Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

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

1. CHAPTER UPDATES

Membership
" Alicia continues to work on mailing aspects of the membership i.e. daycare mailing, etc.

Treasurer's Report
" Cameron noted that we have a balance of $2,263.76 in the bank account
" Expenses included newsletters, brochures, postage for daycare mailing, etc.
" Cameron indicated that the year end is March 31, 2010

Action Items:
" Cameron to prepare Financial Statement for AGM in order to receive our Membership Rebate from CPF Ontario
" Roz to sort out the membership list and will email to committee
" Alicia to send out "welcome letters" to the membership

Communications
" Christel inquired whether there will be another newsletter
" It was decided that there will be a newsletter for the last week of April as there will be items/events to promote

Action Items:
" Roz will be gathering information and pictures for the upcoming newsletter
" Articles - upcoming AGM, book sale, summer camp, Esprit Camp, Concours Oratoire etc.

CPF Ontario Board News
" Kaywana advised that CPF ON has increased the grant requests based on the potential for FI growth in a Board
" Over 600 French Immersion, Extended French and French First Language students in grades 11-12 attended the Pathways to Bilingual Success Conference & Bilingual Career Fair in October, 2009. The event was organized by CPF Ontario - with financial support from Canadian Heritage for students from 12 Ontario school boards to gather at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto to explore bilingual post-secondary options and listen to accounts of bilingual success from inspirational young adults
" CPF ON will try to find funding to continue this endeavour and hopes to rotate the venue so that all areas of Ontario have access
" Kaywana mentioned that the numbers in Hamilton vs small communities get the same funding and she will mention this at the next meeting - CPF ON has indicated they are trying to be more flexible about available funding as each community has different needs
" Kaywana indicated that CPF National was trying to provide a paperless newsletter but realizes there are many challenges with this - they are going to contact the membership to further study this
" Kaywana reported that CPF ON is pursuing producing pamphlets in 14 languages and will be forming a committee re distribution
" Kaywana advised that when families register students at the Catholic Board, they receive a Jacquot music cd and he may be a good performer to obtain in future
" Kaywana mentioned the committee should be looking for something new and different re February 2011 event
" Kaywana indicated there was a good turnout for the FI nights re Catholic board

2. PAST CHAPTER EVENTS

Hamilton Reads - January 30
" The event was a success with a good turnout at the Westdale Library
" Marylyn Peringer told interesting French Canadian folklore tales/stories (in English and French) and had a captivated audience
" Roz and Louise attended with their daughters and the consensus was to have her come back

French Concerts - Helene Nicole Richard
" Only 1 school has responded to date
" Possibly the cost or the fact that she has been to our area before is a factor

Action Items:
" Will investigate other options for the CPF annual concert event

FI Information Nights
" The committee agreed it was a success with a great turnout
" The JK/SK game presentation was a hit (Amuses-toi bien!)

Action Items:
" Roz will keep her game to donate for a future CPF event

3. UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

AGM
" The date is set for Wednesday, May 19th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
" It was decided that Online Books would be beneficial as they were such a success at Frenchapalooza however it was suggested that the books be targeted to students from JK to grade 8
" Ideas were bounced around by the committee concerning an entertainer - a story teller, games or scavenger hunt - from 7 to 8 p.m.
" Mary suggested that a craft corner would be great for the younger children and would be beneficial in promoting Petites Pommes Summer Camp - Mary will display pictures of last summer's camp
" Kaywana agreed to see if St. Joe's school gym would be available for the event as it is a centralized location and the turnout might be better than last year

Action Items:
" Roz will be responsible for the entertainer
" Kaywana will contact St. Joe's re gym availability
" Louise will take care of refreshments for the event
" Mary will buy the supplies for the crafts and CPF Hamilton will reimburse
" Christel will contact Online Books and ask her to bring books for JK to grade 8

Concours
" Kaywana and Roz agreed to contact the boards to acquire the dates for the Concours Oratoire and Epinette

Action Items:
" Kaywana to contact Catholic board re concours dates, categories and number of prizes required
" Roz to contact Christine Rees from the Public board re dates, categories and number of prizes required
" Roz will be responsible for acquiring the "Keys to French" and goodies for prizes

Francofete
" Roz reported that the event was not successful for CPF in 2009 and asked Louise to contact them to indicate that CPF will pass on the event for 2010 but would still like to be advised of future events

Action Items:
Louise will contact coordinator to advise will not be participating in June 2010 but wish them luck with the event

4. PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES
" Nothing to report

5. SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES
" Nothing to report

6. FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY NEWS
" Nothing to report

7. OTHER BUSINESS
" Nothing to report

Next Meeting:
AGM - Wednesday, May 19, 2010