Minutes from Feb. 25th Meeting
Wabasso Area Early Childhood Coalition
Meeting Minutes
February 25, 2010
1. Welcome
Members present included Nicole Norcutt, Jennifer Zollner, Karen DeBoer, Karla Arends, Brad Kramer and Dawn Guetter.
2. Budget Questions
A copy of the current budget/expenses was available. Total expenses for the Year 1 and Year 2 Vision to Action Grants totaled $23469.00. Dawn will be completing the final report and Year 3 Vision to Action Grant Application for the April SWIF board meeting. Please contact Dawn with any questions or for a detailed list of expenses to date.
3. Website
Nicole shared that she has been able to get the question and answer forum set up and connected to the website. There are no advertisements on the forum, which was a priority when selecting which one to go with. There is a log-in box at the top. The forum will be able to be accessed through a link on our website. Users (members, parents, etc.) will be able to set up a user name and password and will then be able to post, answer and comment on questions etc. A few sample/starter questions regarding child care, child development concerns, early childhood screening, dental care, etc. were discussed. Nicole will get these questions posted. Members are encouraged to answer those that pertain to there area of knowledge/expertise. Dawn will advertise the availability of the forum in the spring ECFE brochure which will go out in the next couple weeks.
4. Child Care Provider Mini Grant Applications
A thank you note and photo from Gail Fischer was shared. There were no new grant applications submitted this month. Seven of the 10 available grants for this year (October 2009 – October 2010) have been awarded.
5. FRED (Fathers Reading Everyday)
The first FRED event for the year was held on Tuesday, February 23. 17 dads/grandpas and 23 children enjoyed the night of bus riding, reading, pizza and bowling at the Lamberton Lanes. with Bumper Bowling at Lamberton Lanes. Bus will leave from the Wabasso Public Library. The second event is scheduled for April 13 and will take place the Marilyn & Chuck Daub’s farm with a “Planting the Seeds of Reading” theme.
6.
Dawn shared the flyer for the upcoming training on Helping Children Cope with Traumatic Situations that we are sponsoring on Wednesday May 19 at the
7. Spring
Plans/ideas for annual spring/summer projects were briefly discussed.
Week of the Young Child is April 11 – 17. The FRED event is scheduled for this week and we will plan to place the yard signs celebrating children during this week in each of the five communities. It was suggested to look into placing an ad or writing a letter to the editor regarding the Week of the Young Child. Members are encouraged to think of these as well as other ideas for final discussion/planning at the March meeting.
Child Care Provider Appreciation Day is May 7. Jennifer Zollner, Karen DeBoer and Karla Arends volunteered to plan this years annual event. It was suggested to look at holding the event either Tuesday, May 4 or Thursday May 6 in either Lucan as in the past or Wanda. There are 15 licensed family child care providers in our communities.
Music in the Park(s) event was held in Seaforth in 2009 with the Teddy Bear Band to celebrate the new playground equipment. Members are asked to be watching for anything happening in the other communities (Vesta, Wanda, Lucan) to possibly connect with in planning this summer’s concert. More discussion will take place at the March meeting.
The Library Summer Punch Cards promotion was discussed as well. We have mailed the summer reading and bookmobile schedules along with the punch card for a free book the past several years. Usage of the punch cards (to earn a free book) has been decreasing. Members are encouraged to think of other promotions/prizes etc. for using the punch cards. Further discussion will take place at the March and/or April meeting(s).
8. SWIF Updates
Brad thanked those that filled out the MN Early Childhood Initiative online survey in January. The results are being complied and will be shared in the future.
9. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30 at 4:00pm in the Wabasso Public School Board Room.
10. Other / Community Information Sharing
Dawn shared information/resources on the Voices for Children Advocacy Day, Pediatric Emergency Simulation Training, and MACMH’s Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference.
Karen shared brochures for families utilizing family, friend and neighbor (FFN) care for their children as well as for the caregivers themselves, regarding resources and grants that are available.
