Agenda Items
Meeting called to order 9:01 a.m. by Laura Adams. Rachel Bourell arrived later and took lead.
Fundraising needs: As many PTO activities will require funds and this PTO started with a $0 balance, a priority for this meeting needs to be planning a fundraising activity. Primary focus of this meeting will be identifying a September fundraising opportunity.
Current financial standing: $260 were received during the membership drive. Spectrum Academy does significant fundraising that we don't want to interfere with. However, Spectrum's fundraising committee has offered to let us have two of their "soft fundraisers," (such has restaurant nights) to be scheduled probably in January and February. Specific fundraisers have not been identified.
Current financial standing: $260 were received during the membership drive. Spectrum Academy does significant fundraising that we don't want to interfere with. However, Spectrum's fundraising committee has offered to let us have two of their "soft fundraisers," (such has restaurant nights) to be scheduled probably in January and February. Specific fundraisers have not been identified.
Brainstorming: These ideas were proposed as possible fundraisers.
- Game night. Board games inside of the school. Charge a door fee. Possibly run a concurrent parent support group. Problem, childcare liability. Price. There is an obvious interest in some sort of parent support/child socialization opportunity. However, this doesn't seem to be appropriate as a fundraising activity.
- Car wash. Inexpensive to run, high profit. How do we promote/staff with spread out school population? This idea was initially rejected as it wouldn't also be a social opportunity. However, it was later decided that it is a simple early fundraiser that would allow more fun activities later. Therefore, it was chosen as the September fundraiser.
- Fall festival or fairy tale festival. Fundraising would come from a door fee. Families could come with kids in costume and participate in activities throughout the school. We could use the room parent network to plan activities to be hosted in classrooms. Parents would plan games and seek donations of prizes from class parents or local business. Teachers would only need to offer their room and help connect to a parent. Offering classroom wouldn't be required. Office has a beanbag toss and plinko board that could also be offered. If held in October, this could be a Halloween costume party.
To do this as a Halloween activity, it would need to be held in mid to late October. However, we don't want to compete with the Turkey Trot planned for early November. We don't really have time, resources, infrastructure to pull this off earlier. However, since a Fan X type event might hold great appeal for this student population, this idea might be ideal for a later time.
- Spirit Wear/ Bumper Stickers: Could operate as a year-long fundraiser. Requires money if we preprint and then attempt to sell. Print-on-demand would eliminate startup cost but decrease profit and satisfaction of an on the spot purchase. We have several people in the PTO with graphic design or printing connections. Clothing sales would compete with High School's CREATE program. However, as CREATE does not currently sell a bumper or car vinyl sticker and there is an assumed demand, this seems to be an option worth exploring.
- "Fabulous First Friday" - sell treats, popcorn, other concessions once a month on a set day. This idea was thrown out but not discussed in depth. Concern about competing with CREATE?
Room Parents
- Operating the room parent program requires no fundraising and may be helpful in planning other activities.
- Sherri Durham is the chair for this committee. She is ready to reach out to identify room parents for each classroom.
- Action item: Sherri Durham will e-mail teachers to ask them to 1) ask for a room parent for each classroom. 2) Ask for help advertising for volunteer for the car wash.
- Background checks are required to volunteer at the school during school hours. A room parent may need a background check if they are going to be working in the school. However, if they can meet the teacher's needs off-campus it isn't required.
- PTO members volunteering during school hours also need a background check.
- An initial fee needs to be paid at the front office and they'll provide a form. That form can be taken anywhere a livescan fingerprint can be done. Price varies by city and usually there is a resident rate in your own city. The City of North Salt Lake offers their resident/employee rate if you mention Spectrum.
- The cost of the background check can be counted as a monetary donation to volunteer hours.
- Time spent as room parent also counts for volunteer hours.
Principal's club and caughtcha club are a priority donation need right now. School staff is currently purchasing these with their own funds.
- Action Item: Kathryn Jenkins is seeking donations from Dollar Tree and Lee's Market. However, any member with donation leads is invited to help seek out donations of small prizes.
Car Wash
- Scheduled for Thursday, September 27 before and during carpool.
- Setup at 1. Carwash at 1:30
- Minimum price, $5. Larger donations accepted.
- Presidents will chair this event
Action items:
- Request space, water and other donations from Lee's Marketplace, Sarah Linder
- Request buckets and supplies from Dollar Tree, Catherine Liner will talk to Dollar Tree
- Request detergent, sponges, buckets from Auto Zone,
- Request relevant donations from Walmart. Bring 1 hose & 1 nozzle, Margaret Thompson
- Request donations from Lowe's, price materials for a sign, Sara Linder
- Offer to sponsor undonated cost, Amanda McKeown
- Bring card reader & cash box to accept payments, PTO board
- $5 minimum cost
- Get posterboard, create posters
- Hoses donated
- Advertise?
Volunteers
Kendra Smith, Darcie Mumme (maybe?), Kathryn Jenkins (might have supplies), Amanda McKeown, Sheri Durham, Ashley Brackett, Sarah Linder, Margaret Thompson, Emily Hoopes (maybe?)
Bumper stickers or vinyl stickers for cars
- There is currently no "proud parent of a student at Spectrum Academy" car sticker.
- Interest was expressed in doing a vinyl sticker instead of a bumper sticker.
- Kathryn Jenkins is a graphic designer with knowledge of how to use print-on-demand online stores to create and sell these items.
- Sarah Linder has a friend locally who may be able to provide printing of stickers that we could have for sale at school events at low or no cost.
- Several PTO members seem to have the skills to create a design. Having a student art contest was also proposed.
- Print-on-demand vs. preorder.
- Print-on-demand has no setup cost. There is no surplus merchandise. Items are ordered online and then shipped to the individual ordering and then a % of the price is forwarded to us.
- Pros: easy to create, no cost, no burden of delivery, nor surplus
- Cons: no immediate gratification, no tangible
- Preorder
- We have items on hand to sell.
- Our profit margins may be higher.
- Action Items: Kathryn and Sarah will research costs and report back to Rachel.
Treasurer's report: Chris Norlem called into the meeting by phone to provide a treasurer's report. A copy of the financial report is filed with these minutes.
- Suggested having a sign-up and donation table at all school events and offered to help staff it.
- Using Square to accept credit cards went smoothly.
Minutes: There was a request to publish minutes where they would be available to all members. Rachel wants to create a PTO blog. Kendra Smith offered to help create and write content to the blog. Emily Hoopes will publish completed minutes once this exists.
- Action Items: Emily & Kendra work together to create blog and get minutes published.
Play structure: One of our PTO members is working to get a better play structure for the school She is getting a quote on the structure. Then she will set up a donor's choose account. She is also seeking a corporate match. We discussed other options for fundraising including the Rotary Club, Lowe's, ATK. Information will be shared with the PTO and on our blog.
- Action item: If you know of any resources to help raise or match funds for this project, please explore them and come prepared to share.
Next Meeting
October 4, 7:00 p.m. in the library.
Minutes prepared by Emily Hoopes
