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2024 Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the General Meeting

January 9, 2024

 

Call to Order: President, Patti Drelick, called the meeting to order at 12:15 with 37 members in attendance. The attendance sheet is attached to this document when filing for records.

 

Today’s meeting was featured as a Hot Cocoa Social and spotlight on Civic Engagement. Thanks were given to all members who brought in snacks for the Poll Workers to be distributed on January 23, 2024, for the NH Primary Election. Members were also thanked for baked goods that were collected and donated last month for the Caregiver Holiday Treat Hugs.

 

Guests: Gay Newman guest of Maria Doyle, Katie LeClerc and Jean Manthorne guests of Susan Mothon, Diane Chapdelaine guest of Donna Mason, and Susan McLoughlin of SCTV.

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Special Guest: Doug Devine, Director of EMS at the Salem Fire Department.

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Collect and Pledge of Allegiance:  Patti invited all members to stand and recite the Club Collect followed by

the Pledge of Allegiance.                                                                                                                            

January Birthdays: Birthdays were celebrated for Christina Baroni, Georgette Cutress, Carol Demers, Grace Frittatta, Jarlene LeBlanc, Jean Malisos, Susan Mothon, Phyllis Seccareccio, Marilyn Suszek, and Bonnie Wright.

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January 9, 2024 Patti reported in Rachel’s absence that we are at 108 members with 2 new members in December and one in November. The new members are Amy Moldoff, Karyn Emerson, and Karen Lowe.

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Recording Secretary: Norma Lapointe stated that the December 6, 2023 Minutes were emailed to all members before the meeting. Linda Molchan made a motion to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded. The minutes were approved.

 

Corresponding Secretary: Sandy Carlson reported that we received thank you cards from the following:

  • Caregiver Holiday Treat Hugs Project- Charlotte Wolfe, Lois Cooper, and the Greater Salem Caregivers Organization.

  • Center for Life Management- Jean’s Place for socks donated to the residents of the home.

  • St. Joseph’s Food Pantry- 400 Reuseable bags for food donations to patrons.

  • St. Anne’s Food Pantry- Monetary donation of $250.

  • Palmer Gas & Oil- The second monetary donation of $250 to aid their customers in need of assistance for their heating payments.

  • Flower Hug Project- Dale Capuano

Various cards were sent to the following members:

  • Sympathy card to Georgette Cutress, Thinking of You cards to Kathy Marullo, Kelly Moss, Dottie Randall, and Paula Senia. Get Well card to Rachel Kingston and Birthday card sent to Weston Moss

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Treasurer: Cindy Hunzelman reported the balance in the Operating checking account was $46,648.99 and the total of all the cash accounts at 12/31/23 was $113,816.23. The expenditures year to date are $18,072.51.

Honorary Member Pinning Ceremony: Postponed to our February 6, 2024 meeting.

 

Civic Engagement & Outreach:

“Spotlight on Civic Engagement” is today’s theme and Deb Slein spoke of the four Support Categories of GFWC CE &O. Handouts were given to members emphasizing all the Organizations that will be receiving our support along with the percentage of monetary donations each Support Category will receive.

  •  Doug Devine, Director of EMS for the Salem Fire Department was the first speaker and discussed the need for Emergency Preparedness. Doug will also be presenting a 45-minute CPR, 911, and AED training session to members after the February 6, 2024, General meeting. Maureen Hanlon and Donna Mason of the CE & O Committee explained the We Care Bag Project and displayed the contents of the bags that will be distributed to 75 members of the community who are deemed in need.

  • SAWC member Trish Earle, President and founder of Bridging the Horizon was the second speaker and reviewed the various outings her group organizes for their clients with special needs. A Hand-out for the upcoming Winter Wonderland fundraiser was distributed to the members.

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Arts & Culture: Joanne Cuomo reported the Creative Writing Contest deadline is February 20, 2024. The Photo Contest deadline is January 26, 2024. There is a sign-up sheet at this meeting for the concert Czech Mates on April 28, 2024, performed by the NH Philharmonic. Taste Around the World will be the A& C theme at the April General Meeting. More details to follow.

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Health & Wellness: Linda Molchan reported that the H&W Committee will meet on January 22, 2024, at the Kelley Library and the toiletries for the Comfort Bags will be assembled that day, all are welcome to join in this activity.

Volunteers are still needed at Silverthorne and encourage all if they have free time to please join.

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Education & Libraries: Patti reported that the “Meet the Author” event at the Kelley Library was very well received and another event will take place during the February school vacation week.

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Communications & PR: Patti encouraged all members to please log their hours to update the 2023 hours and continue to log for 2024.

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Upcoming Events: All upcoming events were listed in the January General Membership Agenda (attached to this document when filing for records.)

 

Meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted by:  Norma Lapointe, Recording Secretary

 Minutes of the

 General Meeting

February 6, 2024

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Call to Order: President, Patti Drelick, welcomed all, and a special welcome to Beth Roth, Madame President GFWC-NH. The meeting was called to order at 12:48 with 53 members in attendance. The attendance sheet is attached to this document when filing for records. Today’s meeting was featured as a Valentine’s Party meeting. Thanks were given to all members who brought in snacks for the Poll Workers that were distributed on January 23, 2024, to Salem, Pelham, Atkinson, and Hampstead polling sites. Members were also thanked for today’s donations to complete the Health & Wellness project of Comfort Bags. Cards were signed by the members today for Random Acts of Kindness Day and will be distributed to the Rockingham Nutrition Program and Weston Moss. A special thank you to Peg Parrot for making the Valentine’s dessert for today’s meeting and the entire Hospitality Committee for all their hard work in the setup of the meeting. One new member joined in January, Dianne Chapdelaine, now bringing the membership total to 109.

 

Guests: Danielle Risch guest of Sarah Friend and Sue Buonnano guest of Stephanie Stone.

 

  • Special Guests: Doug Devine, Director of EMS at the Salem Fire Department, and Mike Gordon, Salem EMS Coordinator were both present to receive a donation of $1,000 from the Club as well as present a Hands-Only

  • CPR workshop immediately following today’s Club meeting.

  • Collect and Pledge of Allegiance:  Patti invited all members to stand and recite the Club Collect followed by

  • the Pledge of Allegiance.                                                                                                                            

  • February Birthdays: Birthdays were celebrated for Maria Baribeau, Susan Hopkins, Reanna Lombardozzi, Karen McKallagat, Katie Monteiro, Kelly Moss, Sue Phillips, and Pam Wellman.

Recording Secretary: Norma Lapointe stated that the January 9, 2024 Minutes were emailed to all members before the meeting. Shamim Calcuttawala made a motion to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded. The minutes were approved.

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Corresponding Secretary: Sandy Carlson reported that we received thank you’s from the following:

  • Caregiver Holiday Treat Hugs Project- Pelham Good Neighbor Fund.

  • We Care Emergency Bags- Lois Mireles and Stephan Ciulla.

  • Hampstead Historical Society- Monetary donation of $250.

  • NH Children’s Trust- Monetary donation of $500.

  • Flower Hug Project- M. Elaine Benedict and Sharon Wooster.  

  • Various cards were sent to the following members: Thinking of You to Patti Drelick, President, Kelly Moss, and Bev Johnson. Happy Birthday to Weston Moss and Get Well to Helen Villemaire.

  • A Thank You was received from Rachel Kingston, Vice President for flowers and a Get Well card.

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Treasurer: Cindy Hunzelman reported the balance in the Operating checking account was $41,658.36 and the total of all the cash accounts on 1/31/24 was $109,091.99 The income for the month was $246.87 and the expenditures were $5,237.50

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Honorary Member Pinning Ceremony: Honorary members present to receive their pins and certificates today were Sandy Demers, Dolly Falco, Audrey Mosher, and Marilyn Suszek.

 

Unity Award Nominations: Patti reported our Club has nominated seven individuals for the following CSP program areas; GFWC Arts & Culture – NH Academy of the Arts, GFWC Civic Engagement & Outreach – James Carey, St. Ann’s Community Outreach, GFWC Education & Libraries – Deb Fauth and Nancy D’Agostino, GFWC Environment – Larry Belair, GFWC Health & Wellness – Jessica Szweda, GFWC Advocates for Children – Bridging the Horizon, and GFWC Domestic & Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention – Bethany Cottrell, Brigid’s House of Hope. 

                                                             

Arts & Culture: Joanne Cuomo reported the main focus of the committee is the upcoming April Spotlight Meeting, celebrating “Taste Around the World.” If you would like to contribute a favorite ethnic dish for this event, please fill out the orange flyer on the table. Plans are developing for a group to go to the Palace Theater to see Beautiful-The Carole King Musical. More details to follow.

 

Civic Engagement & Outreach: Deb Slein reported that the following donations have been completed in February: End 68 Hours of Hunger (Derry)- Granola Bars and Monetary donation of $550, End 68 Hours of Hunger (Salem)- Cleaning Supplies of $750, Homeland Heroes- Blue Star Sponsor of $500 for the upcoming Gala Fundraiser, and Pelham Police Dept. Appreciation Snack Bags of $200.              

 

Health & Wellness: Linda Molchan reported that the H&W Committee will be going to Silverthorne after this meeting to read a Valentine story and do a Valentine activity. Linda is coordinating a “Towel Bib Project” for Silverthorne residents. Sewers are needed for this project. Please contact Linda for details. Linda also briefly spoke of heart health for February Heart Health Month.

 

Education & Libraries: Darlene Daniele reported that the next “Meet the Author” event at the Kelley Library will take place on February 29, 2024. Local author Julie Nichole will be reading her children’s book “In My Heart.” SAWC Scholarship applications will become available on March 1, 2023. Please see the website for details and applications. The SAWC has been invited as V.I.P. guests by the Salem High School Robotics Team to the Robotics Competition on March 1st & 2nd. If any member is interested in attending, please see Darlene for details.

 

Communications & PR: The 2023-2024 Yearbook will be distributed to all members today.

 

Environment: The next committee meeting will be on February 29, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.

 

Nominating Committee: Dolores Van Blarcom, Immediate Past President introduced the Nominating Committee and spoke of the nominating sheets on the tables along with the officer duties from the Policies and Procedures of the Club. Nominating sheets should be turned in to the Nominating Committee by 2/29/24. Ballots for the upcoming election will be mailed out the first week in April.

 

Hands-Only CPR Demonstration: Today immediately following the meeting.

 

Upcoming Events:

All upcoming events were listed in the February General Membership Agenda (attached to this document when filing for records.)

Meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted by:  Norma Lapointe, Recording Secretary

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