Minutes from April 22nd Meeting
1. Welcome
Members present included Karen DeBoer, Nicole Norcutt, Lisa Turbes, Jennifer Zollner, Audrea Turbes, Char Lightfoot, Brad Kramer, Dawn Guetter & Michelle Salfer. Welcome to new member Fr. Todd Peterson.
2. Child Care Appreciation Day Event
The planning committee of Lisa Turbes, Jennifer Zollner, and Karen DeBoer gave an update on their plans. This event is scheduled for Thursday, May 1 at 6:30pm at the Brau Haus in Lucan. Invitations were sent out to the 13 licensed family childcare providers in our area with the request to RSVP to Jennifer by April 24. Toby Spanier, from U of M Extension Service will be the featured speaker. Dawn/Michelle will also give a brief overview of the coalition and Nicole will highlight the website. Karen’s office will donate stickers, labels etc. for the event. Any coalition members wanting to attend the event and help represent the coalition are welcome and should let Jennifer know by Friday, April 25.
3. Week of the Young Child Update
Week of the Young Child was celebrated last week, April 13 – 18. A public awareness campaign was held and included placing yard signs in each of the communities as well as handing out Kool Aid playdo recipe cards with the WOTYC and website info at several area locations. About 250 of the 300 packets were distributed. Families were encouraged to visit the website and register to win one of two Play-Do Fun Kits to be given away. The site saw 17 new visitors during the week and had 10 people register for the drawing. Winners were Tracie Berg and Kelly Altermatt. Thank you to all who helped place signs, distribute cards, and to Nicole Norcutt for theWOTYC info. on the website.
4. Women’s Expo Update
Jennifer Zollner and Lisa Turbes were in attendance at the Women’s Expo in Wabasso on April 5. They represented the coalition at an informational booth and also encouraged attendees to register for a “self care” basket drawing. We had one new person register to be included in updates through the website. Winners of the baskets were Nicole Norcutt and Sara Swanson.
5. Imagination Library Update
An update was given regarding the progress in implementing the Imagination Library in our area. The Redwood Area United Way is excited to partner with us, allowing their 501c(3) status to be used for the project, which is required for the program. They requested the use of their logo/name on brochures etc. and will also include a spot on their donation cards for Imagination Library. Brochures will include both United Way and ECI logos and will be ordered as soon as possible at a cost of $355 for 500. If you would like more information on the Imagination Library program, their website is www.dollysimaginationlibrary.com
6. Summer Projects
It was agreed to have an entry in the All-Fest Parade on June 28. Budget will be approved at May meeting. Jennifer Zollner and Nicole Noructt volunteered to work in planning the entry etc. If you would like to also help out with this project, please let Jennifer, Nicole, Dawn or Michelle know.
It was agreed to hold Music in the Parks events again this summer, based on the success of last summer’s events. Events will be held once at each of the five parks (Lucan, Seaforth, Vesta, Wabasso & Wanda). Last summer, the events were held on the five Wednesdays in August from 5:45-7:00pm. We will attempt to schedule events on Wednesdays again this summer, possibly spreading them out throughout the summer (depending on availability of performers, other community events, etc.) Dawn, Karen, Char, Nicole & Jennifer will work on planning and carrying out these events. If you know of any local talent (musical groups, bands, etc.) that may be willing to entertain at one of the events, please contact one of the committee members. Also, if your community already has an event (BBQ, etc) scheduled for a Wednesday this summer please let us know of those dates so they can be avoided.
Pending approval by the Wabasso Public Library and the Bookmobile, we will again mail out punch cards promoting summer reading programs. Families will be able to have their cards punched each time they visit the library/bookmobile with their child and will receive a free book on their fifth punch.
7. Budget Update
Dawn distributed copies of the current budget. Amounts do not reflect outstanding items or items approved at this meeting. Please contact Dawn if you would like a copy of the budget with line item expenditures.
Budget Spent
Coalition Maintenance 220 82.90
Communications/Outreach 3500 1697.28
Supplies/Materials 2000 224.01
Projects 9280 5459.33
Total 15000 7463.52
8. SWIF Updates/Next Meeting
Brad reported that he, along with Sara Carlson, presented to the Southwest Initiative Foundation Board of Directors on the Early Childhood Initiative Coalitions in the region. They specifically pointed out Wabasso Area’s website and collaboration with the public library and bookmobile. Brad also reported that the Southwest Initiative Foundation, along with the other 6 Initiative Foundations in Minnesota have received a 3 year $3million grant from the McKnight Foundation to expand the ECI. They are expecting to add two new coalitions in our region in the fall. The pre-approval form is available on the SWIF’s website for any communities that might be interested.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 at 4:00pm at the Wabasso Community Center.
9. Just Imagine DVD
Those in attendance viewed the “Just Imagine” DVD – a documentary showcasing southwest Minnesota that was published by the Southwest Initiative Foundation. If you, or a group you are involved in, would like to view this 25 minute DVD, you can request the coalition’s copy or it can be viewed on SWIF’s website.
10. Community Information Sharing
A Car Seat Clinic will be held at the Wabasso School Garage on Tuesday, May 13 from 5:00-7:00pm. Appointments can be made on the Redwood Area Hospital’s website or by contacting Shelly Pauling at the hospital.
11. Other
The Saturday library hours pilot program was discussed. In response to request made in the Community Profile Surveys, the coalition and the Wabasso Public Library collaborated in order to have the library open on Saturdays for a trial period from January – April. Storytime was also offered the first Saturday of each month. January had a total of 46 patrons on the four Saturdays with two children attending storytime. February had 57 patrons on four Saturdays with 6 attending storytime. March had a total of 30 patrons on four Saturdays with no children attending storytime. April had a total of 15 patrons on 3 Saturdays (one Saturday remains) with no children attending storytime.
The request was made to look into having the meeting minutes printed in the Wabasso Standard under Organizational News.
