Friends of the Milton Public Library Meetings Minutes

Minutes for meeting on September 12, 2006

Submitted by: Eileen Walsh, Secretary

Members present:
Liz Buchanan, Connie Spiros, Suzette Standring, Eileen McSweeney, Joe Roache, Eileen Walsh, Kathy Fagan.

Treasurer’s Report: Jeff Erickson could not attend so there was no Treasurer's Report at this meeting. There will be one presented at the next monthly meeting.

New Business

Programming Update: Book Bags. Connie Spiros reported book bags will now be available for purchase at the library and all FOMPL-sponsored events. The price will be $10. Further discussion on possible other items to sell (coffee mugs, mouse pads) and a logo for FOMPL will happen when the current stock of book bags is sold.

Upcoming Events & Fundraising: Connie Spiros handed out a calendar of upcoming events including October 16, Meet the Press with Margery Eagan at Milton Academy, Art Sale on December 2, Holiday Party on December 12, a trip to the Gardener Musuem on March 24 (tentative). The annual meeting is scheduled for April 1 at Fuller Village.

It was agreed that asking for attendees to register at events and give donations was a great fundraising and membership idea. Possibly including signage suggesting, for example, $10.00 donation will get you a FOMPL bookbag or $20.00 will make you a sponsor of the Gardener Museum trip.

Suzette Standring suggested Derrick Jackson and Jeff Seglund as possible speakers for upcoming events, maybe in March. Suzette also suggested sponsoring writing workshops both as a fundraiser and a membership drive possibility. Other speaker suggestions were Jackie McMullen, Peter Getz, Alyssa Ealey.

For fundraising ideas, Suzette Standring offered her home as the setting for a tea party in the spring. It would be an opportunity to raise money but also awareness on the upcoming changes for the library, including the relocation to Kidder Street.

Book Sales: Dates for upcoming Book Sales are October 12 (member preview), October 13 and October 14. There will be book sales throughout the winter and there will likely be an "Everything Must Go" sale in April since the library will be relocating during the construction/renovation for the next two years. Book sales continue to be a large fundraiser for the FOMPL. There was discussion about creating a bookmark that would provide information about how to use the library's online circulation system.

Budget discussion & Committees: Liz Buchanan spoke of the need to set a budget for the Friends and will be working with Jeff Erickson to create one. This allows for the FOMPL to estimate how much fundraising is necessary and how we can plan to help the library. She also spoke of the need for volunteers for various committees including Books to the Homebound, Membership, Public Relations. The current membership list has over 700 names so the officers would like to get more members in active roles.

Next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 7:00 pm.

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