May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 6

[HollyTyler]

Saw you on the snowman cam Holly yesterday

I love how the goose's outfit keeps changing! And watching for animals. The porcupines sure are cute when they show up! I didn't realize that's a place you can stay. I checked out his website and would love to spend a weekend up there.

 

[HollyTyler]

Boss's meeting is done. Have to actually work my last 20 minutes of work. Bye for now!

 

[birkner]

Wow, I hate being in the bottom 10! I need to start posting! I just feel so bad since I never can catch up.

I did read a bit about school fundraisers. The one thing I like about our school is they do just two fundraisers -at the beginning when they simply ask for money. No magazines to sell, no gift wrap, just write a check. They encourage everyone to participate, even if it is just $25. Most give around $500-$1000, some give $25K. Guess they like to see their name up on top.

And then in the spring they have a nice auction - nice stuff. Great party, fun to see the competition. We got a good deal on swim lessons at 50% of the cost. Others payed $15,000 for "special" school parking when they drop off their kids. Crazy! I think I mentioned on here before, last year I think it was, when someone paid $100,000 for a dinner for 50. Now that is fund raising I like - none of my money, no tickets to sell, and my kids still get some good education!!
Lisa

The Woodside Elementary School Foundation auction is legendary for raising phenomenal amounts of money. DH and I did the Crystal auction for years and felt wonderful that we raised over $250K each year, a drop in the bucket compared to the Woodside auction.

 

[granmaz]

Can't wait to meet you too! Not sure yet about Dec. It would be the last week of Nov. (11/24-12/1), but I'm not sure financially. It depends on what last minute flight deals I can find. I'm hoping though! But finances are tight right now and I'm worried about paying for this cruise, so that week in FL might not happen. I'll know in a couple weeks for sure.

We go to POR on the 25th November, cruise on 2nd Dec, back to POP on 6th Dec to 10th! Perhaps we will meet if you do get there.

I love how the goose's outfit keeps changing! And watching for animals. The porcupines sure are cute when they show up! I didn't realize that's a place you can stay. I checked out his website and would love to spend a weekend up there.

I think it would be great on a snowmobile up there!

 

[birkner]

As we were driving to Tahoe, my DH and I thought our traveling would be a perfect commercial for Apple - there is our 9 year old, watching his Video IPOD, content as can be. And there is our 2 year old, screaming on top of his lungs because I can't seem to get my PC to play the DVD!

Ipods are the best for traveling - we are going to try to get a couple more for the long flight to Orlando. Costco have them now. Lisa

Lisa, you might also consider instead getting at least one Mintek portable DVD player for traveling. I have found them to be very reliable over the years. We use head phones and splitters for more than one child.

 

[fourmcds]

The Woodside Elementary School Foundation auction is legendary for raising phenomenal amounts of money. DH and I did the Crystal auction for years and felt wonderful that we raised over $250K each year, a drop in the bucket compared to the Woodside auction.

WOW is all I can say to those totals and Calmom's amounts!
Some of the private school in the Bellevue/Kirkland areas and Seattle areas raise that kind of money...out here I was so excited to have raised 29K last year!! The first year I started the auction we raised 13K, the second year 17K and this past year 29K...I know it is small amounts compared to the other auctions but for us, it was a huge amount of money and we have been able to do so much to help the school. It will be interesting to see how this years' auction goes....but hopefully we will never go back to selling cookie dough or wrapping paper!!!

 

[fourmcds]

I can't think today, but I need a color that starts with "C"...all I can think of are:
coral
cobalt blue....

but is there a "regular" color that starts with c?

crimson
cherry
charcoal

 

[fourmcds]

we will finish Samantha's homework tonight!


-----nice surprise in the mail yesterday....princess bottlecaps necklaces and bracelets! These girls are too spoiled. Truth is, I love this stuff but am too old to be wearing it so I make them!

Those sound neat....do you have a link or where they ebay "wins"! Or could you post a pic?

 

[fourmcds]

It's a beautiful day here in the Northwest too. I don't work on Friday so I slept in until 7:30. I go get my hair cut soon. Should have done 3 posts.

Not so great a bit north of you Angie....hopefully the sun will break through by this pm. But...the good news is it looks like it is going to be high 70's and sunny for the opening Seahawks game!!! The girls and I are going with my mom since Scott and my dad are away on business. We are making a weekend out of it and getting a hotel in Seattle on Saturday night!

 

[birkner]

WOW is all I can say to those totals and Calmom's amounts!
Some of the private school in the Bellevue/Kirkland areas and Seattle areas raise that kind of money...out here I was so excited to have raised 29K last year!! The first year I started the auction we raised 13K, the second year 17K and this past year 29K...I know it is small amounts compared to the other auctions but for us, it was a huge amount of money and we have been able to do so much to help the school. It will be interesting to see how this years' auction goes....but hopefully we will never go back to selling cookie dough or wrapping paper!!!

From the Woodside Elementary parent handbook:

Woodside School is a unique preschool through 8th grade, one-school district and community facility that offers all the benefits of a personalized small school.The fifteen-acre campus provides an environment of beauty and an atmosphere of freedom to its students. In addition to the academic buildings there are two soccer fields, one baseball field and two tennis courts. Five separate play areas with appropriate equipment are provided for the preschool, kindergarten, primary, intermediate and middle grades.The Sellman Auditorium, a large multipurpose room, accommodates a basketball court and movable stage for concerts and dramatic productions. The Woodside Community Gym, a state of the art regulation sized gym was completed in 2002. The school has two science rooms, an art room, a library and two computer labs. All classrooms on campus are wired to the internet. A separate nature area near the creek is reserved for scientific ecological studies. Immediately adjacent to this outdoor area is an outdoor amphitheater that is used for group activities including assemblies, graduation and special programs. The construction of twelve new classrooms, an office and staff room, two music rooms, and a student services building began in the fall of 2006. After completion of the construction, portable classrooms will be removed and the fields will be renovated and expanded.

 

[tink1963]

John has started taking Fridays off work now, when convenient, so on this really beautiful day we have walked for almost 3 hours and had a lovely coffee sitting outside overlooking beautiful gardens. What a great morning.

http://www.bettys.co.uk/cafe.asp?storyid={3CC46739-8F5A-4A57-8F13-9865DF3B957A}

We need to get in serious training for our WDW trip in November!!!

Sounds like a wonderful way to start the weekend.

 

[tink1963]

I have to catch up to Holly's post count!

I'll never catch up.

 

[birkner]

The school Samantha attended from 6-12th grade had one auction fund raising event a year. However, just like the Woodside Elementary school foundation, parents were expected to donate additional money.

From the CSUS parent handbook:

CSUS counts on the many parents, alumni, and friends who support the school financially each year to assure that our tradition of excellence continues. While the support of volunteers is critical to the vitality of the school community, financial support is equally important. We are proud to say that nearly 100% of our current parents gave to the Annual Fund last year with a range in gift size from five dollars to over $25,000.

The CSUS Fund is the school's annual campaign to raise money for personnel and programs that ARE in the school budget. Capital campaigns are undertaken periodically to fund major improvements and facilities growth that cannot be covered by the annual school budget. Endowment campaigns also help the school secure its future. Madcap (and its auction) is the Parent Association's only annual fundraiser. The event raises money for special projects not in the school's budget. Members of the CSUS community can also support student activities by purchasing goods and services through the Merchant Rebate Program.


On to the Auction Fund raising goals from CSUS:

HOW DOES MADCAP WORK?
The money raised at MADCAP is turned over to the CSUS Recruitment and Retention Fund. The overall objective is to attract and keep the best faculty and administrators for CSUS.

This is accomplished through the following programs:

Fully funded Sabbatical program: Enables a faculty member or administrator to take a one-semester sabbatical after 10 years. They may also be eligible for a second sabbatical after another 10 years of full time service.
Service Award Program: To help in retaining the faculty over a long period, it provides faculty and administrators monetary awards based on their years of service to the school. Individuals are recognized at the 5, 15, and 20 year milestones.

Head's Discretionary Funds: These are funds made available to the Head of School for the recruitment of top faculty and administrators. This fund will pay to assist new recruits for items such as moving expenses, security deposits, travel costs, visa costs, etc.

If MADCAP revenues exceed expectations, we may also support financial assistance programs. Having a school composed of the very best students, regardless of their ability to afford tuition, enriches the entire school community.

 

[tink1963]

tonight I need to stay off the pc and get some cleaning and laundry done.
I really need a housekeeper.

Cleaning is on our schedule for tonight. We are opening a tatoo parlor in our living room tomorrow.

 

[granmaz]

Sounds like a wonderful way to start the weekend.

We were feeling relieved as John has had some health issues, and he had been to the Dr's this morning and things are OK. Just some medication for high blood pressure and some statins for cholesterol levels. We felt a weight had been lifted and this was a relaxing, chatty time.

 

[tink1963]

Yes, we've all got to do single posts now instead of multi quote replies!

No more mulit quotes for me

 

[granmaz]

Cleaning is on our schedule for tonight. We are opening a tatoo parlor in our living room tomorrow.

Sounds interesting!!

 

[tink1963]

I like to watch House Hunters and several other shows - I love peeking in other people's houses!

Another good way is to go to open houses in the neighborhood.

 

[tink1963]

I have been reading up on the Disneyland Trip Reports....

I have an extra brochure that I pick up when I was collecting winery infor for Deb. Let me know if you would like it. It has a map and other inof inside

 

[fourmcds]

We were feeling relieved as John has had some health issues, and he had been to the Dr's this morning and things are OK. Just some medication for high blood pressure and some statins for cholesterol levels. We felt a weight had been lifted and this was a relaxing, chatty time.

that's great news Marilyn!