Minutes of the May 11, 2009 Staying Put Board Meeting
A meeting of the Staying Put Board took place on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 4:30PM at the New Canaan Library.
Tom Ferguson introduced Phil Richards from Wilton. Phil joined our meeting because he is interested in starting a similar organization in Wilton.
Jane Nyce handed out the Board's Weekend Coverage Schedule; her full report was emailed to the Board earlier in the day. She said that about two-thirds of the membership participate in events or requests or volunteering or some or all of the above. There is always a need for more volunteers to do home visits. Please check the website for upcoming events.
SP will march in the Memorial Day Parade (May 25th). We are 37th in line. Please park at the Presbyterian Church lot and meet in the St. Mark's lot at 9:15 or so. BRING FRIENDS and family. Some SP members plan to join the parade at the Firehouse. Arthur Congdon and Teri Wagner are the parade marshals and will bring the banner. Anyone who would like a ride back up the hill can get one from the Get-A-Bout.
The Annual Meeting at St Mark's will be on Sunday May 31st. Aside from cookies and sandwiches, Gloria Major-Brown and David Brown and Judy Bentley are cooking up some other goodies, and professional singer, Fred Stark, will be on hand to add to the entertainment. Bill Sessions will be Master of Ceremonies; Tom Ferguson will give the Annual Report. Pictures are needed for the slide show titled, "The Reason People Are Staying Put in New Canaan." Please send any photos to the office or scan them to Art Congdon. Anecdotes are welcome. The Annual Meeting is really a "rush party," so bring everyone who might become a member of SP. Volunteers are needed to help with the set up as well as to stand outside to greet the guests.
The June 5th party at David Moran's is targeting "55 under 55". The idea for the party is to "share the Staying Put story" with friends under 55 years of age. SP will be of interest and help to this group even if their parents live elsewhere because it will help educate them with their parents' needs, and it will also help them understand their own future needs. E-vites and hard copy have been sent out. David and John Engel will follow up with phone calls. It will be a wine and cheese party from 5:30 to 7pm. Any Board member who has names to invite please email them to John ASAP. We want to invite as many as we can. Volunteer opportunities for this age group abound: Transportation, Household, and Techie. This party is the first step in what will become several joint partnerships with the various service clubs in town. This is phase I, and the partnering will follow as phase II. It was noted that SP only has 2 members (not counting Board members) who are under 65; we should think about services to attract this up-coming age group.
Ellie O'Neill was pleased to announce that Carol Hollyday has joined the membership committee and has suggested distributing the SP brochures to all real estate offices. In order to have a table at the July 18th Sidewalk Sale, SP must join the Chamber of Commerce for $150. Then a table would cost $150 on top of the dues. Perhaps SP can distribute brochures at some other Town events (e.g., July 4th) without having to join-and-pay. Suggestions are welcome. The YMCA is having a Healthfare Day where SP will distribute brochures. The May 7th "memories" of New Canaan by Ed Chrostowski was hugely successful and partnering with the New Canaan Historical Society is very advantageous because it's free and many in the audience are part of the SP target audience.
Tanis Erdmann mentioned that the publicity for the Ed Chrostowski trip down memory lane was very good. Cathy Irwin and Tanis will write up an article for the two papers about the Annual Meeting on May 31st. Tanis found the seminar on publicity a good reminder to use specifics, not generalizations, quotes and punchy headlines, and pictures-pictures-pictures, with good captions. She has sent a caption and photo by Al Knaus to both papers previewing the SP planting event with the Young Women's League on May 20th. The Newsletter will be available for hand-outs at the June 5th party.
The Board gave Jim Hollyday and Molly DePatie a standing ovation for their work as volunteers.
Respectfully submitted,
Lyn Chivvis, Secretary
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203-966-7762