Mann Village People

November 6, 2001

6:15 PM – 7 PM

Oak Hill Presbyterian Church

 

Attendees:

Amanda Doyle, Julia Engelhardt, Brian Beckmann, Heather Macarthur, Jan O’Leary, Lisa Lindsey

 

We all agree that, in times when there is not much new business to discuss, a short meeting is just as good as, if not better than, a long one

 

• Grant Update:

Amanda updates everyone on the status of our grant application to Children’s Hospital “Healthy Kids at Play” program: Heather and Amanda, with considerable input from Dr. Bloom and Jewell Donald, complete the application and delivered it to Children’s Hospital by the deadline. What an amazing feat! Amanda just spoke to Ken Sowell, the contact person, today, and he reports that 25 applications were received for what will likely be five (5) groups chosen for the first round of the program. The committee who will decide on the applications has them all in hand, and will meet a few times and make a few rounds of cuts, with the decision most likely being made by Thanksgiving. We all agree that this is a quick turnaround. In a stunning coincidence, we also all agree that there could be no worthier group than ours to participate in the program, which would provide (among other things) mobile health van services, playgrounds, gardens and ballparks to Mann and the surrounding community. There will be an official kick-off event for the first 5 chosen communities, including the media and reps from all the St. Louis sports teams (who are all partners in the project) on Nov. 29 at Hempstead Elementary School. Jan says, “Wouldn’t it be great if you would send us all the Word document with the body of the grant application in it?” And so, it is done. (See attachment).

 

• We all pause to comment on our enjoyment of the caramel/peanut popcorn cakes brought by Amanda, and the French onion Sun Chips brought by Jan. Food is good. Someone take a note, we should always have food. (oops, I guess that would be me.)

 

• Wonderful Wednesday is next Wednesday, Nov. 7, carried out by Julia and Maureen.

 

• Mann will be celebrating its centennial year next year, with the official celebration scheduled for February 9. Amanda attended a meeting a few weeks ago of the centennial committee in Dr. Bloom’s office, just the latest in a series of meetings in the principal’s office that have helped Amanda overcome her aversion to being sent there. There are several teachers and at least one alum on the committee, and they are still in the planning stages. Anyone who would want to be involved in this would be more than welcome. Right now, they are planning to have tours of the school on that day (a Saturday) in the afternoon, with a nice dinner and entertainment that night at the school. Entertainment to include: a fashion show of typical schoolkid clothing throughout the decades that Mann has served our neighborhood; music through the decades; a speaker’s panel of former students telling about their Mann experiences; and so on. We should decide how, if at all, we can contribute to this event.

 

• Mann is in the midst of their fall fundraising event, selling candy, gift wrap and holiday gifts out of a catalog. Amanda has a catalog to take to her work, and anyone else could probably stop by and pick one up, although orders are due next week.

 

• There is not much else to talk about, and with the onslaught of the Holidaze, which will mean people are incapable of doing anything from now until January, we decide not to schedule another meeting until we have something else concrete to discuss. Jan and Amanda are in charge of December’s Wonderful Wednesday.

 

• Julia will contact Jason McClelland to find out about the possibility of donating books to the students at Mann for the holidays through First Book. She will report back to us via e-mail if she finds out anything that we can do to make that happen.

 

• Brian B. once again reminds everyone about the upcoming MCU meeting at Pilgrim Congregational Church.

 

• Mission statement/goals discussion postponed to another time when we feel more like it and have more people in attendance.

 

Short meeting adjourned around 7 p.m.. Hopefully there will need to be a new meeting scheduled when we find out that we are Healthy Kids at Play grant recipients!

 

Respectfully submitted,

Amanda Doyle

Not Really a Good Secretary