Young Autism Program Charitable Foundation

YOUNG AUTISM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, January 8^th, 2008

Margaret asked for feedback on the children’s Holiday party. It was suggested that perhaps the volume of the music could be lower next year.  She thanks Carol Scotto for organizing the event. 

Some people still need to complete and hand in the video authorization forms for their children to be included in the dinner dance video. Forms were distributed. If you still need a form please contact a board member. The 2008 Dinner Dance video will be shot on the same day as school picture day, February 21 in Ronkonkoma and February 22 in Medford.

Bea Petersen is a YAP parent who is the President of The EJ autism foundation. She is sponsoring a marathon to support YAPCF and other autism causes on April 13^th, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. at the East Islip Marina. Applications can be found on the website; www.EJAutismfoundation.org.  The EJ Autism Foundation has been a Diamond Sponsor at the last few YAPCF Dinner Dances.

At the next meeting voting will be taking place for board positions for the following year. Two board members are definitely leaving and an additional position is vacant.  More details will follow on the President, Vice President and Vice President of Fundraising positions.

The Annual Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday, April 19^th, 2008 at the Crest Hollow Country Club at 6:30 p.m. The first 90 minutes involve the selling of Chinese Auction/raffle tickets. Tickets are $125 per person.

Fundraising packets will go out at the end of the week. There will be a Spanish translation packet available, if anyone needs one please contact Margaret. In your packet you will have a cover letter and an explanation of opportunities for sponsorship. If you need an electronic copy sent to your email, please email YAPCF.

Journal Ads will be due at the March 18^th YAPCF meeting, which is one month before the dinner dance. It is critical that this deadline be met; the printer will not be able to accommodate any ads past this deadline.  Mary Zinck will be in charge of the journal ads. Ronkonkoma parents please backpack your ads to Mary Zinck; Medford parents please backpack yours to Margaret Cassella.

Invitations: We will email and backpack home an excel spreadsheet template where you will fill out the names and addresses of those people you would like to invite. Please do not forget to include yourself. Please send your information to: yapinvites@optonline.net. Lisa Fox of Medford will be in charge of the invitations. Please remember to invite as many people as you possibly can. People might not be able to attend, but they will still have the opportunity to make a donation. February 15^th is the deadline for the invitations. If any one has difficulty attending the Dinner Dance due to the cost, please see a board member in confidence. We really need everyone’s participation in this event for it to be a success.

Theme basket lists will be backpacked home as well as emailed. Each team will have a theme. The list includes ideas for that theme, with a $25-30 minimum. That allows for 18 baskets. The Chinese Auction has 90 baskets total so it is critical that everyone solicit their local businesses for donations. Please bring in any new unopened items; we can use them to create baskets. We also are need of gift cards, laundry baskets, a portable DVD player, sporting events tickets and high end liquor. Please do not backpack liquor in on the bus. It can only be dropped off at YAPCF meetings.

In addition we will also need to collect $10 for miscellaneous expenses and 3 scratch off lottery tickets. These items will be due on March 18^th. It is critical to have these items handed in on a timely basis; it will make the whole event run more efficiently.

Collage: During the dinner dance we display 2 collages of children, one for each campus. Please send in 1 baby picture, as well as one current picture of your child for the collage.

This will be due at the March 18^th meeting.

Main Raffle: We also sell raffles prior to and during the dinner dance. This year’s prizes will be:

1^st Prize: A one week stay in a luxury condo in Mexico, generously donated by the Zinck-Holmes family, plus Air fare generously donated by the Grenci Family.

This prize is worth approximately $3,500.

2^nd Prize: Large screen TV. generously donated by the Bedwell Family. A $1,200 value.

3^rd Prize: $500 gift certificate to Tiffany and Co., generously donated by the Hibbert Family.

The next YAPCF meeting is Tuesday, February 5^th at 6:30 p.m.  Babysitting will be available.  Please contact Christine Kerimian @ (631) 813-8960.

Board Members:

Margaret Cassella, President

(631) 664-1674

qfic@optonline.net

Mary Herrle, Vice President

(631) 584-2042

mjh 121088@optonline.net

Sal Grenci, VP of Fundraising

(631) 422-1353

saldorie@msn.com

Maria Scalabrino, Treasurer

(631)580-2657

Pms5262@msn.com

Amy Geraldi, Secretary

(631)750-5109

pjsma@optonline.net