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JCK MEETINGS
First Wednesday of Every Month from 7:00-9:00pm
CRESCENTA VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2700 Montrose Avenue, Montrose (view map)
Room 25 818-249-6173

JCK Meeting Agendas and Minutes
(Scroll to bottom for Prior Meeting Archives)

FEBRUARY 2010 GENERAL MEETING

JCK GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, February 3, 7:00-9:00pm
Crescenta Valley Methodist Church, 2700 Montrose Ave., Room 25, Montrose 91020

Agenda:

    6:30pm: Meet and Greet, Sign In, Get Organized, etc.
    7:00pm: Call to Order [Evelyn Van Orden, President]
    Approval of Minutes [Marsha Stoddard, Secretary]
    Thanks for Treats [Cathy Wacker, Hospitality]
    Treasurer's Report [Jerri Nicol, Treasurer]
    Philanthropy Report [Judy Gregory, VP Philanthropy]
    Announcements [Members]
    NICU Field Trip [Kimberly Smith]
    Show and Share

    9:00pm: Adjourn
Minutes:
    7:10pm: Meeting Called to Order    Evelyn Van Orden, President    15 members were present, plus 1 new member, plus 1 visitor.
    A. Approval of Minutes    Marsha Stoddard
        1. The minutes of the January General Meeting were posted on the website and a hardcopy provided at the meeting. They were approved.
    B. Thanks for Treats    Cathy Wacker
        1. Cathy thanked Joan Godell and Deborah Kac for the yummy treats.
    C. Treasurer's Report    Jerri Nicol
        1. Jerri reported that the balance in our treasury is $908.73 (no change since last month).
    D. Announcements    Members

        1. Jerri Thomson told us that the Eagle Rock library has a knitting group on Saturdays and would welcome other knitters. They meet every other week, although it would be better to give them a call first to make sure: Vicki Sekora, 323-258-8078.
        2. Marsha read a letter from Operation Gratitude, thanking our group for our donation of hats and scarves in December and telling about their activities. In 2009, this organization sent out its 500,000 care package! Marsha will continue to collect items for this coming winter shipment in December, 2010.
        3. Betty Molinaro read a note from Christ Child Society, thanking us for our donations to that group and inviting us to a knit-in on Weds, March 24, from 9:30 – 11:30, at St. Andrews Church in Pasadena. She also announced that Christ Child especially needs baby blankets now, any size. Betty has yarn she will give anyone who will make a blanket for Christ Child.
    E. Philanthropy    Judy Gregory, VP Philanthropy
        1. Judy announced that Afghans for Afghanistan has a project through February for older kids, ages 6 – 14. They are collecting sweaters, vests, hats, and socks. These items should be at least 75% wool, worsted weight.
        2. Jerri Thomson announced that Knots of Love continues collecting chemo caps for cancer patients in hospitals. In 2009, that organization gave out 25,282 hats, nationally. Since their inception, in mid-2007, the total of hats donated is 36,021! Their website www.kolinfo.org has a list of patterns and a list of specific yarns that are acceptable. They would prefer us not to use open-weave, lacy patterns, as the patients’ heads get cold. There are also many other online sites that have hat patterns, including Knitpicks, Bev’s Country Cottage, etc. Caron Simply Soft is a good yarn for hats, in Jerri’s opinion. Jerri will continue to collect hats.
        3. There was a short discussion about help for Haiti earthquake victims, who need money more than anything else. Evelyn warned us to make sure we donate through a well-know and reputable organization, like Red Cross or Salvation Army, because there are a lot of scams.
    F. NICU Field Trip    Kimberly Smith, JCK Member & NICU Nurse
        1. Members attended a field trip to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at L.A. County USC Medical Center Children’s Hospital on Saturday, January 23 at 10:00am. JCK Member Kimberly, a NICU nurse with 19 years of experience, conducted the tour and seven JCK members attended (photo below).
        2. Some members enjoyed it very much and found the cheerful environment and dedicated staff very uplifting and motivating. Others found it disturbing to see these very sick, tiny babies but felt that they are in very good hands there.
        3. Our group handed out donations of handmade hats, booties, and blankets to some of the parents and grandparents and to the nurses. The babies get to keep their knit/crochet item when they leave, as well as diapers and other supplies.
        4. Kimberly shared information about each baby as the group walked around. There were 30 babies, which is more than usual at any given time. Each nurse is responsible for 2 or 3 babies on each shift. Their unit has babies of all sizes, not just premature, and they are all critically ill. Many of them are drug babies, and most families are low-income. The unit has a very high rate of success, losing only 2 or 3 babies per year.
        5. The nurses spend a great deal of time with the families, teaching and advising them in handling various situations. The families can also call in with questions at any time.
        6. It costs the hospital from $10-$14,000 per baby per day to care for them!
        7. Member Mary Kaye Busalacchi, Kimberly’s mom, told us about a book of baby patterns Itty Bitty Nursery and showed us the pattern for a knitted pacifier holder that the staff gives out. The NICU will take mobiles as well as hand-made items.
        8. Thank you so much to Kimberly for the tour! Thanks also to Becky Goodman and Mary Kaye Busalacci for driving carpools!
    G. Show and Share    Members
    8:45pm: Meeting Adjourned

NICU Field Trip January 23, 2010: Judy Gregory, Olga Martinez, Dolores Bromberek, Evelyn Van Orden, Jerri Thomson, Kimberly Smith ("Baby Nurse"), Becky Goodman, and Mary Kay Busalacchi (Kim's mother)

PRIOR MEETING ARCHIVES