Great meeting everyone!  We met on Tuesday, 10/10/2010 for a chili supper at 5:30, and some business at 6:30.  We convened at 7:30.

Pastor Rob Townshend opened us with a word of prayer and shared from the book of Ephesians. Renae Rhodes gave a quick report/update on the teacher breakfasts; they are going well and she has received great response. She shared how grateful she is for the school and the support she receives from families, teachers, and administration. The dates for the November and December breakfasts are set and are posted on the bulletin board in the lobby. We discussed the importance of encouraging and connecting with our children’s teachers; the appreciation breakfasts are a great time to send in a note of encouragement.

Kori Schwartz gave a brief report about the clothing swap.  For our first time, we felt it went well.  Thanks to Allison Gaillard for all of her help! The clothing that was left over went one of two places:  Today’s Child or the Mission.  We should be receiving a check from Today’s Child for clothing that they purchased. This will go into the PTF fund.

Kori will also be organizing prayer efforts at the school this year.  She will be connecting with teachers to find out their needs and how we can best support them in prayer.  Some ideas she has are opening up her home once a week for corporate prayer, having monthly “walk-throughs” of the building to pray through each classroom, for each teacher, student, etc…

Teacher questionnaires revealed some needs at the school. We still have an urgent need for someone to help with our upstairs network/server/computer issues.  Renae Rhodes offered to help with Christmas crafts as the time draws near. Grey Gaillard will help with the primary wing computers. In her questionnaire, Mrs. Doherty had asked if anyone was interested in leading an “Odyssey of the  Mind” club.

Pastor’s Luncheon is Thursday, 10/21.  We are expected about 15 pastors, and we are all set with food, set up, clean up, etc… Thanks, everyone!

Kristin Farley gave a report on the Silent Auction.  Donations, donations, donations!  If we can make this a huge fundraiser, it will help some of the little, tedious fundraisers “go away”!!  There will be a business fair at the auction this year, as well as incentive programs for families when bringing in donations.  Be sure to check your packets that were sent home last week.  The Student Council will not be officially watching the children during the auction. Some of the students will be involved for a community service credit, but we need individuals to help out and take shifts with the kids at the game booths. We discussed making phone calls, and keeping each other accountable with how we are doing on collecting donations.  Marcia Hildebrand offered to help make calls.  Kristin is going to try and concoct some type of “phone tree” so we all need only make 2 or 3 phone calls.

Discussed the possibility of baking pies for Thanksgiving as a fundraiser.  We decided to leave it for next year, if we do it at all, and put our efforts into the Silent Auction instead.  Renae Rhodes brought up the possibility of doing some fun summer fundraisers for the PTF instead–i.e. a car wash.  Walmart matches money made a car washes, bake sales, etc… for 501 (c)3 organizations.

Christmas is coming!  Room mothers will be helping to organize gift baskets that will be put together based on teacher wish-lists for their classrooms.  Lists will be distributed, and families can choose to buy an item or items from the list to put in the basket.  The Christmas program is also right around the corner!  We will need baked goods for the fellowship time afterward.  Please expect a phone call from a room mother as we get closer to the program, which is Tuesday, 12/14.

Almost done!!

We need someone who is willing to play the piano for various hymns and pieces of music for the Christmas program.  Mrs. Boyle can’t direct the choir and play the guitar on the night of the program.  She will practice with the kids using the guitar, but would like to make the switch to the piano about 2 weeks prior to the program so the kids can get accustomed to singing with the piano.

Lunch room duty!!  We really, really, really need volunteers for this.  If you find that you have some time–a lunch break perhaps–each day, won’t you consider volunteering for a week here or there?  Or even a few days each week?  This is a perfect opportunity for 1/2 kindergarten and preschool parents to help out, as lunch duty starts at 11:45.  You and your children are welcome to stay and enjoy lunch with the older students as you monitor the classes in the gym. Please sign up on the sheet in the lobby.

We are in need of someone willing to organize a painting committee.  We want to try and get a coat of paint on the interior of the building this year.  The possibility of utilizing Youth Works for a portion of this will be researched.  However, we need to do lots of painting ourselves.  If anyone is interested in organizing this, please let me know.  I have lots of folks willing to paint, but no one to lead the charge.

We need to clean out a room downstairs for the upper house to use as a chapel room. Look for more information on this in the near future.

The yearbook can be a great fundraiser if utilized in that manner.  Please look for paperwork on ads, etc… we have 5 pages slated for personal and/or business advertisements.  If you  have candid pictures of students, look for information on where you can e-mail those.  Keep in mind that we are looking for pictures from throughout the course of the year, so snap those shots, and we will let you know where to send them when the time comes!

Thanks so much to everyone who attended!  As you can see, we covered quite a bit, and still have quite a bit to do. This year is a busy year, as we have lots of stuff to “pick up” that has fallen by the wayside. We need to persevere and be diligent, continuing to encourage one another and support one another.  I cannot thank you all enough for your help in the “trenches” for your support and encouragement.  Be blessed!!! (I know I am!!)

Natalie