AFF Meetings

ASSOCIATION OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
MINUTES – May 9, 2011

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Class of 2011 - Barbara Bagay, Carol & Basil Smith
Class of 2012 - Mariya Brown, Michal & Nachman Gendelberg, Terry Hansen, Magda Hendrikx, Patty Infantino, Lou & Bob Penn, Jane Reilly, Jon & Sheila Sterling
Class of 2013 - Donna Herman, Sue Madurski, Gregg & Robin Tabakin
Class of 2014 - Helen Bayer, Donna & Steve Friedman

Dr. Sonia Laumbach, Jean Martin
Guest  Speaker - Dr. Javier Escobar

The May 9th meeting convened at 7:00 PM, following dinner.

Jane Reilly welcomed everyone and introductions were made. 

Dr. Escobar was our guest tonight to advocate for more Global Health Funding.  He thanked the AFF members for all their support, and he thinks that UMDNJ has the best Global Health Program in the Northeast.  Last year Global Health funded 37 students - $500 was given to students with funded programs and $250 was given to students with other programs.  This year Dr. Escobar has 39 students who have applied for funding abroad.  They are a little short and if the AFF can help them, he was asking for an extra $3700.  Some countries where the students travel are Spain, Costa Rica, Africa, China, Peru, Honduras, Ecuador and the Himalayan Health Exchange.

Dr. Laumbach mentioned that the students serve on a Global Health Steering Committee and they love going abroad.

Dr. Escobar is also working with 25 students doing independent projects to graduate.

Jane thanked Dr. Escobar for coming tonight and speaking about the Global Health Students.

The March 28th Minutes were approved.  Jane mentioned that she has posted all the minutes on the AFF website.
Financial Report

Dr. Laumbach read the Budget Report.  There was a clerical error on the budget page, and it was corrected showing that now there was a profit of $1,054.50 for the Brunch.  Everyone thought the Brunch was a nice event and the speaker was great.  Jon Sterling mentioned that the 50/50 Raffle was good.

Mariya stated that she and Lisa wanted to change the food a little this year, thereby increasing the price by $2.00.  Mariya also wanted to include the student speakers.

Jane asked Mariya if she would change anything.  She mentioned that she agreed with Jon that maybe we should revisit the ticket pricing.  She thought there were too many muffins and too much salad.  Next year they would like to have a student from DISC come to the Brunch to speak.

Subcommittee Reports

Stitches – Lou Penn

Lou stated that they are spending too much money for embroidery on Tee Shirts so they are going back to Screening.  She asked for some more money, about $3500 to replenish her stock.

Fundraising – Jon Sterling

Jon thanked Sheila Sterling, Jane Reilly and Terry Hansen for helping with the appeal letters.  He said he was pleased with the donations this year.

AFF/Orientation BBQ

Dr. Laumbach talked about possibly merging the BBQ with Family Day in September.  Lou Penn felt it would eliminate a sale day.  Jane mentioned that the BBQ was the AFF’s event to shine and recruit new members and liked the idea that there will be more parents at Family Day.  After bantering back and forth, it was unanimously decided to keep the two events separate.  They were proposing having the BBQ on Sunday, August 7th and will confirm at a later date.

Donna Herman and Sue Madurski agreed to be BBQ chairpersons.

Donna Herman asked if we could send out an email blast for the BBQ.  Lou volunteered to design the announcement/flyer and send it out.

Lou suggested that the AFF raffle off an IPAD.  This would probably draw a bigger crowd.  It was requested that Stitches ask for $4,000 to cover their clothing expenses and the IPAD, figuring the cost of the IPAD would be about $500.

Dr. Laumbach asked if everyone felt there should be an RSVP for the BBQ.  It would be a good idea but no final decision was made.

All the AFF members thought that having the new parents write a letter to their child to be given the day of the White Coat Ceremony was a good idea and would like to see that practice continue.

Patty asked to appropriate $4,000 to Stitches and the motion was approved.

Jane asked to appropriate $3500 for the AFF/Orientation BBQ.  The motion was approved.

The motion to appropriate $6,000 for the Global Health fund was also approved.

Dr. Laumbach read a thank you note from the DISC students.  Patty read a thank you note from Jean for her gift at the Brunch.

New Co-Presidents

Donna Herman and Sue Madurski were nominated for Co-Chairs; they accepted and all agreed.

Jon Sterling thanked Patty and Jane for their services as Co-Chairs.  Jane said she will continue updating the AFF website.

Class Updates

1st Years – They were doing bench to bedside and some are now getting ready for re-exams.  Summative exams are coming in the end of May – brand new feature.

2nd Years – They just took their last exam today and are getting ready for their big exam.  The students will start rotations in July.
 
3rd Years – They are wrapping up their 3rd year.  A lot of students have already decided what specialty they want to go into.  Some of them will go into other research programs.  They have started doing their MSPEs.

4th Years – May 19th is their Graduation Banquet.  May 23rd is the Convocation, which is the last one for Dr. Seiden.  May 25th is the Commencement at the IZOD Center.

Helen Bayer asked if the tuition would be going up for next year.  Dr. Laumbach said that it would but was not sure by how much.

The following dates were scheduled for AFF meetings in the Fall: 
     Monday, September 19th
     Monday, November 14th

The bakers who volunteered for this meeting were Helen Bayer, Magda Hendrikx, Sue Madurski, and Carol Smith.  Thanks to them for their delicious treats.

Volunteers to bring desserts in September are Helen Bayer, Donna Herman and Sue Madurski.

Dr. Laumbach thanked Patty and Jane for their service to the AFF.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Jean A. Martin

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