Present: Beverly Apple, Harris Bernstein, Dolores Capalbo, Ken Cibelli, Phyllis Coldabella, Joanna Conrad, Rosemarie McCormack, Lee Rae O’Brien, JoAnn Tropiano
In the absence of President Barbara Hirsch, JoAnn Tropiano opened the meeting at 7:00pm.
Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as read.
Treasurer’s report: Phyllis reported the following:
Opening balance on February 19, 2009 $22,532.13
Total receipts $3,314.33
Total disbursements $895.51
Balance on hand April 16th, 2009 $24,950.95
The report was accepted as presented.
Director's report: JoAnn reported a very successful meeting with the Excursion Committee. The Friends will use Mainly Meetings, a travel agency which specializes in trips for non-profit groups. Most of the trips will take place on Saturday and many will pick-up in Nutley. There will be a trip to the Culinary Institute and Hyde Park on April 18th. Other destinations will be Ellis Island (our own docent), NY Botanical Garden, Liberty Science Center (bring along the kids). In the fall there will be a trip to Greenwich village, an overnight to Baltimore, a trip to Philadelphia, Landcaster, PA, Metropolitan Museum (own docent), TV show, Newark Museum, and an overnight to Mystic, CT. Of course, all are contingent upon having enough people.
As this week is National Library Week, the library is thanking its volunteers by inviting them to visit the library Saturday afternoon. There will be a cake for them.
JoAnn noted that plans are afoot for the summer reading program and asked that we donate $500 to this program to help defray the expense. We have done so in the past.
On May 12, the library will begin a Wellness group. The focus will be on better health through positive thinking, optimism, and taking charge of one's well-being. This group will meet on the second Tuesday of each month. The first book is The Last Lecture.
JoAnn showed us the favors, book marks, raffle tickets that the library has prepared for the Author's tea. She and Phyllis had attended one in Ridgewood that day---only it was a luncheon. The author was Harlan Coban and the baskets were extremely elaborate. We cannot have an American Girl Fashion Show because we are too close to other venues which present this event. However, JoAnn thought it might be a good idea to investigate a Teddy Bear Picnic for the younger set.
Lee Rae explained what she and her committee have prepared for the Author's Tea. There will be one more meeting of the committee on April 30th to fill the baskets and to arrange the seating. The committee will provide their own china; otherwise most things are in place---prepared by the library or caterer who will take care of the serving and the clean-up. We were asked to bruit the news about---so far only 32 are signed up. We hope for sixty but can have a maximum of seventy-five.
JoAnn suggested to Ken that he might get the reservation form on our website. She also suggested that our trips be publicized in this manner. She will also ask Richard Specter to let the Chamber members know about the Tea. We might investigate the possibility of having a banner in future years. All of the local papers have been alerted. She asked Harris to write up something catchy about the Tea for the Sun and Journal..
The book sale is fast approaching. It will take place on the 15th and 16th of May with the 14th being the setup day. JoAnn will ask Parks and Rec to loan us some of their tables. We talked about possibilities for future years---shutting Vincent Place to traffic or using the library lawn.
On May 9th the Friends are cosponsoring with the Red Hat ladies a presentation given by Carolyn Strimike on women's hearts. A continental breakfast will be served at 9:30am.
JoAnn is reluctant to commit to more than one Broadway show for next year. Perhaps we might have a trip to the Paper Mill.
The Museum of Natural History pass continues to be wildly popular. The Sports Museum went bankrupt. JoAnn has tried to convince the Metropolitan Museum, the Newark Museum. and the Liberty Science Center to issue the Library a card---alas. to no avail. The Museum of New York does offer this service but she wonders if there woukd be an interest.
Second notices have been sent out for those who did not rejoin the Friends.
New business: Phyllis made a motion to donate $500.00 to the summer reading program. Dolores seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously.
The next meeting will be June 18th at 7:00pm. If we feel inclined to bake something tasty for the final meeting, JoAnn will provide the drinks.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanna Conrad, Secretary
