Present: Evie, Marlene, Kathy, Jessie, Jeanine, Amelia, Jacquie, Linda DY, Linda L.

Check in

Treasurer Report - Ann was absent because of surgery.

Sign-Ups - Kathy Earth Day April 20

•  Kathy will contact everyone who signed up once she knows the location
• Needs 12:30-2:30 slot to be filled 

Farmers Mkt. Peace Table

• Waiting for dates we will be tabling

Table at Bel Aire Fair May 17 – Linda DY

• Everything is set for Fair, we have a table, will check on need for chairs
• Janeen and Emilia will do activity
• Marlene, Kathy, Carole will participate
• Marlene may read from a book
• What are “Ideas for Action” – parents and school want this
• When Cows Fly – Facebook game on Heifer website, “Give” Tab

Heifer Benefit – Sebastapol – May 4 – Evie

• 4pm-6pm
• Make cookies?
• Drive over with Evie?
• Volunteers for cookies: Evie, Jessie, Janeen

Report on March Kiwanis Presentation – Jacquie

• Went well
• Asked to do presentation at another Kiwanis Meeting at Downtown Joes
• Can use the presentation as a template for other organizations we speak to
• Marlene – AAUW – maybe next year
• Linda DY – would like to do research for other groups we will speak to

Discussion Items

• Bottle Rock – May meeting
• Our May meeting is same weekend as Bottle Rock
• Do we want to have meeting? No. 

Gravenstein Apple Fair – Aug 10, 1, 10am-6pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun,

• Sonoma group is considering having a table at Fair
• Need Napa group to help table
• Jessie, Marlene, Linda DY are interested

Next meeting is June 8th

Heifer Website

• Much info on site, everyone is asked to check it out
• When Cows Fly
• Cody Belew, Say Love song
• Evie will talk to Jill about him possibly coming to Napa/Bay Area

Studying the Cornerstones

• Book from Jill
• We will proceed with this study
• Scan pages and email to members
• We will start with the first, Passing on the Gift

Question on Donation Brochure – Kathy

• Cc info is on outside of tear-out envelope, visible to the world - Evie will speak with Jill
• If person wants to make a donation, write check, credit Napa, Heifer will send them a receipt
• Or give donation to Ann

Attendees: Jessie M., Betty M., Nancy E., Carole K., Linda L., Janeen B., Emilia G., Linda D-Y., Marlene Z., Keni K., Evie T., Ann S., Sylvia P.

•  Check in
•  Treasurer's report - Ann 
•  Hunger/Poverty event - Betty
  We talked about doing a Fair Share meal and we've received a big booklet from Heifer.
  Betty is talking to the college, but it is a very busy spring and the only date available is April 9, 12:30 -1:30, if we do anything it must be a simplified Fair Share or we can do something else. A discussion of possibilities followed-what to do vs. our ability to do it. maybe show 12 Stones, Keni said a college communications instructor, Ann Gross, would be a real supporter.
  Jessie, Betty, Nancy, Janeen, Linda L. all offered to help with the event at the College. Evie suggested our high school volunteer Sylvia's involvement. Betty will talk with NVC to see if the event is feasible in this format. 
•  Tabling
  • Earth DayTabling Sat. April 20-Kathy Mawer organizer, 10:30 to 5:30, we will need shifts, the sign up was sent around.
  • Bel Aire School tabling event, May 17 4-7p.m. This is a big Faire and they chose us, Roots & Shoots, and ------?, to be part of it.They liked the idea of having animals there,[K&C-chickens, and bees]. They the idea of doing something. Janeen, Emilia, Marlene, Carole and Nancy will be involved. We have lots of Heifer books. 
•  Study Sessions
  All of us seemed interested in learning more about Heifer and its 12 Cornerstones. Keni suggested that we find out from Jill if there are good study materials for learning more about Heifer and the 12 Cornerstones. 
•  Kiwanis Presentation
  3/21 - Evie, Nancy, Betty
  We all got to hear the excellent presentation from Evie and Nancy, with Betty showing slides. We we're asked to think of good questions to ask of presenters. Members did a fine job of asking questions. Thanks to all.

Make a difference for women and girls globally by playing Half The Sky Movement: The Game game. 

As one of the seven nonprofits featured in the game, Heifer is excited to be part of the first Facebook game that helps raise awareness of women and girls living under difficult circumstances all over the globe. Join us to become part of the solution by playing the game:http://hefr.in/15uhuGx

Present: Linda McBee, Mariann Weed, Dottie Joos, Mary Blom

• Linda shared with us that she will be relinquishing her AVC title and role. She anticipates continuing in a volunteer role.
• Read to Feed: Reviewed the materials in the “Read to Feed” kit, noting that it is primarily a reading motivation and fund-raising program in contrast to the global education kits, which offer a more in depth global awareness. Linda wondered if Heifer has recommended reading lists for various grade levels that could be offered with the program. She will inquire. 
• Next month we will open and look at one of the Global Education kits. Linda will look into making them available to the teachers at the two local Waldorf schools, where she has maintained relationships. 
•  Mariann told us that the newly opened Sunflower Café on N. McDowell is designed to be a gathering place and includes a children’s corner. She suggested that it has potential for making Heifer materials and children’s books available. She will speak with the owner. 
•  Mariann will also contact The Living Room, the daytime shelter for homeless women and children at Incarnation Episcopal Church in Santa Rosa. We brainstormed the possibilities of having a story time using Heifer and other related books.
•  Joyful Noise choir concert: The choir director and St. Stephen’s Church (the venue) will be looking at spring dates. We will recommend 4/7, 4/14, 4/28, or possibly early March. Dates to be avoided are 3/24, Palm Sunday, 3/31, Easter, 4/21, Apple Blossom Festival, and if we were to go into May, 5/12, Mothers’ Day, and graduations. 
•  Ongoing calendar: Mary will contact the Apple Blossom Festival and the Gravenstein Apple Fair regarding non-profit table opportunities. Mariann will bring the Community Gazette to the next meeting. Linda will contact The Bohemian regarding their calendar of events. 
•  Tabling ideas: Mariann showed us her collection of animal puppets, recently purchased for Heifer tabling. Dottie also has been collecting animal figures. 
• It was suggested we could also use peace pipes (quarter tubes) when tabling. Mary will send the specs for making them to Linda; Ben may be willing. 
•  Funds raised: Linda sent $500 from our bank account to Jill. Alternative giving table at Sebastopol UMC raised $650, sent directly to Jill by the church. This is the second year Lincoln School has done a school wide fundraiser for Heifer as a result of our contact three years ago; proceeds were sent directly to Heifer. 

 Submitted by Mary Blom

Check in: Ann, Nancy, Janeen, Amelia, Jessie, Betty, Keni, Carole, Marlene, Linda L, Linda DYL, Jacquie, Evie and Guest Dave Whitmer, Ag Commissioner for Napa County, Chmn of Church Council First United Methodist Church.

Treasurer’s Report:

• Donations today: $388 from Jessie and the Widows and Widower’s Group
• $500 from Jacquie, from Provenance Vineyards, with a photo op at Provenance scheduled for this week.
• The First Christian Church's 5th grade class donated $500 to Heifer.
• Ann submitted a written report of fiscal activity for the last several months.

School Activities:

• Linda DY: 26 kits picked up by teachers (report will be emailed separately), teachers emailed, spoke with teacher in Calistoga for feedback, another teacher responded and plans to use in January
• Middle School Kits still available, Read to Feed kits still available, Betty suggested the Power Point presentation can be tweaked for any schools and grade levels. Caroline suggested that volunteers can utilize activities from the kits to make presentations for interested teachers.
• Napa High: A senior Project is being done by a student Silvia Pizano. The Heifer Club remains active.
• Dave Briggs: Dept of Environmental Services for Napa County expressed interest in using Heifer activities for New Tech High Projects for Community Service Hours.

Congregations

• UUFNB - Evie spoke, 6 people attended. Showed "12 Stones", enthusiasm was high.
• First Presbyterian Gift Fair – Nancy, still waiting to hear about the funds raised. The funds went through the church and will be reported to us.

Events

• Carole and Keni: Barbara Kingsolver Event. Sold out. Mary Blom, Linda McB, Caroline attended and tabled for Heifer. Many in audience knew of Heifer. People responded well to Heifer information.
• Evie: Fair Share Meal concept for event. Possible Senior Project? Betty will bring to Napa Valley College. General consensus is favorable.

Present: Linda McBee, AVC, Dotty Joos, Mary Blom

Calendar development: Mary will scan the hard copy of our current calendar of events into the computer so that Linda can develop an online tool.

Report on Barbara Kingsolver event at Luther Burbank Center on Nov. 15:

• Approximately 1000 people gathered to hear Barbara Kingsolver speak about her new book at an event sponsored by Copperfield’s Books. We had a Heifer information table in the lobby. Because the theme of Kingsolver’s new novel is human response to climate change, our display emphasized Heifer’s work to reduce deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases. In addition to gift catalogs, we distributed information on reforestation, biogas and alternative cookstoves, agroecology, livestock and reducing the carbon hoof print, as well as close to 200 copies of Barbara Kingsolver’s article on her trip to Peru with Heifer. The crowd was very receptive, and we had a good opportunity to expand people’s understanding of Heifer’s work beyond “they give animals.” In addition we received $90 in donations. Participating volunteers were Linda McBee, Caroline Bonnet, Dotty Lee, Carole and Keni Kent, Mary Blom.

Financial Report:

• Separation of Heifer International funds and Sonoma Volunteer funds: Linda will consult Jill regarding accounting procedure.

Group discussion:

• We addressed the important questions –“Who are we? Where have we been? Where are we going?” We concluded that, given our current group composition, we will not be doing large fund-raising events. Those present felt comfortable being an information and support resource for other groups in the community who wish to do something for Heifer. To further our abilities in this area we will use meeting time to become better acquainted with Heifer materials and where and how to use them.

This led to the following action plans:

• Linda and Mary will phone several volunteers who have not recently attended meetings to see what level of participation they wish to have.
• Alternative giving table at Sebastopol UMC 12/2, 12/9, 12/16.
• Gospel choir concert to benefit Heifer sometime in the Spring: Linda will ask the choir director to select a Spring date that is convenient for him and the church. We will accommodate.
• At our January meeting, 1/19, we will study the “Read to Feed” program—what is included in the kit? How is it implemented in the classroom? How does it work in the library?
• We will not have a December meeting.

Notes submitted by Mary Blom