Meeting Minutes: October 21, 2008

1) TRIPS

Added Value

Whitney and Saskia reported on a successful trip to Added Value with 11 kids and two parents from the Grant Houses. The trip included an eventful ride on the Ikea ferry, a tour of the Added Value farm, chickens, and two children proclaiming on separate occasions, "This is the best day of my life!" Quite a statement.

Pumpkin patch

Sarah and Whitney are going to pick up permission slips Thursday for the pumpkin patch trip. We have a confirmed bus for 9am to return at 2pm. At the farm (www.peacefulvalleyorchards.com) we will pick pumpkins, ride a hayride, and eat lunch. We'll make a concerted effort to talk to the kids about farms and gardens, and make a special effort to reach out to any parents that are coming. Sarah has a list of 10 participants but if we need to reduce that number because of increased youth interest we will be cutting people who did not attend last night's meeting.

2) PLANNING LUNCH

Sarah and Becky reported on a successful lunch with five Grant Houses women from the Tenants Association and Leslie Woodward, PresBo's chef. Most of the lunch (carrot soup, bread, couscous, mixed salad, apple tart) was spent listening to the women talk about issues concerning them in their community and at the Grant Houses, and in the end we discussed the upcoming communal meal. We developed a tentative menu that Leslie is going to help us see through to completion.

3) COMMUNAL MEAL

Laura and Becky are meeting with Sarah Martin, head of the Tenants Association, and Williesteen Moore, head of the Day Care Center, Wednesday to discuss space details. Becky is meeting with Leslie Woodward Thursday to discuss ideas from Saturday's lunch and to more specifically learn how Leslie will be involved in facilitating the event. Sarah Martin reserved the community center for the event, but we still don't have the kitchen reserved. Becky is going to reserve the student kitchen in Lerner as (one) backup. Sarah F is going to email the communal meal dish idea list we created at the meeting. Other specifics include: We will serve 70 people; cafeteria style not buffet style; November 15th @ 5-5:30pm (start); participants from Columbia and Tenants Association, Afterschool program, Senior Center. Whitney will talk to Community Impact about getting someone to table/distribute info about food stamps. Becky will talk to Teacher's College Nutrition dept about their potential involvement as well. We will wait on menu details from Leslie before pursuing donations. Saskia volunteered lots of bread.

4) MATERIALS

Leah provided a sign-up list for materials research, as discussed at the prior meeting. Everyone at last night's meeting signed up for a category to research (either free, reduced-cost, or purchasing sources). If you were not there please sign up for the open options when they are sent out.

5) BUDGET

Tabitha and Julia are working on the budget for the Home Depot grant for Nov 1. Other (ongoing) grants should be completed by DECEMBER 1st.