AFF Meetings

ASSOCIATION OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
MINUTES – November 15, 2010

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Class of 2011 – Barbara Bagay, Michal & Nachman Gendelberg,
Class of 2012 - Mariya Brown, Theresa Hansen, Patty Infantino, Lou & Bob Penn, Jane Reilly, Jon & Sheila Sterling
Class of 2013 – Barbara Colaco, Donna & Dennis Herman, Sue Madurski, Gregg & Robin Tabakin
Class of 2014 – Helen Bayer, Donna & Steve Friedman, John Goodwin, Ramesh & Ila Shah

Dr. Sonia Laumbach, Jean Martin

The November 15th meeting convened at 7:00 PM, following dinner.

Patty Infantino welcomed everyone and introductions were made. 

Patty read a “Thank you Letter” from Chris Hansen for his $200 stipend for Travel Expenses so he could present his poster at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly on Sept. 28, 2010 in Las Vegas.

Dr. Laumbach read the Budget report.  The AFF is in the red for Travel Expenses and in the red for Stitches.

Dr. Laumbach explained what the DISC (Distinction in Research to the Community) involved and how it is a very popular program with the students.

Dr. Laumbach also discussed how the Emergency Student Loan works. Students can request a temporary loan for rent, etc. until their financial aid comes through and then it is paid back so the fund always stays constant.

A motion was made to transfer $500 into the Stitches account.  It was seconded and approved.

Dr. Laumbach asked for more money for the Travel Funds.  A motion was made to appropriate $1500 for the Travel Funds.  It was seconded and approved.

Financial Report – Jon Sterling

Jon thanked everyone who came early tonight to stuff all the appeal letters, etc. into envelopes for the next round of requests for donations.  Over 700 were done.

Stitches Report – Lou Penn

Lou reported that a Congratulations Letter will be sent out to the newly accepted students providing information to order their Red Shirts.  Credit cards are now being accepted for sales.  The form will be filled out and then entered by a UMDNJ Cashier.

The Stitches sale dates for the holidays will be December 7, 8, 14 and 15. 

For Family Day in March, Stitches will sell a day before in front of the RWJUH Cafeteria in New Brunswick.

Jane Reilly talked about the Website’s merchandise page explaining that Donna and Steve Friedman took photos of all the merchandise for the web page.  She thanked them and especially Donna for her expertise in doing this.  You can now print out an order form from the website and mail to Lou Penn.  The link is right on the order page.  The shipping charge will be $5.00 unless it is a very large order.

Dr. Laumbach gave the student class updates.
 
1st Years – They have block systems now, and they just got finished with their big exam.  Now they will be moving on to their Cardio-Pulmonary block.

2nd Years – They just took their exams.  The Deans spoke to them about Careers in Medicine and planning their futures.  A Career Fair will be coming up in January and held at the medical school. All alums come and talk about their different specialties.  Students go from table to table and this takes place in the Great Hall in Piscataway.  They also had their Step 1 Meeting.

3rd Years – The students are now in the 3rd or 4th block of Clerkships.  Dr. Laumbach sees them twice a month for Lunch with the Dean in New Brunswick.

4th Years – They just finished their Residency Applications.  Some students are already hearing back about interviews.  The Deans prep them for Interviews.  Some students will elect to go for 20, 30 or even 40 interviews.  The Deans will meet with them in January on how to rank Residency Programs. The Deans are hoping for another successful match.
Jane thanked the ladies who brought in all the delicious desserts.  The bakers who volunteered for this meeting were Helen Bayer, Michal Gendleberg, Sue Madurski and Robin Tabakin.

The date for the Spring Brunch this year will be April 3, 2011 as agreed by everyone.  Mariya Brown and Lisa Lubitz will be the Co-Chairs for this event.  Mariya mentioned that there was a complaint about the speaker at last year’s brunch.  The guests felt that he did not speak on topic until toward the end of his presentation.  Dr. Laumbach will invite a speaker for this year’s event.

Dates for the spring meetings were selected. Monday, March 28, 2001 will be the next meeting and the last meeting of this academic year will be held on Monday, May 9, 2011.  It was decided that Dinner will now be served at 6:30 PM with the meeting to begin at 7:00 PM sharp.

Volunteers to bring desserts in March are Donna Herman, Sue Madurski and Robin Tabakin.

Jane gave special thanks to Jon Sterling for all his efforts and also to Donna Friedman for her photography expertise for the website.  By putting in 50 hours for this project, her company, Telecordia, will donate $500 to the AFF.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Jean A. Martin

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