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 North Port Coalition for Homeless/Needy Children, Inc. General Meeting Minutes

November General Meeting Minutes

November 3, 2026

The general meeting was called to order at 10:07 by Susan at the VFW Hall in North Port.  

The mission statement was read by all.

Introductions:

Everyone introduced themselves.  We had one new volunteer,Sandy, attend.

Minutes:

The October Minutes were approved yesterday at the Board meeting.  The minutes will be on the website. 

Financial Report:

Susan read the financial report for October.    Total Direct Income was $673.78,    Expenses were $5,220.46.

Board Positions Needed:

 Susan said her 10 year term is up and we, therefore, need a new Volunteer Coordinator.  She explained the duties of the position, and said it is not necessarily a Board position.

Publicist:  Our publicist, Donna Lane, resigned for health reasons.  Susan explained this is a job you could mostly from home, and that it also was not necessarily a board position. 

We could also use a Fundraising Coordinator.

Fundraising:

Applebee's:    The date is set for January 9, 2027 for a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser.   Tickets sell for $12, and we get $6 on each.  We also have a 50/50 raffle and a gift card tree to raffle.  Volunteers are needed that day from 7:30-10:00.  Susan will coordinate volunteers.  Frank has tickets today, but Linda will be coordinating the ticket sales as we go forward.

Bunco:   Date set for March 10, 2027 at the Trinity Methodist Church.  Board chose the theme Bunco Madness to correlate with March Madness.  There will be a 50/50 raffle and basket raffles. There was some discussion about food, etc.  There will be a separate fundraising meeting to work on the details of this event, date to be announced soon

   Dream Vacation:    This is a raffle for either a 2-3-4-5 night cruise.   The Board has not decided yet whether or not to pursue this.

Nothing Bundt Cakes:    It was decided that the one day event at the store, where we get 20% of sales (if our name is given) would be the easiest way to do this.  

Bags:

Small – 790     Large  - 180   Total  -  970   We’re waiting to hear what the high school needs.

Volunteer Coordinator:

Sorting day is Friday, November 13th at 9 am; Packing and Delivery Day is Monday, November 16th at 9 am.   

Website:

Frank said website is up to date, including this month’s bag count and upcoming events.

Grants:

Susan has applied for a $5,000 grant from Achieve Credit Union.

Scrapbook:

Linda said she will start the 2026 book.   She also plans to do a Memory Book of just pictures.  If you have any pictures, flyers, tickets, etc, please give them to her for the scrapbook.  Linda also suggested a form that the board members could fill out about their experiences, which would be included in the scrapbook.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Old Business:

Gallery:   After meeting with some of the residents last month, it was decided their involvement would be labeling the bags and having a donation box.

Loveland Center:  Some of the clients there used to come in to the storage area to label bags, and they will start doing it again.

High School Students:  A teacher usually brings 4 students to packing day; the girls help on the line and the boys help with loading the cars.

New Business:

Newcomers Day:  November 7th from 10:00-Noon at the Morgan Center.  Frank and Carol will represent BPA.  

Poinsettia Parade & Festival Day:  December 5th from 3:00-7:30 on the City Green.  They supply a table and two chairs.  

Christmas Poster:  The Art Center made a beautiful poster for us a couple years ago.  Posters are displayed every holiday season by City Hall.   We can set ours up the Sunday after Thanksgiving 

Donation Boxes:  There is now a donation box at The Gallery.  The Plantation Community will take a box for the holidays.

Giving Tuesday:  December 1, 2026  Please get the word out to people to donate that day.

Leadership North Port Non Profit Day:  Friday, January 8, 2027.  We were asked to speak about BPA, and Naomi or Judy will give the presentation. 

Place for our General Meetings:   Discussion about where to meet, including capacity and availability of the Library.  It was agreed the VFW was workable, so we will schedule our next general  meeting here again.  Naomi said if we have a one hour meeting, we should be able to have our fundraising meeting right after.  We have the hall until 12:00.

Naomi and Carol came in for the last 10-15 minutes of the meeting.  

                                   Susan adjourned the meeting at 10:54.                                       

OUR NEXT GENERAL MEETING IS

                            TUESDAY December 1, 2026 @ 10:00 am                              

at the VFW Hall

4860 Trott Circle, North Port