FOGS January 2025 Meeting Minutes

Friends Of Goethe School (FOGS)

Monthly Meeting Agenda

Jan 15, 2025

 6:30-8:30pm

Location: Stop Along

Attendees:

• Jen Morales-Crye, President

• Ashlee Cuza Villanti, First Vice President

• Elizabeth Leong, Second Vice President

• Genevra Knight, Treasurer

• Sara McCradden, Secretary

• Mari Fair, Board Member

• Stephanie Galioto, Board Member

• Vanessa Gonzales, Board Member

• Kim Kappelman, Board Member

• Mandalyn Renicker,  Board Member

• Maggie Jarecki

  
  

Discussion

1. Welcome  (5 min)

2. Month In Review (10 min)

   1. Annual Fund wrap-up - exceeded monetary goal!

      1. Postcard campaign may or may not have been fruitful, would be easier to track with different codes for different methods of communication

      2. GiveSmart was very easy to use, messaging campaign was excellent

      3. We need admin help with messaging

      4. A tangible goal is helpful for true fundraising

      5. Consider asking the community/ teachers what they want to fundraise for (give options)

      6. The timing was good (end of November roll out)

      7. Raffle items seemed to help, especially adding them halfway through the campaign

   2. Bowling Family Event

      1. Over 1K profit and very community building

      2. Timing and duration was well received

      3. We ran out of pizza, more next time but concessions were a hit

      4. GiveSmart was excellent

      5. We sold 140 tickets, 120 people showed 

   3. Holiday Market

      1. Goethe gear turned out well, but we do have left overs - sell at next event

      2. Extra mugs, etc can be used for teacher bucket filler/ loteria gifts

   4. Chipotle Dine & Donate

      1. Raised about $300

   5. PLAY Drop & Shop

      1. Raised about $290

      2. Timing is key for this

      3. Consider combining this childcare, mimosa bar next year?

   6. Classroom and STEAM Furniture Donation

      1. All furniture has been delivered

   7. STEAM lab

      1. Monies approved last meeting are in process of being spent

      2. First OST program is starting in February

      3. For future consideration, if we receive STEAM-specific donations, how to handle

   8. Field

      1. Issue with main drainage line that needs to be assessed

      2. Timeline is break ground remains June 1 for Phase 1

3. Executive Updates (5 min)

   1. LSC Collaboration

      1. Approved: PLAY drop & shop and Wendy’s Dine & Donate

      2. Up for approval 1/23: Fun Run, Lou’s dine and donate, Panera dine and donate, Giordano’s dine and donate

         1. Fundraising for Fun Run remains the same, timing of Fun Run may shift to afternoon instead of morning (start around 1:30 or so), initial fundraising goal of 40K from students (not sponsors)

         2. Lou’s DnD (Fullerton and Kimball) - Feb 19th

         3. Panera DnD (Fullerton and Elston) - March 18th

         4. Giordano’s - Date TBD, aiming for April/ May

         5. Potential for Dark Matter Coffee, TBD

         6. Potential for The Old Plank, TBD

         7. Potential for Jersey Mike’s, TBD

   2. School Admin collaboration

      1. Field trip fund - being used by teachers

      2. Elmasri’s participation in La Noche Loteria, STEAM lab purchases

4. Treasurer’s Report (5 min)

   1. Outstanding reimbursements/payments

      1. $106K available in bank, <$30K available in budget for the remainder of school year

5. Fundraising Report-Outs (30 min)

   1. Family Events

      1. April 11th - either movie or magician at Goethe

   2. Winter Fundraiser

      1. Loteria ticket buying is live

      2. Promotions to begin shortly

      3. Need for silent auction, raffle items. We have ~35, we need ~50. Live auction is fulfilled.

   3. Fun Run

      1. Further discussion on whether to use Fun Run platform vs GiveSmart

6. Other Report-Outs (5 min each)

1. Communications

   1. Communications are going well. Potentially update website, link to Goethe’s website

2. Bucket Filling

7. Other Business (10 min)

   1. Givesmart training 

      1. This week and next week for any training

      2. Donation training on Jan 28th

   2. Snacks volunteer for Feb 3 meeting 

8. Adjourn

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Set Up Dine & Donates

• Committees- La Noche Loteria, Fun Run

• Help set up STEAM Lab supplies (tentative end of January)

Upcoming Calendar of Events:

• 1/16 Wendy’s Dine & Donate, 4-7pm

• 3/14  La Noche Loteria - Pilot Project

• 4/24  Fun Run - pending LSC approval 

• Oct 2025 - Goethe Fest - pending LSC approval 

SY25 FOGS Meeting Dates:

Feb 3

Mar 3

Apr 7

May 5

June 2