The Friends of Child Crisis Arizona
2016 Gala Kick-off Meeting Minutes
September 17, 2015 • Camelback Inn
General Minutes
- Lauren and Kate opened the meeting announcing the theme (Glitz and Glamour: A Swingin' Soiree).
- Lauren recapped last year's event (403 guests, raised $464K, cut expenses by 8%, and made $347K net!)
- Meeting structure will be changed slightly to allow for any updates from committee chairs, but this will not be required. This will allow meetings to focus on current activities and necessary updates and also to keep meetings short and sweet.
- We facilitated a group get-to-know-you icebreaker. We will try to kick-off each meeting with an icebreaker. Any suggestions are welcomed.
Crisis Nursery Speaker - Jodi Stoken, Chief Development Officer
· Jodi began with a touching mission moment about a foster turned adoption family
· Jodi discussed and answered a lot of questions about the merger
· Plenty of lively Q&A as a result of Jodi’s presentation
· Links to Children’s Action Alliance will be added to the Friends website, but are listed below. These are ways that we can get involved to help influence legislation that supports the CCA mission.
Children’s Action Alliance – general sitehttp://azchildren.org/
Reaching your legislators - http://azchildren.org/take-action
· Jodi reinforced that CCA is focused on getting more foster parents rather than increasing bed count at the shelters.
2016 Gala Updates:
· Theme Announced: Glitz and Glamour: A Swingin Soiree
· Camelback Inn - confirmed venue
· Brett Higgins returning as our auctioneer
· Flora Bella again doing decor
· Auction Event Solutions again handling registration/auction
· Excited that Kendra Scott will be donating jewelry for a pull during the reception
Committee Info – No Formal Update Presented/Needed
Entertainment: Heidi Ferraro and Reania Meador
Favors/Corp gifts: Tiffanie Leyvas
Media: Marisa Harelson and Sandi Sielaff
Nursery Needs: Jean Herges
Friends table sales: Patty Sapp
Social Media/photography: Colleen Katz
Committee Info – Updates Presented
Corporate Sponsors – Maria Williams
- Current list of 2016 sponsors is available at the Friends’ website
- Please send any leads to Maria for follow-up
Gift Cards/Wallets – Connie Genrich
- Please remember to ask for gift cards and bring to every meeting.
Major Donations/Underwriting – Cindy Coffman
- Isaac Jewelers has agreed to participate again this year
- Arrowhead Cadillac has agreed to participate again this year
Membership – Michelle Sanders
- Membership package is available to Friends if you would like to send to ladies that are interested in joining
- Packet will be uploaded to the Friends website prior to the next meeting
Silent Auction – Sandi Sielaff & Gina Hamblen
- Please start brain-storming ideas for Silent auction
- Bring any donations to the next meetings
- Donation form will be uploaded to the Friends’ website prior to the next meeting
Open Committee Positions
Gala Closeout, Guest Registration – Please consider volunteering to chair either of these committees and let us know during the October meeting
Nursery Hospitality – Thank you to Cindy Coffman and Michelle Sanders for agreeing to help with the coordination of the activities for the shelter visits.
Meeting Follow-up and Action Items
1. We realized that the Thank You envelopes have a misprint. The cards are printed correctly, but the envelopes say “Crisis Center Arizona” instead of “Child Crisis Arizona”. We are working to get new envelopes printed and will have them available at our next meeting.
2. During our meeting Jory mentioned that they have the Friends website active. Here is a link to the websitehttp://www.childcrisis.org/friends/and the password isfriends. This is where we will be storing all of the necessary links that you will need going forward.
· Sponsorship package has been loaded onto the website
· Writable pdf sponsorship form to be completed by CCA and uploaded to website
· Additional Member packets will be available at Oct meeting
· Silent Auction donation form to be uploaded before next meeting
3. For any Friends that have not paid dues, you can click the DONATE link from our web page and select one-time donation, enter in $75 and selectEvent-Third Partyfor the Donation category. This will allow Michelle to track who has paid dues. You can also bring a check or cash to the next meeting.
4. Reminder for upcoming volunteer activity at the Mesa Shelter
October 14, 2015 (Mesa Location) – Cindy Coffman/Michelle Sanders to coordinate
1:30 pm Tour the Mesa Shelter
1:30-4:30 pm Decorating trick-or-treat bags with the kids, snack and playtime
5. CCA's annual fundraising luncheon is on Friday, November 6 from 12 - 1 at the Biltmore, and we have a few tables to fill among the Friends. Let us know if you'd like to attend, and feel free to bring a friend!
6. Next meeting is Oct. 22nd. Watch for evite with meeting details. Meetings will start promptly at 6:15, please be on time.