Walker Fire Auxiliary Meeting Minutes

September 12, 2009   10:10 am

 

Co Chairs presiding:

John Horvat, Betsy Bykirk, Marsha Smades, Jeffery Morhous

 

Secretary’s report read and accepted.

 

Marsha – Ice Cream Social – Thanks to all!

Need more ice cream next year – but last year there was too much – so go figure!

 

Victoria Morhous – Mayoral Race

·    Total revenue was $1,150.

·    Marsha displayed a plaque with spots for upcoming years Mayors. This year’s winner’s picture is on the plaque.

·    A big thank you to all who ran, those who helped and those who voted early and often.

 

Betsy – Newcomer’s Kit.     Working with Sharon Bencz and others on the committee. The kits will be made up inside the Walker merchandise tote bags.

·    The County and the Chamber of commerce are donating stuff.

·    Will have sample ready by October 10th.

·    John O’Hanesian suggests some companies may want to contribute $ or products to the kit for its advertising value. Much discussion – Great idea!

·    All – send email to Betsy with details of recommended community services providers This list and our web site will be in the kit.

 

Old Business

Myra – CVS Drugstore.

·    We couldn’t have done it without the firefighters They did a great job and quickly. We had lots of people attend – made $1,000.

·    CVS was great to work with. Maybe they will have us for their 1 year anniversary. The CVS people said that they had the largest number of people of any grand opening

 

On Going Business

Chili Potluck – Betsy - Need more Chili!, Other items too, like cornbread, salads and desserts.

 

·    To all: Can we have the Firefighters or others to help set up tables?

·    Charlie needs help on the day before to put up the tents.

 

Halloween Party. Cathy Sumner is not doing the H party this year. She is committed to getting her home repairs done before winter.

·    Any Volunteers?      - long pause.   Discussion,

Finally –

  1. Send email to community to ask for a leader
  2. We will ask at the chili cook-off.
  3. Poll taken – who cares? – None
  4. How about a Halloween theme pancake breakfast? Majority says Yes.
  5. How about next year we plan for an Oktoberfest instead of Halloween – Majority says Yes.

 

New Years Eve. – CJ is not present so we tabled it.

 

New Business

 

On a side note:           Arts & Crafts – 3 prizes from Arts & Crafts were not picked up – so they will go to the Chili Cook-off

 

Victoria – our expenses for this year’s A & C show was about $11,000, so… October of next year we would like to do a function that includes other communities to spread the costs.

 

·    We are suggesting that next year we have an Oktoberfest type of event that includes the contributions of over 33 artisans from the A & C at a Silent Auction at the Hassyampa Inn. The local community can contribute items as well.  Suggest a wine and cheese offering. Suggest $15 to walk in the door.

 

·    A committee will need to be formed. Expenses need to be considered rent, advertising, etc.

·    A plan needs to be put together to submit to the WFPA board.

·    It could be listed as a fundraiser for a new vehicle or whatever.

·    John Horvat says he had heard good things about our reputation to get the job done – so we need to expand on that and reach out to other communities.

 

New Business

 

John O'Hanesian has suggestions surrounding the pancake breakfasts. And he was shot down on a lot of them. Here goes:

 

·    Can we get or change the big sign that says Pancake Breakfasts to include the word Walker?

·    There was a review of the business of putting up signs at Arco, Costco, private property, Forest Service property, the campground, lynx lake café, etc. No, No No No no and No.

 

·    Still, can we look into some other, bigger signs?

 

·    It was noted that higher volumes of people coming into the area are smokers so we increase our chance of a stray cigarette butt out the window.

 

·    And we are currently at Max for our ability to serve and space to sit.

·    We are getting great response from our surrounding communities.

·    Betsy suggests we set aside a smoking area for the smokers – they are gathering near the entrance and the smoke drifts into the serving and dining areas.

·    Joyce says that the cost of the food which has been volunteered needs to be accounted for and expensed. We need to start paying for it or at least record the donated cost.

·    Marsha suggests we put out additional cash jars for donations to emergency vehicle, pancake breakfast, etc.

 

New Business

 

·    Tim McFarlan – since our last truck fundraiser there has been no major expense target.

·    We have a wish list valued at 30,000 dollars.

·    So the question to the WFA is – can we commit to the WFPA to raise these funds?

·    Joe Lupa asks what is the timeline or priority? Do you need 30 K right now or 10K tomorrow and the rest over 3 years or what?

·    Tim responds that these $ amounts will be broken out as priorities and then ask for commitment from the WFA based on the WFA’s ability to provide.

 

·    Need to keep the existing fundraising and donations at the current level – aka the operating budget relies on these dollars.

 

·    Myra notes that the pancake breakfast monies were originally intended as a commitment to the needs of the firefighters and notes that it appears that those dollars are being spent on other expenses.

 

·    The thermometer sign is a good idea. It should show what – specifically - the donated dollars are for. The thermometer should have some type of glamour factor like Rescue vehicle, save lives, etc. – not just ‘need money’.

 

·    Nick Wold notes that there are 2 main sources of income – the Dues drive and the fundraising events but we are not leveraging the Grant process. It was then noted that we do , now, have a Grant committee in place.

·    Nick reiterates Tim's request for the WFA committees to raise funds that are earmarked for certain projects. Realize that some of the pledges may fall short but then WFA needs to re-commit.

·    Suggestion was made to place the thermometer at all fundraising events and make it reflect the WFA’s commitment to the Fire Department.

 

·    Jeff Morhous notes that to commit to these larger amounts we need to do outside events because the local community can’t support that kind of high revenue base.

·    Tim, says - so…. WFA needs to outline what they think they can do and report back to the WFPA board.

 

·    Victoria suggests we participate in the PDP reverse auction.

 

·    Greg Stava elaborates on revenue streams, priorities, thermometer, grant research customizing dues drive letters, allocation of certain revenues to certain expenses.

 

New Item – Tim says that the Board wants to create an event to recognize the firefighters. Make it a fundraiser perhaps? Can the WFA help out?

 

·    Peggy Zink says that according to research on the internet – there are 1,000’s of volunteer fire department and fire districts and they get grants – can’t we? John O’Hanesian responds that that is starting to happen.

·    Also, Peggy says that we need – not a fundraiser – but a recognition event for the firefighters like a pot luck – then you can put out the donation jars.

·    We should find belt buckles or badges or whatever as awards.

·    Nick Wold suggests we put out an email and ask for donations to ‘finish up’ the revenue drive for the rescue vehicle.

 

·    Greg Stava made note that the bank will loan money against pledges/donations – if we want to go there.

 

New Business – Myra says that Richard Fiege and others volunteered to install water/sink in the pump house. Charlie H says - no way - the plumbing for waste water is not there.

 

Marsha is doing the October WFA meeting chair

John H is November and Betsy is December.

Meeting adjourned  11:45