AGM Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Monday May 1, 2007

Members: Kaywana Gargarello, Frank Torelli, Rosalind Minaji, Andrea Johnson, Dianne MacKenzie

Regrets: Debbie Edwards, Marie Patenaude, Myra Malley, Mary McLeod

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

1. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

The minutes of March 26, 06 were approved. The following action items were discussed:

Action Items:
" Roz will purchase memberships for superintendent and FI school trustees from each Board. (Catholic Board would include: Pat Daly, Lou Agro, Serge Manchia, Ralph Agostino and Corrado Ciapanna) (Public Board would include: Judith Bishop, Lilian Orban, Jessica Brennan, Ray Mulholland, Karen Turkstra and Krys Croxall -Trustees Ron English and Tim Simmons are already members)
" Roz to update CPF Ontario web site with our volunteer hours in 2007
" Kaywana is following up with Gregg LeRock. A cheque for $1,469 is to be sent to CPF Ontario so that he can obtain a tax receipt. CPF Ontario will forward an equivalent cheque to us and need to be expedited.
" Gotta Love that French multi-media presentation is available as a one hour performance for 300 to 400 students at a time. The performer is willing to donate $1 per ticket to our chapter, so the cost would be $4 per student. It was decided we would offer 2 presentations this coming Fall -aimed at grades 6 to 8. Kaywana will follow up with Vanier for potential dates in late October.
" Andrea followed up with TFO and they sent us 200 brochures and 200 badges which we can distribute at future events

2. CHAPTER UPDATES

Volunteer Hours: 72 -includes newsletter, concerts, web site etc.

Membership:
The Norwood Park French course has generated 13 new memberships. Roz is following up with Norwood Park School Council for the membership fees and feedback about the course.

Action Items:
" Roz to forward new membership information and cheque to CPF National.
" Roz to copy membership information to ensure new members receive AGM invitation

Communications:
May newsletter is complete. Contents include: concert information, teacher interview, SEVEC meeting, review of Gregg LeRock & Brigitte Cazabon, new FI sites, Tumblebooks, concours results

CPF Ontario will be holding their annual conference on Friday and Saturday November 2 & 3. Roz has been asked to help prepare a parent workshop on advocacy and communication with school boards. Executive members should mark their calendars so that we can try to send several people to this event.

CPF National has prepared a new children's activity book which chapters can download and print. CPF Ontario is looking into the possibility of reproducing the booklet for chapters free of charge.

"Johnny Rocket" toy company has sent us a catalogue of French language games. Roz will ensure that this company is listed on our invitation list for next year's Trade Show.

Treasurer's Report:

Opening Balance March 26, 2007 1453.19

Revenues
none
Total Revenues 0

Expenses
Donation to Waterdown parents for sign rental 50.00
Total Expenses 50.00

Balance as of March 26, 07 1403.19

3. UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

AGM: (June 14)
Earl Kitchener gymnasium has been booked for Thursday June 14 from 6 to 9pm. Due to community use of schools funds, the rental cost will be approximately $25. Musician Chris Rawlings from Mariposa in the Schools has also been booked to perform his "Carnival in Quebec City" show. The cost will be $300 plus GST. The school has a microphone, but no other sound system, so we will need to determine what the performer can bring. Refreshments will be free -pop and cookies. A short AGM presentation will precede the concert to highlight our activities and accomplishments this year and thank members for their support and also present the financial statement and executive members for 2007/2008.

Action Items:
" Roz will contact Chris Rawlings to determine audio needs
" Dianne will prepare an invitation to the AGM for CPF members which includes a free ticket
" Dianne will send any 2006/2007 event photos to Roz and Kaywana to use in AGM presentation
" Further details to be discussed at next meeting

Francofete: (June 24)
The event takes Sunday June 24. Kaywana has discussed the event with Claudette Mikelsons of the Centre Francais and CPF will subsidize the cost of a French children's performer ($300). We will also have our cotton candy stand set up. Last year we ran out of cotton candy, so need to order more sugar this year. Promotion of the St. Jean event and the AGM can be done in the same mailing to our membership. Further discussion at the next meeting. Need to rent the cotton candy machine and see what further details the Centre Francais can provide.

Action Items:
" Kaywana will contact the Centre Francais for further details about the event and the performer we are sponsoring
" Dianne will prepare an invitation to the Francofete for our members which includes a free cotton candy ticket
" Frank and his son have volunteered to run the booth for part of the event -more volunteers needed
" Kaywana will book the cotton candy machine, cones and 4 boxes of sugar

SEVEC (2008)
A start-up meeting for parent volunteers will be held on Wednesday May 9 at St. Joseph's school gym. Roz and Deborah Doody will chair the meeting. The duration of the proposed exchange was discussed and it was agreed that this time, we would organize a two week exchange rather than a one month exchange. The students could leave on Sunday June 29 after school finishes, spend 5 days in Quebec on organized activities, one day with host families and then return (with the Quebec students) on the following Sunday. The group would then attend five days of organized activities in Ontario, one day with the host families and return to Quebec on Sunday July 13. This approach will be less costly for the participants, and less stress for the organizers! Also, it will ensure that kids do not get bored by too many activity days in each location.

Action Items:
" Roz to attend meeting and report back to Executive on potential volunteers and feasibility of exchange

4. PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES

The Board has approved the three new FI school sites for senior kindergarten in September 2007, although two sites were still two students short of the 30 person target. The Ancaster trustee announced that she would be bringing a motion in the Fall to look at opening an FI site in Ancaster.

Grade one classes at Dundana and Lawfield have not reached their enrollment targets, but the trustees have asked staff to report back in June with current enrollment numbers so that they can make a decision whether to open the Grade One sites.

5. SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES

The Parent FI Night has been organized for June 4. Kaywana is continuing to follow up with Maria Brenyo about an information session about helping with homework. Kaywana will also ask St. Joseph's school council if they wish to raise issues about increased enrollment and the need for new sites.

Kindergarten enrollment numbers for Sts. Peter and Paul are very healthy. In addition, 14 of 17 grade 8 students intend to continue on with FI at Cathedral next year.

Action Items:
" Kaywana will follow up with St. Joseph's school council and Maria Brenyo

6. FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY ISSUES

The Centre Francais is working on re-opening the Staircase Café and have advertised for a cook and booking agent. It is possible that Lisa Breton has been retained as booking agent. Kaywana and Roz will follow up.

7. OTHER BUSINESS

Display Materials:
Roz noted that our CPF display boards are looking pretty beaten up. Dianne volunteered to prepare 3 new boards by September, using the new coloured foam core available. It was also suggested that the CPF tootie guy logo be stenciled onto the top of our sunshade before the Francofete picnic.

Action Items:
" Roz will provide display board materials to Dianne
" Dianne will prepare 3 new display boards for September
" Kaywana will prepare a template of the CPF logo and arrange for spray painting

Meeting Adjourned: 8:30pm
Next meeting: May 31, 2007