Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm.  18 were in attendence.

The following PTA Board was in attendance:

    Peggy Farrington, President
    Debbie Martin, VP of Committees
    Traci Scarduzio, VP of Membership
    Jeanette Krauss,  Treasurer
    Lisa Ruvo,  Corresponding Secretary
    Shelly Black,   Recording Secretary
    (absent: Dorothy Purtill, PTA Council rep.)

Principal's Report:   Mrs. Epstein was absent (Happy Birthday to her!).

Teacher Liaison: Mrs. Plambeck will keep track of which teachers have joined PTA and which have not.  We will put an invite into each teachers' mailbox and then give her a list to start from.

Correspondence:   There was one Thank You for the Teacher's breakfast the day before school started.

Treasurer's Report:   Jeanette Krauss reported a balance of $16,220 is in our account.

PTA membership: We have 134 members, 7 teachers included.  Please sign up and support our PTA!  There is a membership form available on the website at: http://www.wappingersschools.org/Plains/PTA/membershipForm.html

Coat drive:  Month of October.  Mittens, hats, coats.  Link to more info: http://www.wappingersschools.org/Plains/PTA/FoodPantry.html

Fall Fundraiser:  The order forms were due this past Tuesday, but we will take them up to a week late.  The merchandise will be delivered directly to your house this year, so there will be no need to pick it up from school.  It will be there in plenty of time for the holidays.

Other Fund raisers coming up:
We should AGAIN emphasize that all funds should be paid in check so we don't have cash laying around.  Fundraisers for the year will include:
   Sept - Fall Fundraiser  (many great holiday gifts!)
    Sept - Entertainment Books  (makes a great holiday gift!  This will be the last year for this one. Due Oct 1st)
    Sept - BJ's memberships ... $35 for 15 months (as opposed to $45 for 12 months from the store)
    Nov - Handmade Candles by Beacon Lights, which  is a local company  (Many fragrances available. Makes a great holiday gift!
    Jan - Otis Spunkmeyer Cookies/Dough  (to warm up your kitchen on a cold day with some hot chocolate!)
    Feb(Valentines) - $1 Candy Bars
    Mar - Ultimate Discount Cards (last year's cards expire in April 2008)
    Apr(Earth Day) - Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products
    May - Zap-a-Snack   (to help you have quick snacks with the spring sports and activities rush!)

COMMITTEEs
Debbie Marten is head of Committees.  There is a description of each event/committee on the website: http://www.wappingersschools.org/Plains/PTA/Description.html.  If you have an interest in helping at any of these events, please feel free to call Peggy  226-1348  or e-mail the PTA at FPPTA@optonline.net
 

Room Parents' Tea will be held Friday, October 5th 9:15 - 10:15 to help the room parents meet each other and organizing the year's parties.

Red Ribbon Week  is a  National program emphasizing kids against drugs.  Oct 23-30th each day there will  be a theme.

Reflections is a  National PTA  contest for students photography, art(flat,  no sculptures), music, writing, film and dance.  The top 3 contestants go to district level judging.  You must follow all guidelines(measurements, etc.) with minimal parental help.  Naomi Pucarelli will head this committee.  There will be a reception at the school and each participant will get a prize.  "I can make a difference by..."    is the theme this year.

School Pictures will be taken Oct 16th by Lifetouch.  Each child will receive an ID card at no cost.  These pictures will be used for the yearbook.  At Spring pictures you will have the opportunity to have all your children in Fishkill Plains in one photo.

Bake Sale will be during lunch periods Oct 10th for the school garden fund.  The Butterfly Garden outside the 4th/5th Grade wing is the target for improvements this year.

Family Fun Night   Friday, Oct 12th  there will be a Laser Light Show for 40 mins.  We do have occupancy restrictions, so please RSVP as soon as you can for this.  We are also planning some (peanut-free) activities.   We are welcoming ideas.  There will be a different Laser Light Show program presented during the day.  The night time show will be more Halloween-oriented.

School Programs will be chaired by Tina Burke and Jo Anderson.

PTA Council:  Dorothy Purtill, PTA Council rep. needs some help covering some of the monthly meetings.  Please let any PTA member know if you are interested in helping out.

School store: Tues, Oct 30th  there will be a school store held during lunch periods.  Erasers, pencils, folders, ... and various school supplies will be available for the kids to buy.

Election Day Bake Sale:  Nov 8th  a Bake Sale will be held the day after Election Day for the benefit of the Fishkill Plains Scholarship which is given to a John Jay senior who was a student at Fishkill Plains.

Senior Citizen Breakfast  Nov 8th  8:30-10:30  will be run by Kim Busch and Eva Sanzo.  It will be limited to Kindergarten grandparents and the people signed up at the East Fishkill Senior Center.  There will be breakfast as well as entertainment (bagpiper and dancers)

Book Fair is run by Nancy Buck with Lisa Ruvo as a co-chair.   Nov 13, 14, 15 are the dates.  Night time event will be Wed, Nov 14th.  Nancy is looking for a creative person to organize the night time event.  There will be a special Klutz book offer where the kids create their own book.  There will be a workshop to educate Book Fair coordinators on how to run a successful bookfair on Oct 4th from 10-12 at the East Fishkill Library.

School Spirit Wear:  The Fishkill Plains mascot is a panther.  We would like to design a panther that is more friendly-looking.  We will sell T-shirts, Sweatshirts...

Parent Programs:  We thought about having a parent education program to follow a short PTA meeting.  Let us know if you have any ideas for topics.  We have had cyber-bullying and internet safely, and girls' health suggested.  FPPTA@optonline.net  is the PTA e-mail.

Adam Kaplan memorial:  We were thinking of perhaps a bench with a plaque near the playground.  All present were in agreement.

e-mail Distribution:  Please sign up for the e-mail distribution list at http://groups.google.com/group/FishkillPlains.  Anyone can check the google group site for past memos.   The oldest child (or most responsible if the parent prefers another child) will get a paper memo if the family does not respond to the "Going Green" memo that they would like to get only e-mail notifications and eliminate wasted paper.  Denise Ragonesi will do a monthly newsletter with a calendar that will be posted on the website.  It  will be sent home via paper for those who require it  and  for those on e-mail, Shelly  will send a link to the new monthly information on the website.   Send Shelly SDBLACK@US.IBM.COM  all approved  memos so they can be posted to all users on the e-mail distribution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  FPPTA@optonline.net  is the PTA e-mail.

Please encourage neighbors/friends/other parents  to come to the meetings.
 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm.

Next  meet:  October 26th 9am