Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Tuesday January 7, 2009

Members: Rosalind Minaji, Myra Malley, Christel Elliot, Frank Torelli, Debbie Edwards;

Regrets: Kaywana Gargarello, Andrea Johnson, Danusia Burdyk-Husak, Kyra Paterson, Dianne McKenzie, Erin Cavarzan

1. OCTOBER 7 MINUTES

Action Item Update:
" College Boreal is still offering CPF members who enroll in French courses a free textbook (value $25).
" French Storytime Grant for Waterdown was unsuccessful. The library will not be offering the French storytime program in the winter. The loss of the grant is unfortunate given the lack of French resources in the library and the geographic isolation of Waterdown. We could try again next Fall.

Outstanding Action Items:
" Dianne to redesign CPF bookmark.
" Danusia to source black tablecloth & teal runner with iron-on logo.
" Kaywana to report back on National Conference.
" Roz & Kaywana to contact Centre Francais to introduce CPF to their Board.

2. CHAPTER UPDATES

2.1 VOLUNTEER HOURS: Total 67

Roz Minaji 20 hrs
Myra Malley 30 hrs (since March)
Christel Elliott 12 hrs
Frank Torelli 5 hrs

2.2 MEMBERSHIP REPORT

Based on November 08 statistics, the Chapter now has a total of 95 memberships (up from 88 memberships last January). 43 members have renewed since last year and 14 are new since last spring. Four public school trustees remain members and the separate school FSL consultant has recently joined. The French daycare Petit Navaire now has a membership.

Action Items:
" Myra to order copies of Keys to French Levels One and Two from CPF Ontario.
" Myra to send welcome packages and renewal packages to new members.

Executive Member recruitment is an issue the Chapter must tackle in 2009. It is very important to have fresh ideas and ways of doing things to keep the Chapter vital and relevant. Several of our Executive have children who have now graduated from French Immersion and these members are ready to pass their duties along to new volunteers. We have an expanded FI enrollment and new FI program sites which should be represented.

Action Items:
" Myra and Roz to revamp the welcome and renewal packages to emphasize volunteer recruitment.
" Executive should speak to school principals at SK information nights to get names and numbers of people who are keen to help with FI issues.
" CPF Hamilton Wentworth should prepare a list of achievements to promote CPF to potential members.
" 2009 AGM will be based around executive member recruitment.

2.3 TREASURER'S REPORT

Based on April through December figures, we have spent more than our revenue. Fortunately we had a surplus from the previous year. At this time we have approximately $2,700 in the bank. Expenses should be monitored carefully for the remainder of the year.

2.4 COMMUNICATION:

Since we have upcoming events and activities in January, it was recommended that the January newsletter be produced as quickly as possible. The following articles were suggested:
Concert Notice, Hamilton Reads, FI information nights, Limeridge Mall both by Norwood parents, Co-op Education in French, CPF Executive recruitment, francophone film festival, FI for ESL students, homework help.

Action Items:
" Newsletter to be prepared the week of January 12, for distribution the week of January 19
" Roz to contact Dianne to confirm timelines.

3. PAST CHAPTER EVENTS

3.1 SURVIVAL NIGHTS:

The four Survival Nights at Dundana, Guy Brown, Lawfield and St. Eugenes were a huge success. Between 50 and 30 parents attended each event. Teachers, parents and principals helped with presentations, childcare and refreshments. Hamilton Public Library sent a representative to two of the events

3.2 BOOK SALE:

Beaux Books is highly recommended for future book sales. They were knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. The Chapter made $376 from the sale on November 20, 2008 at Earl Kitchener Gymnasium. Beaux Books has agreed to host another sale in Hamilton this spring in the east end.

3.3 WHITEHERN TOUR:

While the museum and carriage house were a fantastic Christmas setting and the tour was interesting, it did not contain much French at all. Participants did not complain, but they did ask us where the French was. We should consider how to incorporate more French next year -perhaps an interpreter could be invited?

4. UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

4.1 HAMILTON READS:

The Library has booked Chantale Groulx -CNG Productions for the Westdale Library Branch on Saturday January 25 at 11am. Chantale is a members of Storytellers of Toronto and has performed at libraries, daycares, schools, Toronto Storytelling Festival, Toronto Zoo, children's museums etc. She brings stories to life by acting them out with the help of the children. She features traditional and modern tales from all over the world.

Action Items:
" Frank to issue a cheque for $250 as CPF's sponsorship of this event
" Roz to attend the session, take photos and present the cheque.

4.2 FRENCH CONCERT:

Etienne reports that 500 seats have been booked for the February 24 concert. Two concerts have been booked which can accommodate 1000 students each. The CPF Newsletter will help to spread the word into FI schools, but additional promotion is needed to attract Core French teachers. Roz has asked Etienne for some more materials and photos so that another poster can be sent to the FSL consultants.

Due to the large venue, the costs of the concert are considerable. CPF has signed the contract with Mohawk College and has paid a deposit of $1,000. A sponsor has been found to donate $1000 toward the costs of the concert. The following costs will be incurred:
$1550 Rental, plus technicians ($480), plus ushers ($400) plus GST = $2551.50
Cancellation insurance = $367.50 (in case of snow day)
The Committee is concerned that the costs to CPF will be approximately: $1,919.00
If the two concerts sell out and we receive $1 per ticket, then we will make $81 from this event.
If the concerts do not sell out, then we will lose money.

Action Items:
" Kaywana to follow up with sponsor to receive cheque.
" Frank to issue cheque for cancellation insurance
" Kaywana and Roz to contact Etienne to discuss further subsidy of the concert by the performers.
" Roz to prepare new poster and send to FSL consultants.

4.3 SK INFORMATION NIGHTS:

A list of SK information nights has been issued by the public board. The separate board is finalizing their list shortly. CPF Ontario will be giving our chapter a grant of $570 to promote the FI information nights. The grant this year is based on the number of chapter memberships. Roz has ordered additional CPF flyers from CPF Ontario and we have a good supply of the Early Childhood Activity Books to distribute at the meetings.

Chapter members were concerned with the early date (January 22) of the Norwood Park info night as it would take place prior to the Limeridge Mall promotion being organized by Norwood School Council on February 6 & 7. A similar date was used for Lawfield last January and very few parents knew about the meeting.

It was suggested that the daycare mailing proceed as it has in previous years. The remaining grant money would not be sufficient to send flyers to all JK students in Hamilton; however the boards are now sending their own flyers to the JK students. Instead, CPF will prepare an updated flyer listing both public and catholic info nights and will distribute the flyer to public buildings in early February.
Action Items:
" Roz to contact Christine Rees to discuss Norwood Park meeting date.
" Myra to prepare daycare mailing labels
" Roz to update daycare poster and letter
" Christel to coordinate daycare mailing
" Roz to provide CPF materials to Norwood Park School Council to use for Limeridge Mall display
" Dianne to update SK Info Night brochure and arrange printing ($450 worth)
" Debbie Edwards to distribute flyers to libraries, arenas, pools, etc.
" Roz to e-mail list of meeting dates and request CPF Executive volunteers to attend each meeting.

4.4 CONCOURS ORATOIRE:

Marie Patenaude e-mailed that the public board Concours has been arranged for Tuesday February 24 at Dalewood Middle School. The snow date is March 5 at the same location. CPF Executive were concerned that this date conflicts with the Etienne concert and should be rescheduled if possible.

Action Items:
" Roz will contact Christine Rees to ask if the concours date can be changed to remove the conflict with the CPF sponsored French concert
" CPF will arrange prizes for the concours winners

4.5 AGM FOR 2009:

We are required to hold an Annual General Meeting each year however, attendance has typically been low. It was suggested that given the tight budget for 2009, we keep the event simple and hold the meeting at a school and without entertainment. It was suggested that the AGM be designed around the theme of recruiting executive members and volunteers for future years. A potential location would be Dundana school which has a new FI program and many potential members.

Action Items:
" To be discussed in more detail at the next Executive meeting.

5. SEPARATE BOARD ISSUES

No separate school parents in attendance. To be discussed at the next meeting.

6. PUBLIC BOARD

At the last French Immersion Advisory Committee meeting, two motions were passed:

A: That as HWDSB participates in the Transportation consortium with HWCDSB, the highest priority be given to aligning the transportation policies of the two boards so that our board is providing the same level of transportation for FI students as the Catholic board.

B: Given the demographics of Ancaster and the location of a larger proportion of preschool children in the Ancaster Meadows area. Given the growing population of Norwood Park and the need to limit enrolment without adversely impacting overall FI enrolment. Given the difficulty in recruiting students at the new Fessenden site. Given the difference in FI catchment areas for both elementary and secondary students. The FIAC recommends to the HWDSB that the FI catchment area for Fessenden School be expanded to include the Ancaster Meadows area.

7. FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY NEWS

Centre Francais is organizing its annual French film festival for February.

Action Items:
" Roz and Kaywana to contact Centre Francais to introduce CPF to their Board.

Next Meeting February 2009 (TBD)