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Minutes 12-05-13 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 5, 2013, AT 6:00 P.., IN CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BLVD. BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Steve Waldman, Chair Sherri Claude, Board Liaison Carla Colebrooks- Spencer Carol Lundquist Kellsie Kershaw, Student Voting Member ABSENT: Dr. Tiffany North Mary Morera, Vice Chair Hattie Miller Loretta Wilkinson Gerline Christophe, Alternate Dawson Charles Hagger- Lendoiro, Student Non - Voting Member 1. Call to Order Chair Waldman called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. Self- introductions were made. Pledge of Allegiance /Moment of Silent Reflection The members recited the Pledge of Al .legiance to the Flag, followed by a moment of silent reflection. Approval of Minutes of October 24, 2013 Motion Ms. Lundquist moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Colebrooks seconded the motion that unanimously passed. It was noted the date of the Tennis Carnival on page 4 should be April 26, 2013, not April 24. Motion Ms. Kershaw moved to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Colebrooks seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL December 5, 2013 IV. Approval of Agenda There were no changes to the agenda. V. Announcements /Presentations /Correspondence Ms. Claude announced the Board received a $100 donation from Josy and Peter Boeck of New York, who were friends of former Board Member Phyllis Stern. The donation was specifically earmarked for the Tennis Carnival. Ms. Claude advised she sent a thank you letter from the Board to the donors. A. Presentation by SEEME from Freedom Shores Jacqueline Gates representing the Southeastern Consortium of Minorities in Engineering, (a /k/a SECME) was present and explained the Club is a hands -on, science, engineering and math enrichment Club at Freedom Shores Elementary School. Students participate in science, technology, engineering and math projects, such as building balsa wood bridges, exploring force -in- motion by building bottle rockets, manipulating energy by building a mouse -trap powered car, and building a gravity -ride rollercoaster while applying reading and math skills. There are many other projects which Ms. Gates reviewed. Ms. Gates thanked the Board for their donation to Club last year. The donation was spent on supplies, some of which are expensive, and to allow the students to attend competitions. The first competition the students attended was a Palm Beach County competition at Santaluces High School. One of the students, Allison Jobin, entered and won the essay competition and went on to the national competition and won second place, which was a significant accomplishment. The Club also participates in the Brain Ball competition at the Science Museum in the Spring. The program is funded mostly by the parents. Students ask for donations, they fundraise and hold a pancake breakfast. The Club is limited to 25 fourth and fifth grade students. Once or twice a year, the Club opens for students to join. Students write a paper explaining why they want to be in the Club and must have good grades and attendance to be selected. The Club meets after school once a week and as competition approaches, the teacher stays after school five days per week. Ms. Colebrooks commented the SECME program was a very good program for students and it was significant that students from the Club achieved high honors for their work at competitions. The Club has been ongoing for eight or nine years and has been steady for the last four years. The parents have been very cooperative, as they must guarantee they will support the student and can provide transportation. Some assistance is available for students from different economic backgrounds. In preparing students for competitions, the students create a project as taught by the teacher. When students go to a science museum, the team measures everything down to the tiniest 2 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL December 5, 2013 millimeter. It was noted many girls are involved in the program and students wear goggles, use power tools and dress appropriately for safety, including pulling hair back. Ms. Gates completed the request form which was for $600. Discussion followed $600 was significant in terms of funds in the account. A suggestion was made to give half. Motion Ms. Lundquist moved to give $300. If other donations were received, the Board could reconsider giving more funds. Ms. Kershaw seconded the motion. Chair Waldman agreed if additional funds are received, and funds were still needed, the Club could re- approach the Board. He commented the Board had another fundraiser scheduled and asked Ms. Gates to help spread the word, the next Shred -a -Thon would be held on April 19 The motion unanimously passed. Ms. Gates left the essay submitted by Ms. Jobin, who won second place at the national competition. It was noted the student was 10 years old, and the essay was a technical essay. VI. Public Audience None. VII. New Business None. VIII. Old Business A. Shred -A -Than (4/19/14) The Shred -A -Thon was still tentative and needed to be confirmed. It was hoped before the next meeting they would have a date and another contract. Ms. Claude agreed to email Ms. Wilkinson about the matter and Chair Waldman agreed to contact the school district to secure the same location as was previously used. B. Tennis Carnival (4/26/14) Chair Waldman agreed to contact Ms. Stern about the event and would request Vice Chair Morera contact the Tennis Pros at Hunters Run. They would obtain trophies and Chair Waldman explained one of the Tennis Pros agreed to give tennis lessons. Ms. Claude explained the event was in FunFare Magazine and the new issue was out. 3 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL December 5, 2013 Registration will begin next week, but if the members had any specific locations for flyers or had suggestions to promote it, they should let her know. Chair Waldman wanted to drop off flyers at the Day Star School at St. John as it was important to have student diversity. Ms. Claude explained presently, all recreational facilities have the flyers advertising the event, including the Library. The flyers will be distributed sometime in January. C. Youth Volunteer Bank/Bob Borovy Award Ms. Claude explained there are about 120 volunteers and about $1,700 left in the fund. Discussion followed the Board has not been spending a lot of money from the fund every year. Chair Waldman explained the program was open to youth of any age. If students sign up for the program, they receive something at the end of the year. The idea is to do something for someone else. Helping a teacher set -up a room is counted as volunteer service. The hours have to be recorded, verified and submitted to Ms. Claude. Once a student signs up for the program, they do not have to reapply each year. Discussion followed whether different companies were approached for donations, plaques, trophies or award certificates. Chair Waldman explained anyone can approach a company, but the Board should decide who they want to approach. For many years, Publix gave a $1,000 donation and the Board had a banquet with a D.J. Savings bonds were given and the awards were contingent on the number of hours earned. For the last several years, recognition has been given at a City Commission meeting where all participants would receive a certificate and a $10 gift card. Discussion followed that monetary donations are always helpful. The American Legion, for a few years, had provided funds for the Borovy Award. Ms. Kershaw noted this was her last meeting unless she is reappointed. She explained she submitted her application for reappointment. D. Fundraising Chair Waldman suggested the members discuss fundraising with a full Board present. Further discussion followed Ms. Kershaw's mother works for Chase Bank who may be helpful to obtain donations. It was known Chick Fil -A will allow fundraising events and gives back 10% of the evenings total. Chipotle also gives 50% of the sales from individuals who identify themselves as supporting an event. The total coming from the school was over $800. When a school holds a function, all the parents, relatives and friends attend. When the event is not a school event, it is more challenging. The event can be publicized through FunFare. At the last meeting, the Board had considered an event at Smashburgers. 4 Meeting !Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL December 5, 2013 Ms. Lundquist suggested putting more effort into marketing the Shred -A -Thon. It was pointed out News Channel 12 holds a Shred -A -Thon for free. Ms. Colebrooks commented she was told individuals who used the Channel 12 event preferred the Board's event because the lines are not long, it is close by and the proceeds go for youth programs. Chair Waldman hoped they could get a few thousand dollars more from the event. Ms. Colebrooks agreed to publicize it as much as she could. Additionally, Commissioner Casello had indicated the Board could approach the City Commission to discuss donations. Chair Waldman wanted to ensure when he approached the City Commission, he had a specific project for the funds. This matter will also be discussed at the next meeting and he was unsure when he should approach the City Commission. E. Sister Cities Ms. Claude had no information to report. Chair Waldman advised Sister Cities held a golf putting contest to raise funds, and he would ensure a representative attends the next meeting to explain what they are doing. They have a Young Artist/Young Authors contest which is an international contest. Boynton Beach's Sister City is QuFu China, and the students from China participate as do students from Boynton Beach and South Tech Academy. Ms. Claude announced Rick Beau -Lieu, a local artist, is the Grand Marshal of the Holiday Parade to be held on Saturday, December 5, 2013 at 5 p.m. Ms. Claude also announced a new Recreation and Parks Department series of free family events called Play Outdoors Unplugged. These events will take place the third Saturday of the month, beginning in January. The January event will be Bark at the Park. Postcards will be distributed at the Holiday Parade to ensure all know this will be a reoccurring event. The events are also in FunFare. IX. Future Meeting Dates: January 23, 2014 February 27, 2014 X. Adjournment Motion There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Kershaw moved to adjourn. Ms. Colebrooks seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 122313 5