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Minutes 06-23-05 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2005 AT 7:00 P.M. Present: Steve Waldman, Chair Mary Morera, Vice Chair Hattie Miller Lawrence Rubin Sherri Claude, Board Liaison Absent: Evelyn B. Geathers Lawrence Siegel Willie Pearl Wilson Danielle Bonczyk, Voting Student Alyssa Ewing, Voting Student I. Call to Order Chairman Waldman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silent Reflection Vice Chair Morera led members in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, followed by a moment of silent reflection. Chairman Waldman received E-mail from Alyssa Ewing stating she was attending summer camp and would not be present. III. Approval of Minutes of May 26, 2005 Motion Mr. Rubin moved to approve the minutes. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Morera and unanimously carried. IV. Approval of Agenda Vice Chair Morera noted Ms. Allison Mattocks from the Delray Youth Council was present to discuss starting a Youth Council in Boynton Beach. Meeting Minutes Advisory Board on Children and Youth Boynton Beach, Florida June 23, 2005 Motion Mr. Rubin moved to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by Ms. Miller and unanimously carried. V. Announcements/Presentations/Correspondence Ms. Claude distributed an article that appeared in the Nation's Cities Weekly Magazine dealing with Youth Master Planning. Chairman Waldman recommended discussing it further when the full Board was present. Chairman Waldman would like to have more interaction with the Education and Advisory Board and the Community Relations Board since these Boards also deal with similar issues. Mary Morera announced the Education Advisory Board might be approaching this Board about holding an education expo dealing with math and science since this Board has experience with the Youth Expo. Chairman Waldman noted there are not many women that are interested in these two areas and he would like to see this promoted. VI. Public Audience Ms. Allison Mattocks, President of the Delray Beach Youth Council, assumed the podium and distributed photographs of the Delray Beach Teen Center. She was present to explain to the Board how the Youth Council and Teen Center were established. They received the building from the Delray Beach Woman's Club that will be maintaining a small office in the building. Ms. Mattocks also passed out a press release of the 505 Teen Center. After formation of the Youth Council, it was determined that a Teen Center was needed for meetings and activities. They also opened a skate park and the Youth Council oversees everything. They also have City contacts they can go to with problems or when they need assistance. Ms. Lula Butler, the Community Improvement Director, and Ms. Janet Meets, the Education Advisor, are the City staff available for this purpose. Ms. Mattocks discussed the various activities and events they put on and noted they were also responsible for funding the events. They are encouraging more diversity and are trying to have more participation from the Haitian community. Vice Chair Morera noted the Board toured the Delray Beach Teen Center last year and they were very impressed with the operation. This Board would like to see a similar operation in Boynton Beach. Chairman Waldman asked how the Youth Council came up with the funding to purchase the building. Ms. Mattocks noted they had money in their treasury for several years and they receive funds from the Garlic Festival every year. In addition, they receive grants 2 Meeting Minutes Advisory Board on Children and Youth Boynton Beach, Florida June 23, 2005 from Target. Chairman Waldman requested Ms. Mattocks provide him with the name of the contact person at Target. Vice Chair Morera inquired if the Youth Center receives money from the City as well. Ms. Mattocks pointed out the Parks and Recreation Department is in charge and a Youth Council member serves on that Board. Chairman Waldman asked if the City provided the insurance. Ms. Mattocks stated anyone registering to use the facilities has to sign a waiver. There is no membership charged. Chairman Waldman noted a few years ago Boynton Beach had a Youth Council and they received assistance from Ms. Butler. However, after the original group graduated, they were not successful in attracting new members and the Council disbanded. Ms. Mattocks noted they also have recruitment issues and they hold events to attract new members. The best way to recruit members was to go into the schools and speak with the school coordinators. With regard to their meetings, Ms. Mattocks prepares an agenda and Ms. Butler proofreads it and sends it back to her, along with any community service opportunities and ideas to be discussed at the meetings. Ms. Mattocks, as President of the Youth Council, runs the meetings and they have other officers as well. They also prepare minutes, but they are not approved. Chairman Waldman reported this Board would like to do a survey and bring it to the schools to determine whether there was a need for a teen center and would they attend if the City built one. The survey will be supplied to the middle schools and high schools, regardless if the children live in or out of the City limits. If it appears there is interest in having a teen center, Chairman Waldman would like to form a committee of youth to work on getting it started and to initiate the Youth Council again. Vice Chair Morera noted it must be determined whether to start a Youth Council first or to just move to establish a teen center. They tried, sometime back, to have a brainstorming session, but it had very low turnout. Ms. Mattocks pointed out the youth that would participate on the Youth Council would probably not be the same youth that would go to the teen center. One group is geared towards community service and the other group just likes to "hang out." Ms. Mattocks stated it was important the Youth Council have at least two core members to keep it going. Chairman Waldman asked Ms. Mattocks if she knew of anyone they could contact for assistance, since she was leaving for college. Ms. Mattocks recommended contacting John Morley, the Youth Council Secretary, at tennisQuv33@vahoo.com, who also lives in Boynton Beach. Chairman Waldman thanked Ms. Mattocks for her informative presentation. Chairman Waldman acknowledged other people in the audience and asked if they wanted to address the Board. 3 Meeting Minutes Advisory Board on Children and Youth Boynton Beach, Florida June 23, 2005 Ms. Sonia Rodney-Johnson and Ms. Carol Hokrein, President and Association Administrator, respectively, of the U.S.A. Netball Association, assumed the podium. Ms. Johnson explained what Netball was and noted it was the most popular female team sport in the world, but originated in the United States. Ms. Johnson explained they are on the organizing committee for the World Youth Netball Championships to be held in Fort Lauderdale from July 21 through July 31,2005 at the Broward Convention Center. Twenty teams from throughout the world will be participating. They represent the U.S.A. squad and there is a member on the team that lives in Boynton Beach. The U.S.A. team has teammates from throughout the country and, therefore, only trains once a month. The team will be coming to Boynton Beach to prepare for the championships. Broward County anticipates realizing $7 million from the championships and they have raised over $500,000 to stage the championship. Ms. Johnson noted many of the organizing committee members live in the Palm Beach area and they have trained in local facilities. They were present to ask the Board for financial assistance, as well as to help bring the sport into the local schools. They have received interest from some local schools and there are two clubs in the Palm Beach area. Ms. Johnson gave a brief description of how the game was played. Ms. Hokrein presented flyers and newspaper articles about the sport, copies of which are on file in the City Clerk's Office. The sport is also recognized by the IOC, but is not presently played at the Olympics. Chairman Waldman pointed out this Board could not assist Netball financially, but he recommended they contact the Superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools, Art Johnson, and arrange to give a presentation to the School District that could advise them how they could give individual presentations to the schools. Ms. Mattocks also recommended they attend a Youth Council meeting at the Delray Beach Teen Center, since they have a good network available. Their meetings will be starting up in August and Ms. Mattocks provided Ms. Johnson with a brochure. Ms. Johnson also provided her business card for contact, which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. VII. Old Business A. Elections (tabled last month) It was agreed to leave this item on the table. B. Teen Center Previously discussed. 4 Meeting Minutes Advisory Board on Children and Youth Boynton Beach, Florida June 23, 2005 C. Volunteer project/Adopt-A-Spot Program (July 9 and October 8) The next cleanup is scheduled for July 9th at Rolling Green Elementary School. Chairman Waldman will provide garbage bags. D. Youth Volunteer Bank Chairman Waldman noted there was $2,471 in the account. He would like to find additional funds for the program and suggested they contact the corporate offices of Wal-Mart and Target to see if they could help sponsor the program. E. Bob Borovy Award Chairman Waldman pointed out that Emily Borovy, the widow of Bob Borovy, worked for Plastridge Insurance, and he would like to contact them for a donation. Members commented on the high caliber of students that have won the award over the years. F. Tennis Carnival At the last meeting it was discussed that the Tennis Carnival would be offered again, perhaps at the City's Tennis Center, and they would try to encourage more diversification. Ms. Claude offered to speak with the City's Tennis Pro, Bob Howell. She will provide Mr. Howell with Chairman Waldman's telephone number. Members thought it would be good to hold the carnival in the fall. Chairman Waldman also thought a golf tournament would be a good idea and he will speak with Dan Hager, the Golf pro at the Links of Boynton Beach, about scheduling one. Members also thought this would be a good way to raise additional funds for the Board's various programs. G. Bowling Tournament (July 24 @ AMF Lanes) Chairman Waldman passed out the flyer announcing the bowling tournament. He informed Ms. Claude he did not speak with the management of AMF Lanes about invoicing the City as she had requested, but he will follow through with her request. Chairman Waldman offered to supply the trophies and stated the Board needed to decide the age groups for the trophies. Vice Chair Morera stated at the last tournament, bumper lanes included children up to age 7; another category was ages 8 through 12; and then 13 and up. It had been previously decided to provide Dunkin Donuts. H. Guest Speakers VIII. New Business None 5 Meeting Minutes Advisory Board on Children and Youth Boynton Beach, Florida June 23, 2005 IX. Future Meeting Dates: July 28, 2005 August 25, 2005 X. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~1k~ þ--, }~ d~~ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (July 1, 2005) 6