HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-06-18Dryden Youth Commission
June 18, 2002
Minutes
Present: Kristen Blackman, Jean Simmons, Walt Matyjas, Nita Baldwin, Mane Vitucci, Kris Bennett, Diane Hill
Excused: Colleen Emedck- Daniluk Absent: Penny Green -Brown
Kristen opened the meeting at 7:05 pm. Introductions were made.
After School Skating Program — Diane Hill, Director of the Dryden School Age Child Care Program, made a presentation
about this year's Skating Program. (see attached report) Additional information reported by Diane: The time they skate is
also open to the public but their group makes up most of the skaters. Six staff (sometimes more) chaperone; two parents
also volunteered to help with tying skates, a big help when everyone is trying to get ready at once. Two busses are needed
to transport everyone. 20 youth also paid an additional fee to The Rink for 20 minute skating lessons. The Rink is very easy
to deal with. The program provided a snack to all kids but most also brought spending money to use at the snack bar. The
younger kids (30 graders) all skate, the older kids (5'h and 61h graders) are do more socializing, chatting, etc. Many parents
have told Diane that they are glad for this program since their children would not otherwise have this opportunity. They do
not use a written form to get feedback but would be willing to do so if the DYC wants this in the future. The SACC program
contributes approx. $400 to the Skating Program since fees and the $800 DYC funding do not quite cover the expenses.
Diane thanked the DYC for its support and said they are grateful to have it to make this opportunity available.
Updates from Cornell Cooperative Extension — Marie Vitucci passed out an updated budget, all appears to be in line.
She spoke recently with Mrs. Hulbert, the school principal, who commended Dave and Carissa's programs, said they are
doing a great job and reaching the right kids. Carissa has started a photo album documenting special events and other
programs that Marie passed around for all to see. Summer plans are set, a copy of Carissa's flyer was distributed (Dave's
had already gone out,) Plans have been made for Dave's paternity leave, sometime in early Aug. or whenever the baby
decides it's time. Marie reported on the Reality Check Tobacco Awareness event (co- organized by Amy Rand) that took
place last month; the adults had predicted around 65-70 kids would come but the kids who were involved predicted closer to
300. In fact, 223 youth attended! Carissa is finalizing Youth Conservation Corps hiring and paperwork; the task sheet Kris
had created to clarify roles and responsibilities of CCE and IYB worked well. Carissa has placed 10 other Dryden kids in
jobs, including 3 with Penny in Caroline, 2 at the Cayuga Nature Center, and 1 each to assist Dave and Carissa. In August
there will be programming in McLean jointly coordinated by Dryden and Groton. Dave will offer 4 afternoons of Primitive
Pursuits; Viola (Groton Program Manager) will do a 4 day bike maintenance program. They are also planning a Community
Night, Liz Snyder from McLean is handling publicity, etc. Kris reported that she'd received an OK from Mark Varvayanis
about recruiting a youth to serve on the DYC; Marie will ask Dave and Carissa for suggestions and will give names either to
Penny or Kris for follow up and questions. Finally, Marie said they hope to do a big publicity push in the fall (mailing,
shopper, etc,) and then standard, scaled back publicity for the rest of the year. The Commission agreed that this sounded
fine. Marie has no more evaluation forms but thought Dave or Carissa did and will forward them for the DYC to see.
Minutes — Minutes could not be approved since there was not a quorum.
New Member Recruitment, Budget, Other Updates — Walt had another potential nominee but the person lives in the
Village; DYC members agreed to continue spread the word. The Youth Bureau director attended the recent Leadership
Tompkins event in hopes of recruiting volunteers for the Youth Board and various commissions but this event wasn't set up
for this so no leads. Kris had no news on the budget but expects to have a general idea of what DYC funding for 2003 will
be in July. The YB is planning a meeting for July for all youth commissions to share information about the youth budget;
DYC will be invited when a date is set. Finally, Kris said that feedback forms had been sent by the YB to both commission
chairs and community staff to gather feedback about the assistance the YB provides to communities and commissions,
Kristen and Nita had both received a form and vill complete and return it. Kris gave an update about the Brooktondale
Camp (from Edie Spaulding): they aren't getting the sign -ups they'd hoped for, there's a new local program being offered by
Regi Carpenter that's competing for the same pool of kids. They currently have fewer than 30 signed up, including some
Dryden youth. They are planning on hiring staff for 36 kids (including some Dryden teens). Kristen asked if we knew who
was going to be the director of the Freeville camp; Kris did not but will follow up and email the info, to the DYC members,
Continuation of discussion of how to decide funding priorities for 2003 - Kris distributed a 2 documents used by past
commissions to help with the decision making process. She also gave out the form the DYC asked to see last month that
agencies prepared for the YB, showing 20% and 50% funding cut scenarios. All agreed this would be too burdensome for
DYC programs to complete but still would like programs to say what would happen if they receive less funding next year.
Kris also passed out a compilation of comments from evaluation forms received to date about Dave's programs. Kris asked
if there are any other things the Commission would like for the Sept. funding decision discussion; if anyone has ideas they
should give them to her. The Commission would still like to encourage the Town of Dryden to not reduce its support even if
the County does, and there was discussion about how best to do this. All agreed that it would be most effective if Dryden
residents asked this and especially if youth who have participated in funded programs like Dave and Carissa's and Youth
Conservation Corps spoke publicly to the Town Board. Nita explained Citizen Privilege of the Floor and also said we could
contact Dianne McFall to get on the agenda. She suggested the first Wed. in August as the best date. Kris will contact CCE
and YCC to see if they'd be willing to do this.
Plan for July 16 meeting - Since no visitors are expected we can continue our discussion of recruiting members and
making funding decisions. We will meet again at the Freeville Hall.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Dryden Youth Commission Minutes Page Two June 18, 2002