Members Present:
Dennis DeFalco; Nancy Tint; Diane Barrett; Donna Peterson; Onie Casanove; Margaret Guiltiner; Joann Digilillo; Marie Thompson; Donna Smith; Buddy Smith; Linda Fresno; Roxie Price; Betty Warnock; Doris King; Chris Cernohosky; Miriam Medina; Sue Demetrius; Steve Demetrius.
Meeting Called to order by President Nancy Tint @ 2:09p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance said at 2:10p.m.
Onie told us that if we support the CWA then we can use the hall for free each month. Otherwise they will charge us $25.00 per month to use it. He passed out flyers about supporting the Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act. Call your Member of Congress toll free at: 888-877-2040.
If you don't know who your Congressman is give your zip code to the operator and they will direct your call to your Congressman. There is about a 15 second recording when you call. Say I would like my Congressman to support the U.S. Call center Worker and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 3596). Stop off shoring and save U.S. jobs and protect consumers.
Nancy read a letter from Birdie and one from "Follow That Dream" in Inverness John Grannan. When Elvis Came To Town.
Nancy thanked everyone who will be helping at the Festival. Then she asked each committee chairman to tell what they have gotten done for the Festival.
We have a few new members.
A new ETA: Bill Brooks
Lisa and Rachel Johnson. Rachel will be our Frankie in our Festival.
Debbie Stokes has volunteered to be on committees and help us out. She is Jeremy Ewbank's girlfriend.
As you know today is ELVIS PRESLEY'S Birthday and we will be having a party after the meeting to celebrate.
Our Next Big Event coming up as everyone knows is our Festival.
We will have 50/50 tickets instead of a raffle table.
If you haven't given Margaret your vest size you need to do so now so she can have the vests done by the next meeting.
Anybody who has bought Dinner tickets needs to tell us what you would like to eat. Any one who has saved tables needs to get their money in and what they want to eat so we can make the food option cards for each dinner ready for the hotel.
Miriam had to leave because she was sick. Dennis read the treasure's report. We have $1,200.00 in the bank and we just gave the hotel another $300.00 They were given a total deposit of $500 and we paid $400.00 for Marlyn Mason's ticket. We still owe the hotel $6,500.00. Nancy said We are saving $4,000.00 with this hotel
January 22nd we will be having a show staring Steven Gillis; Jeremy Ewbank; Jeff Vandenberg and Billy T Elvis Redish. It will be at Theresa's Lounge at 219 Broadway in Kissimmee. It is $10.00 and there will be no band behind them. We will sit and enjoy the show and maybe we will make money towards the festival. It will start at 4p.m. till around 7p.m. Nancy will send out flyers.
We are up to 10 tables, 8 tables sold 2 comp 1 for our guests and the ETA’s in our show and 1 for the Russell Home kids. The hotel is putting out 12 tables. They will put 3 more if we need them. We went with Onie and measured everything for the stage. Margaret asked how many dinners we are responsible for. We guaranteed 120 dinners.
Onie paid for Marion Cocke's transportation, Marlyn Mason’s transportation is all paid for and we just need to get Sue Anne Langdon paid for.
Nancy said if anybody needs responsibility flyers for the committees she has them. Marie has the responsibility flyers for the Hospitality Room.
Marie says we know the routine. Each person brings enough food for Saturday and Sunday plus a case of water each and a case of soda each. She needs someone to bring food like finger sandwiches, salads, etc. and it will be served from 4p.m. to 5p.m. because the doors for Friday night open at 5:30p.m. She will be getting there early in the morning since we can get in anytime now. You can keep your food in the fridge in your room and bring it to Marie by 8a.m. Saturday morning. There is a full size fridge in the hospitality room. Bring Saturday's food on Saturday and Sunday's food on Sunday. If no one wants to do Friday she will do egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches.
Dennis said we can get pizza from CICI'S Pizza for Friday night. They donate 3 pizza's to us. Eat your Friday dinner food in the hospitality room. We will have small finger food for snacks at our Friday night. Event. Steve and Sue is getting food for donated for Saturday and Sunday.
Marie: I'm going to have 1 cooler for Pepsi; 1 cooler for mixed soda and 1 cooler for diet soda. If you have coolers please bring them. When you come in and bring your food you will get a band for that day. If you bring 2 food options you get a different color band for the whole weekend. If you bring only food for 1 day then you have to pay for the other days which is $8.00 per person or $15.00 dollars a couple. What her theme for food is Riverboat food: rice and beans; ribs; chicken, etc. something that you eat on a river boat. Margaret ask if Chili fits in. Yes, Chili fits in anything. Marie is making soups. Linda ask about bringing donuts for in the mornings. We're doing that Sunday morning. Linda is there to help out and Nancy said that Pam will help out too. Sunday morning Marie is going to have coffee and Danish in the hospitality room. Nancy said that you can not take any food in the room convention room where the Sunday Morning Gospel will be held. If any body wants to bring Danish and donuts for Sunday morning just bring them to the hospitality room.
Nancy said we can have all the food we want in the hospitality room but it can not go out of the room. Pam and Brenda are helping out Marie.
Nancy said if anyone wants to help out on anything there will be a sign up book on Friday night for people to sign up to help.
Marie said to make sure if anyone is working on their vest for next year to have her sign the form if they help her out. We can get ice from the machine's and fill up bags and put them in the freezer.
Nancy said that the refrigerator in the hospitality room is huge. It has a big freezer. There are lots of ice machines at the hotel for us to use.
Linda asked about extension cords for use in the hospitality room. Marie said if any body has them to bring them. She also has a surge protector for the cords. No need for crock pots as she has sterno heating trays for food. If you are going to do a crock pot put it in your room and cook in your room. Crock pots only for soups and chili. Last year we had so many crock pots that we blew the fuses at the other hotel. You can also bring in deserts for one of your dishes.
Nancy said that everybody would get the theme if they watched the movie. Linda Fresno is bringing chili and dirt cake.
Marie said that at the next meeting she would like to know what everybody is bringing for food for the hospitality room so we don‘t have any double food. Roxie will make cookies and cupcakes.
Nancy said that we need to get things ready for the festival as we only have a few weeks till it will be here. We got a new laser printer for the club so we can get things printed for the festival and Tony is making all the centerpieces for the tables like he does every year. The cost of the printer will save us a lot of money because we won't have to use an outside printing company. This is Sue's report because she couldn't be here for the meeting but will be here soon as she can. The laser printer will be used for everything we need printed and it is the property of the Elvis Presley Continentals and will be turned over to the club when Steve or Sue are no longer responsible for the news letter or printing other things. Tony also has a printer of his own which he uses to do his stuff for the club.
Marie is selling pouches for I-Pods, cell phones, and business cards.
You can also e-mail Marie what you will be bringing to eat for the festival.
Nancy said that we need ELVIS items for the auction. We have letters for donations from businesses. Sue has bought some items for the auction and for the games that will be played. We will have a roulette table and a card table. She asked Marie if we can use the prize wheel as a prop for the show Saturday night and then give it back for the hospitality room.
Nancy said that Sue asked that we need items for the auction brought in by the next meeting or we will have to purchase them which we never have had to do before. We can also ask for donations from businesses. Wound and Around told Nancy to stop by and they will give her an item for the auction. Go to businesses that sell Elvis items and ask for donations. Big items for the auction and smaller items for the club table. If we don't have items we can't make money.
We don't have an abundance of dealers this year but we have a few that's going to bring big stuff to sell. Some dealers aren't bringing Elvis stuff. One of the dealers want's to bring health and beauty. . If dealers pay for tables for 2 days they get Friday free. The way the room is now the dealers will be on the outside around the room. This way they will sell more. But they will have to cover their stuff during the show and auction. It cannot be a conflict of our auction. The dealers will have Friday night and all day Saturday and all day Sunday. We will have a silent auction table set up on Friday which will not take away from the dealers. We are doing things the same as we have done before but all in one room this way we are saving over $4,000.00. When they set up the front door table will be right inside the door so everybody has to pay to get in the room and on Saturday the doors will close at 4p.m. and not open till time for the dinner and show so the dealers will have to cover up their stuff.
Onie will be in the room while the staff is setting up the tables for dinner so everything will be save. Nancy has met every body on staff and they are so nice and honest. We will be selling tickets for the centerpieces again like we always do.
Nancy read that Sue said that we have not received a lot for the newsletter. We are getting new people for the phone committee so that will help us get information for the newsletter. The phone committee only does it 3 times out of the year. Nancy will give the phone committee all the information to tell the people and who each caller will have to call. She will send info to each phone committee person either e-mail or mail it. Chris's phone list is always perfect. Diane verified it. Sue said we also need ads for the program booklet for the festival. The deadline is the last meeting before the festival. We also need the list of sponsors by the next meeting.
Diane: Did everybody get the meeting minutes from the last meeting and are there any questions? We will not be sending out meeting minutes. Nancy said that everyone needs to come to the meetings or check meeting minutes page on our website. We need the menu choices from the ones who have paid as soon as possible so we can make up the cards for the dinners for the hotel and for the tables.
Margaret: The vest will be made and brought to the next meeting.
Nancy: Anybody who is getting a vest needs to get their measurements to Margaret as soon as possible.
If you have all the points 5 out of 10 give Margaret your vest size.
Linda asked what do we wear?
Nancy said: On Friday night we wear the theme shirt.. On Saturday and Sunday we wear the blue club shirt and black pants. Wear your vest on Sunday especially for the closing ceremonies. This way we will all match and look like a club running the festival. Wear comfortable shoes too.
For the dinner show you can get dressed up or come dressed as the theme like last year when some wore cowboy outfits for Elvis Goes West.
Nancy is ordering the theme shirts and if you want a sweatshirt let her know. She is ordering v-neck and round neck shirts. Marie wants a theme sweatshirt. We will be selling them at the next meeting if we get them back in time and also at the festival. V-neck and round neck. The blue club shirts are from a different company. They don't do v-neck shirts. Roxie said to tell the Greeks and More that we found someone else who could do the v-neck shirts and see if she can get them to order v-neck shirts. They have our pattern and see if we can get it back from them if they won‘t do v-neck. We could make a lot of money if we could get the v-neck club shirts because a lot of ladies are complaining about the round neck ones. Lazzio does our themed shirts and Greeks and More does our club shirts. He doesn't have the laser machine to do the silk screen. Nancy is going to talk to both places about the shirts. She will order the blue club shirts as needed. The pink Follow That Dream shirt she will order for the April show in Inverness if any one wants them. A lot of the theme shirts will be ordered for the festival by next meeting. Anyone needs any club of theme shirts needs to let her know so she can order them.
Onie; If you have business cards for the program booklet it is $5.00 per card; $40.00 for a full page ad; $20.00 for half page; $15.00 for a quarter page. ETA clubs can buy spots in the booklet.
Nancy; The I'll Remember You fan club usually buys an ad but we haven't heard from Tracy Duncan yet. Mostly we get ads from bigger places like Harley Davidson, ABC Liquors and Wines, and other businesses.
Onie: Anybody who has corporate sponsors it is $50.00 for Bronze Sponsor; $100.00 for Silver Sponsor, $200.00 for Gold Sponsor and $300.00 for platinum Sponsor.
Nancy: Get the sponsors pages in as soon as possible to Sue so she can get them in the booklet.
Joann: Who will be helping me on the club table?
Nancy: Miriam; Donna Smith and her mom Peggy will help on Saturday during the day.
Joann: I need help setting up the table with t-shirts, and magazines. She will get stickers and price the items.
Nancy: We have to get the auction items on a table by the stage so they don't get mixed up with the club stuff. Last year the auction stuff got mixed in with the club table and we lost money. Onie said he would put a sign up that say auction items so people can look at them before the auction. Nancy said that as long as people can look at them before hand they will bid on them. The DJ will be by the auction table. Margaret asked if the auction money goes to the Russell Home and Onie said that the law says you have to give 40%. We give everything to the Russell Home then we don't have anything to use for the club. Margaret said all we have to do is leave out the word all and just put proceeds to go to the Russell Home.
Chris; We spent more money than we made. You have to limit yourself to what you spend.
Nancy: We are not going to spend more than what the sponsors give us so we are giving them certificates instead of plaques. I am going to acknowledge everybody who gave us things but as cheap as possible. We decided to cut things down and acknowledge them at less then what they gave us. So we will make money not lose money.
Linda said that you have to give from your heart and not expect anything in return. If you want something back then don't bother giving anything.
Roxie asked if we can put up a donation jar. Nancy said that we have the donation jars put up around the festival and we have a donation jar on Sunday morning.
Chris said that we have too many guest and they cost a lot of money. We don't need so many guest.
Onie paid for Marion and we only paid for 2 guests.
Nancy: Bardol called and asked why we didn't invite him to come back this year. I told him I would keep him in mind for next year as we already have guest for this festival. If he would have said that he would pay for his way here then we would have had him but he didn't say that.
So far Marlyn is100%. Sue Ann said that if she has her leg operation she may not come. So far she is good but if at the last minute she can't come then we can get someone who won't cost so much.
Dennis: We can get Ron Strauss and his car to come.
Nancy: Sonny West was the only one we had to pay to come. Some of them cost too much for us to pay for them.
Dennis said that he has gotten a lot of e-mails asking about the guest. So they are interested in whom we have as guest.
We have a page in the booklet to get information on how the people found out about our festival. Was it thru advertising, radio spots, TV or what?
Nancy said we want the club to go forward and not backward.
Dennis said that when we have fundraiser's no one shows up to support the club. Without support we don’t make money.
Roxie: You are talking about sponsors and Onie said anybody can be a sponsor. Nancy will send out a fanout about sponsors. There was a lot of talk years ago that some members would sponsor a guest. Onie said if you want a guest to sit at your table then you can sponsor that guest.
Nancy; Some of the members who had money and did sponsor our guest have left the club. Some have passed away; some have quit coming to the club. Some can't come back because of their religion.
Nancy: We don't worship ELVIS. We are just keeping his memory alive.
Elvis.com didn't let us have the contest but they are going to help us have a contest that is sanctioned because we are sanctioned with EPE. We also had a fundraiser Sock Hop at Teresa’s Lounge and made money, and at the Bunker with Sha Na Na and Elvis and it didn't cost us anything as the Bunker was free.
It was a good show. Everybody liked our Sock Hop and they can dance and we did real well with our picnic in the park.
We need to get more fundraiser's.
Chris: Tony is helping Sue and Steve with the centerpieces.
Dennis: The car show is on Saturday morning and the cars will be parked out by 192 so people will see them from the highway. It is going to be Old Cars, Corvettes and other cars. There will be music out there as well.
We will be before Old Town so maybe we will get the Old Town cars before
they go to Old Town
We will have the Elvis Balloon out front also.
Any one have any more questions. … no more questions.
Meeting adjourned at: 3:30p.m.
