We not only raised $25,500 (and counting, the money is still trickling in) but we joined together as a community with hundreds of families and friends gathered for dinner friday night and for walking on saturday. 199 children checked in to walk and so many of them did more than 2 laps around the zone that we actually ran out of prizes! Your event coordinators are working on getting those prizes to students asap! 20% of students at the walk went the whole 6 laps -- that's 5.2 miles! Way to go, kids!
Best of all, we showed what a great school Armatage is and how committed and involved our students, staff and families are. If there was ever any doubt before about which elementary school has the best people, there isn't now! It's Armatage, of course!
And Principal Franks had to hop in a Foster(ette) costume all day on Tuesday! Sweet!
Please share your fun walk stories and comments with us! We're getting ready for next year and need your feedback! Good, bad or in between, we want to hear from you. You can respond to this blog post or e-mail Nan at rabbitholearts@msn.com.
Thank you to everyone who made this event a success.
Fosterette
The World's Best Pricipal
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Help!!!
The Heat Is ON! It's GO time! The event of the season is only 3 days away and we need YOUR help!
The following positions need to be filled for both the dinner on friday and the walk on saturday. Please respond as soon as possible and let me know what you would be free to help with.
Friday, October 26th
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Set Up with Ellie Feldman and Anne Hacker
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm 3 adults (one in the kitchen with Nan and Pam McCarthy-Kern, one at the raffle table with Dawn Lemke, and one to help the "wait staff" kids)
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm 4 adults (one to sit at the will call desk, one in the kitchen with Tina Erazmus and Pam Mc-K, one to sit at the raffle table with Nan and one to help the "wait staff")
8:30 to 9:30 As many as possible for tear down and clean up
Saturday, October 27th
9:00 am to 10:00 am 3 or more adults to be "route watchers." Bring a friend and hang out in a camp chair on the walk route.
10:00 am to 11:00 am 3 or more adults to be "route watchers." Also needed: 1 adult to pass out prizes with Nan.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm 2 or more adults to be "route watchers." Also needed: 1 adult to pass out prizes with Dawn Lemke.
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm As many as possible for clean up
If you've been wanting to help with the Fun Walk but haven't been able to yet, NOW is your chance! Please join your friends at these great events -- we plan to have a blast!
Thank you very much for your time,
The following positions need to be filled for both the dinner on friday and the walk on saturday. Please respond as soon as possible and let me know what you would be free to help with.
Friday, October 26th
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Set Up with Ellie Feldman and Anne Hacker
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm 3 adults (one in the kitchen with Nan and Pam McCarthy-Kern, one at the raffle table with Dawn Lemke, and one to help the "wait staff" kids)
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm 4 adults (one to sit at the will call desk, one in the kitchen with Tina Erazmus and Pam Mc-K, one to sit at the raffle table with Nan and one to help the "wait staff")
8:30 to 9:30 As many as possible for tear down and clean up
Saturday, October 27th
9:00 am to 10:00 am 3 or more adults to be "route watchers." Bring a friend and hang out in a camp chair on the walk route.
10:00 am to 11:00 am 3 or more adults to be "route watchers." Also needed: 1 adult to pass out prizes with Nan.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm 2 or more adults to be "route watchers." Also needed: 1 adult to pass out prizes with Dawn Lemke.
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm As many as possible for clean up
If you've been wanting to help with the Fun Walk but haven't been able to yet, NOW is your chance! Please join your friends at these great events -- we plan to have a blast!
Thank you very much for your time,
Friday, October 19, 2007
More Community Support for Armatage!
Thanks to volunteer Melanie Tietz, Noodles will be providing 50 lbs of penne pasta, 20 lbs of parmesean cheese, and their delicious Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing! This means that all money raised through the sales of tickets for the Kick Off Dinner will go directly to Armatage as the entire menu has been donated by our business partners!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
This Week's Raffle Winners
Anne Hacker, Maja Caye and Rhys McCarthy-Kern were this week's lucky winners of the Armatage Family Fun Walk raffle. There are two more raffles to go before the Kick Off dinner (which is a raffle-palooza so don't miss it!) See you there!
Volunteer of the Day
Thank you to Melanie Tietz for arranging huge in-kind contributions from McDonald's and Bruegger's. We know she is waiting to hear from Patrick's Bakery as well. The contributions of volunteer's like Melanie make all our work possible.
See the list at left for other notable Fun Walk Event volunteers.
See the list at left for other notable Fun Walk Event volunteers.
In School Rallies -- And a Kangaroo Principal?
This Wednesday, October 17th, we held two rallies in the Theater at school to help the students get ready for the Armatage Family Fun Walk on October 27th. Armatage parent Jim Anderson served as MC at both the 12:30 pm rally for K - 2nd grades and the 1:00 rally for 3 - 5th grades.
Julie Railsback got everyone warmed up with some chair exercise and taught us how to feel for our increased heart rates. Jim modeled snow shoes, which the children told him NOT to wear to the fun walk! He also explained to the audience what the fun walk was and what would happen with the money they had raised. Fundraising updates were given (see Leader Board at upper left) and children were instructed on how to dress for the event given various weather possibilities this time of year.
Three special guests appeared on stage to try to answer some health and fitness questions. Katherine, Queen of England (the last wife of Henry the 8th) was joined by McGruff the Crime Dog and Albert Einstein. Sadly, our guests were woefully unknowledgeable and inept! The students had all the right answers, of course, thanks to our excellent gym teacher Renae Kirby!
Past raffle winners received their prizes, weekly top fundraisers were awarded special certificates signed by Foster, and the ultimate prizes were announced: the class that brings in the most money for our school will get an extra prep period with Mrs. Kirby to do the fun fitness activity of their choice; the top fundraising student will receive a Hollywood Video fun bucket, plus a Papa Murphy's pizza AND a $100 gift card to Target!
Finally, Mrs. Franks wore an unusual head piece for the revelation of a very special challenge: if we reach our goal of raising $16,000 -- and we are sooo close! -- Mrs. Franks will wear a BLUE KANGAROO COSTUME for the entire day the Monday after event day!! Mrs. Franks surprised even the rally planners when she announced that if we hit $20,000 she'll spend that day HOPPING!
With only $5,300 left to go, I'm sure we can get Mrs. Franks in that kangaroo suit --we already know she looks great in the hat!!!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the rallies, including the teachers who let us have their time and Mrs. Webster who kindly shared the stage.
Julie Railsback got everyone warmed up with some chair exercise and taught us how to feel for our increased heart rates. Jim modeled snow shoes, which the children told him NOT to wear to the fun walk! He also explained to the audience what the fun walk was and what would happen with the money they had raised. Fundraising updates were given (see Leader Board at upper left) and children were instructed on how to dress for the event given various weather possibilities this time of year.
Three special guests appeared on stage to try to answer some health and fitness questions. Katherine, Queen of England (the last wife of Henry the 8th) was joined by McGruff the Crime Dog and Albert Einstein. Sadly, our guests were woefully unknowledgeable and inept! The students had all the right answers, of course, thanks to our excellent gym teacher Renae Kirby!
Past raffle winners received their prizes, weekly top fundraisers were awarded special certificates signed by Foster, and the ultimate prizes were announced: the class that brings in the most money for our school will get an extra prep period with Mrs. Kirby to do the fun fitness activity of their choice; the top fundraising student will receive a Hollywood Video fun bucket, plus a Papa Murphy's pizza AND a $100 gift card to Target!
Finally, Mrs. Franks wore an unusual head piece for the revelation of a very special challenge: if we reach our goal of raising $16,000 -- and we are sooo close! -- Mrs. Franks will wear a BLUE KANGAROO COSTUME for the entire day the Monday after event day!! Mrs. Franks surprised even the rally planners when she announced that if we hit $20,000 she'll spend that day HOPPING!
With only $5,300 left to go, I'm sure we can get Mrs. Franks in that kangaroo suit --we already know she looks great in the hat!!!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the rallies, including the teachers who let us have their time and Mrs. Webster who kindly shared the stage.
Kick Off Dinner News
The principle organizers of the kick off dinner, Pam McCarthy Kern, Michelle Loomans, and Ellie Feldman, as well as event chairs Tina Erazmus and Dawn Lemke, met on Monday to finalize details for the dinner. Pam, who works as a florist and events planner when she is not volunteering her time at Armatage, has generously offered to provide autumnal floral arrangements for the tables. Look for the link to Fleurissima at left to see some of Pam's work. If you were at the Mardi Gras dance last February, you might have noticed her unusual and extravagant designs.
Earlier the plans for the dinner had included table service by Armatage fifth graders and alumni. That plan was changed in favor of a 2 or 3 table buffet system in the Lower Gym. There's still a need for older students to help out at the dinner, however, so if you have any junior high or high school students who'd like to give something back to their alma mater, contact Judy Kralewski.
The presale notice did not get out as early as hoped so the deadline has been extended until next week. Orders received by the 25th will be held at "will call" at the Park at 6 pm on the night of the event.
The presales orders have been pouring in. It looks like this will be another well attended Armatage party! Thank you to all the volunteers and and neighborhood partners who are making it happen for our school!
Earlier the plans for the dinner had included table service by Armatage fifth graders and alumni. That plan was changed in favor of a 2 or 3 table buffet system in the Lower Gym. There's still a need for older students to help out at the dinner, however, so if you have any junior high or high school students who'd like to give something back to their alma mater, contact Judy Kralewski.
The presale notice did not get out as early as hoped so the deadline has been extended until next week. Orders received by the 25th will be held at "will call" at the Park at 6 pm on the night of the event.
The presales orders have been pouring in. It looks like this will be another well attended Armatage party! Thank you to all the volunteers and and neighborhood partners who are making it happen for our school!
Fun Walk Contributions Keep Rolling In!
Thank you Lariat Lanes for donating coupons for free games of bowling, to McDonald's for donating orange drink to the Kick Off dinner, to Breugger's for giving us bagels for breakfast on walk day, and to Betsy of Betsy's Back Porch coffee shop who will be providing coffee and pastries on walk day as well.
We are particularly grateful for Betsy's contribution as we know her cafe has been hard hit by the reconstruction of the Diamond Lake bridge on 35W. Betsy is well known for her support of local schools, artists and nascent businesses. Follow any of the sponsor links at left to visit our contributors and make sure to stop by Betsy's (Nicollet on 54th)for one of the best cups of coffee in town.
We are particularly grateful for Betsy's contribution as we know her cafe has been hard hit by the reconstruction of the Diamond Lake bridge on 35W. Betsy is well known for her support of local schools, artists and nascent businesses. Follow any of the sponsor links at left to visit our contributors and make sure to stop by Betsy's (Nicollet on 54th)for one of the best cups of coffee in town.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Wow! Lifetime Fitness Sponsors Fun Walk!
Lifetime Fitness has sponsored the Armatage Family Fun Walk with a most generous contribution of $1,000! The money was donated specifically to pay for the t-shirts which will be given out on walk day. We can't thank Lifetime enough for their incredible contribution!
Also joining our sponsors list this week are Settergren's Hardware and Edina Realty!
Thank you to all of our great partners!
Also joining our sponsors list this week are Settergren's Hardware and Edina Realty!
Thank you to all of our great partners!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Thank you Armatage Park
Many, many thanks to Jerry Peterson at Armatage Park for generously turning the park building over to our event for the last weekend of October. We promise to have it all cleaned up and back in shape for the Halloween Party!
Welcome Sponsors!
The Fun Walk Committee is happy to welcome Auntie Em's book store to our growing list of event sponsors. Also, the Minneapolis Police Department will be lending a very special crime fighting dog for our in school rally and the Parks Board will be sending a specialist in Bike Safety for Walk Day!
Thank you to all our wonderful supporters!
Thank you to all our wonderful supporters!
This Week's Raffle Winners
Congratulations to Thomas Jaglielski, Kate Hacker and Kelsan Dorjee! It's no surprise that all three raffle winners are also top fundraisers in their classes! Remember, the more pledges you get, the more valid pledge slips you can turn in, the better your chances are for winning a raffle!
Great job to all the kids who've been working hard to raise money for Armatage!
Great job to all the kids who've been working hard to raise money for Armatage!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Kor Am Tae Kwon Do Joins Fun Walk Sponsors!
KorAm Tae Kwon Do School will donate a free uniform and 1 month’s worth of lessons to the Fun Walk. A teacher from the school will also do a karate demonstration at our event. Hi-ya and thank you, Kor Am!
Friday, October 5, 2007
New Sponsor -- Via Cafe & Bar!
Thank you to Tiffany Foley and her husband for providing two $50 gift certificates for our raffles to new restaurant, Via Cafe & Bar. Via is located on 6740 France Avenue, where Pizzeria Uno used to be. Check out the web link on the list at left under "Thank You Sponsors" and come to the kick off dinner on October 26th -- maybe you will be the lucky winner of a night out at this beautiful new nightspot!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Thank You to Our Latest Sponsors!
Our first thank you goes out to the ACC which voted tuesday night to contribute $200 (!) to the Armatage Family fun Walk! Thank you so much, ACC members, for extending your support of physical activity to the school fun walk!
Other new contributors to the event include Hollywood Video, Kowalskis, Subway, RiverSource Investments, Paper Tiger and Arturo from the Zenon Dance Company who will perform a hip hop demonstration at the event.
We are grateful for the support of our community partners! Please visit their links on the list at left and say hello to these businesses in person when you can!
Other new contributors to the event include Hollywood Video, Kowalskis, Subway, RiverSource Investments, Paper Tiger and Arturo from the Zenon Dance Company who will perform a hip hop demonstration at the event.
We are grateful for the support of our community partners! Please visit their links on the list at left and say hello to these businesses in person when you can!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
First Pledge Raffle Winners!
Congratulations to Sally Fry, Charlotte DeVaughn, and Annie VanDenburg! Keep those pledge slips coming in kids! The more slips you turn in, the better your chances of winning a prize!
And congratulations to all the kids working hard to raise money for our great school! With students like these, we're all winners!
And congratulations to all the kids working hard to raise money for our great school! With students like these, we're all winners!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Lunds Donates To Kick Off Dinner
Thank you Augie Schauer at the Richfield Lund's for donating carrot sticks and salad for the Kick Off Dinner on October 26th! Great neighbors like Lund's make Armatage the place to be! Don't forget to stop by and thank them in person!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Congratulations Room 109
ARMATAGE FAMILY FUN WALK is the fall fundraising event name, created and voted on by Armatage students. The Name Challenge was met by the class of Ms. Lingen, Room 109, whose entry was chosen from many wonderful and creative nominations from Armatage students. Ms Lingen's class will be awarded a healthy breakfast, provided to them in class by the PTA during the week of September 24th, and a certificate of achievement. Great work everyone!
I Love The New Fundraiser!
I just wanted to let you know that my daughter has raised $200 for the family fun walk, and it has been the easiest thing we have ever done! She sent out an email to friends and family asking for donations for the school, letting them know that she would participate in a day of physical activity in return for their donations, and that the money raised will help her school fund the things that are important to her such as reading and math tutors, busses for field trips, and her personal favorite: Kids on Broadway. The response was immediate and the checks are rolling in! She feels really proud that she’s helping her school, and I am extraordinarily happy that all I had to do is provide her with e-mail addresses! Now we are looking forward to the big event – I understand there will even be a DJ. It sounds like a fabulous party!
Thank you to all that are pulling this together!
Daena Stearns
Thank you to all that are pulling this together!
Daena Stearns
Monday, September 24, 2007
How YOU Can Help!
The fundraising for the Fun Walk is under way and we have both immediate and future needs to share with you.
Contacting Sponsors- We have an immediate need for people to help call on - either by phone or in person - local businesses to ask for donations of goods or money for the event. We also have a list of corporations with a presence in our area that we would also need contacted to ask for sponsorship. We are offering both groups promotion of their organization on our blog, on T-shirts worn by the kids and with a table/booth on Walk Day. The list of the corporations is at left. If you can help with these contacts in any way, please notify co-chair Tina Erazmus 612-929-9079 or mrsraz1999@yahoo.com, as soon as possible.
Challenge Board Monitor - T o help generate enthusiasm for the event and to build team spirit, we would like to create a Challenge Board where teachers, classes and grades can challenge each other to meet goals related to health and the to the event. Need one or two people to create the physical board, set it up in a visible location, notify the teachers and classes of this opportunity, record and monitor the challenges issued. Also, provide small write-ups for Kanga News and or blog on these challenges. Unless there is a designated person for this board, it will not be undertaken.
School Spirit Week - We have designated Oct 1-5 as School Sprint week to help increase excitement about the walk event and the school itself . Monday will be Team Outfit Day, where kids can wear jerseys or clothes with a team focus whether it be major league sports or their own local teams or health/sports related groups. Anything goes as long as it does not cause distraction in class. Wednesday will be Work-Out clothes Day and Friday will be Armatage School Colors Day ( blue and gold/yellow, in case you weren't sure). We need one or two people to help make signs and develop write-ups and/or flyers for the special days.
All School Rally - We are planning to have a rally sometime the week of Oct 15th to update the kids on our progress towards reaching the goal of $16,000 and encourage them to make a final push to collect as much as possible. We plan to distribute actual prizes won by students in the raffle drawings up to that point, lead the kids in some exercises and/or cheers to get them moving and grooving and have some other fun activity. Our hope was to have a health related public figure attend but so far, we haven't been able to identify anyone who will do it without being paid. Need 2-3 people to plan the rally outline, create write-ups and flyers to announce it and possibly MC the rally. There are some ideas floating around about activities to do during the rally so you would have something to build on.
Pre-Walk Dinner - Pam McCarthy- Kern has been tirelessly getting donors for the spaghetti dinner we will be having in the evening of October 26th in the Armatage Park building. She has a lot pulled together for the meal but another planner and/or helper to get paper supplies, servers (we're thinking of Armatage Alumni) would be great. We also need a Raffle/Door Prize Coordinator as we hope to have giveaways for people coming to the dinner as well as presenting awards to major fundraiser winners such the top class fundraiser and the top student fundraiser. Something else related to the dinner is decorations, set-up and take down and this will be headed by Ellie Feldman. Another 1-2 people would be a big help to her in this.
Walk Day Event - The end product of all our efforts! We have set-up volunteers already lined up with John Mattby, Sarah Murray and Susie Fry. At least two more people will be needed to help organize the sponsor/display tables, brainstorm and develop other activities in addition to the walk, creating signs or decorating sidewalks with health tips and facts, etc.
Please let me or Tina Erzamus know as soon as possible which of these areas you can help with. Some, like the Challenge Board and School Spirit week could be done, in large part, at home with some help n school or during the day from your co-chairs and other committee members and volunteers. We'd also love to see you at our planning meetings which are held on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM in the Armatage Park and Rec building. Our next one is on September 25th. Thanks so much for your interest and support - you are the embodiment of the creativity, talent and dedication that makes this a wonderful school!
Dawn Lemke
612-926-2466
dawnjosephsarah@comcast.net
Tina Erazmus
612-929-9079
mrsraz1999@yahoo.com No message is selected
Contacting Sponsors- We have an immediate need for people to help call on - either by phone or in person - local businesses to ask for donations of goods or money for the event. We also have a list of corporations with a presence in our area that we would also need contacted to ask for sponsorship. We are offering both groups promotion of their organization on our blog, on T-shirts worn by the kids and with a table/booth on Walk Day. The list of the corporations is at left. If you can help with these contacts in any way, please notify co-chair Tina Erazmus 612-929-9079 or mrsraz1999@yahoo.com, as soon as possible.
Challenge Board Monitor - T o help generate enthusiasm for the event and to build team spirit, we would like to create a Challenge Board where teachers, classes and grades can challenge each other to meet goals related to health and the to the event. Need one or two people to create the physical board, set it up in a visible location, notify the teachers and classes of this opportunity, record and monitor the challenges issued. Also, provide small write-ups for Kanga News and or blog on these challenges. Unless there is a designated person for this board, it will not be undertaken.
School Spirit Week - We have designated Oct 1-5 as School Sprint week to help increase excitement about the walk event and the school itself . Monday will be Team Outfit Day, where kids can wear jerseys or clothes with a team focus whether it be major league sports or their own local teams or health/sports related groups. Anything goes as long as it does not cause distraction in class. Wednesday will be Work-Out clothes Day and Friday will be Armatage School Colors Day ( blue and gold/yellow, in case you weren't sure). We need one or two people to help make signs and develop write-ups and/or flyers for the special days.
All School Rally - We are planning to have a rally sometime the week of Oct 15th to update the kids on our progress towards reaching the goal of $16,000 and encourage them to make a final push to collect as much as possible. We plan to distribute actual prizes won by students in the raffle drawings up to that point, lead the kids in some exercises and/or cheers to get them moving and grooving and have some other fun activity. Our hope was to have a health related public figure attend but so far, we haven't been able to identify anyone who will do it without being paid. Need 2-3 people to plan the rally outline, create write-ups and flyers to announce it and possibly MC the rally. There are some ideas floating around about activities to do during the rally so you would have something to build on.
Pre-Walk Dinner - Pam McCarthy- Kern has been tirelessly getting donors for the spaghetti dinner we will be having in the evening of October 26th in the Armatage Park building. She has a lot pulled together for the meal but another planner and/or helper to get paper supplies, servers (we're thinking of Armatage Alumni) would be great. We also need a Raffle/Door Prize Coordinator as we hope to have giveaways for people coming to the dinner as well as presenting awards to major fundraiser winners such the top class fundraiser and the top student fundraiser. Something else related to the dinner is decorations, set-up and take down and this will be headed by Ellie Feldman. Another 1-2 people would be a big help to her in this.
Walk Day Event - The end product of all our efforts! We have set-up volunteers already lined up with John Mattby, Sarah Murray and Susie Fry. At least two more people will be needed to help organize the sponsor/display tables, brainstorm and develop other activities in addition to the walk, creating signs or decorating sidewalks with health tips and facts, etc.
Please let me or Tina Erzamus know as soon as possible which of these areas you can help with. Some, like the Challenge Board and School Spirit week could be done, in large part, at home with some help n school or during the day from your co-chairs and other committee members and volunteers. We'd also love to see you at our planning meetings which are held on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM in the Armatage Park and Rec building. Our next one is on September 25th. Thanks so much for your interest and support - you are the embodiment of the creativity, talent and dedication that makes this a wonderful school!
Dawn Lemke
612-926-2466
dawnjosephsarah@comcast.net
Tina Erazmus
612-929-9079
mrsraz1999@yahoo.com No message is selected
Family Fun Walk Rocks Out!
Christin Crabtree has just secured dj Paper Tiger for the Family Fun Walk. The music is family friendy, hip hop flavored, guaranteed to get the party started and our feet moving! Thanks Christin for making it happen!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Armatage Family Fun Walk Fundraiser Begins September 21
Information and Registration packets will be sent home with students on September 21. Four forms inside the clasp envelope are:
- Information/Instruction form (double sided)
- Registration ‘Sneaker’
- Pledge slips – 6 small sneakers per page
- Pledge Tracking Form
The information form outlines details about the event, instructions for parents and students, information on challenges/prizes and a timeline. The fundraising format is to have students gather cash/check pledges in return for focusing on their health by completing a walk around Armatage Park on October 27th. The pledge money they collect will go 100% to programs and services at Armatage School. Our goal for the event is $16,000 – the same amount achieved through merchandise sales by Armatage students last year.
Please return the Registration sneaker by October 4th if your child plans to gather ANY pledges for the event. We want to provide a Walk Day T-shirt to every child who turns in pledge money and need an early count for ordering. PLUS – the first class that returns all of its Registration sneakers will win a prize for each child in that class.
The 25$ pledge slips will help us to track pledge amounts prior to turning in money on October 22. They will also be used as raffle chances to win a prize each week of the fundraiser, so – the more money each child raises, the more slips you turn in and the greater the chances of winning individual prize and class prizes. If you did not receive a Registration packet or are missing any of the forms, please contact Dawn Lemke or Tina Erazmus. Additional packets and forms will be available in the main office.
- Information/Instruction form (double sided)
- Registration ‘Sneaker’
- Pledge slips – 6 small sneakers per page
- Pledge Tracking Form
The information form outlines details about the event, instructions for parents and students, information on challenges/prizes and a timeline. The fundraising format is to have students gather cash/check pledges in return for focusing on their health by completing a walk around Armatage Park on October 27th. The pledge money they collect will go 100% to programs and services at Armatage School. Our goal for the event is $16,000 – the same amount achieved through merchandise sales by Armatage students last year.
Please return the Registration sneaker by October 4th if your child plans to gather ANY pledges for the event. We want to provide a Walk Day T-shirt to every child who turns in pledge money and need an early count for ordering. PLUS – the first class that returns all of its Registration sneakers will win a prize for each child in that class.
The 25$ pledge slips will help us to track pledge amounts prior to turning in money on October 22. They will also be used as raffle chances to win a prize each week of the fundraiser, so – the more money each child raises, the more slips you turn in and the greater the chances of winning individual prize and class prizes. If you did not receive a Registration packet or are missing any of the forms, please contact Dawn Lemke or Tina Erazmus. Additional packets and forms will be available in the main office.
Wendy's Night Healthy Choice Raffle A Huge Success - Again in October
The new site, a new fundraiser name and lots of enthusiasm for making healthy choices made for a wildly fun Wendy's Night,September 18th. The lucky winner of the cool blue Razor scooter was Spencer Selander of Room 113. His name was chosen by an honorary student, Hank Simacek, a senior who lives near the Yorktown Wendy's and who braved an enitre hour with us. The bucket was overflowing with entries so we will keep the focus on Healthy Choices and repeat the raffle again in October. Thanks to Tracy Lawson for sharing Wendy's time with the Fundraiser and raising awareness and excitement about it.
We Have A Name: ARMATAGE FAMILY FUN WALK!
This is the Fall fundraising event name, created and voted on by Armatage students. The Name Challenge was met by the class of Ms. Lingen, Room 109, whose entry was chosen from many wonderful and creative nominations from Armatage students. Thanks to the teachers who helped the kids come together to meet this challenge and give the fund raiser a great name. Ms Lingen’s class will be awarded a healthy breakfast, provided to them in class by the PTA during the week of September 24th, and a certificate of achievement. Great work everyone!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Kick Off Dinner Coming Together
Many thanks to intrepid coordinator Pam McCarthy-Kern who has arranged for the following donations for the Carb-Load Kick Off dinner:
Desserts from Cafe Maude (macaroons and mini scones)
Pasta Sauce and Cheese Bread from Lake Harriet Pizza
Carrots and Dip from Lund's (pending but we don't know how they can resist our Pam!)
Salad, dressing, noodles and beverage donations are still in the works.
Awesome work, Pam!!!
Desserts from Cafe Maude (macaroons and mini scones)
Pasta Sauce and Cheese Bread from Lake Harriet Pizza
Carrots and Dip from Lund's (pending but we don't know how they can resist our Pam!)
Salad, dressing, noodles and beverage donations are still in the works.
Awesome work, Pam!!!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Hey! What is that Fun Walk anyway?!
Fall Fundraiser Details
Cash pledges for a Walk-a-thon are replacing cash catalog sales
Students will:
- pledge to walk on October 27th
- ask people they know for cash pledges to support their walk
- record, collect and store pledge information and money in a special walk envelope
- turn in the envelope with pledges and money throughout the weeks leading up to the walk for chances to win prizes
Challenges with prize opportunities will be made to the students to encourage pledge gathering, create enthusiasm and promote health awareness.
A pre-Walk Dinner will be held October 26th to raise additional donations and build excitement about the walk. Pre-sales tickets will offer reduced dinner prices.
Walk Day on October 27th will be held at Armatage Park - outside if nice, inside the Park building if not. Students who walk will get T-shirts. Health related booths, giveaways and activities will also be available.
With catalog or other merchandise sales, only 50% of all profits generated by Armatage students actually went to the school. With this event, ALL money collected in pledges and dinner sale will go 100% towards Armatage school and its students!!!!
Cash pledges for a Walk-a-thon are replacing cash catalog sales
Students will:
- pledge to walk on October 27th
- ask people they know for cash pledges to support their walk
- record, collect and store pledge information and money in a special walk envelope
- turn in the envelope with pledges and money throughout the weeks leading up to the walk for chances to win prizes
Challenges with prize opportunities will be made to the students to encourage pledge gathering, create enthusiasm and promote health awareness.
A pre-Walk Dinner will be held October 26th to raise additional donations and build excitement about the walk. Pre-sales tickets will offer reduced dinner prices.
Walk Day on October 27th will be held at Armatage Park - outside if nice, inside the Park building if not. Students who walk will get T-shirts. Health related booths, giveaways and activities will also be available.
With catalog or other merchandise sales, only 50% of all profits generated by Armatage students actually went to the school. With this event, ALL money collected in pledges and dinner sale will go 100% towards Armatage school and its students!!!!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
HELP WANTED
Planning for the new fall fundraiser is well underway. Some highlights of this event:
Event naming contest (winning class gets breakfast!), Walk of Shoes, Challenge board, Wendy's Night Go Healthy Challenge, all-school kick-off assembly, and spirit week. Please go to the blog at www.armatagefunwalk.blogspot.com for more details on this great event.
Through catalogue sales, students and families have typically raised $16,000 for our school. This money has supported ongoing school events, provided books and equipment for classrooms, paid for buses for field trips and Art Adventure and has helped meet the cost of specialists (such as for reading and math). Here's the catch: in order for Armatage to have received $16,000, our kids actually had to sell $32,000 worth of product. That's a lot of wrapping paper!
Wouldn't it be nice to see all that money go to Armatage instead? Eventually, we hope it will. For this first year with the revolutionary new event, we're setting our Grand Goal at $16,000. And if we meet that goal, Joan Franks has agreed to accept a special challenge! (More on that later!)
What we need NOW are people who can spend two weeks or so contacting potential corporate sponsors. Here's our hit list:
REI
Dick’s (Toni Locke)
Whole Foods
Target
General Mills (Nancy Luna)
Yoplait
Super Value
Land O’Lakes
Kemps
3M
Polaris
Cargill
Best Buy
Park Nicollet
Medtronic
Blue Cross
Health Partners
Fairview
St. Jude Medical
United Health
Children’s Hospital
Heart Association
American Diabetes Association
Dairy Council
Third Lair Demo
Radio Disney
Eric’s Bikes
Penn Cycle
Hoigaard’s
Nike
We plan to approach neighborhood businesses as well and will announce that list early next week. What we're looking for is money for our school, of course. But this event is not just a fundraiser. It's also a chance to teach our children and our community about good health and habits that can last a lifetime. If you work at any of these companies -- or one we might have missed -- and would be interested in helping us to request either money for our school or contributions of gross quantities of items that are health or fitness related (pedometers, first aid kits, water bottles, etc.) that we can use as prizes or give-aways at the event, please contact Tina Erazmus at mrsraz1999@yahoo.com or Dawn Lemke at dawnjosephsarah@comcast.net. We would love to have any of the above companies set up an information table at the event as well.
If you don't have the time to make calls, but can put us in touch with the right person, that would be a great help. If you don't know anyone personally but are willing to make some calls, that's a great help too. Our goal is to raise not just money, but awareness too, build community and have a great time! WE NEED YOUR HELP to get there!
Thank you for your time and attention,
Fun Walk Committee: Chris Blumenfeld, Nan Carlson, Christin Crabtree, Tina Erazmus, Pam McCarthy-Kern, Dawn Lemke, Nikki Lindberg, Toni Locke, Daena Stearns...YOU?
Event naming contest (winning class gets breakfast!), Walk of Shoes, Challenge board, Wendy's Night Go Healthy Challenge, all-school kick-off assembly, and spirit week. Please go to the blog at www.armatagefunwalk.blogspot.com for more details on this great event.
Through catalogue sales, students and families have typically raised $16,000 for our school. This money has supported ongoing school events, provided books and equipment for classrooms, paid for buses for field trips and Art Adventure and has helped meet the cost of specialists (such as for reading and math). Here's the catch: in order for Armatage to have received $16,000, our kids actually had to sell $32,000 worth of product. That's a lot of wrapping paper!
Wouldn't it be nice to see all that money go to Armatage instead? Eventually, we hope it will. For this first year with the revolutionary new event, we're setting our Grand Goal at $16,000. And if we meet that goal, Joan Franks has agreed to accept a special challenge! (More on that later!)
What we need NOW are people who can spend two weeks or so contacting potential corporate sponsors. Here's our hit list:
REI
Dick’s (Toni Locke)
Whole Foods
Target
General Mills (Nancy Luna)
Yoplait
Super Value
Land O’Lakes
Kemps
3M
Polaris
Cargill
Best Buy
Park Nicollet
Medtronic
Blue Cross
Health Partners
Fairview
St. Jude Medical
United Health
Children’s Hospital
Heart Association
American Diabetes Association
Dairy Council
Third Lair Demo
Radio Disney
Eric’s Bikes
Penn Cycle
Hoigaard’s
Nike
We plan to approach neighborhood businesses as well and will announce that list early next week. What we're looking for is money for our school, of course. But this event is not just a fundraiser. It's also a chance to teach our children and our community about good health and habits that can last a lifetime. If you work at any of these companies -- or one we might have missed -- and would be interested in helping us to request either money for our school or contributions of gross quantities of items that are health or fitness related (pedometers, first aid kits, water bottles, etc.) that we can use as prizes or give-aways at the event, please contact Tina Erazmus at mrsraz1999@yahoo.com or Dawn Lemke at dawnjosephsarah@comcast.net. We would love to have any of the above companies set up an information table at the event as well.
If you don't have the time to make calls, but can put us in touch with the right person, that would be a great help. If you don't know anyone personally but are willing to make some calls, that's a great help too. Our goal is to raise not just money, but awareness too, build community and have a great time! WE NEED YOUR HELP to get there!
Thank you for your time and attention,
Fun Walk Committee: Chris Blumenfeld, Nan Carlson, Christin Crabtree, Tina Erazmus, Pam McCarthy-Kern, Dawn Lemke, Nikki Lindberg, Toni Locke, Daena Stearns...YOU?
September 4th Meeting Minutes
Highlights: Dates and procedures set for naming contest and walk of shoes, wendy's night on the 18th of september. Next meeting set for September 11 on the patio at Cafe Maude, 6:30 with refreshments. Corporate sponsor hitlit developed.
Meeting Minutes
September 4, 2007
Park and Rec Art Room
Present: Chris Blumenfeld, Nan Carlson, Tina Erazmus, Dawn Lemke, Nikki Lindberg, Toni Locke
RECAP PAST WEEK
Nan will send a copy of the walk zone map to Tina (done)
Orange will be the paper color of choice. Check with Julie Millikan about ordering reams of paper of color through corporate account with Staples. (done. Julie will order paper for us.)
Nan will send Joan an e-mail letting her know the minutes have been posted to the blog. (done)
Nan gave update on meeting with Joan.
Dawn suggested making a Double Challenge to Joan if we reach the $32k goal. All agreed the Goal of Goals should be $16k for the first year, which was what the school took in from catalogue sales last year.
Renae Kirby taught at school that did a fun walk. Dawn will see if she is available Friday am.
Should we try to sell ad space on the main PTA blog? Nan wondered how many hits the blog was actually getting.
Toni Locke is going to take on ticket sales and presales for the carb load dinner.
NEXT WEEK
The big shoe should go home next week; get to Jeannie by friday ; teachers collect shoe, shoes go in pta mailbox
Kick off contest to name the event; Dawn and Tina will get the letter out; walk committee will vote on it Sept 18 after Wendy’s Night.
Announce winning name over the pa during morning announcements.
Send ½ sheet home with the winning class students, Nikki will do. Send something with your kids if you can’t …”winning certificate”
Ask Jenny Ito to put in the Kanga News: contest to name our new event! Check the blog after Sept 18 for the winning class!
Big Folders go home week of Sept 17th
Nikki needs class list
Schedule Packet Party
Wendy’s Night Sept 18 @ Yorktown , Dawn will get info to Tracy Lawson about fun walk tie-in. (Razor Scooter available for raffle.)
SPONSORSHIPS
Pam talked to Kevin @ Maude: breakfast is a maybe; dessert is a maybe – rather ask him for dessert
Nan will talk to Great Harvest about donating for the healthy breakfast.
Chris suggested contacting Vescio’s for spaghetti donation as well
If you have a contact, please ask for a donation for money, prizes or giveaways
Nan will post to both blogs and send in group e-mail list
Ask for 4 or 5 people to spend 2 weeks tops doing corporate or local fundraising
CORPORATE HIT LIST
REI
Dick’s (Toni Locke)
Whole Foods
Target
General Mills (Nancy Luna)
Yoplait
Super Value
Land O’Lakes
Kemps
3M
Polaris
Cargill
Best Buy
Park Nicollet
Medtronic
Blue Cross
Health Partners
Fairview
St. Jude Medical
United Health
Children’s Hospital
Heart Association
American Diabetes Association
Dairy Council
Third Lair Demo
Radio Disney
Eric’s Bikes
Penn Cycle
Hoigaard’s
Nike
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS HIT LIST
Tina will develop this for next week
WE REALLY NEED TURNAROUND TIME FOR TSHIRTS: Nan will call Gee Teez to idea of this and quote.
Parent volunteers get grey Armatage t-shirts
NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday, Maudes 6:30 Nan reserve patio: come have a fabulous cocktail at Maude’s and meet the fun walk committee and learn how you can get involved.
Meeting Minutes
September 4, 2007
Park and Rec Art Room
Present: Chris Blumenfeld, Nan Carlson, Tina Erazmus, Dawn Lemke, Nikki Lindberg, Toni Locke
RECAP PAST WEEK
Nan will send a copy of the walk zone map to Tina (done)
Orange will be the paper color of choice. Check with Julie Millikan about ordering reams of paper of color through corporate account with Staples. (done. Julie will order paper for us.)
Nan will send Joan an e-mail letting her know the minutes have been posted to the blog. (done)
Nan gave update on meeting with Joan.
Dawn suggested making a Double Challenge to Joan if we reach the $32k goal. All agreed the Goal of Goals should be $16k for the first year, which was what the school took in from catalogue sales last year.
Renae Kirby taught at school that did a fun walk. Dawn will see if she is available Friday am.
Should we try to sell ad space on the main PTA blog? Nan wondered how many hits the blog was actually getting.
Toni Locke is going to take on ticket sales and presales for the carb load dinner.
NEXT WEEK
The big shoe should go home next week; get to Jeannie by friday ; teachers collect shoe, shoes go in pta mailbox
Kick off contest to name the event; Dawn and Tina will get the letter out; walk committee will vote on it Sept 18 after Wendy’s Night.
Announce winning name over the pa during morning announcements.
Send ½ sheet home with the winning class students, Nikki will do. Send something with your kids if you can’t …”winning certificate”
Ask Jenny Ito to put in the Kanga News: contest to name our new event! Check the blog after Sept 18 for the winning class!
Big Folders go home week of Sept 17th
Nikki needs class list
Schedule Packet Party
Wendy’s Night Sept 18 @ Yorktown , Dawn will get info to Tracy Lawson about fun walk tie-in. (Razor Scooter available for raffle.)
SPONSORSHIPS
Pam talked to Kevin @ Maude: breakfast is a maybe; dessert is a maybe – rather ask him for dessert
Nan will talk to Great Harvest about donating for the healthy breakfast.
Chris suggested contacting Vescio’s for spaghetti donation as well
If you have a contact, please ask for a donation for money, prizes or giveaways
Nan will post to both blogs and send in group e-mail list
Ask for 4 or 5 people to spend 2 weeks tops doing corporate or local fundraising
CORPORATE HIT LIST
REI
Dick’s (Toni Locke)
Whole Foods
Target
General Mills (Nancy Luna)
Yoplait
Super Value
Land O’Lakes
Kemps
3M
Polaris
Cargill
Best Buy
Park Nicollet
Medtronic
Blue Cross
Health Partners
Fairview
St. Jude Medical
United Health
Children’s Hospital
Heart Association
American Diabetes Association
Dairy Council
Third Lair Demo
Radio Disney
Eric’s Bikes
Penn Cycle
Hoigaard’s
Nike
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS HIT LIST
Tina will develop this for next week
WE REALLY NEED TURNAROUND TIME FOR TSHIRTS: Nan will call Gee Teez to idea of this and quote.
Parent volunteers get grey Armatage t-shirts
NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday, Maudes 6:30 Nan reserve patio: come have a fabulous cocktail at Maude’s and meet the fun walk committee and learn how you can get involved.
Next Meeting -- Join Us At Maudes!
For the next meeting of the fun walk committee, Maude's owner and good friend of Armatage Kevin Sheehy has reserved for us the patio at Cafe Maude. Come join us at the hottest spot in town to find out the latest on this exciting event. We've figured out what needs to be done. We need YOUR help doing it! Our next two steps are:
1. make contact with corporations and local businesses for sponsorships
2. assemble information packets to send home with kids
Get in on the action! See what else we're doing to tie healthy initiatives to other Armatage events.
Come to Cafe Maude's patio, Tuesday September 11 at 6:30 pm.
1. make contact with corporations and local businesses for sponsorships
2. assemble information packets to send home with kids
Get in on the action! See what else we're doing to tie healthy initiatives to other Armatage events.
Come to Cafe Maude's patio, Tuesday September 11 at 6:30 pm.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Meeting Minutes August 28
Fun Walk Meeting Minutes
Tuesday August 28, 2007
Chris Blumenfeld’s House (5649 Penn Avenue South)
Present: Dawn Lemke and Tina Erazmus, committee chairs, Chris Blumenfeld, Nikki Lindberg, Pam McCarthy-Kern, Daena Stearns, Nan Carlson
Tina and Dawn presented the event timeline
INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION
Info flyers will be available at Open House, Tina will make copies
Nan will verify with Pam Durand when the first Wednesday envelope will be going home.
Event intro flyer will go out in the 2nd wed envelope with sneaker “I’m walking for Armatage” must be signed by parent to be valid
Fun walk packets will go home _______.
Tina will have flyers copied for Curriculum Night
Nan will give Dawn and Tina healthy kids info from National PTA Office that they can use to incorporate into promotional literature
PROMOTIONS
2nd week of school: kick off naming contest
Names submitted by September 14th
Leadership Council will select winning name (without looking at room numbers)
Winning classroom will be served healthy breakfast by event committee/parents (try to get donations from Great Harvest, etc.) week of Sept 28
School Event Tie-Ins
Wendy’s Night: Sept 20th
Tickets will be given to each child who makes a healthy choice. They can put their names on the tickets then a name will be drawn for razor scooter prize – make sure info goes out in advance
Wendy’s Night: October
Coloring contest and healthy tip: prizes awarded for best coloring and best healthy tip (such as how would you groove your body?)
Assembly: first week of October
Have permission from Joan to do assembly in the lower gym
Need to ask Julie Railsback if she would like to lead the assembly in a yoga demonstration. Other options are a personal trainer at the Southdale Y named Tiffany and Tina’s mother, who teaches yoga also at the Southdale Y.
Recruit an athletic celebrity or sports team/mascot to appear. Gather leads from PTA members.
School Spirit Week: October 22-26
Have permission from Joan to create dress-up days as long as it does not get wild. No crazy hair or anything that gets the kids distracted. Keep the focus on things that are germain to getting exercise. Sports day, workout wear day, sweats day, etc. Run all ideas past Joan first
Lunch with Crunch?
who knows the T’wolves? 2 hours for lunch?
Pledge Tracking
Nikki will make a Foster Poster with our fundraising goal on the finish line. She will make a Foster to move along to the finish line.
Each info packet will include an 8.5X11 sheet with 8 “walkin’ Fosters” on it that the kids will be instructed to cut out and return weekly as pledges are collected.
Ticket buckets from the carnival will be repurpsed and labeled by Nikki to be placed in each classroom (22 classrooms) for the sole purpose of collecting these pledge strips. Pledge strips will need to be signed by parents.
Daena will collect buckets on Friday afternoons and keep track of incoming pledges and move Foster closer to his goal.
Challenges
Need to create challenge board for some prominent location of the school.
Challenges need to be accepted to be posted.
Joan Franks will accept any reasonable challenge, such as wearing a silly hat the Monday after the walk if we meet our fundraising goal or walking backwards all day, etc.
FUN WALK PACKETS
Will include the following
The inter-office type envelope with lines on the front for recording pledges. If these cannot be donated or purchased in the desired format, they can be made.
Official registration form, including name, room number, t-shirt size, fundraising goal, walking goal, personal challenges (accepted)
Complete explanation of event: what, why, how (if you raised $32k selling product, let’s try raising that much money having fun and being healthy)
Explain challenges and incentives, different levels of achievement: gold, silver, bronze Olympic champion, sponsor; financial and physical achievement, etc.
Include a “sample rap” children and parents can use when approaching sponsors
Encourage parents to be healthy and safe, doing this with their kids not the kids alone
DONATIONS
Corporate Giving
Dawn reported that the Star Tribune no longer has a foundation or giving anymore. She was directed to Achieve Minneapolis, with whom Armatage already has a relationship. She spoke with someone at Achieve who was very generous with good advice but said they would not make a monetary contribution.
Nan will talk to Jenny Ito about devising a flyer about where the PTA money goes to help convince sponsors of our relevance
Chris pointed out that as a 501(c)3, we can issue charitable contribution receipts
There was a conversation about Impact Minneapolis that I missed
Need people to knock on doors in the neighborhood: Grid out the neighborhood.
Chris said this had been done years ago for the silent auction. She will see if she can find that information
Why should neighborhood businesses support our school? Because Armatage School is one of THE success stories in MPS, period. We are the reason that stable families stay in the city, in the neighborhood. We’re the reason that our neighborhood is not crime addled and unpredictable.
Someone mentioned a weekly e-mail service that goes to every school district alumni that we might be able to tap into called the “Weekly Hotline.” Nan will ask Pam about it.
NEXT WEEK’S MEETING: SEPTEMBER 4TH AT PARK AND REC ART ROOM
Putting together a team to attack corporations including corporate wishlist, neighborhood targets
Daena has taken on role of bean counter
MATERIALS WE NEED TO PRODUCE:
Volunteer Sign Up Sheet
Contact Local Business to Donate Goods and Money: (4)
Follow up calls to corporations regarding contributions of goods or money: (4)
Assembling Info Packets: (5)
Hand out flyers at curriculum night: (3)
Contacting sports teams/mascots to attend assembly: (4)
Writing press releases and other media contact: (1)
Raffle Coordinators: (2)
Kick off dinner decorations and set up: (6)
Walk Event Set Up: (8)
Shoes
“I’m walking for Armatage!”
Child signature, parent signature
Please cut and color and return with your Wednesday envelope
Poster For Open House
Corporate sponsor letters
Pam: Building Permit for dinner and walkathon (requires the presence of an engineer)
Check with Emily Winter, Southdale Y and GeeTeez about Tshirts
Tuesday August 28, 2007
Chris Blumenfeld’s House (5649 Penn Avenue South)
Present: Dawn Lemke and Tina Erazmus, committee chairs, Chris Blumenfeld, Nikki Lindberg, Pam McCarthy-Kern, Daena Stearns, Nan Carlson
Tina and Dawn presented the event timeline
INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION
Info flyers will be available at Open House, Tina will make copies
Nan will verify with Pam Durand when the first Wednesday envelope will be going home.
Event intro flyer will go out in the 2nd wed envelope with sneaker “I’m walking for Armatage” must be signed by parent to be valid
Fun walk packets will go home _______.
Tina will have flyers copied for Curriculum Night
Nan will give Dawn and Tina healthy kids info from National PTA Office that they can use to incorporate into promotional literature
PROMOTIONS
2nd week of school: kick off naming contest
Names submitted by September 14th
Leadership Council will select winning name (without looking at room numbers)
Winning classroom will be served healthy breakfast by event committee/parents (try to get donations from Great Harvest, etc.) week of Sept 28
School Event Tie-Ins
Wendy’s Night: Sept 20th
Tickets will be given to each child who makes a healthy choice. They can put their names on the tickets then a name will be drawn for razor scooter prize – make sure info goes out in advance
Wendy’s Night: October
Coloring contest and healthy tip: prizes awarded for best coloring and best healthy tip (such as how would you groove your body?)
Assembly: first week of October
Have permission from Joan to do assembly in the lower gym
Need to ask Julie Railsback if she would like to lead the assembly in a yoga demonstration. Other options are a personal trainer at the Southdale Y named Tiffany and Tina’s mother, who teaches yoga also at the Southdale Y.
Recruit an athletic celebrity or sports team/mascot to appear. Gather leads from PTA members.
School Spirit Week: October 22-26
Have permission from Joan to create dress-up days as long as it does not get wild. No crazy hair or anything that gets the kids distracted. Keep the focus on things that are germain to getting exercise. Sports day, workout wear day, sweats day, etc. Run all ideas past Joan first
Lunch with Crunch?
who knows the T’wolves? 2 hours for lunch?
Pledge Tracking
Nikki will make a Foster Poster with our fundraising goal on the finish line. She will make a Foster to move along to the finish line.
Each info packet will include an 8.5X11 sheet with 8 “walkin’ Fosters” on it that the kids will be instructed to cut out and return weekly as pledges are collected.
Ticket buckets from the carnival will be repurpsed and labeled by Nikki to be placed in each classroom (22 classrooms) for the sole purpose of collecting these pledge strips. Pledge strips will need to be signed by parents.
Daena will collect buckets on Friday afternoons and keep track of incoming pledges and move Foster closer to his goal.
Challenges
Need to create challenge board for some prominent location of the school.
Challenges need to be accepted to be posted.
Joan Franks will accept any reasonable challenge, such as wearing a silly hat the Monday after the walk if we meet our fundraising goal or walking backwards all day, etc.
FUN WALK PACKETS
Will include the following
The inter-office type envelope with lines on the front for recording pledges. If these cannot be donated or purchased in the desired format, they can be made.
Official registration form, including name, room number, t-shirt size, fundraising goal, walking goal, personal challenges (accepted)
Complete explanation of event: what, why, how (if you raised $32k selling product, let’s try raising that much money having fun and being healthy)
Explain challenges and incentives, different levels of achievement: gold, silver, bronze Olympic champion, sponsor; financial and physical achievement, etc.
Include a “sample rap” children and parents can use when approaching sponsors
Encourage parents to be healthy and safe, doing this with their kids not the kids alone
DONATIONS
Corporate Giving
Dawn reported that the Star Tribune no longer has a foundation or giving anymore. She was directed to Achieve Minneapolis, with whom Armatage already has a relationship. She spoke with someone at Achieve who was very generous with good advice but said they would not make a monetary contribution.
Nan will talk to Jenny Ito about devising a flyer about where the PTA money goes to help convince sponsors of our relevance
Chris pointed out that as a 501(c)3, we can issue charitable contribution receipts
There was a conversation about Impact Minneapolis that I missed
Need people to knock on doors in the neighborhood: Grid out the neighborhood.
Chris said this had been done years ago for the silent auction. She will see if she can find that information
Why should neighborhood businesses support our school? Because Armatage School is one of THE success stories in MPS, period. We are the reason that stable families stay in the city, in the neighborhood. We’re the reason that our neighborhood is not crime addled and unpredictable.
Someone mentioned a weekly e-mail service that goes to every school district alumni that we might be able to tap into called the “Weekly Hotline.” Nan will ask Pam about it.
NEXT WEEK’S MEETING: SEPTEMBER 4TH AT PARK AND REC ART ROOM
Putting together a team to attack corporations including corporate wishlist, neighborhood targets
Daena has taken on role of bean counter
MATERIALS WE NEED TO PRODUCE:
Volunteer Sign Up Sheet
Contact Local Business to Donate Goods and Money: (4)
Follow up calls to corporations regarding contributions of goods or money: (4)
Assembling Info Packets: (5)
Hand out flyers at curriculum night: (3)
Contacting sports teams/mascots to attend assembly: (4)
Writing press releases and other media contact: (1)
Raffle Coordinators: (2)
Kick off dinner decorations and set up: (6)
Walk Event Set Up: (8)
Shoes
“I’m walking for Armatage!”
Child signature, parent signature
Please cut and color and return with your Wednesday envelope
Poster For Open House
Corporate sponsor letters
Pam: Building Permit for dinner and walkathon (requires the presence of an engineer)
Check with Emily Winter, Southdale Y and GeeTeez about Tshirts
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sorry Folks -- Another Change
Tonight's meeting will be at Chris Blumenfeld's house, one door down from the corner of 57th and Penn, at 6:30 pm. 5649 Penn Avenue South at 6:30 pm. Please join us!
We apologize for any inconvenience this sudden change may have caused!
Always check your blog!!!
We apologize for any inconvenience this sudden change may have caused!
Always check your blog!!!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Meeting Change
The next planning meeting will be held this Tuesday, August 28th at Caribou Coffee at 6:30 pm, not at the park and rec building as previously posted.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Info Table at Open House
The Fun Walk is going to have a display table at the Open House on Friday, August 31st from noon to 2 pm. We'd love to see you stop by to get more information about and perhaps sign up to help with this great event! If you'd like to work the table, e-mail Tina at mrsraz1999@yahoo.com or Dawn at dawnjosephsarah@comcast.net.
August 21 Meeting Minutes
Fun Walk Meeting Minutes
8-21-08
Present: Tina Erazmus and Dawn Lemke, co-chairs, Christin Crabtree, Pam McCarthy-Kern, and Nan Carlson
DATE AND LOCATION:
Tina announced that Park Director Jerry Peterson is on board for event and willing to provide whateer support necessary. Bad weather back up plan would involve use of lower gym which is not available Oct 6 and 13th. Event was therefore scheduled for Oct 26th and 27th so that bad weather back up plan could be most easily developed. Back up details to be discussed later.
Typical weather conditions around the last weekend in October were discussed and it was decided that as weather rarely interferes with outdoor Halloween activities, the date should be acceptable for a fitness event.
Christin raised the question of liability issues for holding an event on school and park grounds. Nan will look into this.
It was decided to limit the event to feet and strollers only, no bikes or blades as the walk area will be too crowded. If turnout is high, next year may be moved to larger venue to accommodate other wheels.
PROMOTION:
Tina has created a flyer, Dawn will have an editor friend review and have ready for Open House
Lisa Domagala has created a Sporty Foster logo, complete with headband and sneakers, which will transfer easily to promotional items should we be able to do so.
Christin suggested planning a “spirit week” to get students excited about it; it should be held in the 2nd week of school.
Registration materials will be sent home with students during Spirit Week. A paper walking shoe with a line for the student’s name will be included and each student who plans to participate will be asked to return the shoe the following Wednesday. The shoes will be hung all over the school in a line. This will give us some idea of what to expect in terms of participation and whether we need to do more with promotions.
Event naming contest: Each class takes 10 minutes to brainstorm event name; winning name is announced at the 1st spirit week event. Possible prizes for the winning class: healthy breakfast, extra recess, Frisbees left over from past carnivals, Armatage wristbands in the PTA room.
Incentives and Challenges: step challenges between the grades, money raised challenges between the classrooms, personal challenges…get Joan to do something funny or silly if the kids meet the goal, challenge to the teacher , challenge board? Students could submit challenges to teachers and if the teacher thinks it’s appropriate we’ll put it on a challenge board.
Dawn suggested having kids research healthy facts to write in chalk on sidewalk squares of the walk route as part of the healthy learning initiative of the event.
FINANCIAL:
We need to create a budget for the event and talk to Jenny Ito and Tracy Lawson about what money is available for this event currently.
Dawn gave an impromptu address to the Armatage Neighborhood Association which consequently voted to provide $500 to the PTA for start up costs for the Fun Walk.
PRIZES/INCENTIVES:
Inventory what kind of things we already have
Lisa has catalogue of things that the sporty foster logo can go on
Healthy bakery, “madwoman”
Maybe Café Maude would donate breakfast
CORPORATE PARTNERS
What we want from corporate sponsors are giveaway items from health-related businesses, food and beverages, promotional items, and participation (set up tents outside to help kids learn about good health, exercise, etc.)
We are partnering with the Southdale Y but we aren’t sure yet what the means for us, perhaps a one-time grant of $1k , perhaps t-shirts.
Christin would like to help with corporate sponsorships and will draft a form letter that others can use.
Nan gave the following advice regarding approaching corporations for support
1. Brainstorm list of dream sponsors
2. Find out if anyone knows anyone
3. If time, write letters and follow up immediately with phone calls
4. If no time, skip letters and make phone calls
5. For phoning, you can devise phone tree with a short script
6. Be specific about exactly what you want from your sponsor and about exactly what they will get from you in return
7. Don’t take rejection personally
Dawn will talk to Helen Wainwright is head of HR at Star Tribune, might know where to go to partner with them
Other Potential Sponsors:
Medtronic
Target
Park Nicollet
Blue Cross
General Mills
Lunds
Supervalue
Health Partners
Local business for prizes (raffles) and food
Organic-focused businesses: the Wedge, Linden Hills Food Coop, Whole Foods
Food vendors
How to reward sponsors
Get your name on a t-shirt
Maybe print out program with all sponsors listed on it
Banners at registration
Punch cards could be sponsored by the businesses
KICK OFF DINNER:
Pam will be food coordinator: Would some place be willing to turn over to us? Donate food?
Fireside Pizza
Broder’s
Café Maude
Lake Harriet Pizza
Prima
If food donated by worthy restaurant, tickets presold and sold at door for $7 adult, $5 child. If we end up doing it “pot luck” or simple PTA provided spaghetti dinner, ticket prices would be lower.
Need to estimate head count to approach food donors.
Armatageous will perform
Christin has kid friendly dj friends for saturday
FUTURE IDEAS
Health Food Fairs: pay us $X, put up a table, charge nominal fee to the community
*PTA guide to surviving PALA
NEXT STEPS
1. Time line (Dawn and Tina)
2. Spirit week: naming contest and program details
3. Materials
Next meeting Tuesday august 28 at 6:30 in the art room
If you have ideas for getting the kids excited, come to the meeting or e-mail Tina at mrsraz1999@yahoo.com or Dawn at dawnjosephsarah@comcast.net
WE NEED YOU!
8-21-08
Present: Tina Erazmus and Dawn Lemke, co-chairs, Christin Crabtree, Pam McCarthy-Kern, and Nan Carlson
DATE AND LOCATION:
Tina announced that Park Director Jerry Peterson is on board for event and willing to provide whateer support necessary. Bad weather back up plan would involve use of lower gym which is not available Oct 6 and 13th. Event was therefore scheduled for Oct 26th and 27th so that bad weather back up plan could be most easily developed. Back up details to be discussed later.
Typical weather conditions around the last weekend in October were discussed and it was decided that as weather rarely interferes with outdoor Halloween activities, the date should be acceptable for a fitness event.
Christin raised the question of liability issues for holding an event on school and park grounds. Nan will look into this.
It was decided to limit the event to feet and strollers only, no bikes or blades as the walk area will be too crowded. If turnout is high, next year may be moved to larger venue to accommodate other wheels.
PROMOTION:
Tina has created a flyer, Dawn will have an editor friend review and have ready for Open House
Lisa Domagala has created a Sporty Foster logo, complete with headband and sneakers, which will transfer easily to promotional items should we be able to do so.
Christin suggested planning a “spirit week” to get students excited about it; it should be held in the 2nd week of school.
Registration materials will be sent home with students during Spirit Week. A paper walking shoe with a line for the student’s name will be included and each student who plans to participate will be asked to return the shoe the following Wednesday. The shoes will be hung all over the school in a line. This will give us some idea of what to expect in terms of participation and whether we need to do more with promotions.
Event naming contest: Each class takes 10 minutes to brainstorm event name; winning name is announced at the 1st spirit week event. Possible prizes for the winning class: healthy breakfast, extra recess, Frisbees left over from past carnivals, Armatage wristbands in the PTA room.
Incentives and Challenges: step challenges between the grades, money raised challenges between the classrooms, personal challenges…get Joan to do something funny or silly if the kids meet the goal, challenge to the teacher , challenge board? Students could submit challenges to teachers and if the teacher thinks it’s appropriate we’ll put it on a challenge board.
Dawn suggested having kids research healthy facts to write in chalk on sidewalk squares of the walk route as part of the healthy learning initiative of the event.
FINANCIAL:
We need to create a budget for the event and talk to Jenny Ito and Tracy Lawson about what money is available for this event currently.
Dawn gave an impromptu address to the Armatage Neighborhood Association which consequently voted to provide $500 to the PTA for start up costs for the Fun Walk.
PRIZES/INCENTIVES:
Inventory what kind of things we already have
Lisa has catalogue of things that the sporty foster logo can go on
Healthy bakery, “madwoman”
Maybe Café Maude would donate breakfast
CORPORATE PARTNERS
What we want from corporate sponsors are giveaway items from health-related businesses, food and beverages, promotional items, and participation (set up tents outside to help kids learn about good health, exercise, etc.)
We are partnering with the Southdale Y but we aren’t sure yet what the means for us, perhaps a one-time grant of $1k , perhaps t-shirts.
Christin would like to help with corporate sponsorships and will draft a form letter that others can use.
Nan gave the following advice regarding approaching corporations for support
1. Brainstorm list of dream sponsors
2. Find out if anyone knows anyone
3. If time, write letters and follow up immediately with phone calls
4. If no time, skip letters and make phone calls
5. For phoning, you can devise phone tree with a short script
6. Be specific about exactly what you want from your sponsor and about exactly what they will get from you in return
7. Don’t take rejection personally
Dawn will talk to Helen Wainwright is head of HR at Star Tribune, might know where to go to partner with them
Other Potential Sponsors:
Medtronic
Target
Park Nicollet
Blue Cross
General Mills
Lunds
Supervalue
Health Partners
Local business for prizes (raffles) and food
Organic-focused businesses: the Wedge, Linden Hills Food Coop, Whole Foods
Food vendors
How to reward sponsors
Get your name on a t-shirt
Maybe print out program with all sponsors listed on it
Banners at registration
Punch cards could be sponsored by the businesses
KICK OFF DINNER:
Pam will be food coordinator: Would some place be willing to turn over to us? Donate food?
Fireside Pizza
Broder’s
Café Maude
Lake Harriet Pizza
Prima
If food donated by worthy restaurant, tickets presold and sold at door for $7 adult, $5 child. If we end up doing it “pot luck” or simple PTA provided spaghetti dinner, ticket prices would be lower.
Need to estimate head count to approach food donors.
Armatageous will perform
Christin has kid friendly dj friends for saturday
FUTURE IDEAS
Health Food Fairs: pay us $X, put up a table, charge nominal fee to the community
*PTA guide to surviving PALA
NEXT STEPS
1. Time line (Dawn and Tina)
2. Spirit week: naming contest and program details
3. Materials
Next meeting Tuesday august 28 at 6:30 in the art room
If you have ideas for getting the kids excited, come to the meeting or e-mail Tina at mrsraz1999@yahoo.com or Dawn at dawnjosephsarah@comcast.net
WE NEED YOU!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
THANK YOU A.N.A.!
Last night, August 21st, at the monthly Armatage Neighborhood Association, the Family Fun Walk got a great boost in the form of a $500 contribution from the ANA. Dawn Lemke made an impromptu address to the board to let them know about this great new event and the board voted to be the first ones to support it with a cash donation. We can't thank enough the board members of the ANA, who represent our wonderful neighborhood and continue to work in partnership with our school to bring to Armatage the best that Southwest Minneapolis has to offer.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
8-15-07 Meeting Minutes
GENERAL MEETING
8-15-07
Dawn Lemke, Chris Blumenfeld, Nikki Lindberg, Tina Erazmus, Nan Carlson
Location: Armatage, CONFIRM DATES WITH JERRY, confirm use of parking lot
Dinner: Friday October 19th 6:00-9:00
Walk: Saturday October 20th 9:00-12:00 (9:00-9:30 registration; 9:30 opening ceremony)
Money collected: Wednesday the 17th
Slogan: fostering healthy kids, healthy schools, healthy communities
Instead of investing in consumer goods, we’re investing in our children’s health
Every child can participate and be successful
Kick Off Dinner Committee (develop bad weather plan)
General Chairs:
Food and Beverage:
Tickets and Money:
Entertainment: (Kim Pearson)
Raffle: some big ticket items to help get people in the door
RESEARCH DOOR PRIZE RULES
Decorations and Set Up:
Clean Up:
EVENT Committee (develop bad weather plan)
Co-chairs: Tina Erazmus and Dawn Lemke
Corporate Involvement : (give us stuff and also set up info booths)
Financials: (includes room moms, envelopes, PTA grant, collections)
Promotions (External and Internal):
Assembly:
Graphic Design: Lisa Domagala
Opening Ceremony: (YMCA? School band play us out, etc.)
Incentives/Prizes: (involves steps and calories burned, HP 10k steps)
Entertainment: (student band, celebrities? Craig’s list)
Raffle: (if you turn in your completed card or tag, you get to enter the raffle)
Food/Beverages: after walk
Signs and Set Up:
Tear Down/Clean Up:
8-15-07
Dawn Lemke, Chris Blumenfeld, Nikki Lindberg, Tina Erazmus, Nan Carlson
Location: Armatage, CONFIRM DATES WITH JERRY, confirm use of parking lot
Dinner: Friday October 19th 6:00-9:00
Walk: Saturday October 20th 9:00-12:00 (9:00-9:30 registration; 9:30 opening ceremony)
Money collected: Wednesday the 17th
Slogan: fostering healthy kids, healthy schools, healthy communities
Instead of investing in consumer goods, we’re investing in our children’s health
Every child can participate and be successful
Kick Off Dinner Committee (develop bad weather plan)
General Chairs:
Food and Beverage:
Tickets and Money:
Entertainment: (Kim Pearson)
Raffle: some big ticket items to help get people in the door
RESEARCH DOOR PRIZE RULES
Decorations and Set Up:
Clean Up:
EVENT Committee (develop bad weather plan)
Co-chairs: Tina Erazmus and Dawn Lemke
Corporate Involvement : (give us stuff and also set up info booths)
Financials: (includes room moms, envelopes, PTA grant, collections)
Promotions (External and Internal):
Assembly:
Graphic Design: Lisa Domagala
Opening Ceremony: (YMCA? School band play us out, etc.)
Incentives/Prizes: (involves steps and calories burned, HP 10k steps)
Entertainment: (student band, celebrities? Craig’s list)
Raffle: (if you turn in your completed card or tag, you get to enter the raffle)
Food/Beverages: after walk
Signs and Set Up:
Tear Down/Clean Up:
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