Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Members: Kaywana Gargarello, Diana McClure, Rosalind Minaji, Danusia Burdyk-Husak, Dianne MacKenzie; Christel Elliot

Regrets: Myra Malley, Andrea Johnson, Debbie Edwards; Nancy Armstrong, Kyra Paterson, Deborah Doody

Action Items:
" Kaywana to forward minutes of this meeting to Barbara Mison.

1. CHAPTER UPDATES

1.1 VOLUNTEER HOURS: Total 123

Roz Minaji 25 hrs
Kaywana Gargarello 15 hrs
Danusia Burdyk-Husak 3 hrs
Christel Elliott 30 hrs
Dianne McKenzie 50 hrs.

1.2 MEMBERSHIP REPORT:
" Note that because SEVEC exchange was cancelled these potential members were not realized.

1.3 TREASURER'S REPORT
" Approximate balance $5,233 (August bank statement not received as yet)
" Possible $600 loss on SEVEC promotions
Action Items:
" Diana and Frank to reconcile accounts upon receipt of most recent statement.

1.4 COMMUNICATION:

.1 Newsletter:
Planning for an October Newsletter, due date for submissions to be 2 weeks before first Survival Night.
Dianne proposed redesigning the layout, and eliminating the student pictures as they are too difficult to maintain.
Action Items:
" Dianne would check on availability of new media package from CPF for new layout.

Possible Articles
" Report on AGM Survival Night - and announce 4 Survival Nights
" Article on French Exchange Students.
" Book Sale
" Homework Clubs

.2 Book marks:
We are finally running low on our bookmarks. Update or design a new bookmark, with possibly a new web address
Action Items:
" Dianne to update or re-design bookmark
" Roz to send electronic file with old layout

.3 Website:
Now that we are printing new bookmarks, we will investigate a new web address so as to simplify the web address to something more easily remembered.
Action Items:
" Roz to explore purchasing a CPF domain name for our web site

.4 Pamphlets:
We are running low on all pamphlets, especially the standard ones usually provided at the F. I. Information nights.
Action Items:
" Dianne to update pamphlets with possible new web address and print 1000 copies.

.5 Other Promotional Items:
Action Items:
" Roz will source a new tent
" Roz will see if we can get a discounted rate on bulk orders of the CPF colouring books.
" Kaywana will source a table cloth with our logo

1.5 EXECUTIVE POSITIONS:
President Rosalind Minaji
Vice President Kaywana Gargarello
Treasurer Frank Torelli
Communications Dianne McKenzie
Membership Secretary Myra Malley
Recording Secretary Kaywana Gargarello

2. F.I ISSUES AND PROPOSED ADVOCACY EFFORTS 2008/2009

2.1 PUBLIC BOARD:
.1 Help for new F.I. Sites: Some parents at the 4 new sites (Waterdown, Dundas, Lawfield, & Ancaster) are feeling isolated and disadvantaged, and have asked CPF to help
Action Items:
" See French Survival Nights and Hamilton reads under Proposed Chapter events.

.2 Transportation Review: The issue was not resolved between the Boards last year.
Action Items:
" Roz will monitor the issue through FIAC and mobilize advocacy if necessary.

2.1 SEPARATE BOARD:
.1 Parent Involvement: Attempt to get more parents involved so as to keep the pressure on for accountability.
Action Items:
Kaywana to find out:
" Who the new French resource teacher is.
" When is the next FIPIN Meeting
" how to get access to information on French immersion Issues
Dianne would see if a link to School Board minutes could be made available on the Cathedral web-page

.2 Accommodation Review of French Immersion Schools was tabled by the Board last year, because possible closure of schools took precedence.
Action Items:
" Kaywana to get update on potential FI accommodation review.

3. PROPOSED CHAPTER EVENTS

.1 Book Sale: Proposed having Beaux Books from Richmond Hill host the sale at both the east (St. Eugene's) and the west (Earl Kitchener). It was decided we would not run the Trade Show this Fall due to a limited number of volunteers and introduction of survival nights.
Action Items:
Roz to call and see if 2 dates can be provided for an east and west end location, if only 1 date is provided then the book sale will be held in the west end to ensure sufficient revenues

.2 2009 French Concerts:
It was agreed that we would see if Etienne was available for concerts this year, and if not we would then check Helene Nicole's 'Gotta Love that French'. If Etienne is available we will attempt to host 2 shows in the east (Bishop Ryan) and 2 shows in the west (Westdale or Vanier), and shoot for February or March
Action Items:
Kaywana to contact Educorock/Etienne and offer our usual arrangement and a tax receipt

.3 Hamilton Reads:
We have already been contacted by the library and have committed to sponsoring a French author in January.
Action Items:
Roz will see if she can request the Dundas Library to help provide activities for the new FI site.
HPL is looking for suggestions for French authors.

.4 Story Time Grant Application:
It has been recognized that there are no French materials available at the public library in Waterdown, as such we have applied to CPF Ontario for a $2,500 'Story time grant'. The decision on the grant will be made on a province-wide basis in November with priority given to first time chapters. Although we received a grant in 2005 for the downtown branch, Roz has made the argument in our application that Waterdown is an isolated community from Hamilton's urban area. Storytime at the Waterdown Public Library begins on Tuesday September 16 and runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm for eight weeks. Kyra Paterson is promoting the event to her Waterdown parent organization.

5. F.I. Information Nights:
We will be presenting at 14 schools this year.
Action Items:
Roz to ensure promotional materials are available ahead of time - colouring books, bookmarks, pamphlets.

6. Concours:
There will be no Concours in the Separate Board this year as they have moved to a bi-annual format.
It was agreed that the event is now running with very little input from CPF, although it would be better to have some public high school participants for the provincial event.
Kaywana requested that we re-visit the prizes that we provide - tabled

7. Francophone Community:
The Centre Francais was disappointed that we did not participate in the annual Franco Fete Picnic this past summer, as they were expecting us to sell candy floss - it was explained to staff at the Centre that we were directing all our efforts toward the SEVEC exchange refunds in June.
It was agreed that we would endeavor to improve communication this year.
Action Items:
Roz to contact Giselle at the Centre, and arrange for us to attend a Board meeting, so that we can re-introduce ourselves and exchange information about plans for the coming year.

.8 French Summer Camps:
" Reviews of Andrea's summer camp were extremely positive. We will encourage Andrea to run her summer camp again next year, as it was very well received by those who attended. Andrea indicated that next year she may only do it for 1 week, and wondered if CPF would sponsor it under those conditions
" We will investigate promote any camps offered through the Grimsby Public Art Gallery. Bridgette Udart -of the gallery- has been offering some programming in French and may be a possible resource.

.9 French Survival Nights:
" Possible 4 events in the fall, starting in October as outreach to new school sites and the east end.
" Re-use presentation materials from our AGM
" See if Parent or Student Council will provide refreshments and child care.
" Seek out possible Primary teachers to present.
Action Items:
" Roz will coordinate the presentation content and materials.
" Kaywana will contact St. Eugene's as possible site & seek teacher.
" Kyra will contact Waterdown as possible site and seek teacher.
" Roz will contact Lawfield as possible site and see if Giselle Portelance is able to present.
" Roz will contact Dundas as possible site and seek teacher.

.10 Whitehern Christmas Tour:
Possible French Christmas tour of Whitehern and the Hamilton Art Gallery, ending with a craft activity at either venue
Action Items:
" Christel to investigate options and contact Brian Lindsay the Dundurn Castle tour guide who is a parent at Norwood Park.

4. OTHER BUSINESS

It was suggested that we should celebrate the successes of our senior French Immersion students by providing bursaries to outstanding Grade 8 & 12 students at all FI schools. ($250 at Grade 12 & $50 at Grade 8 - Total $850)

Additionally we could provide a bumper sticker stating "Proud parent of a bi-lingual Canadian" to each Grade 12 graduate in recognition of their parent's efforts.
Action Items:
" to be discussed further at the next meeting