Open Meeting: Evan Karelitz

Guest Speaker:  Dawnette Baker from Genre’s Kids

• Dawnette is Genre Baker’s mother. Genre was diagnosed at age 8 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. His symptoms began in April 2009 when bumps began appearing on his neck.  Initially he was diagnosed with a viral infection, but eventually received his diagnosis weeks later.  Genre will be undergoing chemotherapy until September of 2012, but is currently in remission.  During his stays in the hospital, Genre kept his mind off of his illness by playing video games.  Genre’s Kids began as a charity in 2010, and now they work to give all new admissions either a gaming system or new video games, though they have also provided mp3 players and care packages for the parents.  The charity has grown to the point where they are now also able to help poor families pay some of their utilities so they may spend time with a dying child when they are sent home for hospice care. 

Club Business:

• Cabin Fever:  Cabin Fever will be held at the Beaver Falls Holiday Inn on February 24 – 26, 2012.  We have over 100 registrations received to date.  Because of T-Shirt orders, tell Mary TODAY if you will be attending!!  Also if you would like to request a poolside room, contact Mary.
• Balcony Decorating Contest is being organized by Suzie Perrin.  We still have balconies available to decorate – if interested, contact Suzie.
• Photo Booth will be back, courtesy of Evan and Kathy…..with surprises!
• Scavenger Hunt is being organized by Missy Fereday
• Table Decorating Contest is being organized by John Balogh.  You will be responsible for bringing your own decorations……may be combined with the Solo Cup Contest
• Red Solo Cup Contest Start thinking of your ideas!  Will be judges by Missy and another non-participant. 
• Prizes / raffle items will include:  Penguin tickets, 9X12 signed photo of Troy Polamalu, Margaritaville yard sign, framed photos of Jimmy Buffett taken by our own Kathy Karelitz at the concert last year and at MOTM….and lots of other great items.
• Sponsors:  Uncle Bill mentioned that Malibu Rum will be again donating items for us.  Please try their new run, Malibu Black (regular run with twice the alcohol content).  The bar at the hotel will be running Malibu specials, please buy one to show your thanks for their donations.
• Raffles:  Mary Cortazzo has finished the Jimmy Buffett themed T-shirt quilt, which will be raffled off at Cabin Fever.  Anita has tickets available for $5.00 each.  Only 200 tickets will be sold.  See Anita if you would like a book to sell, or to purchase tickets.  The tickets will also be sold at Cabin Fever.

VOLUNTEERING:  There are sign up sheets for volunteering for various jobs throughout the weekend.  If everybody is able to help out for an hour, all the times will be covered.  There is also a sign up sheet for items for our hospitality suite, for food items, snacks, drinks.  

DON’T FORGET TO GET YOUR HOTEL ROOMS RESERVED AND YOUR REGISTRATION FORMS IN !!

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Will be held on Saturday March 17th.  We have a trailer and truck available to use.  Evan is ordering SCF green sweatshirts for anybody who is interested.   We will meet in Gene’s lot at 8 am to build the float, and return to have out party at Gene’s afterward. 
• Margaritaville Donation:  We received cases of Margaritaville brand coffee donated to our club.  All members who attended tonight’s meeting received a bag of coffee
• Frozen drink maker:  Missy suggested that we use the money raised from the next few 50/50 raffles to purchase a frozen drink maker.  Then we will be able to use it for our parties and events This was agreed to by attendees of the meeting.
• Parrothead Cookbook:  Allison is working on having us create a Parrothead Cookbook for a fundraising event.  She will collect recipes from our web site from our members.  We will also be able to sell ads to businesses to be placed in the cookbook.  Randy & Allie Sleasman suggested offering all proceeds from our cookbook to Genre’s Kids after hearing what the charity is about.  All present agreed.  Watch for emails to know where to send recipe ideas.
• Pittsburgh Food Bank:  Kathy Karelitz reported that we will be taking new weekly collections for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.  You can bring non-pershible foods to the meeting, or arrange to drop off at one of the satellite locations.  They are also in need of items such as diapers, toilet paper, etc.  Kathy has the list of products they are in need of, as well as a list of drop off locations.
• Spring Bar Crawl:  Uncle Bill is retiring as social director, but will hold one more event.  The first Saturday in May is Cinco de Mayo AND Derby Day.  Look for details to come
• Concert announcement:  Watch for concert date announcement.  We usually hear between now and St. Patrick's Day. Be ready to order your tickets---which can be paid for at a later time. Any club tickets ordered by members will be the responsibility of that member. Be ready to order your tickets as there will be a limited time window.
• Social Director:  Uncle Bill is retiring from his position, so we will be in need of a new social director.  Think about stepping in and planning some fun events for the club!!
• Sad news:  Terry McCarthy’s dad passed away, watch email for information or to send a card.
• Recruitment:  We now have club business cards to hand out for interested people.  Cards have all of our contact information and our web address.  See Evan if you would like some to hand out.
• Scholarships:  PHiP is offering college scholarships for club members, their children and grandchildren.  Scholarships can be used for tuition / books / living expenses for 4 year college.  They will be giving away scholarships of $5000, $3000, and $2000.  Applications are available on the PHiP website. 
• Volunteer of the Year:  (DRUM ROLL PLEASE….) is Kathy Karelitz who volunteered 62 hours.  Second place goes to Mary Cortazzo with 60 hours, and Michelle Gorman, with 58 hours came in third.  Kathy will receive our Tin Cup to hold on to until next year!  Thank you to all of our members for volunteering their time!

 Committee Reports:

• Membership Report:  We currently stand at 152 members.  Anita is collecting 1st quarter dues.  Dues are $20 per person per year.  Mail checks to Anita, made payable to PPHC, or see her at the meeting.  Anita is also selling PPHC car stickers for $2/each  There are 7 birthdays in February – Happy Birthday to these folks, and a special birthday to Barb Cook who turned 50 last week!!!  
• Volunteer Report:  Our website now has a form available to record volunteer hours.  Remember that all volunteer hours are to be reported to Anita – they can also be emailed to pphcvolunteering@yahoo.com.  If you have any ideas or suggestions for volunteer opportunities, please let Evan or Anita know.  In 2011, we volunteered 1980 hours and donated over $12,800 to charities.  There was no volunteer of the month for January
• Treasurer Report:  Fred Wunder reported that we finished January with a $2612 balance.  Copies of the reports are available from Fred. 
• Secretary Report:  Kelly Diller reported no changes to the January minutes.  We received Thank You notes from Global Links, Ronald McDonald House, and Cancer Caring Center for our 2011 year-end donations.

Road Trips:  Fred Wunder said that the Calypso Nuts will be having the “Frozen Nuts” tour in our area the same week as Cabin Fever.  They will be playing at the Sons of Italy in Sewickley on Tuesday 2/21 7 – 10 pm….which also happens to be FAT TUESDAY!!!

Michelle Gorman would like to try to have a happy hour on National Margarita Day (Feb 22).  The Pittsburgh Café in Oakland will be having $4 margaritas from 6 – 8 pm for anybody interested in going. 
McCall Manor in Mt. Pleasant will be holding their 2nd annual Jimmy Buffett Nite on 2/11/12.  Land Shark specials, DJ, movies, beach volleyball, prizes.  $8 admission includes your first beer or margarita (724) 547-4121.
Phins to the West will be May 18 – 20….information to come. 

Bulletin Board:
~www.steelcityfins.org shirts, roadtrips, events, forms, & much more
Other links on the web site: http://www.phip,.com/Docs/TradewindTimes.pdf
John McDonald – www.islandpartyband.com
Tom Watt – www.tomwatt.com

Open Floor:  Michelle Gorman is still taking orders for pierogies.  For those who attecded the Christmas party, these are the ones that were there, and they are big, homemade pierogies.  She will be taking orders through the February meeting.  Prices are $10 / dozen, they will be delivered in March in time for Lent.  Contact Michelle to order.

Did You Know:  We did not have one this month…..  I think we are blaming this on Evan for being sick and on medication J  But we’ll forgive him!! WebMasters Note---I'm blaming it on the Codeine!

50/50 Raffle:  Was for $117.00

Next Meeting:  Is at Gene’s March 6, 2012 at 7PM unless otherwise noted.

Respectfully submitted by Kelly Diller in her new role as Secretary

===== BREAKING NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY EVAN =====
Helpful hints on how to keep yourself aware of what the club is doing, organizing, selling, taking orders for, etc………………
1. Go often to www.steelcityfins.org 
2. Check your email (read it too) and take special note of ordering deadlines, payment processes, who to contact, etc.
3. Follow through. Actually contact the person needed and if a payment is due then make the check out ahead of time (then don't forget it at home).

Next Meeting is Tuesday, March 6, 2012 @ 7 pm @ Gene's Last Chance in the Strip

Please join us!