December 2023 Meeting Minutes
December 2023 Lincoln PTSA Meeting (Internal/Virtual)
Date: Tuesday 12/12/23
7:30pm-Zoom
Agenda: Nominating committee and planning, Teacher/Staff gifts, CO Gives Day update, Staff Appreciation Update, Donor Appreciation Update, BASH planning update, Merchandise Update, General discussion items.
Board Members present: Ryan Garrett, Technology Chair; Rory Salem, Membership Chair; Liz Mogno, Secretary; Anna Jennett, President; Michelle Marshall, VP; Doug Lazure, Treasurer; Sarah Szekeresh, Communications Chair; Marlon Marshall, Volunteer Chair.
Community Members present: Lara Pomprowitz
Anna called the meeting to order at 7:38pm
Motion to approve the minutes from November by Anna; no motions for changes; all in favor; last month’s meeting minutes approved.
*Nominating Committee (Anna):
-The bylaws say there should be a committee made up of 3 members-they do not need to be on the board
-Anna: I wrote an article re: what’s going on with board nominations, will share in upcoming ledger
-Last board was less process oriented so the prior nominations weren’t as smooth
-Start looking for people who may be interested- always volunteer, show up to events, etc. Ask teachers (especially of younger kids) if they have any thoughts/ideas of parents/caregivers who may be interested in coming on the board
-Get more people at the next meeting (january; agenda includes strategic plan; in person)
-We should start to recruit people for the nominating
-Start to identify people who would be great at a role and interested in volunteering
-Sarah: make it more enticing; skill sets, grant writing, etc. Focus on the benefits as well
-Sarah: more social opportunities tied to PTSA
-Getting the word out about joining the PTSA through social events
Doug-Teacher gifts:
-We have raised ~$7,700 for teacher/staff holiday gifts
-working on getting the list of everyone from Kimberlie and Emily to then figure out how it will be split
-How do we want to distribute the checks? Nice thank you cards to sign and place inside?
Will plan on distributing by this thursday, 12/14/23
-Full amount to full time and half the amount for part time workers
-Sarah: looking forward, let’s get some stock cards for thank you’s for this in the future.
-Get together Thursday morning to stuff checks in cards for distribution
-Each PTSA member here makes 8 thank you cards
-multiple members involved in discussion and ideas shared for future thank you cards, prep and distribution
Anna-CO Gives Day:
-4th para is hired and is starting in January 2024
-$11,245 raised
-41 people gave
-Goal was $10,000
-Last year raised a little over $10,000
-We’re ahead this year and had more donors this year
-How much we need to raise for the 4th para- the extra over 10,000 from CO gives to put toward the 4th para
-Michelle-submitted an application for a grant for $50,000, still waiting to hear back
-Slavens didn’t have anything going on in CO Gives-do we know why certain schools aren’t as active in CO gives?
-Anna: Not really sure why not everyone is active; they all have platforms and some have used in the past
-Marlon: one nice point is if you have sponsors matching funds but if not, it’s not as a big of a fundraiser
-Anna: we have had one big donor for CO gives for the past two years that we could ask if they would want to be a sponsor in the future (put that donation toward sponsoring)
-Ryan: Polaris had over 151 donors and raised over $35,000; that could be a goal to attract grants-”look at how active our school is in participating in funding our school.” Make it more attractive for grants and corporate sponsors.
-Are people tapped out by the time we get to CO Gives? We had so many great and tangible donations come through this month (staff gifts, donations for migrants, CO gives, etc.)
-Rory: the community gave nearly $20,000 between two events at the end of the year
How do we let the staff community know about the holiday gift? Last year we told the total amount we raised and that we were able to give everyone a generous amount as a result.
-We will do that again and can put the total amount raised in this week’s ledger to show how great the support was.
Marlon-Staff appreciation:
-We bought the teacher’s lunch last wednesday which was really appreciated and well received; Emily suggested a thank you note would be a nice and welcomed thing as well
-Looking at doing staff lunches twice a month starting in January
Liz-Donor Appreciation update:
-Thank you’s to Laps for Lincoln Volunteers went out and thank you email was sent to all donors up to a certain giving level; the thank you’s to donors at a higher giving level are continuing to go out much later than hoped but are handwritten thank you notes.
-Will include thank you’s to CO Gives Donors who donated to Laps also
-Anna- Planning to send out a thank you communication to CO-Gives donors
Lara-BASH update:
-Location will be at Public Offering again this year, Saturday 4/13/23, 90’s theme; starting to look at slogans
-90’s cover band or Marlon and Ben DJ (Marshall Bros come out of retirement)
-Donation requests will kick in after the new year, had a few companies come to us which was great
-Auctioneers: Ryan Garrett is confirmed; Margot Ryan is in “if there is no one else,” and Chris Walters has voiced interest and was very involved last year
-Ideas on having a place for after party to move people out of Public Offering on time and minimize stress there
-Take a minute to vote on slogan and logo in the next few weeks so we can have that for donation requests, etc.
Merchandise Update (Rory)
-as far as platforms for merchandising- TBD; on the to-do list
-Denver Screen print did our new logo and they’re trying to create a platform for us which will help manage all the orders; local and they’ve done a great job and they are pretty reasonable.
-I will bid out other places however they seem to be a good company to work with.
-At some point the PTSA closet does need help/organization; having it organized will be more resourceful in knowing our inventory better as well as relieve Rory from having to store the merchandise
General Discussion items (all members present contributing):
Rory- Talent Show: We’ve pushed the talent show to Wed 2/7/24; worked out best for multiple situations
-First email went out last week and another update/plug will go out this week
Currently in school spirit week:
-Jammies and cocoa is Friday
-I love lynx is Thursday-they need to be switched in the app
Volunteer Binders: (Anna)
If your event has occurred, please complete binder and share to volunteer template folder in the shared drive
School Tours (Michelle/Anna):
-Help with school tours; other community members we know/can rely on
-Talking points for school tours? Emily leads the tour; our role is filling in the parent perspective- talk up our school; saying that you choiced in, can answer questions re: after care, enrichments, navigating the choice system and DPS- many are ECE parents and new to the whole process
-Cooking class at Lincoln- slow food? To replace sticky fingers; Morris Hayward’s dad may be a connection here
-4th para has already started, name is Dr. J, supporting Montessori lower El
-Lincoln standards to help new paras
-Less of having the paras have to fill in in ways they weren’t planning/expecting (i.e. subbing)
-Anna-policy conversation with people already involved in education policy work
Lindsay Jaeckal-CDE, Molly Yost-lots of work on systems,, Kristen Berg- CO Dems
-Interest in joining the policy discussion-some people come from a variety of related backgrounds
-Policy around school funding specifically
-Resource sharing-how it extends beyond Lincoln; we’re a better system when we’re all doing better; sharing best practices with other PTSAs and the schools themselves
-Anna-I would love to know what other schools are doing around communications as well.
*Anna motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:28pm, all in favor, meeting adjourned.
***Next Board Meeting: Friday, January 12, 2024, Lincoln Elementary School and Virtual***
Chat:
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:51 PM)
do we have cards or just use whatever?
-Rory S. to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:52 PM)
Use whatever you can do this time.. then we will do standarized
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:52 PM)
I’ll be louder and pay more attention in about 5-10 min once I know these kids are asleep #solodad
-Lara Pomprowitz to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:53 PM)
I'm going to hop off and call back in on my phone as my computer connection isn't great. i'll be back on shortly. Did you need me to do cards as well? I'm happy to help out and do some for thursday am
-Doug to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:53 PM)
I like the idea of kids doing them.
-Rory S. to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:57 PM)
Are we going to tell the community how much we raised for teacher gifts? Or how much each staff is getting?
I’m on the board of a school here in Denver. We go big but also because we have donors who will match on that day
-Lara to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:58 PM)
I'm back on my cell now but I can't see the chat history. I'm curious if anyone answered my question if I can help out on holiday cards
-Rory S. to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 7:59 PM)
Lara- if you can do 8 cards, that would be amazing.
-Lara to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:00 PM)
Sounds great! Happy to help
-MyLincolnPTSA.org to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:05 PM)
From Dasha in Slack - Hey! I just got done with a long day of work, I’m not up for joining tonight but let me know if any enrichment discussions come up. Emily and I have a meeting January 3rd to discuss transferring our programing to discovery link and their enrichment coordinators for next school year. I will know more after that meeting and hoping we won’t need to replace my role.
-Anna Jennett to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:06 PM)
OK- thank you Dasha! Appreciate the update
-Anna Jennett to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:11 PM)
Awesome!! Thanks Marlon
-michelle Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:13 PM)
Thanks Liz!!
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:16 PM)
90’s Hip Hop music?
-michelle Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:16 PM)
Awesome Lara! Great spot
I know some DJs
-michelle Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:21 PM)
Maybe we need an after party plan to move people
-Doug to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:24 PM)
Lara, let me know how I can support from a financial perspective
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:26 PM)
Slogan ideas
“Trix are for kids!”
“I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toys R Us Kid!”
-You to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:28 PM)
Thanks for everything you’ve done with all the merchandise and new items, Rory! You’ve done an amazing job!
-michelle Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:28 PM)
Yes Rory it’s a huge lift and you’ve done amazing
-Doug to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:29 PM)
Awesome job, Rory!
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:29 PM)
the merch has been LIT
-Doug to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:32 PM)
I have to drop. Thanks everyone!
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:36 PM)
I’m sure personal story as to why we all are at Lincoln is very powerful!
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:44 PM)
the way you said that.....
-Marlon Marshall to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:51 PM)
Do you envision recommending all roles being the same?
-MyLincolnPTSA.org to Everyone (Dec 12, 2023, 8:52 PM)
I like it