Katy/West Houston Aggie Mothers’ Club

September 6, 2007

General Meeting Minutes

The President of Katy/West Houston Aggie Moms, Penny Nelson, called the meeting to order. Penny welcomed all to the first meeting of the year. Penny introduced the officers on her board. Nancy Williford - Vice President At Large, Karen Kurt –Vice President/Student Drawings (absent), Theresa Ashton – Treasurer, Kathleen Wilburn – Secretary, Renee Anchors – Parliamentarian.

Programs Chair, Ginger Westbrook introduced our guest speaker Alan Parrish ’82. Alan is a Houston policeman, the husband of Nancy Williford, and a proud member of the Class of 1982 of Texas A&M. Alan discussed important personal safety issues and crime statistics. The number one problem in Houston is burglary of cars. Moms were advised not to leave valuables in their car. If necessary, try to conceal valuables left in car. STAY VIGILANT. Personal robbery increases in the time before Christmas. Alan advised: “Listen to your instincts. Don’t ignore if something feels out of the ordinary.” If you are being followed Alan suggests: DON’T GO HOME. Go to a police station, a fire station, or an emergency room. Get to know your area policeman; they are available to help you. Alan was entertaining and informative. Aggie moms enjoyed his jokes.

Secretary, Kathleen Wilburn No Report.

Treasures Report-Theresa Ashton reported as of 7/17/2007 that the checking account balance was $3,802.27. The monthly income was $261.01, the monthly expenses were $1,568.31, with a balance as of 8/21/07 of $2,494.97. The investment account balance as of 7/17/07 was $21,883.84, with a transfer from checking on 7/20/07 of $1,563.28, and investment income interest of $18.88, for a balance of $23,466.00. The Treasurer’s Report stands approved as read.

Officers and Committees

Vice President at Large/ Love Fund-Nancy Williford explained that the Love Fund was for the purpose of sending sympathy and comfort cards/flowers to Katy/West Houston Aggie Moms. The Love Fund has $185.23.

Vice President/Student drawings-Karen Kurt ( Marilyn Mokwa in Karen’s absence)

Parliamentarian-Renee Anchors said proposed Bylaw changes are being reviewed by the Board and will be presented to the membership at the October General Meeting.

Care Packages- Laurel Adami contacted A&M to reserve two tables for Friday, November 30 . Tables will be located near bookstore entrance. The cost of care packages will be $20.00 this year. October 1, 2007 is the deadline for ordering care packages, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Skit- Nancy Williford and Sonna Lumpkins and Aggie Mom volunteers entertained us with a skit about AGGIE MOMS CAMP. It is Nov 9-11, 2007: at the Hilton Hotel. Nancy said that door prizes and sponsors/donations for camp would be greatly appreciated. Contact Nancy Williford, 281-492-7551, if you can donate anything for Aggie Moms Camp.

Membership/Directory- Emma Lipperdt said we have 11 new members and 24 returning. The new 2007-2008 Membership form is on the website. http://www.katywesthoustonaggiemoms.com/

Grocery Rebates- Renee Anchors –Renee explained the grocery rebate program: where Kroger and Randalls give a portion of your grocery total as a rebate. Randall’s Good Neighbor Program is sending a check for $98.56

Historian-Debbie Szuluk - Took pictures during the meeting to be posted on the club website and placed in our club scrapbook. Remember you are on Aggie Mom “CANDID CAMERA. ”

Hospitality/Door prizes-Lori Etchison had a lovely table setting to display all the refreshment goodies brought by Aggie Moms- Appetizers: Sonna Lumpkins, Ginger Westbrook, Theresa Ashton, Kathleen Wilburn, Karen Kurt. Desserts: Marilyn Mokwa, Emma Lipperdt, Renee Anchors, Kay Pontius, Laurel Adami. Sodas: Deb Derong, Lori Etchison, Nancy Williford, Debbie Coltharp, Water: Lori Etchison. Lori thanked everyone that brought goodies.

Programs- Ginger Westbrook told us that next month’s program would be about “Job Opportunities,” with Paul Pausky of the TAMU Former Student Association.

12 th Mom Stretch, presented by Nancy Williford, is a quick break during our meeting in which we get up, stretch, laugh, and play games. Aggie Moms got together in groups according to the number of children each had. (Husbands could not be counted as a child)

Publications-Kay Pontious Kay asked for any announcements to be sent as soon as possible so that they can be put in local publications.

Scholarship-Debbie Derong had nothing to report at this time.

Socials-Linne Atteberry ( absent) Sonna Lumpkins spoke about social club activities for Aggie Moms to get together and visit: such as dining out, games evening, or road trips to see the Astros game. There will be future sign-up sheets for those interested. Cindy Long spoke about the Friday Matinee Movie Moms Group, who go to the first showing on Friday of new movies. They usually see “chick flicks”, the one’s that husbands don’t want to see. The Friday group does not go to scary movies. Email Cynthia Long at joshanmon@aol.com if you would like to be on the email list for Friday Matinee Movie Moms Group.

Telephone-Marilyn Mokwa said you can call the Hotline anytime of the day: 281-394-8108, to listen to two minutes of Katy/West Houston Aggie Mom News. Call to hear Marilyn talk fast.

Ways and Means-Co-Chairs needed

Webmaster-Sonna Lumpkins announced the website address: http://www.katywesthoustonaggiemoms.com/. Check out our cute website. If you would like to know anything about Katy/West Houston Aggie Moms, you will find it on the website, from calendar news to forms to photos to Ways and Means items for sale, and more. Sonna asks for all to send her recipes, Aggie brags and stories to her email solumpk@gmail.com .

Old Business

Each year our Club makes contributions to TAMU student organization. These are the campus organizations we voted to send donations to in May 2007: Aggie Fish Camp, Big Event, CARPOOL (Caring Aggies R Protecting Over Our Lives), Singing Cadets, Silver Taps

Fall Federation Meeting/Workshops-August 25 th –Kay Pontious attended the recent Aggie Moms Federation Meeting, at which, Dr. Jerry Strawser, the Interim Executive VP and Provost, enlightened Aggie Moms with some important Texas A&M statistics. Dr. Strawser, the former Dean of the Mays School of Business, and an accountant by degree, is a NUMBERS Guy. Kay told us after Dr Strawser read each number, the response was WHOOP!

400 -New faculty members have been hired resulting in smaller classes for our students.

2020 -Vision 2020 is the university’s roadmap in its quest to be recognized as a “top10” public university by the year 2020. The Vision 2020 “imperatives” define and prioritize what actions will be taken at Texas A&M.

25%- of students who are 1 st Generation college students, Texas A&M gives these students the opportunity to do something no one else in their family has done!

6 -cranes, $500 Million if new construction, Campus Master Plan calls for an Academic Corridor which places classrooms and faculty offices in the heart of the campus with placing parking structures and support offices on the periphery of campus.

#3 -US News and World Report’s rating for Texas A&M (behind University of Virginia and University of North Carolina) as “Great School, Great Buy.”

#1 -Washington Monthly’s rating for Texas A&M in their new College Rankings. This ranking system provides a guide not just as to what colleges can do for your student, but as to what colleges are doing for your country. The publication uses three criteria to measure the impact colleges have on the country: (1) Recruit and educate those of modest means? (As a state supported institution, TAMA has a fiduciary responsibility to the state of Texas to educate its students); (2) Supports faculty research? (Also provides opportunities for your students to participate; (3) Giving back to the country through military and civilian service? Texas A&M graduates not only make money to support their families, but are making a difference in the world.

46,000 students Fall of 2007-2008, add 500 new students each year for the next three years

Top 10 -only university to rank on Top 10 in collegiate licensing revenues that hasn’t won a National Championship in the last 10 years—loyal fans and $$funneled back to Student Activities

11 students whose deaths were honored at Silver Taps Tuesday night at 10:30; (Kay asked for a moment of silence for all these young lives but especially for Houston resident Tynesha Stewert who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend last spring.

2,158 companies who recruit at Texas A&M, up 35% the last two years, 5,700 job postings (your student will be looking for a job!)

80,000 fans came to watch Texas A&M BTHO Montana State!

To find out more information on Federation, go to their website: http://www.aggiemoms.org/.

New Business

SIGN UP FOR AGGIE MOMS CAMP NOVEMBER 9-11 Deadline for camp signup and money is October 9, 2007

Aggie Traditions sign up-Sonna Lumpkins asked for volunteers to talk about Aggie Traditions. Each month we will learn about another valued tradition.

Introduction of new members- First time moms told about themselves and their Aggie. Welcome to Aggie Moms and to the Katy/West Houston Aggie Moms Club.

Announcements

Renew memberships. Dues are $20.00.

Aggie Brags & Good Bull stories-Please call or send the incredible and interesting news of the Aggie Experience to Sonna Lumpkins for posting on the website http://www.katywesthoustonaggiemoms.com/.

Drawing for Door Prizes-Lori Etchison announced the winners: Vicki Welsch, Karen Guise, and Kathy Keeney. Congratulations to the lucky winners!

Student Drawings-Marilyn Mokwa said there was enough for four student drawings. Congratulations to the lucky student winners!

Next General Meeting is Thursday, October 4th at 7:00pm

Adjournment-Penny thanked everyone for coming. There was no further business, and meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Wilburn

Secretary 2007-2008