Beacon PTA Meeting Minutes – Oct. 2019
Welcome – Abi Fenelon, PTA President
Motion was made to approve September 2019 minutes. Motion was approved.
Treasury Report – Jacqueline Deval, Treasurer
Cash Opening Balance – Sept 1, 2019 – $297, 031
Cash Closing Balance – Sept 30, 2019 – $301,506
Budget
Our current Revenue goal: $391,350
Expenses Planned: $458,765
There will be a Net Loss of: $67,415
Revenue raised YTD (Sept 30): $43,385. Revenues are coming in at about 50% compared to last year. We will need to recommend budget cuts if revenue does not pick up. Clubs will be cut.
Request for Funding: Motion was made to approve$20,000 to fund a guidance counselor for the college office. Motion was approved.
Next Steps
- Talking to past PAs for ideas on fundraising
- Matching Funds Program
- Setting up a brainstorm session
- Using Donor’s Choose or Amazon Wish Lists to meet teacher requests
Questions
- Does Beacon use Donors Choose ever or do
requests just go directly to the PA?
- Only teachers themselves can set up Donors Choose accounts. There is a fair amount of reporting required on the part of the teacher. Some teachers use it, but not so much last year.
- If we need to eliminate clubs due to budget
problems could we begin with those with small memberships?
- Every club is required to have a minimum of 15 members. All clubs may need to be eliminated because there may be no fair way to determine which clubs should stay or not.
Committee Reports
- Diversity – Windell Williams
- Merchandise – Tali Mermelstein & Jeff Rosenblum
The first lunchtime sale will be held on Friday, October 25th. Prices range between $30-$35. Offering new styles of hoodies, sweatpants, and bags. Need volunteers to help sell. A sign up sheet will appear online in the newsletter.
- Community – Sari Gabay
Promoting Beacon community in different neighborhoods.
EXPEDITED ELECTION
The first vote was held to fill the following Executive Board Positions where candidates were running uncontested. A motion was made to approve the following slate for the Executive Board. The motion was approved.
- Co-President – Bonnie Scarborough
- Co-Recording Secretary – NO VOLUNTEERS
- Auction Committee Co-VPs – NO VOLUNTEERS
- Communications Committee Co-VPs – Rose Arce & Shirley Brady
- Community Building/Relations Co-VP – Tes MacPherson
- Diversity Committee Co-VP– Gary Anthony Ramsey
- Fundraising Committee Co-VPs – NO VOLUNTEERS
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE ELECTION
Originally, there were 4 candidates for the 3 member-at-large positions. However, Diana Mahiques graciously agreed to run for the position of Fundraising Co-VP instead. The second vote was held to fill the following Executive Board positions where candidates were running uncontested. A motion was made to approve the following slate for the Executive Board. The motion was approved.
- Members-at-Large – Spencer Green, Katherine Bruck, and Julie Harding
- Fundraising Committee Co-VP – Diana Mahiques
Speaker: Diana Martinez, MD
“It’s Time To Talk About Mental Health and the Challenges that Impact High School Students”
Diana Martinez, a Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University who also conducts neuroscience research and is mother to a Beacon Senior, will discuss neurobiology and the mental health of teenagers. Dr. Martinez will also discuss the neuroscience of depression, anxiety, suicide, and addiction—including warning signs and preventative measures—in teenagers.
