Metro West Kids Foundation September 2009 Agenda and Minutes

METRO WEST KIDS FOUNDATION, INC.
Minutes Of Electronic Meeting of Directors
September 14 – September 28, 2008
toni@metrowestkids.net

Board Members Present:
Jean Fox, Tracy Hoekstra, Tom Hunt, Toni Merfeld, Dawn Musgrove, Ruth Stieff, Michele Vermillion, and Jodie Sevier Yon.

Regrets:
Joe Franz, Lola Kenworthy, Maureen McGarry, Monica Post, Danielle Sharpe, Jeff Sharpe, Margie Sheehy, Beth Stratton, Sue Van Essen, and Suana Wessendorf.

Others present: None

Proceedings:
An electronic meeting was called to order at 10:47 p.m., on September 14, 2009.  Toni Merfeld, Interim President/Chair, was presiding.  Toni requested comments be submitted via email by September 28, 2009.

Old Business:
Preholiday Gift Bazaar (November)
Tracy Hoekstra suggests having a table at the bazaar where shoppers could buy gift cards.  To illustrate the idea Tracy provided the following link to a company that brokers in gift cards. http://www.giftcents.com/home.php

Ruth Steiff added that her school uses gift cards as a year-round fundraiser.  It is possible to get gift cards for purchases at Hy-Vee, Dahl’s, Target and local restaurants.  Ruth volunteers to research her school’s program and ascertain which gift cards have the best success rate.  Ruth also added that she would set up a Discovery Toy booth for the bazaar and donate all her proceeds to the Foundation.

Dawn Musgrove proposes that the bazaar be held the evening of November 13. She suggests securing six unique gifting vendors willing to donate at least 50% of their proceeds to the Foundation.  Dawn requests that anyone who knows of someone willing to help, please contact her at kensington94@gmail.com

Children’s artwork Fundraiser (October)

Tracy Hoekstra suggests setting up the artwork fundraiser as a booth at the Bazaar.   She has researched various companies that we could use including:

Solicitation of funds by board members

Toni Merfeld reported that she was heading up a conference at the Hotel Ft. Des Moines and noticed the Rotary meets there on Friday's at noon.  It was a very large group.  She requests information on how to get on their agenda.

Tom Hunt responded that the downtown Rotary club meets on Thursdays @ 11:45am and that the club is moving to Wakonda in Dec from Hotel FDM

Tom also suggested that Toni speak at the Waukee Rotary Club where he is responsible for scheduling speakers.  An opening for Toni at the Waukee Rotary may be available in March of 2010.

Creation of brochure and CD-ROM explaining Foundation’s mission 

Jodie Yon responded that she is still researching this project. 

Tracy Hoekstra is also looking into this.  She will get information from another foundation (www.countthekicks.org) that has used Drake students in the past to work on projects and provide an update when available. 

Michele Vermillion reported that Zach agrees to have his 4-H project included on the promotional DC-ROM.

New Space Update

 Toni Merfeld reported that she is in negotiations with the building owners on acquiring the new space and is hoping to have construction begin sometime in October.

Steve Johnson New York Marathon Fundraiser

Toni Merfeld requested anyone interested in attending the fundraiser contact Steve/Christina Johnson by September 22, 2009.

Metro West Foundation Name
Toni Merfeld reported that the majority of board members polled agree that the name Metro West Kids Foundation should remain unchanged.

Jean Fox responded that she would contact Purcell Printing about a logo for Metro West Foundation.  Jean also suggested that the artist who painted the office murals would also be a possibility

New Business:
No new business to report.

Other Business:
No other business.

Next Meeting: 
Toni announced that the next meeting of the Foundation would be scheduled for 6:00 PM, October 19, 2009.

Comments on meeting topics were due via email to toni@metrowestkids.net by September 28, 2009. 

Minutes submitted by Secretary, Dawn Musgrove October 13, 2009