Amigos de Río Gallinas

Amigos De Rio Gallinas is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting both the Rio Gallinas Charter School and the greater community of Las Vegas. Through public as well as private grants, as well as various fund raisers throughout the year, Amigos raises money that is used to support a variety of programs within the school that would otherwise not be possible.`

One of these projects is the construction of a Grow Dome at 302 Socorro Street, across from the main campus of the school. It serves as a working classroom where concepts such as construction, gardening, sustainability, alternative energy, permaculture, and xeriscaping are taught starting in the first grade. Some of the experiments that were done last year by the upper grades were used to help other schools implement their own Grow Dome projects.

Other monies from Amigos go towards the improvement of school grounds, and such things as a new kitchen, play structures, purchasing sports equipment, and supporting the needs of the teachers and their classrooms.

Since Rio Gallinas is founded on the principles of Expeditionary Learning, Amigos helps support the many field trips that arise, ranging from local visits to businesses and farms, to trips as far afield as Mexico.

Amigos strives to be an active conduit of monies and resources from public and private sources to our school community, and an active conduit of services from our school community back out into the world at large. By empowering our children to follow their dreams in a supportive and innovative learning environment, we hope to touch and inspire the community we are part of.

Amigos Reimbursement Request Form

MINUTES, AMIGOS DE RIO GALLINAS
ANNUAL MEETING, 6/16/10

Present:  Anna Ortega, Carmen Ortega (8th grade student), Diana Whitten, Naomi Swinton, Anny Ruge, Chris Ruge

I. Annual Meeting items:

1. Election of Officers:

  • Rob Bailey’s term as President considered up since he has not been attending meetings. The following officers were voted in unanimously:
  • Anny Ruge as President
  • Anna Ortega as Vice President
  • Diana Whitten as Treasurer.  All agreed that Treasurer will be responsible for deposits, reimbursements, and the general budgetary flow of Amigos.
  • It was voted unanimously to hire John Goodwin, of Goodwin, Inc., as a contracted tax accountant at the fee of $29.50/hr to take care of the tax portion of Amigos.
  • The office of secretary is not filled, but Anny Ruge will temporarily fill this role until a new secretary can be chosen.
  • Connie Ortega will be an active and voting member in Amigos but not on the Board at this time
  • Chris Ruge has agreed to come on as “Assistant to the president” and will also participate in Amigos, but not on the board at this time.

2.  Budget approval–delayed since previous secretary not here.  Will include in next meeting.
3.  Review of Bi-laws necessary.  Naomi will do this and we will vote on them at next meeting
4.  Renew Charitable Solicitation License.  Anny will download this from the Secretary of State’s office and file.
5.   Amigos’s 5-year tax exempt status review period is up 6/30/10.  Report will be due to IRS by 9/29/11 Naomi is familiar with this process.
6.   Conflict of interest statements were signed for each board member and placed in binder.

II.  Old Business:
1.   Grow Dome:  Final report to NMCF due at end of this month.  Abi has completed report, sent pictures of project, and compiled financial summary.  Anny and Naomi will review information and send it in by deadline.  Abi will be writing curriculum development goals for the school regarding the Dome, and then she will be retiring from management and involvement in the Grow Dome.   Amigos needs to thank her formally for all her hard work on this.
2.   Walkway stones (thank you brick project):  Bricks were never ordered.  Discussion today about how long it has been since these people donated funds.  IF we are going to go through with this project, each person must be contacted to make sure they still want a brick in their name and that information is correct.

III.   New Business:
1. Fundrasing–Grants:  Naomi mentioned there are 3 grants that we are waiting to hear on: Frost Foundation, Lannel Foundation, and the 3rd from ________(copper company).
2.  Fundraising–Events:

  • Fall festival:  set for October 16th, 2010.  Point person: Louise and Roberta Romero
  • Concert at Ilfeld: February 3rd, 2011 (Zydeco band?).  Point person: Naomi, Anna and Connie Ortega
  • Synergy Fest: (date TBA).  Point person:  Anny

We all agreed it would be a great idea to have each class adopt an event. Our suggestion was that Fall Festival would be lower campus, the Concert and Silent Auction Upper campus, and Synergy Fest would be the whole school.

  • People’s Faire:Naomi and Diana will do, Anna can help if needed.  Idea of Frito Pies and t-shirts with school logo on them (Custom Inc).  Also sno-cones and popcorn

3.   Fundraising–Sales (entire school will be responsible for these):

  • Coffee Sales.  Point person:  Anna and Connie Ortega
  • Bulb Sales (fall & spring?) Point person: Anna and Connie

4.   Other Events:

  • Introductory Parents Dinner in the fall (Back to school BBQ).  Point person: Diana
  • other ideas for fundraising:  50/50 raffles, t-shirts, totes, sno cones, popcorn

5.  General Ideas:

  • More parent involvement needs to start this fall
  • LETTER TO PARENTS: who we are, financial statement, how the school/Amigos is arranged,and the expectations for each family.  Can send this out early August.  Diana will prepare financial part of letter, Anny will try and write the rest.  To be finalized at next meeting. Make volunteering expectations as concrete as possible.

6.  Financial Realities:  There will be less than $1000.00 in Amigos account after current bills are paid.  Spring trips drained Amigos.  People’s Fair idea was put forth as a way to earn money to pay for new rental on Soccoro St. ($300.00/month rent).  NOT a good way to come up with rent money!   Grants need to be a priority.  Perhaps the Governing council and faculty are not aware how low Amigos is in funds.  There is noone on Amigos at present who is skilled in grant writing.  What happened to paid position for grant writer?
Ideas:  -Grandparents Day–idea of sending letter home to grandparents asking for donations to school.                        – Grant writer
-Clearer communication with staff and faculty about what is limit classes can spend on trips unless                the rest is paid by parents)
7. Classroom Parents- need to network with teachers on this. It would be great to have liason b/t classrooms and Amigos.  Also talk about making attendance better at parent meetings.  perhaps less “crew”….some people feel this is intimidating and will keep parents from attending.  Need help with Recess duty, and could also give teachers a break for planning time by reading to kids.

NEXT MEETING:  FRIDAY, JULY 30th Traveler’s Cafe  AND THIS FRIDAY????