West Norwalk Association Board Meeting
January 6, 2014
MINUTES OF THE WEST NORWALK ASSOCIATION
January 6, 2014
Board members present: Gay Mac Leod, Linda Forcellina, Galen Wells, Ken D’Arinzo, Candide Validares, Ron Paladino, Rebecca Oresman, Anthony Carrano and Brian Forschino. Bill Krummel was a guest.
Co-President Linda Forcellina called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm.
Gay Mac Leod presented the minutes of the December Board Meeting. Galen Wells moved to approve the minutes and Candide Validares seconded. The minutes were unanimously approved by the Board with minor changes.
Treasurers Report – Ken D’Arinzo
The 2013 Holiday Party generated a net positive cash flow in contrast to a net negative cash flow in 2012. Approximately 90 people attended the Holiday Party.
As of the January Board meeting, the Association had $5,831.84 in cash on hand.
Galen Wells moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report and Candide Validares seconded. The report was unanimously approved.
2013 Holiday Party Review
- Need to include the raffle in the announcements to drum up business. Could have 2 people do the raffle next year.
- Some confusion with entrance fee vs. 2014 dues. Some people thought they had to pay both to enter the Party. Need to be clearer that both the entrance fee and the dues can be on one check. Should consider having one table or two tables both doing the same thing.
- A number of people who generally come but don’t pay dues didn’t come this year.
- The location in the Dolce restaurant was preferable to prior years’ locations.
- Need to push attendees to make donations to the Scholarship Fund.
- Should try to get e-mail addresses from attendees. Need to look for a way to get people’s information more quickly.
Election of Officers
As officer positions are 1 year terms, the Board elected officers for 2014.
Galen Wells nominated Linda Forcellina and Gay Mac Leod to remain as Co-Presidents and Rebecca Oresman seconded. The Board unanimously voted to re-elect Linda and Gay as Co-Presidents.
Gay Mac Leod nominated Ken D’Arinzo for Vice-President and Rebecca Oresman seconded. The Board unanimously voted to elect Ken as Vice President.
Gay Mac Leod nominated Galen Wells for Treasurer. The Board unanimously voted to elect Galen as Treasurer.
Gay Mac Leod nominated Brian Forschino for Secretary. The Board unanimously voted to elect Brian as Secretary.
The Board agreed to have a nominating committee for next year’s officer elections as the constitution requires.
Oak Hills Update – Anthony Carrano
A formal announcement has not yet been made regarding the final decision for the location of the driving range.
Tommy Carrano proposed an Eagle Scout project to clear and mark the walking trails around the Oak Hills Park Golf Course. The project will include assistance from Bill Wrenn. Both Gay and Candide raised concerns about Bill Wrenn’s knowledge about trees. They noted his hammering signs with iron nails into trees and creating trails on impulse. These nails eventually rust and injure the trees.
Mayor’s Night Out – Gay Mac Leod
The West Norwalk Association is sponsoring an evening with Mayor Rilling in the Fox Run Multi-Purpose Room on Thursday, February 20 from 7:30 – 8:30. The evening will include a question and answer session and will involve most of the Mayor’s Department Heads.
The WNA will publicize the event through the newspaper, e-mail blasts and on its website and Facebook page. Anthony will update signs to be put up around the neighborhood.
Fox Run’s Principal Martinez will work with the WNA on the room set up.
Family Fun Day Update – Anthony Carrano
The WNA Family Fun Day has been scheduled for July 12th in the Fox Run School parking lot.
The Board discussed reaching out to the Norwalk Fire Department and / or Police Department to inquire about getting a Fire Truck, Smoke House or K-9 Demonstration for the event. Anthony also raised the possibility of contacting the DPW to see if they would be willing to participate.
Anthony will start the paperwork at City Hall and will put together a more detailed proposal for further consideration by the Board. The Board agreed to discuss the event in greater detail at the February Board Meeting.
Future WNA Membership – Linda Forcellina
The Board agreed that it would like to increase its interaction with the Fox Run PTO. Ideas included: assistance with the Fox Run Ice Cream Social and the possibility of Board Members reading to Fox Run students as had been done in the past.
The Board discussed the possibility of sponsoring a Little League baseball team. Brian noted that the Board should consider the fact that West Norwalk children are spread across multiple Norwalk Little Leagues.
The Board also discussed the possibility of increasing its interaction with the three religious organizations in West Norwalk.
Of the 1,300 families in West Norwalk, the Board has about 107 e-mail addresses. The Board needs to find new ways to get e-mail addresses as a way of communicating with West Norwalk residents more cost effectively. The Board discussed no longer sending hard copies of the annual Newsletter and requiring residents to provide an e-mail address in order to receive future newsletters. This suggestion was not approved.
The Board will attempt to find more efficient and cost effective ways of sending hard copies of the Newsletter and other WNA Board communication.
Update on the Food Drive – Gay Mac Leod
Gay Mac Leod brought the food collected during the Holiday Party to the Food Pantry. Gay stated the volunteers said thank you and knew our organization had donated before.
Tree Planting at Fox Run – Gay Mac Leod
Gay, in working with the city parks department and Tree Advisory Committee, bought a Copper Beach Tree for $100 with the purpose of planting it at Fox Run School. The WNA reimbursed her. Candide planted the Copper Beach Tree outside of Fox Run School. The WNA intends to put a plaque on the tree indicating that it was donated by the WNA Board. The tree, a rare and very large majestic tree, will offer a statement and gateway presence to the West Norwalk area.
Scholarship Update – Linda Forcellina
Historically the scholarship has not been limited to dues paying members of the WNA. The Board discussed whether the scholarship should be limited to dues paying members. While most scholarship programs require applicants to be a member of the awarding organization, all West Norwalk Association residents are members of the Association. Last year, no applicants were dues paying members of the Association. The prior year only one applicant was a dues paying member.
No decision was agreed to during this meeting but the Board agreed to discuss further. This decision needs to be made quickly because the applications will soon be sent to Brien McMahon.
All Other Business
Since former President Peggy Girard will be moving from West Norwalk, the Board will have to find a way to cover the fees that she has historically paid for- i.e. Constant Contact. The Board agreed to discuss this at the February Board Meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:14pm.