Dakota Booster GENERAL Membership Meeting

October 13, 2008

Meeting called to order at 7:09 p.m.

Minutes from September General Membership Meeting were approved by Angie Tiseo (1st) and Kim Torchala (2nd).

Opening Remarks:  A thank-you card was read from Kristen Kirchhoff, who received a booster-sponsored scholarship last year.

 

Treasurer’s Report:

Checking Balance:   $18,263.56                        Savings Balance:        $4,492.83

Donations Pending:    $2,901.87                                    Balance Remaining:  $19,854.52

Report was approved by Joanne (1st) and Annette Tilney (2nd).

 

Guest Speaker—Stephanie Lange:

·        Reported that 420 walkers participated in Out of the Darkness Walk at Dakota on October 11, which is the largest walk in Michigan.  Over $19,000 was raised for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, of which half can be used in our school.  She thanked the boosters for the donation they provided. 

·        Presented a briefing and article based on results of a February 2008 U of M/U of D Focus Group with 9th, 11th, and 12th graders regarding underage drinking.

 

Student Report:

·        Dakota website has a Student Activities link that lists all clubs and advisors.

·        Student volunteers are needed at the following meetings:

o   Class of 2012—Meets every other Tuesday in Room 308 after school.

o   Class of 2011—Meets on Wednesdays in Room 104 at 7 a.m.

o   Class of 2010—Meets every Tuesday in Room 309 of the 9th Grade Center after school.

o   Class of 2009—Meets every Tuesday in Room 205 after school.

·        Student Activity Cards are still available for $35 from Miss Belanger.

·        STUGO and SAAD will sponsor a canned food drive next month.

·        There is a $2 entry fee to participate in the Dodge Ball Tournament on October 22, from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

·        Sign-up sheets are available during all lunches for the Staff vs. Student Football Game on October 29 at 7 p.m.

·        Contact Dominic Nanni at dnanni@yahoo.com with any questions you may have regarding student activities.

 

Administration Report:

·        Mr. Heethuis distributed a flyer providing dates and times for upcoming “Coffee with the Principal” meetings.  This year, there will not be any evening meetings scheduled, due to low attendance last year.  The meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of the month, alternating between morning and afternoon times.  There will not be one scheduled on Election Day.

·        Mr. Briningstool reported the following information:

o   The first annual Matriculation Ceremony went well.  It was a formal ceremony, with the teachers dressed in commencement gowns.  Representatives from the central office and school board members also attended.  The band and choir performed.  The purpose was to stress the importance of graduation to the 9th graders.  They signed a commitment book, which will also be on stage during their commencement ceremony.  It was recorded for the district cable station, and a lot of positive feedback has been received.

o   Parent Teacher Conferences were very successful.

o   Teachers are getting their websites up to date.  They are all easily accessible if needed.

o   Homecoming was a good experience, with a lot of participation.  1,100 10th-12th grade students attended their dance and 350 attended the Freshmen dance at the 9th Grade Center.  The Freshmen won the float competition and had a lot of spirit.  They had their own pep assembly during the week of their dance and also participated in the 10th-12th grade pep assembly during spirit week in the main building.

o   Responses were provided to the following questions:

§  Will the Freshmen have their own Snowcoming Dance also?  No, there will only be one dance in the main building for all students because it normally has less attendance than the Homecoming Dance.

§  Can championship banners in the gym be moved so the most current are more prominently displayed for the students to feel more connected?  They have always been hung in the order they were received, but it will be mentioned at the next Administration meeting.

§  Can results of Spirit Week and Homecoming Float competitions be announced again later in the game so the band members can hear them?  Will look into this for next year.

§  Can the 50/50 number be scrolled across the scoreboard during football games?  The boosters don’t have control over what is displayed on the scoreboard, and announcements are usually entered by computer in advance of the game.  Karen always delivers the winning ticket to the press box every game and leaves it with the announcer.  Some discussion followed about announcing it more than once because sometimes it is hard to hear when the band is playing or putting it on the booster’s website, which the board will discuss.  Karen also mentioned that all money is held for a year until it is claimed.

§  Do students still require community service hours for graduation?  Not anymore because it is too hard to track and validate.  Only NHS requires community service hours from their members and Key Club provides a lot of community service opportunities for interested students.

 

Service Report:

·        Es De Moda Club is working with Fabrics classes to raise money to buy fabric for ConKerr Cancer, an organization that constructs and donates brightly colored pillowcases to local children who are cancer patients checking in for treatment.  They are currently selling Community Day coupon books for Parisian.

·        Ecology Club will be teaching the 1st, 3rd, and 4th grades at Cheyenne Elementary School about Biodiversity on October 29.

·        Key Club will be having a Halloween Bash on October 28 for children from Turning Point.   It will also be open to children in the community.

·        National Honor Society will be helping at Ojibwa Elementary School’s Mom-to-Mom sale on October 24-25.  They will also be helping at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library North Branch on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a High School Musical Party.  The NHS Induction Ceremony is scheduled for October 30 at 6:30 p.m.

·        Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) will be placing posters around the school during red ribbon week and will be putting stickers with healthy choice quotes on cookie bags.  They will also be working on a memorial bench this year in memory of students who have passed away during their years at Dakota.

·        Junior Statesman of America (JSA) club is in the process of planning a presidential mock election which will probably take place during all lunches sometime before November 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fine Arts Report:

·        Band – Marching Band will compete in the MSBOA Marching Band Festival at Lanse Creuse North High School on October 14 and will hold their Tag Day Fundraiser at 23/Hayes Kroger on October 18-19 and at 21/Card Kroger on October 25-26.  All bands, including the Concert, Symphonic, and Wind Ensemble bands will perform at the Collage Concert in the Auditorium on October 23.  The Marching Band will march in the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade next month.  Additional information can be found on the band’s website:  www.dakotabands.com.

·        Choir – Honors Choir auditions will be held at Dundee High School on October 11.  The annual Fashion Show fundraiser will be at Cherry Creek on October 13.  All choirs will perform at the Collage Concert on October 23.  “Les Miserables” auditions are scheduled on October 28-29.  The choir will travel to Chicago to see Wicked on October 31.  Upcoming events are:  Variety Show auditions on November 12; Varsity Choir performance at Chamber Choir Festival at Oakland University on November 17; Variety Show Rehearsal on November 18; and Variety Show on November 19-20.  Additional information can be found on the choir’s website:  www.dakotachoir.com.

·        Winter Guard – Tryouts will be in the Band Room on October 19 and 22 from 6 – 9 pm.  Additional information can be found on the band’s website:  www.dakotabands.com.

 

Sports Report:

·        Made over $8,000 at Homecoming Game concessions.

·        Concessions help is needed on October 28 for the Seneca/Iroquois football game at 5:30.  Volunteers should report at 4:30.

·        On Saturday, November 1, at 1:00, we will host our first playoff football game.  Many volunteers will be needed at 11:00 in the concessions stands.

·        Girls Swim and Dive Team defeated Anchor Bay 127 to 55.

·        Boys Swim and Dive meeting on October 21 in Room 337 of the 9th Grade Center.

·        Dakota Girls Basketball tryouts and parent/player meeting on Wednesday, October 22, 6:30-7:00 p.m. in the Atrium.

·        Dakota vs. Eisenhower game on October 17 is in the running for Fox 2 Game of the Week.  Vote often until 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 16.

·        Varsity Girls Basketball player, senior Marissa Masi, was awarded the Channel 7 Scholar Athlete of the Week.

·        The following students were named “Athlete of the Week” by the Macomb Daily:

o   Hannah Pugh, Swimming and Diving, October 12.

o   Emily Kujawski, Volleyball, October 15

Craft Show Report:

·        127 tables have been sold, and several more requests are coming.

·        Volunteer sign-up sheets are on the front tables.  Set up starts at 3:00 on Friday, November 7.  Volunteers will also be needed at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday to help crafters set up.  This is the only opportunity for students to receive volunteer credit for their groups.  In the past, many students volunteer to help set up and be food runners for the crafters during the show.  Volunteers are also needed to donate baked goods.

 

Web Site Report:

Up to date, except for last year’s donations.

 

Donation Requests:

·        The following donation requests under $500 were approved by board members at their meeting on October 6:

o   $156.37 for 500 Dakota pencils for new recognition program.

o   $51.45 for foil certificate seal for new recognition program.

o   $68.45 for clear gift bag for new recognition program.

o   $283.93 for Dakota pens for new recognition program.

o   $248.43 for 25 embroidered tote bags for new recognition program.

o   $308.26 for 25 writing padfolios for new recognition program.

o   $300 for NHS Induction Ceremony.

o   $440 for Out of the Darkness Walk.

·        JV Dance requested $754.84 to purchase jazz costumes for competition season, which was approved by the general membership.

·        Senior All Night Party Committee requested $5000, which was approved by the general membership.

·        Administration requested $800 to purchase Dakota Cougar lanyards for new recognition program, which was approved by the general membership.

 

Old Business:

·        Max & Erma’s Fundraiser—Everyone was reminded to download coupon from booster website and present it Wednesday, October 15, at the Partridge Creek restaurant.

·        Credit for Attending Booster Meetings—Everyone was also reminded to indicate on the booster meeting sign-in sheet which group they would like to receive credit for their attendance.

 

Motion to adjourn at 8:00 by Bert Liptak (1st) and Annette Tilney (2nd).

 

Next Meeting Schedules:

 

·        Board Meeting is Monday, November 3, 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room.

·        General Membership Meeting is Monday, November 10, 7:00 p.m., in the Atrium.

 

Respectfully Submitted:

Chris Liptak (DHS Booster Secretary)