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| Director's Report |
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Regular Meeting Minutes June 18, 2008
Present: Melissa O’Brien, Lawry O’Connell, Mike Manifold, Linda Fecteau, Pat Larkin, Tiffany Hunt
Absent: Torrin Ewers, Hayley Engleberg, Paul Lapides, Ashley Peterson
Preliminary Business: Lawry O’Connell called Meeting to order at 7:30pm
** Motion (1) Motion by Mike Manifold to approve the May 21, 2008 meeting minutes with the following: Change the second for motions #1 and #2 from Tiffany Hunt to Linda Fecteau. Second by Linda Fecteau. Vote: 5-0Motion passed
New Business
1 Programs-
· Beach Dances will be held Wednesday evenings 7pm to 10 pm at McCooks beginning July 2. This event is recommended for students entering grades 7 – 10th. · Beach Parties will be Monday evenings at McCooks 6:30 pm to 10 pm beginning June 30th. Six parties are planned and are recommended for students entering 5th and 6th grades. · Completed another successful SPA year. · This year there were 15 7th and 8th grade student trainers who took part in mentoring their 5th and 6th grade peers on several issues. Some of the topics were stress, bullying and eating disorders. A field trip is being planned for the 15 student trainers to thank them for the effort put into this program.
2 Collaborations- · Planning is underway to hold a community event to review the results of the “Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition” surveys. · On June 4 Haley Engleberg and Amber Allen represented East Lyme Youth Services at a youth forum focusing on youth leadership held at Connecticut College. Very positive feedback was received on their performance. As a result of their fine work several area towns have contacted Melissa and expressed interest in using our program as a model. · Melissa has been working with Parks and Rec on ways to coordinate services to increase the efficiencies of both departments. A meeting is scheduled with the First Selectman to discuss this matter. · The Youth and Music Festival (Y.A.M.) will be held June 28th.
3 New topics- · The current articles on youth alcohol use being run in the New London Day were discussed. The results of the East Lyme survey were discussed and copies will be provided to the commission members to review. · Creation of a Youth Services Award was discussed. Ideas on funding were discussed along with eligibility for the award. Further discussion will be held at the next meeting.
4. Grants- · The DOE enhancement grant for $6,250 has been written and is awaiting signature from the selectmen. · Currently in the process of writing a Department of Education grant for $21,600 and a Southeastern Regional Action Council grant for $3,300.
· Clarification is needed on Section 3.5 concerning the non-voting ex-officio member from Salem. The Chair is working on this issue and will provide details at follow on meetings.
** Motion (2) Motion by Pat Larkin to cancel the July 16 meeting due to the conflict with that nights beach dance. Second by Mike Manifold. Vote: 5-0Motion passed
Old Business:
A. 501C3 close out / special appropriation: The 501.3c close out was completed at the town meeting held June 18
B. Technology / Computers: Still awaiting copier from town with July 1, 2008 the expected date.
Public Discussion: None
** Motion (3) Motion to adjourn by Tiffany Hunt, second by Linda Fecteau. Vote 5-0 Motion passed
Meeting adjourned by Lawry O’Connell at 8:21 p.m.
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Directors ReportEast Lyme Youth Services Association, Inc.Directors ReportJune 18, 2008
Dear Commission members,
I would like to give all of you an overview of what is happening here at Youth Services. Please feel free to call me to discuss anything further or with questions.
Current Programs- Our last day of S.P.A. was today! We ended the year with a party and hang out time. The Student Trainers taught all day in the middle school on June 6th. We had 15 Student Trainers this year, composed of 7th and 8th graders who were taught about Stress, bullying, and Eating Disorders (all topics chosen by our Student Trainer group) by our High School youth. The Trainers then took what they had learned and taught it their 5th and 6th grade peers. We are currently planning a field trip for the Trainers for putting in so much time! The Memorial garden is in the final stages. The fountain and fishpond are completed. We have had so much support from the community; from offers to help us upkeep the garden to plant donations! Stop and Shop has donated the Memorial Garden sign to be added to this wonderful creation! Alicia and her Student Advisory Board will be hosting four incoming freshman nights at the youth center from 7-9pm. We have had three so far, with approximately 15 youth attending. Summer Programs- Once again this year, we will be holding Beach Dances, and Parties, we have also added in Beach days and a few field trips TBA. We will also be collaborating with the Parks and Recreation department in running “Hang out with a Cause”, a Teen summer community service group. ELYS in collaboration with various youth organizations will be hosting our first Y.A.M. Festival this year. Alicia is working with her high school Student Advisory Board, to plan and coordinate a Youth and Music Festival to be held on June 28th from 12-8pm at the Groton Skate Park. Area youth bands will be playing, youth and adult vendors, food, and fun for all! Directors CornerThis month has been extremely busy with the end of the school year approaching. I have had the opportunity to attend various Bidders Conferences searching for grant opportunities to enable Youth Services to continue to implement the quality of programs we have offered in the past. I met with the Department of Education to secure funding for the Student Advisory Board for the 08-09 FY. I am currently working on an intergenerational grant with Cathy Wilson, Senior Center Director. Our plan is to develop Public Service Announcements working with Youth and Senior Citizens. The youth will mentor the seniors in the steps it takes to develop a PSA; the youth participation will promote youth development and leadership. I have also met with the Sr. Center director, and Parks and Recreation director to discuss various ways we could work together to be more cost efficient. We have a meeting scheduled next week with the First Selectman to discuss the options. Our connection with the Middle school is outstanding, and they have been calling on us to assist with various issues. I was able to work with two of the guidance counselors this month to enable 12 youth from ELMS to accompany me to the Youth Forum at Connecticut College hosted by SERAC. The youth response was great, and they are anxious to attend another forum. Hayley Engleberg and Amber Allen represented ELYS as facilitators for the day. They planned and implemented an excellent presentation around Youth Leadership. As you know, I am a member of various Coalitions/ Committees. Here is a preview of what has been going on this past month: The “Substance abuse prevention Coalition” has finished the surveys! They are currently being evaluated and we should be received the results this summer. I am currently working with members of the community to plan a community event to review the results. The Community Coalition for Children is currently planning the 11th annual event with guest speaker Rosalind Wiseman. I have been attending numerous planning sessions as well as executive meeting (I am the Treasurer for the organization) to help make this event a success. I have been very active in CYSA this month. We recently had our Quarterly training in East Haddam in which I helped plan as part of the planning committee. We have been meeting regularly to plan our annual conference to be held in October, we are working on getting Glen Singleton as our guest speaker. East Lyme Day will take place on Saturday, July 19, 2008. Youth Services is in charge of the Teen area. I am currently recruiting bands, singers, and other talents to perform. The Teen Council has been working on new intern opportunities for next year. If anyone is interested in an intern, please let me know. Kids Cancer-survive- I met with Jeff Blinderman, who last year, competed in a triathlon to benefit KCS. He is currently training for another with the proceeds coming to KCS again!
Finance and Resource Development:
Grants
I am currently writing the Department of Education grant in the amount of $21,600.00 as well as the South Eastern Regional Action Council grant in the amount of $3,300.00. I have written the DOE enhancement grant for $6,250.00, I am waiting for Selectman signature. I am also currently working on numerous end of the year reports that are due June 30, 2008. Commission Recruitment: We currently need a Board of Education member and a representative from the Police Department.
Publicity: Our spring/summer programs and events will be posted in the Parks and Rec newsletter. We have also partnered with Park and Rec in their quarterly newsletter that is sent to each home in Niantic and East Lyme. Sarah now has a weekly update section in the Lyme Tymes. Flyers, school newsletters and bulletin boards in East Lyme are still our main source of outreach. We also have a great website- www.elysa.org.
Technology: Still no copier. According to the IT department, we will be getting a copier July 1. Carmen has updated our website and it looks great! The town is still in transition with their website hosting and program. Once it is established what program we will be using in will be installed in my computer. Facilities: Nothing to report at this time.
Other: Our van is at the Town garage; the lock for the drivers side door is broken! Cathy Wilson has been very generous in letting us use her van when needed.
Thank you for your support and hard work!!!
Submitted by: Melissa O'Brien |
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