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!