AFF Meetings

ASSOCIATION OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
MINUTES – September 19, 2011

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Class of 2012 – Barbara Colaco, Terry Hansen, Patty Infantino, Jane Reilly
Class of 2013 - Donna Herman, Sue Madurski, Jon & Sheila Sterling, Gregg & Robin Tabakin
Class of 2014 - Donna & Steve Friedman
Class of 2015 - Terry & Robert Crowley, Marua & Fadi Deek, Bernadette & Vance Henry, Charlotte Kalb, Mohammad Shanehsaz, Dianne Tarangelo, Marilyn Weindler, Lynne Wilgucki

Dr. Sonia Laumbach, Jean Martin

The Sept. 19th meeting convened at 7:00 PM, following dinner.

Donna Herman welcomed everyone and introductions were made. 

Jane Reilly motioned to approve the May Minutes and Patty Infantino seconded the motion and all approved.

White Coat Ceremony Review:

The new AFF parents thought the letters to the students was a wonderful idea, and they thought the White Coat Ceremony went very well.  Marilyn Weindler thought the speeches were very much on point.

AFF/Orientation BBQ Review:

Donna thought the BBQ was better than last year.  She thanked Donna Friedman for sending out the evites and taking the RSVPs.  Approximately 150 – 200 people attended the BBQ.  Donna mentioned that she and Sue had a meeting prior to the BBQ with the Student Orientation Team to go over the event.  Patty Infantino thought the BBQ was great. 

Dr. Laumbach mentioned that the Student Affairs Office had a feedback session with the Orientation Team, and it was discussed that the BBQ next year be possibly held on a Sunday.

Patty said that they ran out of veggie burgers so more are needed for next year.  Donna thought the vegetable platters went over well and might need to order more for next year.  Steve Friedman thought the students did a good job buying the food.  Donna thanked the Grill Masters.

Robin Tabakin brought up the discussion of possibly catering the BBQ next year and since she found out that our in-house caterer is not here any longer, then she mentioned about using the Rutgers caterers.  Sue Madurski agreed to look into finding a caterer for next year.  Robin also mentioned that she thought it was hard rolling the tables and chairs outside and then back inside after the event.

Sue asked if the students shouldn’t help as much as they did.  Dr. Laumbach responded that for the Peer Mentors it is part of their jobs to assist at this event.

Sue mentioned that maybe the AFF Parents could buy the food at 7:00 in the morning next year instead of having the students buy it.  Dr. Laumbach thought the orientation Team did a great job.  It is still undecided about next year.

Woody’s grill was not cleaned the day of the BBQ so Steve Friedman was kind enough to come back the following Monday morning to clean it.

Thank you Letters:

Dr. Laumbach read the thank you letters from the students who traveled with some reimbursement from the AFF travel funds.  She explained to the new parents that the AFF gives $6,000 every year to Global Health to help students with their travel funds.  Students do outside research and the AFF helps provide some assistance.  Dr. Laumbach thanked the parents for helping the students every day.

Financial Report:

Dr. Laumbach read the financial report.  She also talked a little about the Care and Share Appeal with the Foundation of UMDNJ.

Subcommittee Reports

Finance Committee – Jon Sterling

Jon said donations were down a bit from a few years ago.  He said that the donations are “pure income” – no expenses.  He asked the parents to join this committee to get the appeal letters out.  Jon mentioned that it would be a good idea to make follow-up calls after the letters went out.  It was suggested that maybe the AFF could offer something for a $100 donation.  Jon will talk to Lou about this.  Jon mentioned about Ginny Rutkowski’s suggestion to raise the amount on the appeal form and start at either $25 or $50.  Jon asked for more input from everyone to raise the amount on the appeal form and do away with the lower amounts.

Jane suggested that the appeal letters should be stuffed and mailed out before the November meeting.  Jon would also like to do this a little earlier.  Sue said she would be willing to drive people to Jon’s house to help with stuffing the envelopes.  Jon would like to have the stuffing even on Oct. 19th.

A motion was made to remove the lower amounts on the appeal form and start at $25.00.  Jean mentioned that Ginny from the Foundation of UMDNJ suggested raising the larger amount to $500.00. 

Robin suggested that maybe people could make a donation in a student’s honor and then publish Donor list.  She also suggested that magnets could be put on cars.

Jon asked if either Jean or he could contact Ginny from the Foundation to see if we could get a list of Donors.  Jean will provide names to Jon.

It was asked at the meeting if the parents could buy tapes of the White Coat Ceremony.  Jean agreed to look into this.

Stitches

Lou Penn was absent from the meeting so Sue Madurski read Lou’s Report.  (Report attached).  Possible Stitches Sale Dates – Oct. 10th and four days in December – 6, 7 13, & 14.

Jane mentioned that people can purchase items from Stitches from the AFF website.

Jane also asked if someone would think about taking care of this website next year as her daughter will be graduating in May.

Class Updates – Dr. Laumbach

1st Years – They had a wonderful orientation week.  They started their classes and eased into them nicely.  Students just had their first mid-term exam.  Dr. Laumbach mentioned that at Orientation, the Deans talk about the Roller Coaster Ride in the first year as they will be hitting Anatomy soon.
2nd Years – Their curriculum has been changed.  They did quite well in the first block.  The students will be having an exam coming up in October.  This is a year of self realization.

3rd Years – Students started their Clinical Rotations – started their second block.  Dr. Laumbach and Dr. Mehan meet with them for lunch 2 or 3 times a month in New Brunswick.

4th Years – The Student Affairs Deans have been working with them since May getting them ready for Residencies.  They help the students with MSPEs and personal statements.  September 1st is the first day students can sent out Residency Applications.  Some of them have gotten interview dates already.  The Deans will be having mock interviews to help students prepare for their Residency Interviews.

Jane asked Dr. Laumbach what is the number of Residencies that students apply to.  She stated that for Orthopedics that 50 is the minimum and Family Medicine it is between 25 – 50.  She said that each student should have at least 10 programs to rank at the end.

Donna thanked Dr. Laumbach for her reports.

Jane asked about the Family Days and Dr. Laumbach explained that we will not be having them this year due to the Department situations and what Student Affairs can and cannot support at this time.  Dr. Laumbach said that Family Day used to be done twice a year – one in the Fall for the 1st year parents and one in the late winter/early Spring for the 2nd year parents.

Patty Infantino asked if we could get an alumni or another event to replace the Family days.  Jane suggested that maybe the AFF can do a Tour couple with the Brunch date.

Donna agreed with Patty and asked if the AFF could do something in October.  Dr. Laumbach said she would bring it to the Administration to do another event that is not as labor intense for faculty.  Dr. Laumbach said that in the Spring, the Clash of the Classes is held and possibly we could do something with the AFF at that time.

Donna thanked both Dr. Laumbach and Jean for all their help.

The bakers who volunteered for this meeting were Donna Herman and Sue Madurski.

Volunteers to bring desserts in September are Lynne Wilgucki, Robin Tabakin and Donna Friedman.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:07 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Jean A. Martin

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