Summer/Fall 2001

In its third year, Friends of Explorit has defined a number of roles in assisting Explorit's ongoing maintenance and development. The Mailing Team continues on a regular basis to assist in the preparation of bulk mailing. The Hospitality Team assists in coordination of the catering for events of the Board and Staff. On occasion, Friends has also provided supportive services in implementing fundraising through phone recruiting of volunteers (as for the Monte Carlo Night of the Soroptomists) and obtaining contribution of prizes for the annual membership drive.

Together with Staff, Friends also continues to review applications from underfunded schools for financial assistance to obtain Explorit programs throught the Scholarship and Financial Assistance Endowment Fund.

As activities have become more defined, Friends has been integrated into the Board committee structure: Friends is an ex officio member of the Human Resources Committee and now has representation on the new Development Committee of the Board.

This Fall, two new projects are being proposed for the 2001-02 year.

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MAILING TEAM:

The Mailing Team continues to come together as needed. During August five Friends labeled and collated a mailing of 1000 cards announcing the new "Festival of Science in the Arts" presented jointly with the Davis Art Center. Seven Friends, together with 6 other volunteers, also compiled, labeled and sorted a bulk mailing of 2000 of the 2001-02 Explorit Program brochure to schools in the surrounding area..

HOSPITALITY TEAM:

Two new ongoing business/social events of the Board and Staff have called on Friends to assist with coordination of catering for these events. Monthly "Science Soirees", to be held in the homes of Board members, are planned to introduce selected guests to the new proposed "Health in your World" program. Also planned are quarterly breakfasts to promote greater person-to-person Board and Staff interaction. The initial event in each of these series has been held during the past month.

To facilitate the implementation of the Board and Staff breakfasts, members of the Friends Hospitality Team also volunteered to undertake the acquisition of six card tables together with table cloths. Five Friends have already contributed $30 to cover the cost of one table each. (Individual contributions to these expenses are still welcome!)

GROUNDS TEAM:

In response to the request of Suzanne, Explorit's Executive Director, two members of the Grounds Committee have offered to undertake the weeding and replanting of a small area at the public entrance to Explorit where the initial camomile ground cover has died out.

SCHOLARSHIP TEAM:

Requests from underfunded schools for financial assistance in obtaining Explorit's programs through the Scholarship Endowment Fund are being reviewed by both Staff and Friends. To date all approved requests have been funded. However, at the present rate of applications, the funds available will be depleted before the end of the school year. This year two members of Friends have committed $1500 to the program. The Scholarship Team is considering ways to increase private donations from individuals outside Friends membership.

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MAILING Team members: Evelyn Buddenhagen, Anne Hance, Ann Husmann, Mary Ann Montague, Barbara Melander, Jane Ronning, Ethel Sassenrath, Gwen Schwartz and volunteer friend, Rose Wolfson.

GROUNDS Team members: Kate Mawdsley and Charles Judson for agreeing to replant the entry way area.

HOSPITALITY Team card table contributors: Evelyn Buddenhagen, Anne Hance, Kate Mawdsley, Barbara Melander, and Ethel Sassenrath. And to Barbara Melander for sewing the cloths. Also to Barbara and Ethel for coordinating the catering of the first Soiree and Board and Staff Breakfast.

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1) Sorting and cataloging the hundreds of books that have accumulated in Explorit's Library/Resource Room has been an activity proposed for Friends since its inception. Plans are now being formulated for the sorting and weeding out of the existing books (together with extensive staff input) and , ultimately the cataloging of useful volumes. Volunteers for this new project are welcomed.

2) Also being planned is the sorting and cataloging of the thousands of samples from around the world in Explorit's unique Sand Collection. In this effort, volunteers can work at home, of desired. Again, volunteers will be welcomed.

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Next General Meeting

At a to-be-announced time, and at the invitation of Explorit's Development Committee, Friends will be shown the computerized slide presentation of the proposed "Health in Your World' project.

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