January 14th, 2020 Minutes

January 14, 2020

Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association

Minutes

16 members and friends attended the meeting which began at 7pm at Grace Lutheran Church 7th and Chestnut Streets, Shamokin.

President Jeff Schlader ’73 called the meeting to order.

The President introduced Mrs. Donna Nahodil, Class Advisor for the Class of 2020.

PRINCIPAL REPORT: 

Todd Hockenbroch ’97 was unavailable to give a report tonight.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: 

Minutes from October 15, 2019 meeting are on the website for review. Susan Kropinski Haas ’75 made a motion to accept the report and John Clutcher ’74 seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Gregory Dwulet ’68 provided the treasurer’s update.  Bob Mattis ’68 made a motion to accept the report and John Klinger ’68 seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

   *General Fund balance is at:  $16,280.43

   *Educational Fund balance is at:  $14,972.28

Education committee and Greg Dwulet ’68 met to discuss the disposition of the DePiante Scholarship CD which became due November 2019.  The committee decided to close out the CD.  $10,200.00 was put into the checking account for payout to student awards and the remaining $228,308.46 was invested at M&T Bank. $25,000 was remitted to the Wilmington Educational Trust.

The Lynch Family added $100,000 to previous donation of $500,000, giving our association $600,000 to work with for the endowment.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Thank you cards were received from 36 Seniors who received Scholarship awards.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Banquet:  John Klinger ’68 reported the Banquet for the 137th reunion will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 5:30 pm at Masser’s Banquet Hall, Paxinos, PA.  Menu was reviewed as salad, pork chops, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, filling, buttered corn.  Dessert will be chocolate cake.

He noted that the prices have gone up as follows:

$16.00 per person plus 20% gratuity, plus 6% sales tax.

After some discussion regarding the increased meal cost, we decided to leave the price for the 137th banquet at last year’s price, but will evaluate whether to increase the price for future reunions.  Last year the price was $25.

Afterglow:  Discussion was held on whether to have the afterglow this year due to lack of interest.  Several ideas were exchanged on how to interest those attending, especially the students and their parents.  John Klinger ’68 reported it cost the Alumni $4.75 per person for the minimum of 75 persons for snacks/refreshment cost for the Afterglow.

Jody Duceman Callahan ’68 made a motion not to have the Afterglow this year and John Klinger ’68 seconded the motion.  All were in favor.  We will evaluate how this is received at the May’s banquet and review the aftermath for 2021 banquet.

Jeff Schlader’73 will follow up with the Vic Boris band to let them know they may not be required to provide the full afterglow experience.

Entertainment:  Senior members of the High School Chorus will perform at the Alumni banquet under the direction of Mary Anne Brennan Stump ’00.

Invitation/Newsletter:  Mary Anne Brennan Stump ’00 reports that she was in contact with Mark Pulhamus of Paulhamus Litho, Inc. concerning the publication, proofing and deadlines of our newsletter.  Last year Mark delivered to the mailing house around April 11th.  This was a bit late due to some delay in receiving information for the newsletter on our side and how it fell with Mark’s production schedule.

Here’s the response (in part) from Mark:

“We would prefer information by late February for a late March mailing.  It can be earlier also.  It usually takes 2-3 weeks from start to finish and mailing usually takes couple days at the mail house until it is all processed and mailed out.”

Based upon this information, Mary Anne is asking if people could have their information submitted to her by President’s Day, February 17, 2020.  That will give her an extra few days to edit and finalize before submitting to Mark. Greg Dwulet ’68 can send the treasurer’s information straight to Mark as he done in the past.

Besides the communication at this January 14th meeting, Mary Anne will be reaching out to various newsletter stakeholders to communicate the published deadline.

Programs:  Nothing to report at this time.

Auditing:  Nothing to report at this time.

Awards:  Nothing to report at this time.

By-Laws:  Nothing to report at this time.

Class Representatives:  Nothing to report at this time.

Education Fund:  Nothing to report at this time.

Memorabilia: Jeff Clutcher ’78 reported that Steven Shipe sent him an email.  He found a family heirloom - a 1908 Class pin of his grandfather (Art Shipe, Sr.).  Jeff accepted the pin for the memorabilia collection.

Nominations:  We still need a male Vice President for the banquet in 2020.

Publicity:  Jamie A. Hoffman Bordell ’75 had an announcement in the newspaper (News-Item) and the Community Calendar for several days prior to tonight’s meeting.

Website:  John Clutcher ’74 asked the group to review the website to review committee membership.  Send him an email with any updates prior to February 15th as updates from the website are used for the newsletter build.  John also reported the alumni Facebook group has 246 members and is used to communicate our alumni meetings and activities.

OLD BUSINESS: 

A copy of the letter which entails information to be given to seniors and their parents concerning the alumni scholarship testing and banquet was given to those present for review.  After a floor discussion, it was recommended that the President contact the Principal to inquire on the date of the exam and discuss the best way to send the letter to the parents/students.

A copy of the letter follows:

Note – This letter will be placed on the website under policy and procedures for future usage.  Dates, cost information, etc. will need to be updated each year when used.

Dear Students and Parents of the Class of 2020:

The Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association would like to invite all members of the Class of 2020 to register for and take the competitive examination for the scholarships that will be awarded to the new graduates by our Association and the Coal Township Alumni Association.  THERE IS NO FEE FOR TAKING THE TEST.  The 16 scholarships for last year ranged from $2,000 per year to the top award of $4,000 per year.  The award winners can expect their scholarship to be renewed for up to three additional years or as long as they are enrolled in a post-high school educational program, whichever period is shorter.  Beginning last year, the R. Thomas Lynch Scholarship is awarded to the graduate with the highest score on the test who will be attending a vocational or technical school.  Again, this award is for a maximum of four years depending on the length of the program in which the student is enrolled.  Seniors will be advised by the Guidance Department as to the time and place for the taking of the test.

The scholarship winners will be announced at the 137th Annual Banquet of the Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association to be held May 23, 2020, at Masser’s Banquet Hall in Paxinos.  ALL members of the Class of 2020, regardless of whether or not they have taken the scholarship examination, are invited to attend the banquet.  Student reservations will be made at the school at a time and place to be announced.  The Class of 2020 will be the guests of the Alumni Association, but a $5.00 deposit will be required at the time the student makes his or her reservation to attend the banquet.  The $5.00 deposit will be refunded to the student when he or she arrives at the banquet hall.  This procedure is necessary since, in the past, some students made banquet reservations but did not bother to attend.  On those occasions, the Alumni Association was forced to pay for extra meals for non-attendees because the caterer had prepared food for the number of persons who made reservations.  If this deposit/refund process poses an undue financial hardship on any student, he or she should contact the Guidance Department and an appropriate adjustment can be made.

All parents of the Class of 2020 are also invited to attend the annual banquet on May 23rd.  The cost of the banquet for parents of the Class of 2020 is $20.00 per person.  This is a discounted price from the $25.00 being charged to attending alumni who are not parents of the Class of 2020.  Parents should make their reservations by sending payment (payable to SAHS Alumni Association) to Gregory Dwulet, Treasurer, 18 Parkwood Drive, Lock haven, PA 17745-2630.  Deadline for receiving payments is May 15th, 2020.

Mrs. Donna Nahodil, class advisor stated that were about 175-180 students in the class of 2020.

Susan Kropinski Haas ’75 brought up that the Alumni President should contact the Principal about an assembly for the Senior students to discuss what the Alumni is all about, and to explain that after graduation they are members of the Alumni Association.  Bruce Clutcher ’72 noted there is a policy and procedure document on the website that outlines of the talking points for the alumni representative to use for this meeting

NEW BUSINESS:  None at this time.

NEXT MEETING:  Spring meeting: at 7pm, Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church (downstairs), 7th & Chestnut Street, Shamokin.

Motion for adjournment was made at 8:32pm by Jody Duceman Callahan ’68 and seconded by Bruce Clutcher ’72.  All were in favor.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Jamie A. Hoffman Bordell ‘75

Secretary