Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday March 6, 2006

Members: Kaywana Gargarello, Frank Torelli, Rosalind Minaji, Myra Malley, Dianne MacKenzie, Neena Monteiro


Regrets: Ron English, Susan McClure, Marie Patenaude

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

1. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

The minutes of January 11, 2006 were approved.

2. CHAPTER UPDATES

Volunteer Hours: 107

Membership:
No membership report available due to Ron's absence. Discussion took place as to how we can help Ron fulfill the Membership Secretary duties. It was suggested that Tracey Ceresnyes be approached to see if she might be able to assist, since she was our first Membership Secretary and has some experience with sending out welcome and renewal letters. It was suggested that we hold a membership drive in May in conjunction with our AGM with a gift basket prize for the member who signs up the most new people.

Action Items:
Ron will mail all new members since September with welcome letter and Keys to French I
Ron will mail all renewed members since September with thank you letter and Keys to French II
Roz will contact Tracey to see if she might be able to help out with membership duties
Kaywana will look into gift basket prize or gift certificate from new French restaurant downtown

Communications:
Letters and posters publicizing FI information nights were sent to all daycares in Hamilton by Myra. Dianne prepared and sent the 2006 brochure publicizing FI information nights to 5,000 JK students in both the public and separate school boards. The web site has been updated with upcoming events.

Upcoming newsletters were discussed and it was agreed that we would have two more issues this year. One will be distributed in early April and one the last week of May. Members will be sent a special invitation to the AGM and St. Jean picnic the last week of May, in lieu of an exclusive newsletter.

April newsletter: summer camp (if it's happening), concours results, Esprit d'Ecole review, Concert review, ARTFO, bussing update, Dundas & Waterdown FI schools initiative, Join CPF article

May newsletter: AGM announcement, summer activities, St. Jean picnic, summer camp, teacher profile, bussing update, trip to Paris review (both boards)

Action Items:
April newsletter articles to be written by March 24 and submitted to Dianne

Treasurer's Report:

As of March 13, 2006

Opening Balance December 31st 7,853.88

Refund - Incorrect Cheques 288.90
Total Revenues January - March 13, 06 288.90

January Expenses
106 - Xpressions 96.30
216 Roz Minaji - Champlain book prizes for Concours 194.75
217 Catholic School Board - hall rental for concert 32.10
218 Bishop Ryan - Gregg LeRock concert (lights, sound) 150.00
219 Lysette Brochu - French author for Literacy Day 200.00
220 Marie Patenaude - gas money for book fair trips 50.00
221 Roz Minaji - newsletter printing 456.90
224 Hamilton Spectator - French immersion info session 1,501.98
225 Myra Malley - daycare mailing, French immersion info session 83.90
Total Expenses January 2,765.93

February Expenses
226 - Dianne MacKenzie - lunch for Gregg LeRock & volunteers 41.36
Total Expenses February 41.36

March Expenses
203 - Dianne MacKenzie - FI brochure printing 916.37
204 - Ron English - lunch for Gregg LeRock & volunteers 94.57
Total Expenses March 1,010.94

Balance as of March 10, 2006 4,324.55

3. PAST CHAPTER EVENTS

Hamilton Reads in French: (January 25)
Lisette Brouchu turned out to be an excellent storyteller. She and her husband used lots of props, pictures and actions to draw the children into her performance. There were approximately 25 people at the event -mainly francophone. She gave a 45 minute reading which included two of her books for young children. The Coin de la famille (Early Years Centre for francophones) venue was good as the children had lots of toys and games to make use of before and after the reading. We should try to publicize this venue (460 Main Street East) in our newsletters as it is a good way for younger children to experience a French environment before Grade One. It was agreed that CPF should participate in the Hamilton Reads event again next year.

French Film: (January 28)
The film event went well, although only about 10 participants showed up this time. The Guerre des Tuques film was not available in DVD format, so could not be shown on the Staircase Café's equipment. We showed "Madagascar" instead.

FI Information Nights: (January & February)
The CPF Ontario FI promotion grant of $1,700 was spent on the Spectator ad ($1,500) and the 5,000 JK brochures. The daycare mailing cost approximately $90. The turn-out at the first few public board nights seemed a bit lower than usual, however Norwood Park had about 80 participants again this year. (There were about 30 at Earl Kitchener, 25 at AM Cunningham, 25 at GR Allan, and 15 at Glen Echo.)

The separate board events were mixed. There were about 20 people at St Eugene, but about 50 at Sts. Peter & Paul. The St. Joseph's meeting was cancelled due to a snow day. It has been rescheduled to March 22, 2006. Dianne's video was very good, although she feels it would benefit from some further editing.

Gregg LeRock Concerts: (February 20 & 21)
The concerts went very well and the students seemed to have a great time. Gregg LeRock was very personable and used a lot of interaction and dialogue with the kids. Vanier was a very good venue, and the kids didn't seem to mind being in the gym. There was a big contrast between those schools who knew the songs and those who hadn't used the promotional materials provided, but all were involved in the music by the end of each performance. We took Gregg to lunch on both days. Gregg will send the cheque to CPF Ontario once he has collected all money. They will write him a tax receipt and send us a cheque.

Action Items:
Marie is asking her class for reviews and quotes about the concert
Dianne will write an article for the April newsletter

4. UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

Le Concours: (March)
The public board's Concours took place on Thursday March 2nd at Dalewood. More schools participated this year.
CPF provided French candy to all participants, and books for the top two winners in each category. We will print the names of the winners in our newsletter. Not much is known yet about the separate school competition.

Action Items:
Kaywana will contact separate board for date and details of their concours

Summer Camp:
Lisa Breton from the Centre Francais, arranged for Roz to meet with Marie-Georgette Ambassa, who runs Camp Dove (Camp Colombie) out of Scarborough. Marie-Georgette was interested in opening a French summer camp in Burlington, but has been convinced to open one in Hamilton instead because we have a CPF Chapter and she will therefore be eligible for the CPF Ontario summer camp grant and insurance. At this time, she has applied to CPF Ontario for funding and will know at the end of March if she has been successful.

Marie-Georgette has arranged to use Vanier school as a base for the camp, which she intends to run for 8 weeks this summer. The camp will be aimed at 6 to 12 year olds (about 40 per week) and will cost approximately $160 per week, plus a one-time $60 registration fee ($30 for CPF members). The details still need to be worked out. More information about her 2005 camp can be found on the CPF Ontario web site. CPF Hamilton-Wentworth will not be involved in the planning or administration of the camp, as Marie-Georgette will deal directly with CPF Ontario.

Action Items:
Roz will continue to monitor the situation and obtain further details
CPF Hamilton-Wentworth will publicize the new camp in our newsletters, as a private initiative and a French language opportunity for Hamilton children

CPF Annual General Meeting: (June)
CPF Ontario has changed its requirements for Chapters, and our year-end materials have to be submitted in September, rather than in May. This gives us some more flexibility in the planning of our AGM. It was suggested and agreed that we run this year's event in June as a soirée and celebration of the year's accomplishments. The event would take the form of a wine and cheese party (French wine of course).

We will send out an invitation to all members in late May. Our members will have the opportunity to win a gift basket for signing up the most new members. A PowerPoint presentation to highlight our events and initiatives will be shown, rather than preparing a written annual report document. Written documentation still needs to be submitted to CPF Ontario.

Action Items:
Neena to prepare annual financial statement after March 31, 2006 year end
Dianne to prepare a PowerPoint presentation to highlight our activities and accomplishments for 2005/2006
Roz to prepare an AGM invitation to all members which will also include information about the St Jean picnic and the membership drive

St. Jean Picnic (June 25):
CPF plans to participate in this years St. Jean picnic. We will host a booth again with cotton candy and will also look into hiring a French children's performer to play at the picnic. It was stressed that we should promote this great event as much as possible to the FI community as it is a chance to mingle with the francophone community.

Action Items:
Kaywana to ask Gregg LeRock what his cost would be for a performance
Volunteers needed to run the cotton candy booth

5. PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES

The interim bussing for French Immersion students seems to be going very well. We have over 100 parents from Norwood Park making use of the service. Continued bussing still depends upon transportation funding. Roz will be attending the next FIAC meeting on March 22, 2006 and will have a status report at that time.

Two groups have formed (one in Dundas and one in Waterdown) to try and get French Immersion schools open in their areas by September 2007. Both groups have approached CPF and we have agreed to put their contact information in our next newsletter and have added a link to our web site.

6. SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES

As a result of extensive lobbying by Kaywana, the separate board Superintendents and Director of Education have agreed to form a larger group to discuss French Immersion Issues, and that this group would include a parent voice. This new French Advisory Committee will meet 3 or 4 times per year, with the first meeting in May 2006.

The Board is currently determining whether the French Resource Teacher, Special Assignment position currently held by Maria Brenyo will be extended to next year.

7. FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY ISSUES

The new director of the Centre Francais is Claudette Miklesons. She has agreed to allow CPF Hamilton-Wentworth to use the Staircase Café building for our next three Executive Committee meetings.

The Centre Francais is holding their French Film Festival at the Staircase on March 10-12. Roz has translated the Festival program and distributed it to members and some schools. Roz will attend the children's film on Saturday afternoon.

ARTFO takes place on April 23, 2006 at Académie catholique Mère-Teresa, on the mountain.

Action Items:
Rosalind and Kaywana will continue to meet with Claudette Miklesons to discuss joint events and activities.

Next Meeting Monday April 10, 2006
Staircase Café, 27 Dundurn Street North