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Minutes 08-20-09 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009, AT 7:00 P.M. IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Steve Waldman, Chair Sherri Claude, Board Liaison Mary Morera, Vice Chair Jose De La Torre, III Paulette Ford Hattie Miller Robert Chiste, Student-Regular voting Member Myra Jones, Alternate ABSENT: Carol Lundquist Lori Wilkinson I. Call to Order Chair Waldman called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silent Reflection Mr. De La Torre led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, followed by a moment of silent reflection for our men and women in the Armed Forces. Chair Waldman introduced new Board member, Myra Jones. Ms. Claude noted Ms. Jones would be filling in for Ms. Wilkinson who could not attend as the meeting date had been changed. Ms. Lundquist could not attend the meeting, as she was out of town. III. Approval of Minutes of July 23, 2009 Motion Mr. Chiste moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. De La Torre seconded the motion that passed unanimously. IV.Approval of Agenda Mr. Chiste moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Miller seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 1 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2009 V. Announcements/Presentations/Correspondence Chair Waldman announced he had received a letter sent via email from Joe Ametrano, Drama Teacher at Boynton Beach Community High School, thanking the Board for its generous donation to the School's Theater Department. The funds helped alleviate a shortfall from last year and provided seed money for the new School year. Mr. Ametrano would keep the Board apprised of upcoming productions which were to include an evening of scenes and monologues in the fall and "A Raisin in the Sun" in April. Chair Waldman met with Stephanie Robb, Co-Chair of the Palm Beach County "Walk Now on Autism." The event is scheduled for Monday, March 7, 2010 at Centennial Square. He suggested if any Board members were interested, or knew of any children who would be interested in participating, they telephone Ms. Robb at 561-432-0570. Ms. Morera announced she had observed on the Sun-Sentinel 2009 Volunteer Guide website that Office Depot had established a foundation which offered a volunteer program matching youths in middle-school and higher grades to appropriate volunteer activities. One of the activities which would be forthcoming in the next few months included teen volunteers setting up a "giant" Christmas tree in Delray Beach. Office Depot also maintained a website from which the volunteer program could be accessed. Ms. Morera would forward the information to Ms. Claude. Chair Waldman would mention the program to Mrs. Pell at the High School. VI. Public Audience Ms. Morera's children were recognized. VII. New Business VIII. Old Business A. Youth Volunteer Bank Chair Waldman had asked Ms. Jones to ascertain a date for an upcoming PTA (Parent- Teachers Association) meeting at which the Board had hoped to set up a volunteer table. Ms. Jones was advised the meeting would be held on Monday, October 5, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. at the Media Center. Ms. Jones would also be attending the first SAC (School Advisory Council) meeting and would attempt to solicit volunteers at that time. Chair Waldman had distributed banking forms for time accrued, brochures and flyers at Poinciana Elementary School. Michelle Stearns, the PTA (Parent-Teachers Association) 2 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2009 president, had agreed to distribute the volunteer material to members of the PTA. Chair Waldman suggested the forms be provided to Galaxy Elementary's Parent- Teachers Association as well. It was noted Poinciana conducted a recycling drive annually in which students could participate and bank their hours. Other volunteer activities included assisting with beach cleanup and service to the community and houses of worship. A representative of the Cub Scouts had also agreed to provide the materials to troop members. Chair Waldman had provided materials to Mrs. Pell at the High School as well. Chair Waldman suggested the materials be promoted at the middle school level. Ms. Morera and Ms. Ford agreed to work with Odyssey and Congress Middle Schools respectively. Mr. De La Torre agreed to provide the materials to the principal of Boynton Charter School, as his children were students at the School. Chair Waldman had previously been asked whether volunteer time accrued during the previous year could be rolled over. His response was they could not. Ms. Claude agreed. While she had maintained a record of the hours for the previous year, volunteers would have received a certificate at a recognition event for any hours turned in for that year. Hours would begin to accrue anew each year. She emphasized the focus of the Youth Volunteer Bank had been on participation rather than the amount of hours accrued. For the past several years, Ms. Morera and Phyllis Stern had coordinated a Tennis Carnival at Hunters Run. The Carnival had not been held last year, as Ms. Stern's husband was ill and she had not worked with the Hunter's Run Board as often as she had in the past. Ms. Stern had suggested Ms. Morera contact David Cordrey to determine the willingness of the Hunters Run Board to sponsor the Tennis Carnival this year. If the members agreed to do so, three months notice should be provided to Hunters Run. Additionally, if it had been confirmed the event would be held but a date had not been finalized, a blurb could be placed in "FunFare Magazine" alerting readers to the Tennis Carnival. The event could be publicized in the community as well. It was noted Hunters Run had handled all aspects of the Carnival in the past, with the exception of the refreshments. The Board was in agreement to move forward, and Ms. Morera would contact Mr. Cordrey. B.Fundraising While funds currently existed in the cash reserves, Chair Waldman pointed out the Board was always amenable to new ideas for fundraising. In this manner, the Board could assist groups requesting financial support without having to rely upon contributions from the Commissioners' Community Investment Funds. 3 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida August 20,2009 Ms. Morera had been advised that Walmart would match up to $1,000 in proceeds generated from hotdog sales or a carwash on Walmart's premises. If that were true, it would be necessary to attract enough adults and a large group of students, possibly from Poinciana or Galaxy Elementary Schools, to organize and participate in the events. Ms. Morera would contact Walmart to verify the existence of the program. Chair Waldman would contact the Target Corporation to determine whether any of its stores would be willing to participate in community service events. IX. Future Meeting Dates: September 24, 2009 October 22, 2009 X. Adjournment Motion Mr. Chiste moved to adjourn. Ms. Ford seconded the motion that passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned t 7:32 p.m. ~11- Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 082408 4