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Minutes 03-27-97 MINUTES OF THE ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1997, AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT Angela Girtman, Vice Chairperson Robert Borovy Marie Lengert Denise Panton Hattie Miller, Alternate Jeffrey Davis, Student ABSENT Shanna St. John, Chairperson Amy Williams, Student I. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chairperson Girtman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER A moment of silent prayer was observed. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chairperson Girtman advised that Ms. Dencker and Vice Mayor Titcomb are not able to attend the meeting this evening; therefore, she deleted Items V.A and VI.2. Motion Ms. Lengert moved to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Borovy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES No additions, deletions, or corrections were made to the minutes of the last meeting. MINUTES ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 27, 1997 Motion Ms. Lengert moved to approve the minutes of the February 27, 1997 meeting as submitted. Ms. Miller seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. V. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Introduce New Board Member—Angela Dencker This item was deleted from the agenda. B. Children Services Banquet—See Handout Vice Chairperson Girtman read the handout regarding an awards luncheon to be held at the Airport Hilton in West Palm Beach on Friday, April 25, 1997 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dr. James T. Howell will give the keynote address. Awards will be presented by the Children’s Services Council, Child Care Resource and Referral, Community Action Program, and Palm Beach County Head Start. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Neighborhood Revitalization—See Handout Vice Chairperson Girtman stated that at the last meeting, there was discussion regarding volunteerism. This issue was identified at the Visions Conference. The board was thinking about connecting volunteerism and neighborhood revitalization. Chairperson St. John has been working very hard on a youth volunteer bank. The Sun- Sentinel is very interested in sponsoring this program. At the last meeting, the board discussed young people volunteering within their own organizations throughout the City. There will have a volunteer bank where people can call in and register or log in their volunteer hours for whatever work they did. If the work involves neighborhood revitalization, such as neighborhood cleanup, paint-up, or yard work, they would receive double the volunteer hours. At the end of the year, a volunteer banquet will be held and awards will be given to the people with the highest number of community service hours. Chairperson St. John drafted a flyer for the Sun-Sentinel outlining the program. She has contacted RSVP and the Woman’s Club and asked for volunteers to help log in the volunteer hours. She has already contacted the Police Department with regard to the Explorers and the First Offender Program. She will be contacting the schools and other organizations throughout the City to see if they are interested in this program. She will also be contacting someone in City Hall for storage space so the volunteers will have a 2 MINUTES ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 27, 1997 place to obtain and turn in information. Ms. Lengert spoke to the scout group and senior group at Ascension Lutheran Church, and they are interested in this program. The board will sponsor at least two major events with regard to neighborhood revitalization, such as participating in Paint Your Heart Out Day and another cleanup day. Other groups will be responsible for finding their own projects and logging in their own hours. This program will begin this May and end May, 1998 so as not to interfere with graduation. Vice Chairperson Girtman congratulated Chairperson St. John for all the hard work she has done on this program. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Puppetry Arts--Update B. Guest Speakers 1. Bill Timmis - Puppetry Arts Bill and Jo Janeen Timmis were present. Ms. Timmis, Executive Director of the Puppetry Arts Center, distributed some literature to the members of the board. The Puppetry Arts Center is a nonprofit organization (a 501C3 corporation) and has been in existence for three and a half years. It is located in the Cross County Mall; however, the mall is scheduled to be closed sometime in April and be demolished during the end of the summer. They currently have approximately 4,000 square feet; however, that is not enough space. The Puppetry Arts Center is a member of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, Puppeteers of America, UNIMA-USA (an international puppetry organization), and the National Storyteller’s Association. It has been in the Cross County Mall rent free and could not have existed otherwise. It is a destination facility. The first year, 11,000 people attended the shows. The second year, 13,000 attended, and last year, 17,000 people attended. It is estimated that at least 19,000 people will attend this year. General admission is $3.00 per person, which helps pay the electric and telephone bills. They also have group rates and complimentary admissions. There is one part- time paid assistant. They received two small grants from the Community Foundation to build a hand puppet stage and produce a multi-cultural show. They have contract performers and in-house performers. This program was originally part of the City of West Palm Beach when Ms. Timmis was employed by them as the Assistant Director of the Arts and Crafts Center and the Assistant Director of the Puppet Theater. The City decided to close down the Arts and Crafts Center and the Puppetry Program. They demolished the building they were 3 MINUTES ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 27, 1997 housed in across from the Kravis Center and dropped most of the programming. At that time, Ms. Timmis formed a nonprofit organization. They hold workshops for teachers and the general public. Two organizations meet at the Puppetry Center. One is the Gold Coast Puppet Guild. The Puppetry Arts Center has sponsored the Gold Coast Storytellers. They hold workshops on how to tell stories and on how to teach children how to tell stories. The shows have a lot of educational value. They have themes that can easily be translated into values teaching or curriculum, as well as being entertaining. She invited the members of the board to visit the Puppetry Arts Center. Vice Chairperson Girtman thanked the Timmis’ for the presentation and advised that we are actively looking for a home for the Puppetry Arts Center and hope it is in Boynton Beach. 2. Jamie Titcomb, Vice Mayor This item was deleted from the agenda. C. Youth Expo - Letters from Parents Vice Chairperson Girtman read letters from Dona Kelly and Janet DeVries thanking them for the Second Annual Youth Expo. D. Photo Contest—Discuss New Date Vice Chairperson Girtman advised that the board sponsors the photo contest annually, but decided not to do it in conjunction with the Youth Expo this past fall. Since there is difficulty getting cameras and film developing donated, the board decided to open the contest to the high school photography departments only. The contest will be held in place of the Youth Expo, since the board decided to hold the Youth Expo every other year. The Boynton Beach Mall will be contacted to see if the entries and winning photos can be displayed during the end of October or the beginning of November. Ms. Lengert suggested displaying them at City Hall in the Mall. Mr. Borovy volunteered to contact the School of the Arts, Atlantic High School, Lake Worth High School, Santaluces High School, and Lake Worth Christian High School. He will also contact the VFW for donations of savings bonds. Vice Chairperson Girtman would also like trophies to be awarded. By the next meeting, she hopes one of the members of the board would volunteer to be in charge of this contest. E. Youth Orchestra 4 MINUTES ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 27, 1997 Vice Chairperson Girtman advised that she contacted a gentleman who was interested in working with the Youth Orchestra, but not directing it. Surveys were taken and the people who are interested in the youth orchestra were separated into two groups— those who play an instrument and those who do not. About 36 of these children play an instrument. Most of the children are in middle school and a few in high school. Vice Chairperson Girtman hopes to start the youth orchestra by this summer. She advised that the City will have to be approached about a place for the orchestra to meet and practice, and someone needs to direct the orchestra. If anyone knows anybody willing to donate their time, please contact her. Mr. Borovy advised that Lee Buffan is familiar with all the musicians in the area. He volunteered to contact her to see if she can recommend someone. F. Summer Movie Program Chairperson St. John is working on this program. This item was tabled until the next meeting. G. Youth Curfew Mr. Borovy wondered if the board should take a position on this issue. He did not think there was anything wrong with a police officer stopping and questioning someone. Ms. Panton agreed and pointed out that truancy is a big problem. Motion Mr. Borovy moved to support a City-wide curfew for young people. Ms. Panton seconded the motion. Mr. Davis felt that even though someone may be inconvenienced by being stopped by an officer, it would reduce crime and make the streets safer. Vice Chairperson Girtman wondered what the Police Department is going to do if they stop a young person during school hours and they cannot reach his or her parents. Mr. Davis advised that when students are expelled or suspended, they have free time on their hands. He did not think students should be suspended. He felt it was not adequate punishment. Ms. Panton agreed. She suggested they be kept on campus and sent to study hall or do grounds work, clean the halls, or work in the cafeteria instead. Vice Chairperson Girtman pointed out that depending on what the student was suspended for, you may not want him or her on campus, disturbing the students who want to learn. The motion carried unanimously. VII. PUBIC AUDIENCE 5 MINUTES ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 27, 1997 None. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the board, Ms. Lengert moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Ms. Panton seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Eve Eubanks Recording Secretary (One Tape) 6