Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Wednesday January 13, 2010

Members: Rosalind Minaji, Kaywana Gargarello, Cameron More, Mary Clements
Regrets: Christel Elliot, Debbie Edwards, Erin Cavarzan, Alicia Bragg, Louise Adam, Kyra Paterson

1. CHAPTER UPDATES

Membership
" As of January 2010 we have 95 memberships on our list. It should be noted that some of these listed memberships have expired and members should be contacted asap with a renewal letter.
" Alicia has confirmed that welcome letters were sent to new members in November.

Treasurer's Report
" Cam noted that we have a balance of $3,606.72
" Our membership rebate of approximately $1,200 was received in December.
" Major expenses for the fall included newsletter printing and Frenchalapooza disbursements.
" The current credit union account has a couple of inactive accounts, which could be consolidated into our chequing account. Year end for CPF is March 31.

Action Items:
" Alicia to send renewal letters to everyone with an expired or soon-to-expire membership
" Cam will follow up with the credit union about rolling money from inactive accounts into the chequing account.

Communications
" The winter newsletter will be distributed in early February.
" Articles/information to be submitted to Roz by end of January.

Action Items:
" Kaywana will submit article on 25 years of FI in the separate school board
" Other articles will include: FI information nights, Hamilton Reads event, Frenchapalooza update (presentation materials on web site), Petite Pommes Camp, Helene Nichole concert, College Boreal courses, francophone film festival, concours update

CPF Ontario Board News
" The Board is working on three major initiatives: review of the new FSL curriculum document, exploring how many French Immersion schools are involved in the new full-day kindergarten initiative, and reviewing the multi-language pamphlets intended to promote FI to immigrant communities.
" A 20 page CPF Ontario Newsletter will be in the mail next week.
" Camp Esprit is going ahead in February.
" CPF has donated a custom designed French games book (value $80) for each SK school in our Chapter. These will be distributed at the SK information nights with appropriate ceremony.

2. PAST CHAPTER EVENTS

Frenchapalooza/French Immersion Survival Night
" The event was a major success with a turn-out of about 60 adults and 60 kids. Our experiment in joining several events resulted in a critical mass of customers -all of whom were satisfied with the information, books or entertainment.
" Business at the book sale was brisk, and our vendor would like to return in the spring.
" Our presentations were well received and have been posted on our website.
" The hero of the evening was Mary Clements -who kept 60 children entertained in the gym while our paid entertainers were stuck in rush hour traffic.
" Thanks to everyone who came out and helped. Louise for the refreshments and logistical help. Christel for helping with the book sale all evening. Kaywana for providing the taxi service for our entertainers. Kyra and Mary for helping with the kids.
" Dalewood was a great venue, although acoustics in the gym were poor. It was good to have use of both an auditorium and a gym as well as the foyer for the booksale.
" Dalewood Healthy Snack program was sent a cheque for $100 as our thank you for the use of the space.

Westfield Heritage Tour
" This event was cancelled due to a lack of French speaking guides.
" Next year we will investigate guides prior to announcing any tour dates. Possibly French speaking Executive Member could act as on-the-spot translator?

Action Items:
" Keep Frenchapalooza as an annual event
" Everyone to investigate alternative venues for Christmas tour in French for 2010.

3. UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

Hamilton Reads
" Hamilton Public Library have booked Storyteller Marylyn Peringer for Saturday January 30 from
1:30 to 2:30 pm at the Westdale Library Branch (955 King St. West)
" This will be a Free Event suitable for ages 6 to adult.
" Marylyn will be telling stories from French-Canadian folklore in English and French.
" Our cost is $250.00
" Roz has sent out an email to all CPF members (note that 12-15 of the 95 emails on our membership list are no longer valid). Kyra has sent notice to the Waterdown mailing list.

Action Items:
" Roz will promote the event at FIAC next week -prepare a poster.
" Mary will send notice of the event to her camper list
" Roz & Christel will attend to present the cheque and take photos.

French Concert
" Helene Nicole Richard has made Hamilton dates available for the new "Franco à GoGo" show, and sent out an initial poster in November. Her new partner is Vincent Pezzano who plays guitar. The show has all new content featuring games, quizzes, songs and dances.
" Suitable for grades 1 through 8 Cost $5 per student and group rates available
" Only one school has registered to date. Helene is following up by phone with each school.

Action Items:
" Kaywana to follow-up with Dan Crandal about promoting the show to the Catholic board
" Roz to follow-up with Christine Rees about promoting the show to the Public board
" Roz to update web site to include concert information

FI Information Nights
" Catholic Board dates have been set for the second week of February
" Public school dates to be determined. Hopefully available at FIAC next week.
" Promotion includes: inclusion in CPF newsletter, preparation of pamphlet listing FI schools and information night dates (for distribution to libraries and community centres), daycare mailing, participation in Norwood Park Limeridge Mall booth, and CPF members attending FI information nights to answer questions and hand out materials.
" Kaywana has the Catholic Board games books, Roz has 10 for the Public Board.
" FI Promotions grant is available again this year from CPF Ontario.

Action Items:
" Kaywana to submit application to CPF Ontario for FI Promotions Grant
" Roz to obtain public school dates and amend pamphlet and daycare poster accordingly.
" Amount of pamphlets to be printed will depend on amount of CPF Ontario grant.
" Roz to send out list of FI information night meetings and request CPF member volunteers to attend.
" Roz to contact Alicia to see if she has time to prepare the daycare mailing.
" Roz to distribute CPF materials and display boards to volunteers.
" Roz to attend Limeridge Mall booth.

AGM
" We have tried a variety of events in the past, but it is difficult to get a strong turn-out in the spring due to conflicts with soccer, good weather etc.
" Last year's information night "FI in High School" featured 5 excellent speakers, but very few audience members. Suggest this year we try entertainment and food instead.
" Possible book sale combined with French entertainment -singer, puppets, film?
" To be discussed further at our March meeting. Event proposed for late April.

4. PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES
" This year's concours is being divided into 3 separate events (FI Junior, FI Middle School and Core French) and combined with a French literacy assembly in order to give the competitors an audience
" A review of the FI policy is underway. FIAC members are suggesting that special attention be paid to transportation as well as planning for high school accommodation as enrollment continues to rise.
" An accommodation review of high schools will begin this year. FIAC members are monitoring the situation to determine how school boundaries may be revised to assist Fessenden to accommodate more Ancaster parents and free up space at Norwood Park (FI school boundaries follow high school catchment areas for some strange reason).

5. SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES
" Declining enrollment at Cathedral continues to be a concern.
" Kaywana will check to see if the Catholic Board is running a concours this year.

6. FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY NEWS
" College Boreal contacted us to attend their 15 year anniversary celebrations. They are continuing to offer a free $45 textbook to CPF members who enroll in their French language classes.

Action Items:
" Roz will inquire about potential family films during the February Film Festival at the Park Discovery Centre.

7. OTHER BUSINESS
" Mary is planning to hold a summer camp again this year. She is currently looking for a location. School Board facilities are expensive due to her "for profit" status. She may look into becoming a CPF sponsored camp this year. Suggestions were made to look at Vanier and Cathedral. The camp would run all summer with Mary as co-ordinator, two full-time counsellors and high school volunteers.
" Mary has also been approached by a Lawfield parent to run a March Break camp. She is contacting Lawfield this week to follow up on the possibility.

Next Meeting:
Early March - Date to be Determined.