AB Minutes: Feb 2025

Advisory Board Meeting February 10, 2025             6:45 – 8:00 pm

Attendance – Board Members: Cole D, Giada D, Audri M, Maddie R Staff: Alicia, Selena Excused: Maddy P (basketball game)

1.       Stuffing Newsletters during Orientation

·         Thank you for stuffing these! They went in the mail on Tuesday!

·         Audri did a great job presenting a portion of orientation!

2.       Group Activity

·         AB Members took 3 minutes to list all of the volunteers that they knew by name. Everyone could list at least 20 other volunteers in that short time frame. We want to make sure that everyone feels welcome – including new volunteers! AB Members are encouraged to introduce themselves, guide them during activities, etc.  We’ll do this activity again later in the year to see how many more names we can list!

3.       Homework Review: Ideas for themes for July & August Youth & Preschool Activities

·         Cole came up with When Nature Calls for one of the themes! We love it and are running with it for the preschool summer activities. 

·         We discussed other ideas for the youth activity and liked the idea of something Disney/Disney Princess themed.  We have supplies to make custom Mickey ears left from an event that didn’t run last fall.  If anyone comes up with a creative Disney-themed name, please let us know!

4.       Review Recognition

·         Food

·         Food was good

·         Needed more snacks and more vegetarian food

      Veggie sushi and mozzarella sticks went fast!!

·         Awards/Certificates

·         Nice to see that everyone was recognized for their commitment

·         Activity

·         Liked the game and that it brought everyone together

·         Ideas for next year: Jeopardy, Relay Races/Team Challenges

·         Things to add/change for next year

·         Need a microphone for prestation portion

·         Play music during dinner (new rockblocker did not arrive in time, but we’re good to go for next year)

·         Like that the event is not a part of skating social and is a separate event

·         Discussed having more “formal” event and inviting parents in the future (we got multiple inquires about parents attending too)

·         AB decided they’d like to continue having the event for volunteers only and not parents/families too.

5.       Recycling at Alexander

·         Service Project: Michaela brought up that there’s no recycling bin in the Alexander Center and there’s so many times that cans/bottles have just been thrown in the trash.

·         We will get a bin to keep in the MPR (multi-purpose room) and send a message out to everyone in the building so they can utilize it

·         Selena is looking into getting a drum from a friend and the AB can decorate

·         Each month, during AB meeting/Orientation, AB members will take empty cans/bottles to redeem for cash.

·         Funds raised will be added to Y.E.S. scholarship fund. AB can discuss future plans for funds for service project, etc.

6.       Grace Guest House        

·         Audri suggesting making homemade pierogi at Grace Guest House so we will be doing this during Easter Break

·         Pierogi Making @ Grace Guest - Tues Apr 15 – 1:30 – 6:30 pm

·         This activity is going to be an AB-only event!

·         Please let me know if you’re able to make it or not. If we need additional volunteers, we’ll reach out to some Grace Guest House regulars to give us a hand.

·         Bring a hat!

·         This event is a long one! We will provide dinner for all the volunteers who attend – more details to come!

7.       Summer Socials/Workshop

·         Pool Party @ Dingens

·         Discussed idea of summer social. Beach was suggested but we won’t have vans during summer with playground rotations and summer camp during the day.

·         Discussed possibility of holding it at a different pool but logistically, Dingens is the best option.

·         Activities: tie dye Y.E.S. t-shirts, more water ballons, encourage volunteers to bring water guns. No bounce house this year.

8.       Group Chat

·         We are starting a group text chat with AB members and Y.E.S. number (Not snapchat. Not Facebook.) so we can communicate together instead of Alicia just relaying messages through parents/grandparents.

9.       Homework: Brainstorm Social & Workshops and an  AB Teambuilding Activity (for just AB & directors)

·         Some ideas for socials/workshops: Strong Museum, Buffalo Science Museum, Maid of the Mist, Niagara JetBoats, Splash Lagoon, Waldameer Amusement Park