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Western Mass Parrothead Club Meeting Minutes Thursday – March 26, 2009

Opa-Opa’s Steakhouse, Southbridge, MA

 

Attendees:

See the Points spreadsheet column for March 2009 –

Agenda:

One Note – in comparing the events that we went over in the meeting last night to our points spreadsheet for the year, I noticed that we were missing a function that we had talked about doing – Pitch, Hit & Run, so not sure if MK you were able to find out where and when we could help as volunteers or if we are planning on dropping this one too for this year.

 

  1. Information in 2009 Calendar of Events – There is a calendar accessible from our website.  However, it only shows events that we have confirmed dates on.  Some events for certain months have not been confirmed but as they are they will be added to the calendar.

a.       April

a)      April 3rd: 

Bowl-a-thon for Big Brother’s Big Sisters’ -  Josh & Julie Smith Chairpeople 9-midnight with 2 lanes to bowl on – food and drink available at concession area.  10 pin bowling.  Julie will send to Bonnie info in regard to posting support on her insurance website. Location: AMF Fairlanes in Springfield – 1387 Liberty Street

b)      April 18th

8pm retirement party for CJ and welcome new members. Need to let Maryann know if you want to go. (See note below regarding Margaritaville food & drink receipt incentive program.)

b.      May

a)      May 9th:  Special Olympics – No food budget this year.  Everyone agreed we  just show up and help where they need us.  Claire will let the vendors know we are not going to do food this year, but that we will keep their information and contact them next year should this change.  Next year Claire will start earlier to call and get donations.

b)      May quarterly meeting – Scott & Barbara Chairpersons

c.       June

a)      Metro in Morris – fun event. – Swim across the Sound charity – look under website for more information. http://metromorris.com/

b)      June 27th Save the Date – Tiki Bar Party for a Purpose – Scott sill construct a Tiki bar and Jane & Kevin will bring their Tiki bar, jello shot and other delicious drinks, the Rum Runners will be playing – including a new sound person.  Barbara is asking for help in the food arena.  Kate suggested a southern boil – sounds quite interesting. Quantity of food last year was a lot and it what was left was donated to a shelter.  Barbara kept her spreadsheet of what happened last year and will adjust for this year.  Scott will talk to Claire regarding some of her Special O contacts.

d.      July –

a)      July 4th – Josh & Julie suggested we walk in the East Longmeadow 4th of July Parade which is the biggest in the area.  It’s a 2 mile walk and we can use our club banner and throw out beads or something to the crowd as we go. Julie will get us more information.

b)      Brunelle’s Restaurant – social event with music and cheeseburgers located on the Connecticut river bank.  Will update with information once we receive it.

e.       August quarterly meeting – Karen Chairperson

f.        Sept

a)      Alzheimers Walk – will be 12th year.

b)      Replace the Big E float with Animal thing Bonnie will look into it and get back to us.  Julie offered to help Bonnie out, two need to connect.

g.       Oct  Harvest party – Scott & Barbara Simpson – Chairpeople

h.       Nov

a)      Nov 21st Mohegan Sun  - Jimmy Buffett Concert – RFF recommendation to drop restrictions.  As long as someone wants to go, need to stick to the rules.  Tickets are available for members in good standing.  So let Maryann know if you want tickets, by April 15th.

b)      Nov Quarterly Meeting – Claire Bailey Chairperson

i.         Dec. –

a)      Christmas Tree Decoration Raffle – Maryann & Keith Watson Chairpeople.  In downtown Springfield at tower square there is Christmas trees on display – then they raffle them off and money raised goes to Boy’s and Girl’s club of Springfield.  MK bought a 4’ and 6’ tree for this event.  We can make one a Mardi Gras tree to go along with the theme of our convention and we can make a regular parrot head club one.

b)      Brightside angels – Allie Pratte – Chairperson – Allie’s moving to eastern mass so may swap clubs to Easter Mass or Nautical Whalers.  Need to check to see if she is still going to run this or if we need a new chairperson.

c)      Ronald McDonald House xmas wrapping party – Josh & Julie Chairpeople – Karen & Richard will give Josh & Julie all the stockings acquired and all the stuffers at the bowl-a-thon next Friday (4/3).

 

  1. Incentives regarding Margaritaville:  For every $5 in food or beverages you will be eligible for a raffle ticket for prizes.  You need to save and give receipts to Maryann – then she’ll turn them in and get your raffle tickets.  Drawings are currently once a month, but could change in the future.

 

  1. Maine Convention Review –

a.       We had 10 members

b.      Hand made centerpieces will do at our convention also.  MK made suggestion that money raised from auction of centerpieces be donated to Special Olympics.  Folks will think about it.

c.       Comedian during dinner did not work out well at all we should replace with soft music, so people can enjoy their food and conversations at the table.

d.      Club baskets – doing money instead of collecting stuff for baskets.  MK will get in touch with all the presidents and see if they are willing to go along with the idea that the host club of the convention be the one doing the money only.

e.       Floats – for the auction – will be 8 unique floats and 2 jesters.  This will hopefully draw more money to get special ones.  Karen will do up a pattern so that MK’s dad can make them. Will have the patterns ready for the next meeting.

f.        Thursday night entertainment was great and was good to entertain the 178 that registered early.

g.       Duval Crawl – we’ll do restaurants/lounge of New Orleans and ask for pre-registration so that we won’t have duplicates.

 

 

  1. Roundtable:

a.       Barb Thompson is still having issues with internet.  Karen will pass her contact information on to Richard who will call her and try to help her resolve the problem.

b.      Maryanne to contact MS to see if they would like us to start volunteering again after dropping them several years ago due to conflict of dates between Special Olympics and the MS walk and/or also look into the Asthma Walk as another volunteer event we can pick up.