Friends of Gateway
(F.O.G.)
“Meeting Minutes”
Superintendent’s Office
6/05/07

Attendance: Lynnette Avery, Debbie Carnes, Cheryl Hopson, Dave Hopson,
Sue Levreault, Wendy Long, John Noble, Sean Reilly

Old Business:
1. Directory Fundraiser
a. Review of amount and cost of space available –
Full page -$250
Half page- $135
1/6 page - $ 50
Advertisements will be interspersed within the directory, with an alphabetical
listing of all advertisers included as well.

Debbie will e-mail advertisement template to FOG members to insert
into the sample phone directory cover.

b. Letter –
Letter to businesses will be updated. The date for camera ready artwork will be changed from August 4th to July 27th. A log page will be created to keep track of:
1. Business specifics (company name, address, contact person, phone and e-mail number).
2. Size of advertisement purchased from business.
3. Whether or not the business would like a complimentary copy of the directory mailed to them.
4. If the “Thank you” letter has been sent.

c. List of Businesses –
The businesses were divided up among FOG members to sell ads.
(WHO?) will contact Ann Merritt to see if see will contact Russell businesses.
FOG members that make a new business contact will e-mail other FOG members so they can update their list.

d. Sue’s cover artwork -
Will be delivered to printer to be put on disk in advance preparation for the printing of the Phone Directory in August.

2. Status of 501-3c “Education Foundation”

a. Still waiting on some signatures that are needed before filing for Massachusetts and Federal Status.

New Business:

1. Hilltown Letter-Writing
Who, What, How, and When………

a. Discussed how the Gateway student council could reach other student
councils. Debbie will give the contact information for the student
council group that meets down in Northampton to Wendy.
b. Letter Writing-
- Critical time frame Sept. 07- Jan. 08. Goal is to have as many people as possible writing at least once per month…preferably a personalized handwritten/typed note…
- Support “Be an Educational Advocate for Gateway” initiative.
- Build district-wide e-mail database as a vehicle to communicate.
1.Debbie will be FOG e-mail database contact. She will e-mail FOG
with the e-mail address.
2.Will send letter home from FOG in red folder to collect parent
e-mail/phone addresses that will allow easier communication of
highlighted topics.
3.Will collect more e-mail addresses at district-wide “Open Houses”
in the fall.
- Blandford PTO will have meeting with Dave to discuss what the PTO
can do to help address Gateways funding issues. Wendy L. will send a press release to the “Country Journal” recapping the PTO meeting to help educate a broader cross section of people.
- When writing campaign gears up in August, FOG will have a basic generic letter template that people can use to when writing letters.
- Add names of the Chair of the Education Committee in House/Senate to legislative contact list.
- Will put “If you want to become involved in a FOG letter writing
campaign” information in “Breaking News”
- Superintendent’s Corner will discuss FOG’s efforts.
- FOG will urge community members to go and meet with their local
legislators at their district offices to speak with them face-to-face.
- Write letter to select boards to give them talking points and enlist their
support….try and get their E-mail addresses too.

2. Other
Group discussed the possibility of developing an online store that could sell Gateway merchandise. Wendy recently spoke with another school district that might do this. She will fact gather information about their site.
a. Have a definitions page on the Gateway website to help folks
understand terminology. For example – Foundation vs. non-foundation,
above minimum contribution vs. minimum contribution, Chapter 70, etc. …in short, a budget “primer”