Parrots on the Grand
March 2010 Meeting
Williamsburg Arms Pub
1. Welcome to all.
1. Draw for a “Taste of the tropics” – Bottles of Lulu Buffett’s “Saucy Salsa” prepared from a recipe in her “Crazy Sista” cookbook. Congratulations to winners Myra, Bob, Patti, Sarah, and Kelly.
1. Minutes of February meeting – minutes passed as presented
1. Treasurer’s Report
1. Account balance is $886.03
2. Reminder that 2009 audit still needs to be done
1. New business
Change to Executive – Change # 1 – Charlene will assume the role of “Past President and Founder”. Charlene volunteered for the role of “Director of Phun” for the duration of the term. In this role Charlene will assist with organizing club activities. Thank you to Charlene for founding the club, and bringing us to this point. Change #2 – A member has volunteered to assume the role of Club Captain. At a recent Executive meeting, the offer was discussed and we’re pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Kains as our new Club President for the duration of the term.
1. Where do we go from here…
1. New website: Mike reported on our new site. Site is up and running (www.parrotsonthegrand.com). New look, along with more flexibility. The new site has an RSS feed, so be sure to sign up to be notified of new postings. The site will be more interactive. If you have something to add on the site, please use the link to submit new content to Mike.
2. New location: We’re checking out new meeting locations. Tonight’s meeting was at the Williamsburg Arms Pub, where we had a private room. The group enjoyed the location and we will book it for the April meeting.
3. New club name: While we’d like to keep “Parrots on the Grand” as our tag line, it was proposed that we change the club name to better reflect not only our physical location, but to also clarify that we are not a “parrot” club, but rather a “Parrothead” club. A motion was put forth to change the club name to “Waterloo Region Parrotheads”. The motion was seconded, and passed.
4. New meeting format: In the interest of minimizing the business portion of our meetings, and leaving more time for socializing and fun, the Executive will meet from 6:00-6:30 p.m. The Club meeting will begin at 6:30 with a quick 15 minute recap of the executive meeting, and then on to fun! Any member that would like to attend the Executive meeting is welcome to do so.
5. Vacant Executive Position – The position of Vice President is currently vacant. The floor was opened for nominations. Kelly Dobos was nominated, and accepted the position. Welcome to the Executive Kelly!
6. ParrotPhest: For the Club to break even hosting Parrotphest at the Edelweiss, we’d have to sell 195 tickets. If we go elsewhere and we can get a cut of the bar (at $1.50 per drink), we’d only have to sell 145 tickets to break even. Club members offered to check on local venues and bring the information to the April meeting. Local venues suggested included: Club Willowells, Police Association, and Knights of Columbus. If members know of any other locations, please call the venues for information. Questions to ask include: Is the facility available on September 25th; can we get a special occasion permit and receive a cut of the bar; do you have a designated caterer, or can we provide our own food; what is the capacity of the hall; what is the rental fee.
Entertainment: Charlene to check with Wendall about the steel drum band – need to make it clear that we are not committing to them, but want to know the cost to “open” the event. Lee will check with KD Moore on pricing and availability.
1. Social Events
The name of the game is fun! Small group discussions took place about possible future social events. Lots of great new ideas were generated by members. Events don’t have to cost a lot, or be big and splashy – whether we get 4 or 24 people out to an event – the event will still be fun! If the events are fun – word will spread and participation will grow.
Your event – your rules! The host of the event gets to set the rules, i.e. members only, bring a friend, time, potluck or otherwise, etc.
If you’d like to host one of the events below, or if you have an idea of your own, contact one of the Executive and let us know. If you’d like some help with event, we’re there for you.
Event ideas:
“Ticketless Tailgating Party” – members go the Detroit concert on June 22nd. We have an awesome tailgate party, buy a little swag at the booth Jimmy sets up in the parking lot, then we sit in the parking lot as a group and enjoy the concert – all without the paying the price of a ticket!
Night at the Races – Members meet at Mohawk Raceway and Slots for a little food and gaming.
Beer/wine tasting evening – Members meet at someone’s home and bring either a bottle of wine, or six beer, along with an edible item they feel pairs well with the wine/beer they bring.
Beer/wine blind taste test evening – Members meet at someone’s home and bring either a bottle of wine or six beer. The drinks should be in wrappers so no one knows what the brand is. Everyone gets a small taste and votes on their favourite.
King/Queen of the Grill contest – Four or five gentlemen/ladies prepare small slider burgers using their favourite recipe and topped with their favourite items. Members sample each of the burger offerings, and one of the contestants is crowned “King of the Grill” and wins a Margaritaville apron.
Chili or Gumbo Cook-off –Four or five club members prepare a pot of chilli or gumbo. Members sample each of the offerings and the winner wins a little something.
Roadside cleanup followed by a barbeque at a member’s home. No, we’re not planning to grill whatever we find on the roadside!
Games Night – Members meet at someone’s home to play a board game or a card game.
Community Garage Sale Day – When one of our communities holds a “Garage Sale Day”, members meet at someone’s home with items for the sale. A little money is raised for the member and a little money is donated to our charity.
Ladies Shopping Trip – Road trip to Buffalo to scope out those shopping bargains! Fellas – you can join the ladies, or you can gather at the Anchor Bar – watch some sports and enjoy those world famous Anchor Bar Wings.
Road trip to Niagara Falls Margaritaville – Members can meet at NFM for an afternoon get-together, or travel down via the Niagara Casino Bus.
“Dine With Me” event – For those of you who’ve seen the show “Dine With Me” no explanation is necessary. For those of you who haven’t, four couples each host a dinner party for the others. The couples are rated on their food and hosting abilities. Winner wins a prize. Losers still enjoy some great dinners!
An afternoon of horseshoes – Got a horseshoe pit? Then you’ve got all you need to host this event!
Backyard tailgate party – Tune in one of Jimmy’s concerts on Sirius satellite and have a backyard tailgate party. Members bring pot luck items.
Have another idea to add to the list? Let us know!
Meeting fun
The Club has said they’d like meetings to be less business and more social, so members suggested a few ways to have fun at meetings:
Trivia nights
Quiz nights
Theme nights:
* Island theme – limbo contest, island music, swap favourite “boat drink recipes”, etc.
* Travel theme – Florida night – been to Florida? Then bring a few of your favourite photos, travel tips, etc., and share your “tales from the tropics”!
* You’ve got the cutest little baby face – bring a photo of yourself as a baby – we’ll have a contest to guess who’s who.
If you have any more ideas – let’s hear them! If you’d like to help organize the “fun” portion of the meeting one month, let us know that too!
1. Fundraising
1. Bob suggested the Club may want to pursue selling tickets for the “Uncle Hans” KW Oktoberfest Lottery. Forty per cent of the proceeds from the tickets sold, go back to the selling group. Tickets cost $5.00 each. The group will vote on this suggestion at the April meeting.
2. Raffle: Tonight’s raffle raised $47.00. Kelly won first prize (a t-shirt brought back by Paul and Myra from their Florida vacation) and Paul and Myra won second prize – candles and a koozie!
1. Next meeting
1. Our next meeting is April 12 at the Williamsburg Arms. Executive will meet at 6:00 p.m., other members at 6:30 p.m. If you have an idea for the social/fun portion of the meeting, please contact any member of the Executive.
Executive Members:
Club Captain: Dave Kains
Vice President: Kelly Dobos
Secretary: Lu-Ann Procter
Membership: Jane Kains
Director of Phun: Charlene Walkington
Web Master: Mike Garritsen
