,
most kids will reach the $100 level, several will reach$300-$600, and very few
will attain$800 or above. But, IÕve never offered prizes of this quality.
Prizes start at $150, so very
little will $ be given away, and if we have to give away more because they have
a lot of pledgesÉGREAT!
Marketing: Website, Habitats. I want this ready to go by the next Habitat and again in the
next issue which should be about late February. It is a lot of foot work for participants and they need
substantial time to find sponsors.
We need to make the Habitat available to students. With the ÒKidÕs CornerÓ we have reason
to get this into the schools. It
will be in all 17 elementary classrooms.
Next March we will put the walk-a-thon on the back of all our handouts
to the students. I have opened the
idea of running contests, among students visiting the Nature Center, to have
their ÒarticleÓ published in the Habitat.
Hopefully this will encourage more support from the community.
FOOD:
We do not have the Ed
Walls Hall. It is my understanding that the Farm Museum has been
handling food for the past few years.
To my knowledge we got nothing from this.
It is unacceptable to rent space for an event and give it away to
vendors. Every vendor must
contribute a fee or a percentage. Every food vendor should be sharing at least
10% of the profits
I was fortunate enough to
spend some time at the Waterfowl Festival, and I tasted some very delicious
Pit-Beef. We have acquired his
card and would be interested in coming to Cecil County. Holly said we had a big grill, and we
used to do our own hamburgers and hotdogs. I personally have no problem grilling all day. I discussed with Ron about making his
fabulous Ribs. It will require a
lot of oven space the evening before, so prepare to give up your oven for 5
hours, as you will be babysitting 10# of ribs.
Kilby Creamery should be
ready to work this event, and with our personal connection we should stay with
them, if they are willing to meet the parameters. Good food brings people out. The prospect of having bisque better than BuckÕs lured me
into driving to Easton. Sadly, I
was disappointed. IÕm sticking
with the local stuff (Mario still
likes the bisque in Easton better).
Entertainment:
We need to inspire people to
come. ChildrenÕs games need to be
more exciting. I would like to see more interactive festivities. If the weather
permits, bobbing for Milburn apples is always fun for kids, and healthy! Donuts tied to strings while kids
try to catch them with there hands tied behind their backs, always good for a
laugh. Hay hunt, looking for prizes in a big mound of hay. Karaoke contests, lawn mower races- if
we have use of the demolition derby area.
Antique car show, Ron is looking into this. As stated in the food area, good food attracts people. I was thinking of a Chili cook-off. We need judges, I think we could get
the Mayor and Barry Janney to help with this? We could also incorporate the attendees to help with the
judging. The profits would come
from contestants paying an
entrance fee and having the possibility of selling their product to those who
want to vote. Will need to check
on the BOH requirements on this.
Food handlerÕs license, etc.?
I would like to solicit BuckÕs as a vendor to sell bisque, Wayne and
Rodney seem to be very nice, or we could order gallons and resell it under
their name if they find that acceptable.
Pizza can be supplied by Pizza Hut (Oxford) she will sell pizza at a reduced
rate and we can resell it for profit.
Generally the price is $8 per pie and we sell slices at $2 ea at 8
slices per pie=100% profit. I will
contact them with this inquiry, possibly DaddyÕOÕs would be interested in this
relationship, they are closer and their food is better. We do have use of the Demolition derby
area. I have been entertaining
these ideas: Lawn mower races, Bot-Battles, whatever else you may think of. We had the area last year and neglected
to use the space. Contestants pay
to enter and we do very little else. Ralph Young has spoken of this in the past
and I will inquire with him as to the procedures. Cecil County is a good market for this particular type of
contest
Silent Auction: Scrounge
master that I am, the New Year is the best time to solicit businesses for
donations as they have not overspent their budget. I will make another letter and start getting it out Jan.
1. These donations hopefully, will
be plentiful and spread over to Foxtrot.
We also have the use of donations from crafters to reduce their
admission price.
Help:
This will take the support of
all the board members and
possibly your children, spouses, and even your cousinsÕ motherÕs brotherÕs
sister. I will contact Julie and
Patrick, as well as the volunteer file.
We recently had another adult join our little group. A fellow swimmer of ErleneÕs. Most importantly, we must start talking
about it ASAP. It can not be put
off until after Easter.
List: ChildrenÕs games #_____________ needed
Dunking machine______________-
Bobbing apples________________
Donut Game__________________
Hay Hunt____________________
Fish Paint__________________
Moon bounce_______________
Concession________________
Silent Auction_____________
Flowers__________________
Chili Judges_____________
Lawn Mower referee__________
Please feel free to add any
thoughts or recommended changes.
I have begun redesigning the
flyer for soliciting vendors, crafters and sponsors. There was some confusion with the names of sponsors last
year. A Benefactor for
membership=$500 lifetime membership.
Springfest sponsorships have the same names as other memberships with
different benefits. I was playing
with different sponsor level names; i.e.
Red Fox, Box Turtle, to represent different levels of sponsorship. These past names have become confusing
also because businesses may purchase a membership for $50 on our regular
brochure. I am not really sure if
that allows all the businessÕs employees to receive benefits from FHNC. The sponsorship level indicates that
employees do receive member
benefits. How is one to monitor
this?
Springfest is May 13th.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP –
MARIO
We have been requesting
Corporate sponsorship for Springfest.
Connie suggested that we need to begin this sponsorship request in
August.
Dan Schneckenburger is still
working on Delmarva Power.
We should consider selling
ads on website or newsletter.
Revisit the Corporate List
and update.
IDENTITY CRISIS – MARIO
Ron has developed an article
ÒRunning on EmptyÓ that he and Mario will rework for submission to Cecil
Whig. It was suggested that this
effort be coordinated with Special Appeal.
sTRATEGIC
PLANNING – MARIO/Tracy
We are planning a January/February ÒbrainstormingÓ
session with an Òexpert.Ó
Scheduled for January 28th from 9 to 12 at Duffield
AssociatesÕ office. Tracy to send out package in preparation. Holly to invite Julie to Strategic
Planning.
SWAT
cleanup – MARIO
Had some late help from St.
MarkÕs Key Club. Need BOD to
participate in these activities
BOARD
RESPONSIBILITIES – MARIO
¯
Participate in our activities
¯
Visit the school at
least once during class
¯
Review the video
¯
Need to establish Board
Responsibilities
VICE
PrESIDENT – MARIO
Mario agreed to extend term (at OK of Board) by one
year to make transition smoother. Mario requested to develop a description of
the PresidentÕs duties.
iGIVE.com – MARIO
Please sign up in time for
Holiday shopping and email your friends
HOLIDAY PARTY
Covered Dish, Staff, BOD and
Spouses. December 21st at
6:30. Email Lisa with what you are
bringing.
FOX TROT THANK YOUs
What is status of Thank Yours.
Tracy willing to assist.
UPCOMING
ProgramS
|
Event |
Detail |
Date |
Time |
|
Wreath Workshop |
Enjoy a cup of coffee,
holiday goodies, and some friendly conversation while creating a holiday
wreath using purchased and natural ingredients. Reservations required.
Members $12.00/nonmembers $15.00. |
Saturday, 11/19/05 |
1 – 3 pm |
|
Santa Hayride |
Visit Fair Hill Nature Center to create a
holiday craft, enjoy some hot chocolate, and visit with Santa. Hayride,
weather permitting for an additional charge. Reservations required. Members
free/nonmembers $3.00. |
Saturday, 12/10/05 |
1 – 3 pm |
Looks like the Wreath
workshop will be cancelled due to lack of reservations.
Lisa to send out mass email
to advertise Santa Hayride.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.
