Hi! Here is a recap of tonight's meeting, with a very important correction. I am so excited that all of you came! It looks like it's going to be a great year.

The first and most important issue is our first project: helping at a water aid station at the Livestrong Challenge bike race and walkathon THIS SUNDAY, SEPT 10.
***VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION: the earliest train into Philly Sunday leaves at 8:31 AM, not 7:31 AM. This might simply mean that we will meet at the train station at 8:15 to take the 8:31 train into Philly. Anyway, we will e-mail you when we know exactly how we are getting into Philly and when. I'm so sorry that I told you the wrong time at the meeting!

Thanks to those of you who took the soda tab flyers at the meeting. Please tape them to the wall near any recyling bin for aluminum cans, any trash can that people seem to use for aluminum cans, or any other good location you can think of. Later this year, we will gather all of the soda tabs we have collected and will take them to the Philly Ronald McDonald house.

The potential dates for going to a Habitat for Humanity house in Chester are Oct. 7, Oct. 21, and Oct. 28. Oct. 21 is over fall break, so we'll focus on the other two dates. Please start thinking if or when you can go! Note that habitat sometimes only wants 5 or so people in a group on a given day.

Other ideas we brainstormed:

"Gardening with Friends": helping to maintain the beautiful garden at the Friends Hospital in Philadelphia in November (Date TBA)

Schuylkill Environmental Center Land Restoration Day Nov. 28

Chester-Ridley-Crum Watershed Outdoor Projects (dates TBA)

Outreach to Elderly Widows and Widowers (we're looking into ways to do this)

Trevor's Place shelter for homeless mothers and their children (waiting to hear back from them)

Making meals for residents of Philly Ronald McDonald House (also waiting to hear back)

Helping at CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) (also waiting to hear back)

Also, some members expressed interest in long-term projects where one or a few members can volunteer for at a regular time each week. Ayanna talked about tutoring at Morton School, and we're looking at other long-term projects for interested members.

Thanks for reading this long post. Here's looking forward to a great year!

-Pierre