Sept. 18 FTD Family Living Committee Meeting Notes

Present: Lisa Adams, Chris Barden, Barb Brewster, Sherry Daniels, Kate Drmolka, Jackie Feltz, Laurel Hoeth, Ruth Johnson (new member), Barb Laskowski, Brett Lesniak, Krista Otto, Dianne Trzebiatowski, Christy Worzalla. 1. Executive Committee Updates: Sherry explained rules the Executive Committee put in place in order to keep the meetings within the stated time frame and asked if FLC wants to adopt those rules or stay as long as needed to cover all business. FLC consensus is to adopt the same rules so our meetings are no longer than 1/5 hours. Rules are: If it’s important to say, it’s important for everyone to hear, so there should not be any side conversations; keep on topic; the real work of FLC is to be done outside of the meeting – therefore, communicate with committee members as needed outside of the meetings to keep moving forward. Sherry passed out copies of the minutes from the Aug. 19 Executive Committee (EC) meeting. From now on she will email the minutes to us as soon as she receives them so we’re “up to date” on what’s going on. Copies of our FLC revised budget that was approved by the Executive Committee at the 9/16/ meeting were given to everyone. Per Sherry, now that we have an approved budget, we can make the necessary purchases and expenses for our portion of the event, as long as we stay within the budget. Send information on expenses to Christy every month so our expenses are up-to date. Turn in your voucher/reimbursement request when you want to be reimbursed. Even though our budget has been approved, we are to ask for in-kind and monetary contributions to keep our expenses as low as possible so we have more net income to return to the non-profits in Portage County. If we want to spend it, we’ve got sell all 5000 calendars! Sherry also provided copies of the “Equipment Request” form and the “Contribution & Donor” form. The “Equipment” forms need to be completed and turned into Sherry/Barb by Nov. 13. Starting in December there will be meetings held the first Tuesday of every month for all committee chairs and co-chairs (no meeting in Jan. of 2014) until the FTD Show. Meetings will be held in Rooms 1 & 2 in the Annex Building from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Any FTD committee member can attend (as well as Sherry, Barb, & Jean). Purpose of the meetings is to get to know and connect with other committee members that we will be working with as we move forward. The 3 County (including Barron, Portage, and Dane) FTD Meeting will be held Friday, Dec. 6 at the Elizabeth Inn from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Lots of information will be provided as well as the opportunity to talk with Family Living Committee members from the other counties. We are all encouraged to attend. 2. Updates from Committee Chairs: Family Living Tent: Laurel is looking into places to apply for grant money to fund the stage entertainment. (Thrivent, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club) FYI: The Wausau Sam’s Club will donate special “Gel- Packs” (that help with self-breast exams) for an information booth. Furniture and Appliance Mart also wants to sponsor something. We’ve heard nothing from Sentry. Please contact Brett or Laurel with suggestions for educational booths and stage presentations.

Family Mercantile: The forms for the Family Mercantile Tent are now on the FTD website. Dianne will continue looking for local artists and crafts people at area events (Celebrate Amherst, Art in the Park, Tinsel Trail, Tomorrow River Christmas, etc.)

Opening Ceremony: Alice in Dairyland is committed to all three days of the show. Jackie will contact Melissa Sabel about “Save the Date” cards. We will have a program for the “Opening Ceremony.” We will not have a separate “Family Living Program”.

Theme and Decorations: Lisa would like “to-scale” drawings of each tent for planning purposes. She has a donor for colored bark who will also help put the bark in place, Bev’s Floral will furnish cut flowers for inside the tents, another donor will provide sunflowers & other flowers for outside the tents, & her Dad will make forms to hold up the doors used in the displays. Will there be additional recognition of our donors, money, in kind, services, equipment, etc., in addition to listing them in the official program?

Fundraising—Calendar: The calendar is in production! The plan is to get them to the vendors right after our next meeting. Kate is putting together vendor packets. Barb will post the up-dated vendor lists in the FTD drop box. Notify Kate of businesses contacted, even if the business declined to sell calendars. We need more vendors—especially in some areas of the county. Contact Kate with suggestions for possible vendors.

Field to Table Video: Barb is still busy taking photos. She wants to include pictures taken in the restaurants that use local produce/products – Emy J’s, Father Fat’s, Christian’s Bistro were suggested. An up-dated version of the Farm to Table video was shared. Barb introduced Ruth Johnson –a new FLC member. Ruth is the Marketing Director for Riesterer & Schnell (implement dealer with twelve locations), a journalist, & editor of the quarterly “Neighbor’s” magazine. Ruth is including a full-page ad, valued at $1500, about FTD and our calendars in the next quarter’s magazine!

Pioneering Women: Barb is contacting local salons (Stepping Stones Salon), spas, florists (Bev’s Floral) who might be willing to provide gifts (massages, baskets, corsages, etc.). Barb requested and it was agreed that Alice in Dairyland will be asked to make the presentation right after the host family interview/introductions at noon one day of the event.

Treasurer: Christy has a workbook set up to track calendar inventory, sales, & each expense by committee. She will set up a sign-out sheet for the calendars at the Extension. Christy will submit a report each month to Jean that will be shared with everyone so we can see our progress and the budget status.

Secretary: Next FL meeting is October 16. Have reports to Jean by October 9 to be sent with agenda.

Chair: Barb reminded us to submit monthly reports to Jean for distribution with the next meeting’s agenda as that will help us all be prepared for the meeting. She encouraged us to get as many “in kind” donations as possible—and fill out the “Contribution & Donor” form for each. Keep up the good work, everyone!

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.